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Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Organic 201 - How to Choose the Best
Organic Foods
Last week, Houston Moms learned all the basic information behind organic labeling.
We know that organic means that the food contains no pesticides and isn’t
genetically modified. We know that organic and all-natural options regarding meats
and dairy products protect our little ones from antibiotics and growth hormones.
Well, Moms, here is a secret many Organic-Lovers won’t tell you: It doesn’t have to
be all or nothing! Read on to learn which foods are the most contaminated, and
would be best organic food choices for your family, and then decide for yourself
where to splurge on other yummy organic items in your pantry.
This little list is appropriately named “Dish’s Dirty Dozen”, and it includes an
assortment of the foods we eat regularly that also contain scary-high levels of
pesticides, additives, synthetic fertilizers, and medication and/or hormones. For
Moms who are thinking about going organic but don’t know where to start, this is a
great tool to help create priorities.
Organic Foods
Last week, Houston Moms learned all the basic information behind organic labeling.
We know that organic means that the food contains no pesticides and isn’t
genetically modified. We know that organic and all-natural options regarding meats
and dairy products protect our little ones from antibiotics and growth hormones.
Well, Moms, here is a secret many Organic-Lovers won’t tell you: It doesn’t have to
be all or nothing! Read on to learn which foods are the most contaminated, and
would be best organic food choices for your family, and then decide for yourself
where to splurge on other yummy organic items in your pantry.
This little list is appropriately named “Dish’s Dirty Dozen”, and it includes an
assortment of the foods we eat regularly that also contain scary-high levels of
pesticides, additives, synthetic fertilizers, and medication and/or hormones. For
Moms who are thinking about going organic but don’t know where to start, this is a
great tool to help create priorities.
| Dish’s Dirty Dozen 1. Meat: Beef, Chicken, and Pork were found to contain higher levels of pesticides than plant foods. Experts believe that like humans, pesticides and other chemicals get stored in fatty tissues and can’t be rinsed or cooked out. Definitely go Organic or at the very least, All-Natural. 2. Dairy: All Moms have heard about non-organic milk and the dangerous concentrations of pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormones in it. Organic milk isn’t the only dairy product to look for, however. Choose organic versions of cheese and butter to make sure dangerous chemicals aren’t finding their way into your child’s sandwich or freshly-baked muffin. 3. Strawberries & Other Berries: Prepare to cringe, Moms, as you learn that strawberries are the single-most sprayed crop in our country, with over 90% of strawberries containing higher pesticide levels than considered safe. There are up to 35 different pesticides applied to berries such as strawberries. Major grocers and supercenters now offer organic strawberries in both fresh and frozen form. 4. Apples: Most children’s favorite fruit is the apple. Unfortunately, because of year-round demand, apples are loaded with neurotoxins, which have been linked to brain damage in humans and are unable to be washed off of the surface of the apple. Luckily, autumn is the perfect time to find plenty of sweet, organic apples, so check local grocers for varieties such as Gala, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith. 5. Tomatoes: The thin skins of these delicious American staples allow most of the 30+ pesticides used on conventionally-grown tomato crops to seep into the fruit itself. And remember to buy organic canned tomatoes and pasta sauces as well. Paul Newman’s Organic Tomato-Basil sauce is the prefect blend of sweet and herbal, and children love it. 6. Potatoes: The FDA reported that over 75% of potatoes contained unsafe levels of pesticides and fungicides. Before feeling hopeless about your kid’s love for French fries, look for organic frozen varieties or bake some healthy homemade fries in the oven using organic potatoes or at least peeling off the skins of conventional potatoes. 7. Spinach: While this green is seldom a problem for children to give up, Moms and Dads might love the taste of this Superfood. Spinach made the Dirty Dozen list because it is the most contaminated vegetable. The most powerful pesticides used on the world’s food supply are found on spinach and other green leafy vegetables. To shield your family, young and old, from unacceptable levels of chemicals, simply choose organic or none at all of this vegetable. 8. Coffee and Chocolate: Moms can use this as an excuse to experiment with lots of organic coffees and chocolates, which are available in the specialty section of your local grocers and many health food stores. The USA has banned some of the pesticides used on coffee beans, but still imports coffee from other countries that have no ban on chemicals, so these dangerous coffee beans end up back in the US and in our coffee pot. Look for Fair Trade labels as well on coffee and chocolate to ensure there is no child labor and a fair wage is paid back to farmers. 9. Celery: A widely-used staple in Southern cooking, celery can be extremely harmful. 90% of celery tested contained high levels of pesticides. Find organic celery and spread some yummy Organic Peanut Butter on it for a kid- friendly snack that Mom can indulge in too. 10. Peanuts: Genetically-Modified products are one of the hottest debates in the organic food world. Very simply, scientists do not know the long-term effects of GM foods on our body or our earth yet. To steer clear of these scary peanuts, choose peanut butters that use organic and non-GMO peanuts and steer clear of canned peanuts. 11. Grapes: Children love grapes, however during the growing cycle of grapes, about 35 chemicals are sprayed on them. The FDA found that 86% of grapes tested contained pesticides, with imported grapes being the worst offenders. If organic grapes aren’t available, choose USA-grown and then wash well with a vegetable wash. 12. Bell Peppers: Wax coating on bell peppers and other produce is simply scary. To pass on 39 different chemicals and unhealthy wax, always choose organic. Organic varieties of both green and red bell peppers are readily available. |
Houston Moms are great at making the right decisions for their families, by respecting their
health, budget, and personal standards. I encourage Moms to choose organic products this
week, using the Dish’s Dirty Dozen as a guide. Next week, Bridget’s Dish will explore the
best places right in Houston to find organic produce and products. If Moms know a farmer
or business owner dedicated to Organic foods that would like to be listed, please e-mail
Bridget’s Dish!
This month’s delicious recipe is not only perfect for Halloween, it also is a healthy alternative
to candies and nutrient-depleted cake mixes. By easily baking a cake at home, Moms can be
sure every ingredient is high quality as well as leave out anything picky eaters might not like
(such as nuts or raisins as the recipe shows below).
health, budget, and personal standards. I encourage Moms to choose organic products this
week, using the Dish’s Dirty Dozen as a guide. Next week, Bridget’s Dish will explore the
best places right in Houston to find organic produce and products. If Moms know a farmer
or business owner dedicated to Organic foods that would like to be listed, please e-mail
Bridget’s Dish!
This month’s delicious recipe is not only perfect for Halloween, it also is a healthy alternative
to candies and nutrient-depleted cake mixes. By easily baking a cake at home, Moms can be
sure every ingredient is high quality as well as leave out anything picky eaters might not like
(such as nuts or raisins as the recipe shows below).
“Spook”tacular Carrot Cake
2 cups unbleached organic flour
2 cups organic sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 free-range organic eggs
1 ½ cup vegetable oil
3 cups grated organic carrots
1 cup organic chopped pecans
1 cup organic raisins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside pecans and raisins for after baking the cake. Mix
together dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and oil and mix well, then fold in
carrots. Pour mixture into 3 round greased and floured pans. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove
from oven and let cool completely before frosting with Spooky Cream Cheese Frosting
(recipe follows).
Spooky Cream Cheese Frosting
8-oz package organic cream cheese, softened
1 stick organic butter, softened
16-oz box organic powdered sugar
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
Orange food coloring
Combine all ingredients except orange food coloring and beat until fluffy. Add orange food
coloring 2 drops at a time until the desired color is achieved.
To assemble the cake:
On a cake stand, put one layer of cooled cake down. Add frosting and sprinkle half of the
pecans and raisins (you may omit pecans and/or raisins id desired) covering evenly. Top
with a second layer of cake and repeat with frosting, remaining pecans, and raisins. Top
with the third layer of cake, and then frost the entire cake with the remainder of frosting.
Decorate with Halloween-inspired candies or decorations, if desired. Store for up to 5 days
covered in the refrigerator.
2 cups unbleached organic flour
2 cups organic sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 free-range organic eggs
1 ½ cup vegetable oil
3 cups grated organic carrots
1 cup organic chopped pecans
1 cup organic raisins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside pecans and raisins for after baking the cake. Mix
together dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and oil and mix well, then fold in
carrots. Pour mixture into 3 round greased and floured pans. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove
from oven and let cool completely before frosting with Spooky Cream Cheese Frosting
(recipe follows).
Spooky Cream Cheese Frosting
8-oz package organic cream cheese, softened
1 stick organic butter, softened
16-oz box organic powdered sugar
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
Orange food coloring
Combine all ingredients except orange food coloring and beat until fluffy. Add orange food
coloring 2 drops at a time until the desired color is achieved.
To assemble the cake:
On a cake stand, put one layer of cooled cake down. Add frosting and sprinkle half of the
pecans and raisins (you may omit pecans and/or raisins id desired) covering evenly. Top
with a second layer of cake and repeat with frosting, remaining pecans, and raisins. Top
with the third layer of cake, and then frost the entire cake with the remainder of frosting.
Decorate with Halloween-inspired candies or decorations, if desired. Store for up to 5 days
covered in the refrigerator.
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.