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December 25, 2010 ·

Buzzword: Organic

Healthy Eating

As I was walking through the grocery store the other day, I noticed food labels with the words “made with natural ingredients”, “all natural”, “100% organic”, and just “organic”, to name a few.  It made me realize that although I see and hear these phrases all the time, I don’t really know what they mean.  And how can I make good, conscientious food choices if I don’t know what I’m reading on the label?

One symbol that seemed to be unwavering was the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Organic seal.

So, I thought, what better place to do some research on the meaning of these terms but the official USDA website ?  I know this is only one resource but it gave me, and now hopefully you, a great start on making more educated food purchases.  Apparently, natural and organic foods are not the same, yet most people use these terms interchangeably all the time.

“Natural” applies just to the content of the food itself whereas “organic” also applies to the way it was grown, handled and processed.

Natural foods are minimally processed and free of preservatives, artificial ingredients, antibiotics and hydrogenated oils, which are chemically-altered oils.

Organic foods must also be produced without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation (exposure to radiation), or bioengineering (gene mixing).

Organic farmers are required to abide by certain soil and water conservation methods so organic foods are environmentally friendly as well.

Natural foods must follow the same general regulations and health codes that apply to all foods in the United States.

Organic foods must also follow a separate organic certification program developed by the USDA.

Within the organic umbrella are several tiers of organic food labeling, which are also defined by the USDA:

100% Organic means exactly what it sounds like, and use of the USDA Organic seal is optional.

Organic means that the food is made with 95% or more of organic ingredients and use of the USDA Organic seal is optional.

Made with Organic Ingredients means at least 70% of the ingredients are organic and the seal cannot be used.

If less than 70% of the ingredients are organic, the term “organic” can only be used in the list of ingredients and the seal cannot be used.

There was also a very informative chart on the USDA website that I’d like to share with you regarding conventional vs. organic farming:

Conventional Farming Organic Farming
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants
Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease
Use chemical herbicides to manage weeds Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors.  Use preventative measures, such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and cleaning housing, to help minimize disease

I think the next time I’m at the grocery store, I am going to feel so much more empowered with just this little bit of knowledge.  I don’t plan on buying everything organic just yet.  For one, we’re on a budget, but also this is a major lifestyle change and I’d like to research more and make changes little by little so I don’t feel so overwhelmed.  Also, the USDA makes no claim about whether or not organically produced foods are safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced foods.  But I personally would like to educate myself further and make my own decision on which is best for me and my family.  And so begins the Everyday Road to Healthy!

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Angela and the Chocolate Factory — Everyday Road to Healthy says:
    February 3, 2011 at 11:27 am

    […] fair trade chocolate.  Why organic and fair trade chocolate?  We have written past articles on organic and fair trade if you are interested in a more in-depth definition, but the short of it is, we […]

  2. Let’s Talk Turkey says:
    November 10, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    […] as you’ll remember from Angela’s earlier article on food labels “all natural”, “free range” etc… do not equal organic.  Unless you personally know the […]

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☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ I’m we ☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ 

I’m wearing my green today and preparing to make some corned beef and cabbage for dinner, but what is this day about? Here are some fun facts:
☘️
What are we celebrating? St Patrick’s Day commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. It is celebrated on March 17th, which is the day he is believed to have died.
☘️
Why shamrocks? St. Patrick used the 3-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
☘️
Why green? Green has tradition in Ireland but an old folklore states that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns. If they can see you, they will pinch you! 
☘️
Why corned beef and cabbage?  Well, corned beef and cabbage is NOT the traditional dish in Ireland! When Irish immigrants came to America, they couldn’t afford the more traditional pork and bacon, so they used the cheapest cut of meat they could find, beef brisket. So corned beef (not in any way related to corn but is a reference to the brine) and the inexpensive vegetable, cabbage, became the celebration dish of choice. (Side note, if you are Catholic and St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent, like today, diocese will usually issue a dispensation from abstinence, which means meat can be eaten today.  So queue the corned beef!).
☘️
#funfactfriday #stpatricksday
Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrad Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrade it from a story to a post. Michelle Yeoh, 60 years old, is the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for best actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. 🏆What an inspiration! 💗 And not to be overshadowed, Jaime Lee Curtis won her first Oscar for a supporting role in the same movie. She is 64.

🌟It’s never too late!🌟

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Angela’s day in a reel - 1/21/2023 #dailyreel #e Angela’s day in a reel - 1/21/2023
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Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent becaus Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent because I started the year off with a cold that left me tired and unmotivated. But I’m feeling better and starting my goal tracking a little late. I thought it would be helpful to combine all our goal trackers into one file for easy downloading and printing. The link to the all-in-one file can be found in our profile @everydayroadtohealthy ☝🏼. Swipe to see January printed at 75% and taped inside my planner. I’m hoping this works better for me this year!
💚 Start where you are. 🤎
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2022, you were filled with some great memories! I’m always sad to see another year go by. But I’m looking forward to making memories in 2023! 
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We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with t We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with the magic of the season! ❤️💚
I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas upgrade. After refrigerating for a bit, dip in some melted chocolate and add some sprinkles! 😋 Search “protein balls” at everydayroadtohealthy.com for basic recipe, then add your own holiday upgrade!
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I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the pe I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the perfect jasmine rice 🍚 including what rice cooker I use, how much I make, and an age old method for measuring the water. Search “perfect jasmine rice” at www.everydayroadtohealthy.com for all the details!🍚
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If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this ho If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this holiday season - Wreaths Across America is this Saturday, Dec 17th. “In many homes there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one that made the ultimate sacrifice” this holiday season. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org for more details on volunteering, donations, and locations near you.
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