You've probably heard the buzz about organic foods, and maybe you've even tried some yourself. But why is it so important to go organic, at least with a portion of your diet? This week we'll talk about organic foods, especially fruits and vegetables, and how they can keep your family healthy.

Why organic?

 As you probably already know, produce is widely grown using pesticides. Some of the chemicals that these foods come in contact with are questionable and can possibly have a negative impact on your health. While this is still widely debated, many people would rather not take the chance with the chemicals (it's the same concept with bath and cleaning products-- why ingest unnecessary chemicals if you don't have to?). That's where organic foods come in. In addition to being less riddled with chemicals, it's also been said that organic food uses less energy to transport because it generally comes from a closer location than non-organic food. It's also healthier for the people who handle your produce before it gets into your grocery cart since they don't have to work around potentially dangerous chemicals.

What about the price?

Stop and Shop offers organic alternatives to a number of foods, especially produce. You may notice that some organic food is priced slightly higher than non-organic foods, but Organic.com gives a good explanation here of why those prices are sometimes higher. Many people find that it's worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind; eating organic has more than just health benefits-- it can also make you feel like you're doing something beneficial for your family.

But do I need to go all organic?

Any changes you make will be an improvement. If you swap out regular apples for organic ones, you've made a difference for your family. But which foods should you really buy organic, and which ones are less dangerous to buy non-organic? I prefer organic meat and milk because I know there are no antibiotics or growth hormones (or any other unnatural junk) in the food. As far as produce goes, you can pick and choose, really. There's something called the Dirty Dozen, a list of the 12 most-contaminated fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, grapes, and spinach are on the list, but what are some of the least-contaminated foods? Avocado, bananas and papaya are some of the safest foods to buy non-organic if you're on a budget and must choose.

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your family healthy. Eating organic food is something to consider if your family isn't already doing so. A little research will lead you to information on all sorts of hidden dangers, everything from chemicals to growth hormones. You don't have to overhaul your entire diet, but it's worth considering the benefits of making a few key switches to keep your family healthy!