Organic Foods [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

View Full Version : Organic Foods

angrymissy

02-16-2006, 05:41 PM

I'm trying to cut out High Frutcose Corn Syrup, Chemicals (preservatives, etc.) and processed flours out of my diet.  EVERYTHING has High Frutcose Corn Syrup - tomato sauce for one, I have to buy organic (which actually tastes better).  Does anyone eat an organic diet and have any tips on ways to cut costs?  I think they second they slap an "organic" label on it, the price goes up 4x.  I'm going to start making my own tomato sauce with organic tomatoes, I buy the fresh baked bread in the supermarket to avoid preservatives, and the organic meat because I don't want to eat the gross hormones they inject polutry and cattle with, but it's breaking the budget.I'm not trying to go full out organic, but am trying to impove my diet and this seems to be step in the right direction.PS.  I am not a dirty hippie, I swear.

This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-16-06 @ 9:42 PM

suggums

02-16-2006, 05:47 PM

if you wanna know why high fructose corn syrup is in the vast vast majority of products on our shelves, look at how much money the government gives to corn/corn growers each year.  they get more than basically all other food commodities combined, there was a great peter jennings doc about govt funding and the food industry that i saw a couple years ago. sorry i cant help with diet advice, but basically we have way too many corn-related products in the marketplace and literally nothing will be done about it til the govt re-distributes the money to other types of food

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 05:51 PM

angrymissy wrote: PS.  I am not a dirty hippie, I swear.  <img height="250" src="http://www.thebodyshop.com/images/wellbeing/products/pd_patchouli_essential_oil.jpg" width="250" border="0" />

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:03 PM

I think they second they slap an "organic" label on it, the price goes up 4x. It
really does, especially with produce. I haven't yet figured a way
around it, so i would just advise to be particular with what you're
buying. Make sure that not only do you NEED what you're planning on getting but that
you also plan to eat it within the week's time...otherwise you are
just pissing money down the drain. If you're finding it
too tempting to walk through the grocery store because you're trying to
stick to all organic food then i suggest finding a <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" target="_blank" title="Whole Foods">Whole Foods</a>
nearest you. They're somewhat pricey but again, if you're deadset on
sticking to an organic diet then you'll have to sacrifice a little.PS- Stoneyfield Farm makes awesome organic frozen yogurt.PPS- nor am i a dirty hippie.

angrymissy

02-16-2006, 06:08 PM

If you're finding it too tempting to walk through the grocery store because you're trying to stick to all organic food then i suggest finding a <a title="Whole Foods" href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a> nearest you. They're somewhat pricey but again, if you're deadset on sticking to an organic diet then you'll have to sacrifice a little.Yes, a whole foods just opened up in Princeton, and we headed over there to check it out a while back.  They had EXCELLENT produce and meat, a huge variety and lots of other goodies, but it was wayyyy expensive and they don't seem to have sales.  I still will hit that up for meat though.  I used to have Trader Joe's by me when I was in NY, they were awesome and cheap, and had tons of organic stuff.  The Shoprite by me has SHoprite organic milk, and an organic aisle that is halfway decent.  I just have to read labels constantly.

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:11 PM

Hug a tree you 2.

angrymissy

02-16-2006, 06:11 PM

I feel ashamed and hippielike to even be discussing this organic stuff. Next thing you know I will be attending drum circles with my digeredoo and making art out of my menstrual blood *shudder*Alton Brown from Good Eats got me started on this crap.  I have been making delicious meals from scratch now though, instead of eating Hamburger Helper and tv dinners.

This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-16-06 @ 10:13 PM

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:14 PM

On the bright side, you can use the money you won't spend on these to buy organic, hippy:<img height="400" src="http://www.hurt.com.pl/prods/x/bic_twin_lady.jpg" width="203" border="0" />

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:15 PM

angrymissy wrote: I feel ashamed and hippielike to even be discussing this organic stuff. Next thing you know I will be attending drum circles with my digeredoo and making art out of my menstrual blood  Well that's not bad, that's a 1st date.  H O T

angrymissy

02-16-2006, 06:16 PM

Even more shameful...I weaned my cats of off IAMS nad fancy feast because it has meat by-products (which can contain euthanized horses and dogs and cats).They now eat some fancy organic Nutro Dry, and Merrick canned, which is made with human grade meats and vegetables.  It looks tasty enough for me to eat.  I actually considered putting them on the "raw" diet - feeding them fresh raw meat and shit.  WHY DO I THINK I HAVE THE CASH AND TIME FOR THIS CRAP????What is happening to me??? MY GRANDPARENTS CAT ATE FUCKING FRISKIES ITS WHOLE LIFE AND WAS FINE.  I've caught hippie disease.

This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-16-06 @ 10:18 PM

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:19 PM

angrymissy wrote: Even more shameful...I weaned my cats of off IAMS nad fancy feast because it has meat by-products (which can contain euthanized horses and dogs and cats).They now eat some fancy organic Nutro Dry, and Merrick canned, which is made with human grade meats and vegetables.  It looks tasty enough for me to eat.What is happening to me??? MY GRANDPARENTS CAT ATE FUCKING FRISKIES ITS WHOLE LIFE AND WAS FINE.  I've caught hippie disease.  You know the sick part is I'm with you on that.  If I could, I'd get that special blend of good food from a local vet.  I try to get my cat at work good stuff when I can.I buy him $20 a bag food as I stuff another Wendy's burger in my mouth.  Fucking stupid.

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:20 PM

I really haven't come across anything organic centered around our
parts other than WF. I know Stop & Shop has a mini Organic section
but alot of the things there are questionable if they're not
frozen(i.e. the yogurt, stir fried vegetables, waffles and such). So
mainly i stay as far away as possible and just shell out the extra
money.I would look into some farmers markets, I'm sure there has to be atleast half a dozen in close proximity to you. I
don't really know how i got into the organic foods, i think it had
something to do with always going grocery shopping with my friend who
was hardcore Atkins and that somehow rubbed off on what i was choosing
to buy. Now i can't even hold down regular bread that's not organic, it
just doesn't settle well in my stomach....and as far as people saying
it's "too hard" to break from their traditional eating habits and move
into something more body friendly, i just don't buy it. The first week
was kinda awkward but after that you look at the stuff you were eating
prior to the organic and you just can't wrap your brain around the slow
& steady damage it was doing to you internally.To each his own i suppose.

angrymissy

02-16-2006, 06:27 PM

It's actually been pretty easy for me to start eating organic, it just feels better.  Anything with processed flour and high fructose takes gross and heavy to me now.  In the summer I'll defnitely hit up the farmers markets, theres tons around here. 

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:30 PM

There should be organic vendors coming with you when you follow Phish.

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:32 PM

Phish totally broke up, quit your trippin'.   

This message was edited by grlNIN on 2-16-06 @ 10:33 PM

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:37 PM

So who do the great unwashed, unemployed masses follow around now?!?!WHO I ask you WHO?!?!?!

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:39 PM

It's
actually been pretty easy for me to start eating organic, it just feels
better. Anything with processed flour and high fructose takes gross and
heavy to me now. 
  Now if we could only wean you off that awful Vitamin Water.
I'm guessing you cut out all the fast food as well, which let me tell
you...dont EVER "treat" yourself to it once in awhile. You might as
well eat a brick of grease because you will feel disgusted and awful
and sluggish and it will not be pleasant.I hear 'ya on this
whole subject though, ii'm almost a full year into what i like to think
of as a "conservative organic approach". Which basically means that i'm
not hardcore hippie but don't ever come at me with a piece of
Wonderbread or a jar of  Skippy.

suggums

02-16-2006, 06:41 PM

choosy grlNINs choose jif

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:42 PM

So who do the great unwashed, unemployed masses follow around now?!?!
WHO I ask you WHO?!?!?!
  UNHALLOWED have any space available?

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:45 PM

grlNIN wrote: UNHALLOWED have any space available? Always room for one more.......<img height="225" src="http://www.voenix.de/News/DI_Band6_small.jpg" width="160" border="0" />

This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 2-16-06 @ 10:47 PM

grlNIN

02-16-2006, 06:46 PM

Oh, look at that, DMB is touring this summer...

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 06:49 PM

grlNIN wrote:  I'm guessing you cut out all the fast food as well, which let me tell you...dont EVER "treat" yourself to it once in awhile. You might as well eat a brick of grease because you will feel disgusted and awful and sluggish and it will not be pleasant.I have to agree with this.  I stopped eating at McDonalds because it was making me sick.  I mean I will occasionally eat at Wendys or something but I don't prefer it.

Mike Teacher

02-16-2006, 08:13 PM

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618164723/ref=ase_readingforplea0a/104-7178085-6796760?s=books&v=glance&n=283155&tagActionCode=readingforplea0a" target="_blank">Fat Land: How Americans became the Fattest People in the World</a>This book begins with a history of sugar; the switch from cane based to cheaper corn based sugars, and how each is, essentially, a metabolic poison. Some real surprises; you think since something is from a plant it cant be fatty, but Palm Oil is called 'Tree Lard' by some in the industry. Great book; Fast Food Nation by Schlossinger [sp?] rocks too.=And technically of course, all food is organic. Nitty Nitpickerson signing off.

Sheeplovr

02-16-2006, 08:15 PM

you can live off of Pete's Tofu just stick to that and water

suggums

02-16-2006, 08:17 PM

why deprive yourself of so much pleasure sheepy?ON YOUR BIRTHDAY

Reephdweller

02-16-2006, 08:25 PM

I've been looking into this as well, I found a great article on Organic Foods in February 2006 issue of Consumer Reports... Don’t bother buying these items organicWhat? SeafoodWhy? Whether caught in the wild or farmed, fish can be labeled organic, despite the presence of contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. Some wild fish such as bluefish are very high in PCBs, and tuna and swordfish are laced with mercury. The USDA has not yet developed organic certification standards for seafood. In the meantime, producers are allowed to make their own organic claims as long as they don’t use “USDA” or “certified organic” logos. California, however, recently passed a law that prohibits the use of any organic labeling on fish and other seafood until either state or federal certification standards are established.Buy these items organic as often as possibleWhat Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.Why The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s own lab testing reveals that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, above, that they say you should always buy organic if possible because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. Among fruits, nectarines had the highest percentage testing positive for pesticide residue. Peaches and red raspberries had the most pesticides (nine) on a single sample. Among vegetables, celery and spinach most often carried pesticides, with spinach having the highest number (10) on a single sample. (For more information on pesticide levels for other types of produce, go to <a href="http://www.foodnews.org/">www.foodnews.org</a>.)What you’ll pay About 50 percent more on average for organic produce, but prices vary based on the item and the time of year. A Consumer Reports price survey conducted in the New York City area in October 2005 found a premium of 24 percent on organic strawberries and 33 percent on grapes and spinach. Organic Idaho potatoes cost 101 percent more than conventional. When you buy organic produce in season at a farmer’s market or directly from local providers, however, you might avoid paying a premium at all. What Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy.Why You greatly reduce the risk of exposure to the agent believed to cause mad cow disease and minimize exposure to other potential toxins in nonorganic feed. You also avoid the results of production methods that use daily supplemental hormones and antibiotics, which have been linked to increased antibacterial resistance in humans.What you’ll pay Often double the price of nonorganic, though you might save money by buying direct from local farms. For instance, in December 2005 the Organic Trade Assocation reported that in Iowa, organic ground beef was available for $4.25 a pound and beef tenderloin for $16 a pound.What you’ll pay Varies widely by store.

suggums

02-16-2006, 08:30 PM

i could go for a dozen What Apples right nowreally good info though, my parents buy a lot of fresh fruit and will be glad to know this 

This message was edited by suggums on 2-17-06 @ 12:33 AM

Reephdweller

02-16-2006, 08:35 PM

Further Info from Consumer Reports...Food labels can be misleadingNO KIDDING “Organic” can mean that 5 percent of the ingredients aren’t. Organic-sounding labels can be confusing, or even meaningless. Below are examples of labels that are meaningful because there are government standards to back them up. You’ll also find a couple of examples of meaningless labels. For more information on food labels, go to <a href="http://www.eco-labels.org/">www.eco-labels.org</a>.MEANINGFUL“100% Organic.” No synthetic ingredients are allowed by law. Also, production processes must meet federal organic standards and must have been independently verified by accredited inspectors.“Organic.” At least 95 percent of ingredients are organically produced. The remainder can be nonorganic or synthetic ingredients. One exception: Organic labels on seafood are meaningless because the U.S. Department of Agriculture has no standards to back them up.“Made with Organic Ingredients.” At least 70 percent of ingredients are organic. The remaining 30 percent must come from the USDA’s approved list. MEANINGLESS“Free-range” or “free-roaming.” Stamped on eggs, chicken, and other meat, this label suggests that an animal has spent a good portion of its life outdoors. But U.S. government standards are weak. The rule for the label’s use on poultry products, for example, is merely that outdoor access be made available for “an undetermined period each day.” In other words, if a coop door was open for just 5 minutes a day, regardless of whether the chickens went outside, the animals’ meat and eggs could legally be labeled “free-range.”“Natural” or “All Natural.” This label does not mean organic. The reason is that no standard definition for this term exists except when it’s applied to meat and poultry products, which the USDA defines as not containing any artificial flavoring, colors, chemical preservatives, or synthetic ingredients. And the claim is not verified. The producer or manufacturer alone decides whether to use it.

angrymissy

02-17-2006, 05:03 AM

It's not even that I specifically want "organic", it's that I started by trying to cut out the high fructose corn syrup, and it's in EVERYTHING.  Ketchup, Yougurt, Juice, Granola Bars, Tomato Sauce, soup, etc etc .  The organic stuff usually has regular sugar or cane sugar.  I have also been able to find things with no preservatives and HFCS by reading labels.  After my money sucking wedding is over I should be able to hit up Whole Foods on a more regular basis... I still wish there was a Trader Joes in my parts though.

This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-17-06 @ 9:04 AM

Death Metal Moe

02-17-2006, 06:02 AM

angrymissy wrote:  After my money sucking wedding is over I should be able to hit up Whole Foods on a more regular basis... I still wish there was a Trader Joes in my parts though.No offense, but why do people do this?  I see more and more people having huge weddings and they basically can't afford them or if they can, it would be a nice down payment on a future.Have a small wedding, fuck anyone who doesn't like it and save money.

angrymissy

02-17-2006, 06:12 AM

No offense, but why do people do this?  I see more and more people having huge weddings and they basically can't afford them or if they can, it would be a nice down payment on a future.  I'm not having a huge wedding.  I can afford it, I just had to cut out some luxuries (like whole foods, drinking out on the weekends, clothes shopping).  I got my dress off the rack on sale, and we changed all of the dates around to get the cheapest rate at the hall.  My sister and I made all the invitations ourselves to save money.  I'm making all the place cards and programs myself too.  Bare bones flowers.  My sister and I are also making the centerpieces.  We are getting married next month and I consider it money sucking because I didn't account for all the little expensive last minute crap like alterations for my dress, etc.  I'm not going all bridezilla on this. 

This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-17-06 @ 10:14 AM

Bulldogcakes

02-18-2006, 03:50 PM

angrymissy wrote:I'm not having a huge wedding. I can afford it, I just had to cut out some luxuries  Like high fructose corn syrup.

mendyweiss

02-18-2006, 03:58 PM

Bulldogcakes wrote:  angrymissy wrote: I'm not having a huge wedding. I can afford it, I just had to cut out some luxuries  Like high fructose corn syrup.  Coca0cola products stopped using sugar years ago and started using fructose. I f you ever get to Mexico, they still use pure cane sugar in coca-cola. The taste is much better.

Bulldogcakes

02-18-2006, 04:10 PM

I was just teasing. I dont like the taste of corn syrup in anything but Pecan pie. Corn syrup and sugar costs the same per pound. The reason why so many large producers will use corn syrup is its easier to use. Sugar has to be melted into water to make a simple syrup. Corn syrup comes ready to use. Saves you a step in production, and no need for large stoves and the utilities $$ to run them. Its a no brainer if the costs are the same. But it doesn't taste as good, I agree.

SatCam

02-18-2006, 05:51 PM

My mom and sister buy a lot of stuff organic. They mostly shop at Trader Joe's, Shop Rite and local farmers markets. Even if the stuff isn't "organic" (ie, from a farmers markets), they're still fresher and lack preservatives.

Also, last spring I dug out a small vegetable garden in my backyard. I mostly grew tomatoes (regular size and cherry), rasberries, lettuce, peppers and garlic. Not everything grew as I wanted, but it takes perfecting and hopefully next season I'll get better results.

torker

02-18-2006, 05:53 PM

I find I'm going organic in the dairy department.

sr71blackbird

02-18-2006, 06:47 PM

angrymissy wrote: It's not even that I specifically want "organic", it's that I started by trying to cut out the high fructose corn syrup, and it's in EVERYTHING.  Ketchup, Yougurt, Juice, Granola Bars, Tomato Sauce, soup, etc etc .  The organic stuff usually has regular sugar or cane sugar.  I have also been able to find things with no preservatives and HFCS by reading labels.  After my money sucking wedding is over I should be able to hit up Whole Foods on a more regular basis... I still wish there was a Trader Joes in my parts though.This message was edited by angrymissy on 2-17-06 @ 9:04 AM Not sure where you live, but Fairway has some great alternatives.  They have one in the city and one on the Island.  You can use products that have evaporated cane juice in lieu of fructose.  Youll go broke in Whole Foods! Its a major rip off!