Organic Vs Vegetarian II

 Now let discuss organic foods. You can find organic fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry milk, etc at various stores.  Many concerned about health and generally animall welfare choose to eat organic foods. Organic is not the same as vegetarism, but it is considered a healthy choice! Organic foods generally have 50% more vitamins and minerals than their conventional counterparts. Many organic farms have free range birds and produce grass fed beef. The definition of grass-fed that we follow is defined by the American Grassfed Association (AGA):"The AGA defines grass-fed products from ruminants, including cattle, bison, goats and sheep, as those food products from animals that have eaten nothing but their mother’s milk and fresh grass or grass-type hay from their birth till harvest."Also, grown organically means less pesticides. Farmers use pesticides and other chemicals to mass-produce their fruits; in fact, the average conventional fruit is exposed to at least 20 pesticides. Sometimes, getting out and buying organic for the first time can be confusing. Some products will claim to be organic, when really they are just looking for the sale. When looking for and buying organic food, the USDA classifies organics into four buying categories.

• 100% organic: Must contain 100% organically produced ingredients.
• Organic: Must contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
• Made of organic ingredients: Must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.
• Have some organic ingredients: May contain less than 70% organic ingredients.

     It’s all about knowing where your food comes from. That’s where buying locally becomes important! Getting to know the farmers in your area and knowing the way they grow their food is great! Buying locally also stimulates your area’s economy AND lowers environmental impact. Nothing needs to be shipped or flown in; it’s all grown right in your hometown. If you need any help locating a farmer’s market in your area, http://www.localharvest.org/has got you covered. Type in your city and it gives you organic restaurants, farms, farmer’s markets and grocery stores in the area! And, to see what fruits and veggies are in season when, head here: http://www.wisebread.com/fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-by-the-month

Credits
http://www.incrediblygreen.org/index.php/2010/12/veggie-vs-organic/

     While currently, I choose to eat Pesco-Vegetarian diet. I shop at large grocery store chains, organic markets etc. However, I wanted to present all options available. Many large grocery stores do have a organic section located in their stores, as well.