Getting Started Eating Organic Foods

Getting Started Eating Organic Foods

By Martin Richardson

Everything, including eating healthier, starts with a first step. Very few people jump into new things with both feet, which is good because transitioning slowly with anything, including a new way of eating, ensures a much higher success rate in the long run. Before your next weekly shopping trip, do a full inventory of your refrigerator and your pantry. Go to the grocery store and peruse the produce section to see if yours carries organic produce and then explore your grocery store to see if it has a natural or organic foods section; many do thanks to high demand for them. Once you've done these first two steps, you can move on to the next steps to get yourself started eating organic foods.

If you already eat fruits and vegetables, make buying organic versions of basic produce like apples, oranges and celery your first step in the transition to eating organic foods. While they are pricier, they are free of pesticides and herbicides and grow in naturally nutrient-rich soil so they will taste better and they are better for you. Usually introducing organic foods to your body and your pocket book is a good place to start; if you see something you've never had before in organic form, consider expanding your horizons and buy it. By taking one step at a time and a trial-and-error approach, you can have fun with this new diet idea which will aid in making the transition a seamless one.

It's a myth that when you "go organic" you have to give up the foods you love. Most people aren't willing to sacrifice the foods they love for the sake of their health, which is perfectly understandable. If you are forced to eat food that doesn't appeal to you, the chances of success are small. Instead, look for organic counterparts of the foods you love. Examples of foods that have an organic counterpart include corn chips, popcorn, chocolate and bread.

If you're like most people today, you lead a busy life that has you moving nearly constantly which means you don't have time to prepare a lot of food or put extensive effort into your food. There's good news for you in the world of organic foods. Invest in a juicer and a dehydrator and they will become your new best friends in the kitchen. Many people who eat organic "juice" their fruit for wonderful, nutrient-rich juices that you can take with you. Dehydrators are an organic foodie's best friend, second only to juicers. Cut up fruits and dry them. You now have nutrient-rich, super convenient, healthy organic foods to take with for on-the-go snacks or afternoon pick-me-ups plus they help you avoid the temptation of fast foods and, because organic foods are rich in water, you'll be more awake and less thirsty.

These are just three suggestions to get you started on the road to eating organic and changing your life for the better. Remember to go slowly, expect to backslide as this is normal, allow yourself to make mistakes, experiment with new foods and recipes and buy what you like. Customize your new diet to fit your lifestyle to increase the chance that you will succeed long term.

Marty Rich has been a professional chef for more than 27 years. He is dedicated to helping everyday people, like you and me, learn to create easy, simple meals with the freshest of ingredients. For more information on organic living please visit http://www.chefmartyrich.com.

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