Which do you think is better?

[faith4u]

Well before I ask my question let me back up a bit.

We are spending a fortune on food now compared to when we were cooked vegans and eating meals based on cooked starches.

Most of our produce is non organic. In order to buy the amount of food we need for a family of six we have to buy mostly conventionally grown food.

When we ate cooked vegan diets most of the grains and beans were organic.

My husband is concerned because of the amount of produce I eat as far as the chemicals etc... He thinks that I would be better eating a cooked vegan diet with mostly organic foods. He is saying that if I based my meals on starches again then with the money we are saving we could buy a small portion of organic produce.

So my question is.....

Is it better to eat an all raw diet that is with non organic food or is better to eat an all organic diet that is cooked?

Hard question to answer isn't it? Seems like they are both bad but which is worse????? Yes it is cooked food is toxic to our bodies but so are all of the pesticides etc....

Please share your opinions I would love to know what you all think.

[Veganforlife]

MHO? I think eating a raw, non-organic diet is way, way better then cooked. Wash, wash, wash your produce. Scrub, wash, peel, do whatever you have to do to it to clean it.

[DavidZaneMason]

Not a hard question (in my opinion) at all. Well-washed conventional produce will bring you a million miles from even a mostly-raw / some cooked diet....if you are consistent.

-I've been all raw for many years now....and rarely eaten organic......I'm too thrifty. The raw diet and organic are NOT synonymous (in my opinion). I think organic is good...but YOU should eat as high as you can afford and are prepared to do....and not sweat the rest.

-David Mason

[Goldsplinter]

in the words of Paul Nison,

-raw
-ripe
-fresh
-organic

If it's missing less than those 2 things, don't eat it.

[Dimond]

in the words of Paul Nison,
-raw
-ripe
-fresh
-organic
If it's missing less than those 2 things, don't eat it. Cool answer. :cool:

So in other words, we're saying raw regardless.

[imported_X_MiNdeD]

Organic = Hype.

[misslinda]

I would consider the long term effects as well.


If you can afford all organic-great, if not, do with what you can. EWG.org offers a pocket guide that shows which conventional fruits have the most pesticide residue to the least.

Like another member said, washt them well, and in some cases, probably don't eat the peel. the more fresh raw fruits and veggies, the more the "LIVE" enzymes we need for the cleansing,healing and repairing.

How does going cooked help you to save more money????

Go cooked and continue health issues,develop new health issues or worsen---then what is the cost?

What your hubby suggested doesn't make all to much sense to me......either all raw and non-organic OR all organic grains and cooked??

this is comparing apples to oranges......why not try somewhere in between like: Raw mostly non-organic BUT buy the fruits that are considered pesticide suckers as organic fruits instead.

What about his eating habits?

Perhaps challenge what other ares of your life you can sacrifice dollar amounts to pay for more organic.

;)

[asil]

Well, if the food bill is too high, what about other non-food ways to improve the budget? Buying less of something else, losing cable TV, driving less, etc.

[codajess]

in the words of Paul Nison,

-raw
-ripe
-fresh
-organic

If it's missing less than those 2 things, don't eat it.

That's 4 things. And if it's missing less than 2? I don't understand that part.


ETA: I think there's a happy medium. If you want to eat cooked food, I would say go for it. If you want to stick to raw, then go for it. Either way, do what you can organically. There are some things that really aren't that much different pricewise between organic and conventional. Buy the cheap organic stuff, and then get the conventional more-expensive kinds. Get the organic celery and carrots and lettuce, but get the conventional pineapple, grapes (I can't find decent quality organic grapes for anything!!) or whatever else you think is too pricey. There is a list I saw "out there" that has a list of what you "SHOULD" buy only organic, and what really doesn't matter if you get organic or not. You could probably find it on the web if you looked. You could go by that.

ETAagain: I found "Shoppers who are selective about which items to splurge on for the organic label might choose those with the highest residual pesticide levels: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, strawberries, according to February's issue of Consumer Reports.

Other produce -- asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papayas, pineapples and sweet peas -- are rarely tainted with pesticides even when not dubbed organic, advises Consumer Reports."
from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/256222_organic19.html

[Kerilyn]

Here's a pretty handy list I use when coming from a low income budge myself!
I got it from Frederic Patenaude's (Author of The Raw Secrets) newsletter. I tend to buy organic every time I can, but when I'm on vacation, or the organic fruit is not looking so hot I refer to this list!! Good luck! Puts you in a tough spot!

---------------------------------------------------------------
The Black List---------------------------------------------------------------

So, what are the most contaminated fruits and vegetables? Here’s the black list, according to the most recent data analysed:

The top 4 are fruits, in the following order:

#1 (Most Contaminated): Peach
#2: Strawberry
#3: Apple
#4: Nectarine

The other highly contaminated fruits in the top 12 are:

#5 Pears
#6 Cherries
#7 Red raspberries
#8 Imported grapes (Chile, Mexico, etc.)

Some of these fruits, such as peaches and nectarines and raspberries, can contain up to 45 different pesticides! Overall, studies show that those fruits have a high chance of being contaminated with a good number of different pesticide residues.

As for the vegetables, those that are the most likely to expose you to pesticide residues are:

#1 Celery
#2 Spinach
#3 Potatoes
#4 Sweet Bell Pepper

Those vegetables have a high chance of containing pesticide residues, some of them containing several!

---------------------------------------------------------------
The Least Contaminated Produce---------------------------------------------------------------

Now, for the “good” vegetables, here’s the top, least contaminated, in order of purity:

- Sweet corn
- Avocado
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
- Onions
- Peas
- Broccoli

The least contaminated fruits are:
- Pineapples
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Papaya

Very few mangoes and pineapple have pesticide residues on them, and when they do they usually contain only one type. Bananas do often contain pesticide residues, but rarely multiple ones.

[mongomango]

I'd stay raw and get organic, or not certified but grown without pesticides when and if I could. I would also grow some of my own salad greens organically..in pots if you have to...it's very easy and quick, and can act also as houseplants.

Your body can infinitely better clean out the toxins in non organic raw food than it can clean out the toxins from cooked foods.

[alex]

The nutrient content of fruits, vegetables, grains and all food that is grown, is ALWAYS dependant on the nutrient content of the soil, regardless if something is grown organically or conventionally.

Although it is probably more likely that organic does have a higher nutrient content in many cases, I don't believe the difference is enough to justify the trade off that you are suggesting.

In other words the difference in eating raw vs cooked is much greater than the difference between organic vs conventional - nutritionally speaking!!

More important reasons for eating organic is that this type of agriculture is environmentally sustainable whereas the conventional is not.

Therefore - go with raw! While at the same time looking for ways to also go organic - health first - the benefits of eating raw are greater than the non-benefits of some pesticide residues.


alex

[faith4u]

Well, if the food bill is too high, what about other non-food ways to improve the budget? Buying less of something else, losing cable TV, driving less, etc.

Unfortunately, food is the only area that we can cut our budget. We don't have cable tv, we don't drive hardly anywhere so that isn't an expense.

[faith4u]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I feel pretty much the same way and it will help to be able to share a lot of these thoughts with my dh.

I was able to cook very cheaply for our family when we were eating either rice, potato or bean based dishes.

Our food bill has gone up a huge amount this last year.

[misslinda]

I forgot to mention, I know a person who goes into fasting mode when she is struggling with paying for food. One can easily fast one meal per day.....maybe that is something to consider.

:)

[misslinda]

Unfortunately, food is the only area that we can cut our budget. We don't have cable tv, we don't drive hardly anywhere so that isn't an expense.


what' bout cancelling the tv all together could be in the interim until monies balance out. Cell phones, do you both have cells?

What bout thinking of ways to make some side income. Do you both work?

[faith4u]

I forgot to mention, I know a person who goes into fasting mode when she is struggling with paying for food. One can easily fast one meal per day.....maybe that is something to consider.

:)

Yes, I see how that could work for some people. BUT, I can't ask my kids to fast. I am also nursing a baby and don't feel that it would work for me right now. Maybe later.

Thanks for the idea though, I appreciate it.

[faith4u]

what' bout cancelling the tv all together could be in the interim until monies balance out. Cell phones, do you both have cells?

What bout thinking of ways to make some side income. Do you both work?

We don't watch tv. No cell phones.

My dh works a lot.

I am starting to teach raw food classes. I have four children ( 13, 9, 2 and 9 mo.) whom I homeschool so my time is very limited. But I am starting to teach for that very reason, to be able to afford organic produce for my family.

Unfortunately, we have had some very big hits this year financially. We don't normally have these problems. We are just trying to get back on top of things.

Thanks again MissLinda

[Lay-Lay]

Sprouting beans and seeds is really cheap and there is tons you can make with them. I eat alot of sprouts when the cashflow is low and I save a bundle. Lettuce is about the only thing I buy organic on a regular basis. I can get 3 heads of romain for $2.25. I eat at least a head a day. You can make up sprouted hummus or green patte, or whatever other dish you like, top on some lettuce and theres you a great lunch and dinner. I always eat fruit for breakfast and snacks, but lunch and dinner is sprouted dishes on lettuce or nori. Hope this helps.

[faith4u]

Sprouting beans and seeds is really cheap and there is tons you can make with them. I eat alot of sprouts when the cashflow is low and I save a bundle. Lettuce is about the only thing I buy organic on a regular basis. I can get 3 heads of romain for $2.25. I eat at least a head a day. You can make up sprouted hummus or green patte, or whatever other dish you like, top on some lettuce and theres you a great lunch and dinner. I always eat fruit for breakfast and snacks, but lunch and dinner is sprouted dishes on lettuce or nori. Hope this helps.

Thanks Lay Lay.

That is so funny that you said this. I just got my sprouter out and cleaned and started some sprouts again. I also started sprouting some lentils yesterday.

;)