The Dirty Dozen

Michael and I recently went to a cooking demonstration with Chef Tanya at Native Foods.  She's an awesome, fun, and well educated woman who has created a STELLAR menu and this AMAZING restaurant in Westwood (also a few other locations).  While she was cooking, she mentioned the "dirty dozen."  Michael and I have switched to organic unless we can't find an organic option, but we had no idea about this dirty dozen, and have definitely bought a few of these when they were on sale. According to CNN, the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit group focused on public health, determined that these fruits and vegetables have between 47 and 67 pesticides per serving! GROSS!!!  It's believed that they are more susceptible to the absorption of  the chemicals due to their soft skin.  So here they are:
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

On the flip side, organic is more expensive, and if you're on a tight budget, there's the "Clean 15." These fruits and vegetables have a tougher skin and showed little to no pesticides.  So if you can't go completely organic, you can get away with these.  But please, for the love of - don't poison yourself with that dirty dozen.

Clean 15:
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions


To read the whole article from CNN and to learn more about pesticides click here.

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY PEDOR!!!