Guide to Organic Foods: for Rowan students on a budget Lisa Leszcynski

What is Organic Food? No use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides No antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetically modified organisms No cloning animals or use of products Extremely minimal preservatives and artificial ingredients

Why is this important?

Benefits of Organic Foods  More beneficial nutrients  Fewer pesticides  Fresher  Better for the environment  Animals are healthier because not given  Antibiotics, growth hormones, animal byproducts (Robinson, 2014)

Benefits of Organic Foods #2  Organic food is GMO-free  GMOs=Genetically Modified Organisms  Plants/animals whose DNA has been altered  Alteration does not occur in nature  Have been linked to multiple cancers

Chemicals in Non-Organic foods  Herbicides and Pesticides  Toxic residues found on foods  Sewage Sludge is used in the growing process  Antibiotics and hormones: Meats and Diary  Irradiation used on spices

Why shouldn’t I eat non- organic foods?  Pesticides increase the risk of cancers  Leukemia  Brain tumors & Breast/prostate cancer  Children and fetuses most vulnerable to  Developmental delays/behavioral disorders  Autism  Motor dysfunction  (Robinson, 2014)

Nutrition in Organic Foods VS non-Organic Foods  5% to100% higher than conventional foods

Why does it cost more?  Labor intensive  Organic farming certification is expensive  Organic feed for animals is very expensive  Organic farms smaller than conventional farms  Too small to receive government subsidies  Robinson, 2014

Tip #1  Shop around – Compare prices:  Grocery store  Farmers’ market  Freezer aisle

Tip # 2  Buy in season  Cheapest  Freshest

Where can I find organic foods? Food chains Trader Joe’s  28 miles away Whole Foods  21 miles away  1 mile away Shoprite MUST have this seal

Brands

Where can I find organic foods? Farmer’s markets  Sell fresh produce cheaper than grocery store  Local farmer’s markets near Rowan Local farmer’s markets near Rowan

Local Markets  Duffield's Farm Market - 4 miles  Woodbury Farmers Market - 8 miles  Natural Health Clementon- 9 miles

AND REMEMBER…  Organic healthy  Junk food may use organic ingredients  Junk organic food is a marketing ploy  Organic desserts/ snacks high in  sugar, salt, fat, and calories  SO…… read food labels carefully!

Organic Food CouponsCoupons

Work Cited  " Topics A-Z Index." All About Organic Foods. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr  "Organic Information Resources. What Are They? Where Are They? How Can I Find Them?" Organic Information Resources. What Are They? Where Are They? How Can I Find Them? N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr  "Nutrition and Healthy Eating." Organic Foods: Are They Safer? More Nutritious? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr  "Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program." Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr  "Organic Trade Association." Organic Trade Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr  "Non-Organic Foods (Pesticides, Contaminated Sewage Sludge, Hormones)." Non-Organic Foods (Pesticides, Contaminated Sewage Sludge, Hormones). N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr  "Pesticide Residues from Non-Organic Foods Building Up in Our Bodies." Pesticide Residues from Non-Organic Foods Building Up in Our Bodies. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr