Eating less pesticides

The Environmental Working Group has a list of the fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides, called "The Dirty Dozen" and a list of the fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticides, "The Clean Fifteen". Pesticides can be dangerous for your health and the health of your kids, so it's best to avoid them when you can.

The Dirty Dozen:

1. Celery

2. Peaches

3. Strawberries

4. Apples

5. Blueberries

6. Nectarines

7. Bell Peppers

8. Spinach

9. Cherries

10. Kale/Collard Greens

11. Potatoes

12. Grapes (imported)

The Clean Fifteen

1. Onions

2. Avocado

3. Sweet corn

4. Pineapple

5. Mango

6. Sweet peas

7. Asparagus

8. Kiwi

9. Cabbage

10. Eggplant

11. Cantaloupe

12. Watermelon

13. Grapefruit

14. Sweet potato

15. Honeydew Melon

When money is tight, try to buy from the clean fifteen list more often. Instead of potatoes, have sweet potatoes, swap kale for cabbage, and apples for cantaloupe. But don't forget, the health benefits of fruits and vegetables outweigh the risk of pesticides.

Do you have recipe ideas for the using the clean fifteen more often? Post below!!

I try to use lots of cabbage, because it's on the clean list and is really cheap and so healthy. You can throw it in smoothies (with some fruit!), soups, salads and stir-frys.

Here is one my family's favorite cabbage recipes--even my two year olds like it!

Asian Cabbage Salad

Green cabbage/red cabbage or both

Carrots

4 tbs soy sauce

4 tbs oil (sesame is best, but any kind will work)

1 tbs grated ginger (adjust to taste)

1 clove garlic

Sweetener (honey, maple syrup, sugar)

Optional: cilantro, seeds or nuts, grapes

Cut up cabbage finely, grate carrots. If using cilantro, chop finely. If using grapes cut into halves or quarters. Mix soy sauce, oil, ginger, garlic, and sweetener together. Pour dressing over salad.

Options:

1. Add protein by throwing on some canned chickpeas, or cooked meat.

2. Cook it! Put a little oil in a pan, add the garlic and ginger. Heat it up on medium heat for 1 minute. Throw in the cabbage and carrots. Cook it by stirring, if it’s taking a long time you could put a lid on the pan. When it’s cooked throw on the soy sauce mixture and stir. Serve over rice, pasta or by itself. Add cooked meat, chickpeas or nuts.

The Environmental Working Group has information about the safety of cosmetics, soaps, water, cell phones and more. Check out their website at www.ewg.org