The Organic Challenge

This post is the first in a series of posts called "A PA Healthy Kid." It will chronicle my journey to help my PA get healthy despite the fact that his allergies and eczema have caused him to have a compromised immune system. Please join me each Wednesday as I chronicle our journey.

Have you ever wondered how the chemicals that we consume in and on our food affects our health? This has been a big focus of mine for the last month or two. I admit I never gave it much thought until I was introduced to Tyler's recent health problems.

Could these chemicals (in the form of pesticides, preservatives, etc) be contributing to Tyler's continuous allergy and eczema problems?

Could Organic be a Better Choice?

For some reason since organic products became all the rage in recent years, I admit I thought these were for people that were a little more "hippy like" (sorry if you have used organic for years, I'm a little slow to catch on to "good" trends!).

The more I have read about organics in the last few months, the more I wondered about Tyler. Could cutting back on the bad stuff really make a difference? I read tons of stuff online and offline and started to believe this might be part of the answer to better health for him and, really, our whole house.

So, what exactly is "organic?"

According to the The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

I'm not expert in this but I think things like pesticides, sewage sludge, bioengineering, and other things just don't sound healthy. Maybe its just me...

The Challenge of It All

There are a few challenges to going organic. The thing that has prevented me initially is cost. We are a one income family and cost has been a big factor. I am, however, splurging on things that aren't outrageously priced for produce.

A few weeks ago, I started wanting to expand to things like grains and dried beans. After much research, I discovered food coops. These are a great way to buy in bulk, save money, yet buy organic.

Could there be any downfalls to this??

Ummm..yes. Unfortunately "organic" seems (in most cases of bulk grains) to translate into "processed in a facility with nuts."

Ugghh!! I can't tell you the frustration I have encountered in my research. One sweet company offered to be extra careful if I ordered from them. Unfortunately I just couldn't feel entirely at ease with that. If there were nuts on the same lines, it freaked me out!!

I have found another coop with different suppliers that I will be researching soon. However, I am not getting my hopes up. (If you would like to check out organic coops in your area, click here.)

Where to Go from Here?

Even if I am unable to find safe grains and dried beans, I can switch on some produce, particularly those with an edible skin (i.e. grapes, apples, etc).

The good news is that I have found some large companies carried by most major grocery store chains that are safe. I have also found a way to purchase those things in bulk (translation: "cheaper").

With lots of dedication, going healthier, and organic at times, is possible. It amazes me that eating a healthier diet has a level of challenges I was not anticipating for someone with nut allergies. I will not give up, though. I might not be able to make all of the changes I want, but I will make changes when they are what I deem "safe."

Next Week

If you want to embark on this journey with me, don't loose heart! I did contact some large "regular grocery store" companies that are safe. I also found a way to buy them in bulk. We will cover those things next week!