basic organic food 'must-haves'?

[stinkymalinki]

What are yours, as a regular thing? We're trying to go a bit healthier, and want to add in some organic bits. Chicken and eggs we already buy as organic, as well as milk for DS, but what else? Bit confused about lamb and beef etc as i presumed they were all 'free-range' anyway (or am i being really thick?)

Milk is my only 'must-have'

Try to get organic cheese, fruit & veg where possible

I would go for organic red meat if you can since I think the same principle applies as with chicken - organic meat should be free from growth hormones and other nasties. I might be wrong but that was my impression. We have organic strawberries, kiwi fruit etc because they taste so much nicer!

`organic carrots taste divine

Milk and meat for us

Thanks Tatties. So organic meat isn't that important then? There seemed to be a daunting array of organic bread, tinned foods, sugar, pasta etc in the shop earlier, and i was wondering if they were any better or just trying to cash in on the hype.

I also think organic is less important for fruit and veg with very thick skins, which you have to peel anyway (if you have to make a choice)

Agree organic carrots are lovely

I try to buy as much organic veg as possible as ity tastes so much better. Defintelay dairy stuff and eggs. I'm lucky I have access to loads and want to afford it.

Salad & soft fruit as non-organic ones have high pesticide residues.

Sorry, x-posts! Meat is important then.

Oh, sorry, we don't eat meat.

I don't tend to get any organic tinned or dried food

i did a thread a week or so ago and wrote down things from an article that basically stated if you couldn't afford everything organic, these things were things you should get based on residual pesticides
(will look for thread)

all dairy (milk eggs butter cheese)

carrots - health reasons

have been told grapes umpteen times but don't as they are so pricey

organic flour if you make your own bread or cakes is heavenly

here is the list -

flour
potatoes
bread
apple
pears
grapes
strawbs
green beans
tomatoes
cukes

Thanks Hana, that would be useful.

Hana- What's a cuke??

think somebody on that thread mentioned lamb was ok if not organic as difficult to intensive farm it
also organic eggs and milk have loads more omega 3 so good.
according to the two fat ladies (celeb chefs)
organic carrots are a must as pestisides get really into non organic ones even if you peel

milk
eggs
chicken
tomato ketchup! (apparantly, dont know if true, but if organic, can count towards 5 a day?!! must need a lot tho
vegetables, where possible (from riverford)
Meat - not eaten by me, DP usualy gets it organic, but not always
Any baby jars/puddings bought (for emergencies of course!

cucumber!!!

LOL at myself for not getting that!!! Sorry Hana!

Showing myself to be truly blonde!!

in priority order
milk
eggs
carrots
apples
beef
lamb
chicken (free range is ok - i often find organic very scrawny and goes off fast)
broccoli
apples
tomatoes

of the above i am confident i can taste the difference. esp milk & carrots!

all other fruit/veg i tend to buy at farmers city market anyway so it is generally organic, but if in M&S/Tesco etc. i wouldn't specifically look for organic of anything else.