Good Afternoon & Good Eve My Precious Bundles of Love! 

I must admit, I'm not yet in my "Let's chat Organic vs. Conventional" element, because I (FINALLY) received the *Most Special* surprise EVER in the mail...

Here is PROOF that I not only have the most BEAUTIFUL niece & nephew in the Universe, but they're also the 

SWEETEST, most thoughtful little munchkins alive!!!

They made & sent their Auntie Lola the most Beaaaauuuuuuuuuutiful pieces of art I've ever laid my eyeballs on!

Move over Miró, Matisse, & Picasso...It's time to make way for some SuPerB abstract expressionism by

Ella Claire & Maximiliano Jr.

It should go without saying that these two masterpieces are hanging up LOUD & PROUD in the Casa. 

<Sigh> ...I feel so lucky, & so LOVED! 

Now that I went gangbusters over my darling niece & nephew, I can move forward with the HAPPS of the EVE:

Buying Organic vs. Conventional

I find that for many people, the only difference they see between the two, starts with a "C" and ends with a "T" (answer: COST), am I right?! Many can't fathom spending an extra couple bucks on strawberries, when they can get the "same" thing much cheaper. Sound familiar?! The good news is that I'm RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, ready to enlighten your buns on this very matter, so listen up!

I'm going to preface by saying that ENTIRE books are written about this, because anything having to do with the food industry is maddeningly complex these days, so despite a great plethora of information on the topic, I'm going to keep it real, and serve things up nice & SKINNY for ya!  (Ode to Bethenny Frankel....xx). 

What Does Organic Actually Mean?

In essence, Organic used to be the way ALL FOOD on this earth was. Untouched, whole, and natural. But because the food industry today is a a profit-driven money suck, sh*t has literally hit the fan. Animals and produce are pumped & sprayed with all sorts of nasty, so that they grow faster, and bigger, so that farms can produce & sell more product = Make more Dolla Dolla Bill$!

Thank goodness, we've wizened up, and now have the OPTION to buy healthy, high quality product.

<Enter: ORGANIC>

According to www.sustainabletable.org, the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), all organic agricultural farms & products must meet the following guidelines:

• Abstain from the application of the following prohibited materials for at least 3 years prior to certification, and then continue throughout their organic license:synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, & sewage sludge).
• Prohibit the use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
• Farms must employ positive soil building, conservation, manure management & crop rotation practices
• Provide outdoor access and pasture for livestock
• Refrain from injecting animals with antibiotics & hormones
• Animals are sustained on 100% organic feed
• Avoid contamination during the processing of organic products
• Keep records of all operations
• Prohibit the use of hydrogenated and trans fats

BUT, it's not that black & white...

• When a product wears the seal "USDA Organic," it doesn't always mean it's 100% organic! It must say "100%" on the label! 

• The USDA Organic seal usually means that 95 to 100 percent of its ingredients are organic. 
• Products with 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients can still advertise as being "organic," but without the USDA seal.
• Products less than 70 percent organic ingredients, can only include the list of "organic" products within the standard nutrition label.

Here's Why I Recommend Going Organic:

• Keep chemicals & other pollutants off your plate!
• It tastes better! As if this is a surprise! Organic products aren't stripped of their flavor because they're not tampered with, like conventional sorts.
• By starting to eat organic now, you're paving the way to healthier future for kids! Some conventional products are sprayed with cancer-causing pesticides, that could be detrimental after years of consumption.
• Save the Environment! Because organic farms have to follow such a strict regimen to keep their soil healthy, that in turn keeps the water more pure. It also saves an immense amount of energy! According to Whole Foods Market and the Organic Trade Association, more energy is spent on producing synthetic fertilizers than actually tilling, cultivating, and harvesting the crops!

With that said, it isn't absolutely necessary that you go gaga, and buy all organic 100% of the time, because you and I both know that is not always an option, however here is a GREAT reference list to help you prioritize what you DO buy organic, and what you don't. (Source: http://www.ewg.org)

Try to Buy These ORGANIC: (Most Contaminated)

• Peaches
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

You Don't Always Have to Buy These ORGANIC:(Least Contaminated)

• Onions
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Frozen Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Frozen Sweet Peas
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Papaya
• Broccoli

<SIGH> ... That was a WHOPPER!

...and we barely scratched the surface! Oy Vey!  I hope that I've cleared the air for ya a bit on the matter, so you can go to sleep tonight with a better understanding as to why buying Organic really is worth it! 

Wham! Bam! Thankyouma'am!

I'm outta here, Luvahs! It's been REAL, as always...

Big Kisses To ALL!

Mrs. Daily D xoxo