Flowers are sometimes what symbolizes spring and summer.

Buying more fruits and vegetables for all those fabulous salads and vegetable dishes is another common occurrence of spring and summer.  So let’s talk about buying those fruits and vegetables.

Buying organic is important, however sometimes the pocket-book doesn’t allow that, so if you can’t always do organic at least try to follow the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen Plus rule.  The Environmental Working Group has an awesome website that is very helpful when it comes to educating us on everything from healthy cleaning products, sunscreens, cosmetics, toxic chemicals, and a shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce.
The dirty dozen plus list consists of the following fourteen fruits and vegetables that take priority in buying organic.  If you have a smart phone you can download a handy app that lets you take this list to the grocery store with you, to use while shopping.
-Apples
-Celery
-Tomatoes
-Cucumbers
-Grapes
-Nectarines
-Hot peppers
-Peaches
-Potatoes
-Spinach
-Strawberries
-Sweet bell pepper
-Kale/collard greens
-Summer squash

The following are the clean fifteen that you can squeak by on not buying organic.
-Asparagus
-Avocados
-Cabbage
-Cantelope
-Corn
-Eggplant
-Kiwi
-Grapefruit
-Mangos
-Mushrooms
-Onions
-Papayas
-Pineapple
-Sweet peas
-Sweet potatoes

This is a great starting point of buying organic.  The more you can buy organic the better, because not only are you avoiding pesticides you are staying away from GMO’s.

Fresh Spring rolls loaded with organic vegetables and cooked brown rice dipped in Not So Peanut Sauce,

make a lite and refreshing appetizer and meal.

Tags:  avocados Carrots red peppers scallions zucchini