It felt good this morning to put away lots of pantry ingredients we’d been low on or out of this last month — organic, extra virgin olive oil; solvent-free grapeseed oil; organic brown basmati rice; organic black and kidney beans; organic yellow popcorn; organic hard white wheat; organic millet; organic kamut; organic Jonagold apples and Bosc pears; nutritional yeast; shredded, unsweetened coconut; raw goat cheddar cheese; and organic brown rice crisps.
We choose to purchase organically whenever it is available. We have done this for several years. I’m so glad we do — and not just because it is more healthy, or better for the earth. Our taste buds are happier! Non-organic food items are not as pleasing to the palate.
I’ve purchased a couple things to tide us by this last month, all from the bulk bins at the local grocery stores. None were organic and they simply do not compare in taste or texture (not to mention nutrition) to the organic bulk foods I buy from Azure Standard. The commercial brown rice had no flavor and was mushy — compared to the organic brown basmati that is nutty, chewy, soft and fragrant. The normal yellow popcorn pops to about half the volume of organic yellow popcorn, and it tastes stale. The run of the mill beans get mushy and fuzzy, instead of tasting satisfyingly meaty and rich, as the organic beans do. And apples can be soft and mushy, compared to sweet, juicy and crisp organic fresh crop apples. Regular dry-roasted peanuts make a pasty, yellowish peanut butter that lacks flavor, rather than the sharp, rich, earthy, and tasty peanut butter from organic dry-roasted Valencia peanuts.
So we’ll keep buying organic whenever we can.
Wardeh, this sounds just as it should for all of us, the way things are supposed to be, I applaud your efforts to take such wonderful care of your family, it is sad and amazing how we have processed to death the good food The Lord has so wonderfully provided for us..keep up the good work Hon…love you..
Thanks for your sweet comments, Mona. I always appreciate your encouragement!
Wardeh, do you buy your organics online? I have had trouble getting fresh organic perishables. They seem old and browning and don’t last at all.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen,
The organic perishables are problem for us locally. There isn’t that much available. We get some items from Azure during the monthly delivery, but rely on the grocery store for organic greens and anything else that is in season. If I can’t find an item that is organic, in good condition and at a good price, we either go without or buy non-organic. Then every other month we go to Trader Joe’s and buy perishable organic there. They have a much better selection and better prices than the grocery stores nearby.
So, the answer is — no, we don’t buy perishables online (with the exception of a couple things from Azure once a month). This doesn’t mean you couldn’t. I don’t know what would be available in your area. I would say you should just do the best you can (which is probably what you are already doing). Buy organic when you can and if you can’t, make do or go without.
Also, to encourage you — I have read that nutritionally, it is much more important to consume organic grains and natural meats than it is to have organic produce. Of course, it would be best to have 100% organic, but the meats and grains are best to have naturally.
I’m sorry I couldn’t help more!
Love, Wardeh
No, you have helped Wardeh. I have so much to learn! Thank you!
Love
Karen