FRESH ORGANIC Herbs You Grow ~vs~ Dried Herbs You Buy from the Grocer

When I first started eating healthy, non-processed, non-packaged food I felt like my choices for variety and flavor were limited. Once I began eating fresh ORGANIC produce and meats the improvement in the the taste of food increased immensely; however, I quickly became bored with sea salt and pepper for seasoning.

I began to scour the Internet for organic recipes and then substitute the "fresh herb" ingredients with the spices I had in my pantry.

Then I learned more about why eating ORGANIC was so much better for us - the way it was grown, prepared, processed, and packaged without the toxic pesticides and herbicides. At the same time I began to notice that a few companies were putting dried organic and certified organic herbs and spices out on the shelf! HURRAY! Finally, I would be really cooking with all organic ingredients. I had heard that many herbs and spices lost some over their flavor and nutrients when the were dried or frozen, but this had to be better than the chemical laced stuff I had been using before. And they certainly were! Taste improved greatly using the ORGANIC herbs and spices I bought off the shelves at the grocer.

But, I kept noticing that my recipes would ask for "FRESH" herbs. I had never cooked with fresh herbs and I hadn't seen fresh ORGANIC herbs in the grocery stores yet. Even the produce stands and Organic Co-op where I purchased my produce and organic dairy products didn't sell "fresh" herbs.

I thank God for the plethora of info on the Internet! I know there is a lot of evil on here as well, but I love having so much information available at the push of a few keys.

I started reading about growing my own fresh herbs. I had already learned to container garden vegetables and flowers - but making a kitchen window garden of herbs that really produced healthy ORGANIC herbs would be a new endeavor. But I was willing to entertain the idea especially after I learned how easy it could be.

Having a herb garden in my kitchen is not only convenient; but it adds a natural organic beauty about it. And the difference in how my food is tasting is truly incredible. I never knew that "fresh" could make such a difference. And the smell coming from my kitchen while cooking is mmm-mmm good! Delicious!

Tune in tomorrow for hints on planting your own ORGANIC HERB GARDEN!

What are your OPTIONS when you can't buy ORGANIC?

Times are tough.

Everyone is feeling the financial crunch.

And unfortunately eating healthy costs more than the "bad for you", processed, easier to cook, foods.

As you know, I am a strong supporter of organic gardening, eating, and living, and I encourage you to purchase organically-grown foods whenever possible. But, I also understand sometimes it is not possible to buy organic.

Here are some of the recommendations I found while scouring the Internet for when you can't buy organic:

• First, make sure you've exhausted all of your local options. Check farmer's markets, community-supported farms, even roadside food stands. Locally-grown foods may or may not be lower in pesticides and other contaminants, but it's easy enough to ask and you may be surprised how many local growers you'll find within driving distance and how close to organic some of their foods may turn out to be. Sometimes local growers simply don't have the money to fund an organic certification process, even though they practice organic techniques in the way they grow their crops.


• 
  Talk to your local grocers. You may be surprised at their willingness to experiment with new foods, particularly if you are a patron of the store. In addition, ask questions about their non-organic produce and meats. These foods may turn out to be very different in terms of their quality. What information does the buyer have from the supplier? Can the buyer get more information? Could you contact the supplier yourself?
  Shop online. Three sites that offer a variety of organic foods are: http://www.shopnatural.com , http://www.shopbyorganic.com , and http://www.oraganic.com/default.asp.


• 
  Read the ingredient lists on all non-organic food packaging. Although you cannot trust the terms "natural" or "all natural" on the front of the package, you can trust the ingredient lists to include most of the substances added to the food. Look for the terms "artificial flavor" and "artificial color." Also look for the FD&C colorings (for example, Yellow 5). Of course, you won't find pesticides, heavy metals, or other potentially toxic residues listed on ingredient lists. But watching out for other potential toxins is still very worthwhile.
  Rinse your produce thoroughly and use a vegetable brush to help remove potential toxins found on the surface of the food. If you don't have a water filter installed on your kitchen sink, consider installing one so that your rinse will involve drinking water of high quality. For green leafy vegetables, consider soaking for several minutes in water or water and a small amount of lemon juice before rinsing.


• 
  Peel all waxed fruits. Also peel any fruits you know or suspect to be heavily sprayed.
  Continue to use all of the other World's Healthiest Foods principles in your food selection. For example, continue to choose 100% whole grain products, even when they are not organic. Similarly, continue to choose cold pressed olive oil, lean meats, cold water fish, and a wide variety of natural spices and seasonings.


• 
  Enjoy the delicious flavors and textures of your food. Even when you haven't been able to buy organic, take satisfaction in the selections you've made and recognize the benefits of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, one-of-a-kind foods!

I truly believe that the time is coming when we will be able to buy ORGANIC at a reasonable cost. As holistic living and healthy eating is coming to the forefront of preventative medicine, and as more and more people realise that protecting themselves from the toxic chemicals in pesticides, as more people BUY ORGANIC, the cost will go down.

Whether you are able to buy all organic, or simply do some of the things I mentioned before to eat healthy, I hope you will take care of your WHOLE self ~ spirit, soul, and body!

Organically Yours-
KIMBERLY