Busy Moms: Keep Produce Clean with Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 Lists

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, we all know that eating more of them is good for our health. However, not all produce is created equal when you consider exposure to pesticides. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization focused on human health and the environment, compiles a yearly report highlighting produce with the most and least pesticides. Understanding this "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" list can help guide smarter produce-buying decisions.

 THE DIRTY DOZEN - MOST PESTICIDE RESIDUE

Each year, the EWG analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture to rank popular fruits and veggies based on pesticide loads. The top 12 most contaminated make up the Dirty Dozen list for that year. As a busy mom, you want to provide the best nutrition for your family through fresh fruits and veggies. But not all produce is equal when it comes to pesticide exposure. The Environmental Working Group's yearly "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" guides can help moms make smarter shopping choices.

The Dirty Dozen for Moms to Buy Organic The Dirty Dozen highlights the 12 popular produce items with the most pesticide residues. Buying these organic is ideal for limiting your kids' chemical exposure:

• Strawberries

• Spinach

• Kale

• Nectarines

• Apples

• Grapes

• Peaches

• Cherries

• Pears

• Tomatoes

• Celery

• Potatoes

What makes these crops prone to heavy spraying? Most have edible skins, hold lots of nooks and crannies for pests to hide, or grow low to the ground where chemicals persist. Going organic avoids nearly all synthetic pesticides linked to hormone disruption, neurological damage, cancer and other issues in humans. These thin-skinned fruits and veggies tend to have more pesticides linger due to their growing methods and vulnerability to pests. Going organic avoids synthetic chemicals linked to health issues in children.

The Clean 15 for Budget-Friendly Moms Not every item needs an organic splurge. The Clean 15 list reveals conventionally grown produce lowest in pesticides that moms can buy non-organic:

• Avocados

• Sweet corn

• Pineapples

• Onions

• Papayas

• Frozen sweet peas

• Asparagus

• Mangos

• Eggplant

• Honeydew melon

• Kiwi

• Cabbage

• Mushrooms

• Cantaloupe

• Cauliflower

Their sturdy skins and growing habits make them better suited for pesticide removal through washing and peeling.

Reducing Pesticides for Healthy Kids As a busy mom, other tips can further minimize your family's pesticide exposure:

• Thoroughly wash all produce before eating

• Peel non-organic items when possible

• Choose frozen fruits/veggies from the Clean 15

• Grow some of your own pesticide-free produce

• Buy from local sources transparent about growing methods

• Opt for naturally hardy, native edible plants

With the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 as guides, busy moms can balance budgets and keep their families' fruits and veggies pesticide-free!

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Don't risk your family's health or spend more than needed! Get valuable guidance on navigating the organic produce world as a busy mom.