So are fruits and veggies that aren’t certified organic considered whole foods? Or is it strictly organics?
Actually does anyone mind giving me a definition of what “whole” food is? And maybe like a list or something?
Thank you
Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, eggs, dairy, meat, fish and fowl. They don’t have to be organic. Things which are not whole foods are those which have been processed highly. This would be things such as cookies, candy, sausage and other cured meats, chips, pretzels – - you know, junk food. They’re not whole because they lack the nutrition of foods in their simplest forms.
Ready-to-eat foods are not whole except for things such as raw fruits and vegetables, so bananas = yes, banana-flavored snack cakes = no.
organic foods have been studied a lot in recent years. Although they have the reputation of being more nutritious, studies have not borne this out. A lot of hype is being given to organic only foods and locally-grown only foods. A certain book claims they’re the only things you should eat. But the book ignores a number of facts, distorts others and just makes up some of its claims, so it isn’t reliable. Also, what constitutes “certified organic” varies from state to state. In some cases, certified organic means almost nothing because the standard is very simple.
If someone can afford the high prices of organic only and local only, that’s fine. But lots of us can’t and we eat what’s available at grocery stores. As long as you are choosing wisely, that is, choosing whole foods, you will get the nutrition you need.
Grocery Haul, Shopping and Budget tips, Raw Food diet – Part 2
