To Shop Organic or Not...

I will be the first to admit that only a about 4 years ago or so I did not search out for organic fruits and vegetables. I thought they are way to expensive and the whole organic thing was a lot of hype. I figured that as long as you washed everything really good, you would get rid of most of the pesticides. Why spend double the price sometimes more?? I have a lot of kids to feed who LOVE fruits and vegetables and eat them all day long.
Well there are a few reasons I have now changed my mind

1. No matter how much you wash SOME fruits and vegetables you can never completely get rid of all the pesticides and chemicals that are in them.
   
2. I have a responsibility to myself and my family to offer them the best in nutrition and health that I can.
3. When you know better you do better.

Now I still dont buy exclusively organic there are some things like pasta, cookies, basically anything processed I couldn't be bothered and Clothing.... NOT A CHANCE
I do try to buy as much organic fruits and vegetables as possible, some things I can not find and there are some things that are more important to me than others. I came across a list in Toscas Eat Clean Diet Recharged book that I use as a reference when I am shopping

THE 12 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MOST CONTAMINATED BY PESTICIDES ARE:

1. Apples
2. Bell Peppers
3. Celery
4. Cherries
5. Grapes
6. Nectarines
7. Peaches
8. Pears
9. Potatoes
10. Raspberries
11. Spinach
12. Strawberries

THE 12 FRUIT AND VEGGIES LEAST CONTAMINATED BY PESTICIDES ARE:

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Bananas
4. Broccoli
5. Cauliflower
6. Corn
7. Kiwis
8. Mangoes
9. Onions
10. Papaya
11. Pineapples
12. Sweet Peas

This list helps me when I go shopping. Organic is expensive but if you can at least get the ones that are contaminated the worst that is a great start. I know longer worry as much about the price of the food as I do the quality of the food.
My husband went to superstore a couple weeks ago to get sweet potatoes. He went up to the produce guy and asked where the sweet potatoes where. The guy said they are right here. (He was putting these GIGANTIC potatoes away. Mitz thought they were huge Yams) Mitz said are you sure? These are huge. The man said "yup here is the sign. If you want the regular sized sweet potatoes go and check the organic section"
I thought it was kinda funny but you gotta think what are they putting into these fruits and veggies to make them so gigantic???