Welcome to this post: Eating Organic Most of the Time.
I think a lot about the organic foods and drinks that make up a large portion of my diet. I find myself constantly searching for stability within that–having a stable, doable, enjoyable habit of eating that is never neurotic, too planned out, nor obsessive. I want to have a sensible way of fueling my body that I feel good about.
My “wing it” solution (requires little thought and planning) for myself is to focus on the percentages.
Looking at Percentages
Percentages. I focus on, approximately, the 90%-10% or 80%-20% range. “90 percent of the time, what is my daily intake comprised of?”
For me it is fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, eggs, coffee, kombucha, coconut water, almond milk and coconut milk. Because these items make up so much of what I eat, I buy those foods organic (non-GMO implied) as much as possible.
The other 10%-20%, condiments, cheese, meat, meals eaten at restaurants, items I use very sparingly, etc. are not always items I buy organically because they do not tend to make up a large portion of what I consume.
To sum up these sporadic thoughts, I’ll break it down this way (assuming you are interested in optimizing your health).
Prioritizing Foods
If you drink alot of coffee every day, get organic coffee. If you enjoy alot of ketchup every day, buy organic ketchup (it exists, and is delicious).
In all of this, it is counter productive for me to get wrapped up in eating perfectly. If you are buying something that isn’t organic, than just be able to refer to the percentages of your diet and determine how that food item plays into it.
In a way, it is a common thread throughout my fitness and nutrition ventures to have an awareness of percentages. 90%-80% of the time I am eating organically and healthily and running every day. 10%-20% of the time I eat sensibly but not always maximally healthy, as well as taking days off from running and enjoying some rest and relaxation.
Hi, Jessica! Thanks for sharing this. It’s difficult to eat everything organic, at least for me, because there are very little options here in the Philippines and most organic products are more expensive. In alternative, I buy local or homegrown products.
this is such a good, simple way of looking at things Jess! hope you have a great day with family tomorrow!