Mom2MomSC

The other day I emailed a question to nationally-know nutritionist Carolyn O'Neil, who has been on The Today Show and is a syndicated newspaper columnist. I was surprised and pleased when she emailed me back. Here's my question and her response:

Q.I feed my two young kids lots of fresh fruit,including
grapes,apples, plums, blackberries, peaches, blue berries and strawberries.
They even eat lettuce-based salads. But instead of feeling happy that
they're getting good nutrition, I worry about the level of pesticides in
what they're eating. Few organic foods are available near where I live, and those that are available are usually out of my price range. I buy organic foods when they're on sale at our local supermarket, but they account for only about 5 percent of the total produce we eat. My dilemma is shared by moms I know. Would my kids be better off skipping the pesticide-laden fruit and snacking on potato chips?

Thanks much,
Carol Weir

She answered:
A. Don't worry about spending a lot of money on organic produce if you can't find it....or if it's too expensive. If there are farmers or farmer's markets in your area, do business with them...it helps your family and theirs.
I believe that the conventional produce sold in supermarkets is perfectly fine and certainly nutritious. I like paying attention to what's in season and what's abundant....so the price is less and the freshness is best.
Frozen veggies are OK too. Some taste better than others. Frozen peas for instance are great...and I love love love..frozen spinach and use it in a lot of recipes. Produce is tested for pesticide residue..rigorously. I have done many stories on this. It's always better to eat fresh veggies and fresh fruit...than potato chips and cookies!

Some imported items have higher pesticide levels. The “risk index score” for an imported peach is almost 5 times that of a domestic peach; for sweet bell peppers, it’s nearly 5½ times as high. Other high-risk produce: imported grapes, nectarines, lettuce, and cucumbers. So you might want to skip those if you can find only imports. Also be wary of overseas “organics,” where regulatory oversight might not be as reliable.