The Truth About Organic Foods and Motherhood
There's an article floating around that is targeted for the mom who
doesn't
feed her kids organic food, an article that I of course had to read and scope out. I'll say that I was proud of the mama for taking a stance and saying that it doesn't make any mother better for what she chooses to feed her child...kudos to her for that; I wholeheartedly agree.
BUT...
Unfortunately the article is somewhat inaccurate and contains old sources that recent studies can dispute.
Organic food IS healthier
for us and our children; science HAS recently proven that. Now is it a tremendous difference that gives organic eating children superpowers who will score high on their ACTs and who will be the future leaders of America?
Um, no.
Organic food isn't
that
super.
Whether or not you feed your child organic food should
never
distinguish what kind of mother you are.
No mother should ever feel down because her child is snacking on animal crackers while her friend's child is snacking on Annie's Bunnies made with organic wheat. That is simply a parenting choice, but not one that makes any parent a "better" or more loving parent.
While feeding your child organic food is wonderful for the reasons I'll list below, it's more about making sure you feed your child a balanced diet that contains more whole foods than processed foods (but who am I to even judge that?). There is a chance that some people simply can't afford the small price difference between organic and conventional and that IS okay; it's even expected. I choose what fits our budget and what is important to me when it comes to selecting organic items
.
Often times organic shredded cheese is just too pricey for me,
so helllooo Kraft.
We all strive to love our children and parent them to the best of our capabilities. As a mother who buys on average 70-75% of our groceries as organic or natural oriented, I can assure you that I'm not perfect and either is my child. Sure my child probably hasn't eaten many of the yummy snacks that other toddlers have eaten, but I assure you that her day will come too. As someone who is known in the social media world for loving organic and natural things, I won't lie and say that sometimes I feel hypocritical when I reach for that bag of Oreos at the grocery store.
Will someone see me?
The truth of the matter though is that I put it all out there and my readers and followers know that I live life on the edge (ha!) and I indulge in good, non organic foods (especially while pregnant). I envy the mamas who are even crunchier than I am who nosh on kale chips and mango smoothies all day. I just can't do it quite like that.
I need chocolate and I crave fried chicken.
But as a mother, I choose organic food as much as possible for my family. It's our choice and it makes me no better than any other mother out there. I do it for the future health of my family and here's why:
Organic food DOES contain more nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. Science has
that and has shutdown an old 2009 study (and others) that said organic food was no different than conventional food.
:
- Organic crops contain an average of 17 percent more antioxidants than conventionally grown crops.
- Some of the organic crops, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, had as much as 60 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds than conventional crops.
- The levels of flavanones, which are associated with a lower risk of stroke, were 69 percent higher in organic foods tested.
- Pesticide residues were found to be three to four times more likely in conventional crops compared to organic.
- Overall levels of pesticides were found to be ten to 100 times lower in organic food than in conventionally produced food.
Organic foods can also contain higher levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorous as well.
And why should we be concerned with our exposure to pesticides? Well, because pesticides can be linked to the following: respiratory problems, memory disorders, skin conditions, depression, miscarriage, birth defects, cancer and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease (
).
So if we can't live near it, should we eat it?
When I look at our culture and realize how many people suffer just from cancer (not even mentioning all of the other things), I firmly believe that our environment around us is linked to this increase. From what we eat, to what we breathe and what we use daily, we are surrounded by chemicals that are supposed to make our lives easier and improve our economy, but in actuality I think they just harm us in the long run.
So yes organic is a bit healthier, but it isn't for everyone and that's okay. Being informed and mindful of what your child eats and making sure they have a healthy diet with minimal processed foods, artificial coloring and additives is what matters more in my opinion. Going the extra mile to protect your future by choosing organic is up to you.
In the end, nothing should ever make a mother feel less worthy or less of a supermom than any other mom out there. Whether breast versus bottle, cloth versus disposables or organic versus conventional, I truly believe in what the other author was trying to say: that
we are ALL doing the best we can.
Our choices as mothers can never show someone just how much we love our child. No one can know the depths of a mother's love for her child; no one can distinguish that by a label for sure.
You do you and I'll do me, and in the end we'll just all hope for healthy children who all have their own super powers. And along the way, we'll share information, share joys and triumphs and raise each other up and not bring each other down.
So that's what I've tried to to do today. I wanted to share new information with you to correct the old information out there that says organic food isn't any healthier, but I also want to raise you up and say GREAT JOB MAMA. No matter what you choose, you're doing a great job mama!