Why invest in organic food?
by Jane Winans
It is clearly documented that children with
Down syndrome have a compromised immune system and slower metabolism.
Test results also show many kids have compromised detoxification
function. By serving organic food to your child, you support their
overall health and development. Instead of using energy to detoxify
pesticides, your child can use that energy to learn and grow.
Is it really worth the money?
Discerning how to spend limited funds is always a difficult task,
regardless if your family has a special needs child or not. When my
child was very young and prone to being sick, we bought as much organic
produce as we could afford. As she got older and healthier, we used the
“dirty dozen and clean 15” list provided by the Environmental Working
Group to help discern what foods to purchase. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/ It is recommended that you wash all your fruits and vegetables with white vinegar and water.
Because animals used to produce non-organic
meats, eggs and milk are given antibiotics and hormones, we buy these
organic. I found an organic farm within driving distance and purchase
in bulk to keep costs reasonable. Our organic ground beef costs the
same as non-sale ground beef bought in stores. Pressed for time? Ask a
friend, neighbor or relative to investigate organic farms and compare
costs for you.
Farmer’s markets & Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Great produce can be found at many farmer
markets and through CSAs. “Eat Local” initiatives are working to bring
higher quality produce to families around the country and often at
better prices than you find in the grocery stores. Ask around.
Network. A man who knew my uncle planted my daughter her own field of
organic broccoli one year. That still touches my heart.
The 90 – 10 rule: I try to
do what I can without making myself and everyone around me nuts. The
90 – 10 rule helps me and is something I can live with. Ninety percent
of the time we eat well, and this usually occurs at home. The other
ten percent is left for family parties, going out to eat, and other
activities that are more joyful when I’m not worried about the pesticide
level in our food. Find what you can live with and “Do what you can
with what you have where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt
Resources you may find interesting
www.ewg.org – environmental working group
A mother’s musing…… anonymous
Spring air, recognized in my childhood by
the scent of lilacs and new growth, now smells of chemicals from flag
littered lawns warning pets to keep off. It burns my nostrils and hurts
my heart. Do people really value lush lawns over human health? I
wonder if they know how this affects my child with a compromised immune
system and disrupted detoxification system. I wonder if they know how
this affects us all. I need to believe they would care. I pray for
the courage to speak up…
