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15 fruits and vegetables that don’t need to be organic to be healthy, says dietician Credits: Social Media
By Chaitra Krishnamurthy

15 fruits and vegetables that don’t need to be organic to be healthy, says dietician

By Chaitra Krishnamurthy

Eating organic is a growing trend among people who are health conscious and don’t mind spending an extra dollar. However, you must ask yourself if it’s worth investing in everything that’s “organic.”

Studies have shown that washing fresh produce isn’t enough to remove the chemicals used to grow them. However, there are some exceptions according to a nutritionist.

Man delivering fruit and vegetable box.
Credit: Peter Dazeley | Getty Images

13 organic fruits and vegetables you should buy

There is so much dialogue around the health benefits of organically grown fresh produce that people wouldn’t question their choice while buying them – but you should.

Licensed nutritionist and dietician, Ilana Muhlstein Aka NutritionBabe, doesn’t deny the importance of organically grown food and lists 15 foods worth the money. She discusses fruits and vegetables that are best bought organic, based on The Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s annual analysis of 46 fruits and vegetables “that have the most and least pesticides.”

Fruits and vegetables with thin skin through which the pesticides can reach the part we eat, need to be carefully picked. As some are capable of soaking up more chemicals due to the composition of their skin, the following organic fruits and vegetables are worth your money.

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale, Collard & Mustard
  4. Greens
  5. Peaches
  6. Pears
  7. Nectarines
  8. Apples
  9. Grapes
  10. Bell & Hot Peppers
  11. Cherries
  12. Blueberries
  13. Green Beans
@nutritionbabe

We often think healthy eating is more expensive than it needs to be. Because berries are a higher organic priority, I like to buy them frozen. Frozen fruits and veggies are just as healthy, and a lot cheaper. And when it comes to the clean 15 list like bananas and avocados, I always go conventional, because studies show they’re extremely similar to organic. What other food and nutrition questions do you have?? #crunchymom #organic #healthyrecipes #healthylifestyle #healthyonabudget #ewg #clean15 #groceryshopping #organicfood #healthyfood #dietitian #registereddieitian #nutritionist #nutrition #tips

♬ original sound – NutritionBabe

‘Clean 15 foods’ that aren’t worth buying organic

The nutritionist says fruits and vegetables like mangoes, avocado, pineapple, and watermelon have thick skins, so the chemicals don’t reach the insides easily. You rather save money on the below which she calls the “clean 15 foods”.

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweet Corn
  3. Pineapple
  4. Onions
  5. Papaya
  6. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
  7. Asparagus
  8. Honeydew Melon
  9. Kiwi
  10. Cabbage
  11. Mushrooms
  12. Mangoes
  13. Sweet Potatoes
  14. Watermelon
  15. Carrots

The dietician further emphasizes the importance of berries, which are “a higher organic priority”. She buys them frozen as they have the same nutritional value as the fresh ones.

EWG’s report states that 65% of the samples collected from the “clean 15” list had “zero detectable pesticides,” with avocado and sweet corn on the top with less than 2%.

The first six fruits and vegetables also had no more than three pesticides in the samples and only 10% contained two or more pesticides.

Imagine all the money you can save by buying from the list when you go shopping. You’re welcome.

Ilana Muhlstein is a licensed nutritionist and dietician, known for her 100-pound weight loss transformation which she uses to educate her followers about a healthy lifestyle. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics, a registered dietitian license, and a masters degree in nutrition and dietetics.