Organic Ain't Just for Hippies

We know it's ridiculously expensive to buy food nowadays, let alone all organic food...Whole Paycheck Foods, anyone? But there is a significant benefit to picking those foods that are the most likely to be chock full o' pesticides, hormones, chemicals and other ick-factor additives and choosing just those, out of everything, to spend your hard earned cash going organic.

Here are a few suggestions to help you do the picking.

• The obvious offenders: Meat (including chicken, beef, pork) & Milk Products - both are highly susceptible to pesticides, steroids, antibiotics, and bovine growth hormones, including rGBH or rbST.

• From the veggies: Bell Peppers, Celery, Lettuce & Potatoes - they all have thin skin that soaks up pesticide poison and offers the innards zero protection.

• From the fruities: Peaches, Apples, Strawberries, Grapes & Tomatoes - these little guys all have super delicate and permeable skin, which means no amount of washing will rinse the pesticides off...cuz they're in. Yikes.

• From the necessities: Coffee - it's true, most countries where they grow our beloved beans do not regulate chemicals or pesticides. So spring for the organic and Fair Trade beans.