Organic food. It has definitely become a popular term over the past few years, especially as research about genetically modified and processed food comes out. And with that territory comes the judgmental opinions from those who do not eat organic. I chose to eat organic a few months after I moved out of my parents’ house, in 2013. It has been a journey, and one that I have been dying to share.
It all started when I began to read articles about the difference between organic and processed foods. The thought of eating foods that didn’t have chemicals and other unknown elements to them was actually quite appealing. So off to Kroger I went to explore their selection of organic foods.
Amazingly, Kroger holds a wide array of organic fruits, vegetables and various other products. While yes, organic food is at a higher cost than that of processed foods and foods with GMOs, it was worth the price. I began to have a higher food budget and lower various spending budget. I also began to learn how to bake with organic ingredients, on top of learning new recipes that were tasty and full of different flavors. I was slowly beginning to love the organic food life.
Now, two years later, I have slipped a few times with my new diet. It is especially difficult eating organically when you are a college student that also works. Being a waitress, my eating schedule is, needless to say, skewed. I often skip many meals (which I do not advise for anyone) to help make sure my guests and my fellow co-workers are all getting what they need. I often eat the food at my job, but in smaller quantities than what I would have had two and a half years ago.
What I love most about eating organic, though, is that I often have a lot more energy than I did before. I began to sleep better; my skin became healthier and I had less breakouts. At one point, it helped me lose nearly ten pounds in a few short months. While I am not saying the results are the same for everyone, what I am saying is that by eating organic, I gained several wonderful health benefits.
The slip-ups I have in my diet remind me why I eat organic in the first place. Fast food (while I am always going to be a fan of Cook Out) makes me feel tired, rundown and slow. I have also gained a numerous amount of weight due to the constant running to fast food to make a quick meal. Hopefully, once I graduate college and move on to a better-paying job, I can finally afford to eat organic once again and have great home cooked meals every night. I highly suggest that everyone try an organic meal at least once; possibly one of your favorite meals that your family makes. That was one way I began my journey into organic food. Eating organic isn’t just for a few months — it’s a lifestyle change.
