[Stormieweather]

I don't buy foods just because their label says "organic". And I don't go to a "health food store" to buy them. I know I've posted this before, but I shop at three stores every week...a farmers market for fruits/veggies, Family Dollar for paper goods, and grocery store for the rest.

But, I refuse to buy processed meats (lunch meat, hot dogs, bacon) with nitrates in them and the alternative is expensive. I just buy these sorts of things rarely. I do buy organic meat like chicken and beef, and a few other items such as Silk (my husband has to drink on Dr.s order) and milk. I buy cage free organic eggs and other dairy such as cheese.

Most everything else is just regular off-the-shelf stuff but I won't buy anything with artificial coloring, MSG, HFCS, mechanically separated meat, or other artificial flavorings/preservatives.

I'm fairly new to the healthy eating crowd, and I'm not fanatical about it...just trying to cut out the worst of the offenders. I know that a few years ago, organic didn't mean diddly, but the USDA started requiring that anything labeled organic must be produced without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation, or bioengineering, as well as certain humane treatment of animals. So, while it might not be ideal, the label appears to eliminate most of what I'm trying to avoid.

If I had the time, space, and ability, I'd do my own growing, canning, freezing, etc. But I live in a city and work two jobs, and buying it is the next best thing.