Food / 24 September, 2024 / Christina Walter
Get ready for a fun and flavour-packed Organic September!
Organix is here to show you how simple (and tasty!) organic eating can be – and how to get the whole family on board for the ride this Organic September.
Easy Tips for Organic September
This is your moment to celebrate all the delicious foods that are good for you and the planet – no nasty pesticides or chemical fertilisers here. As the autumn vibes kick in and we start craving those cosy comfort meals, you can feel awesome knowing you’re filling up on healthy, planet-friendly, and seriously tasty food.
Lucy Thomas, Feeding Consultant, Fussy Eating Guru and Organix Brand Ambassador, shares why organic food is a game-changer: “As a mum of two, and a nanny for many years, I know how challenging it can be to serve up healthy dishes that excite kids. Choosing organic means you’re saying no to chemicals, pesticides, and artificial additives for fresher, cleaner options.”
Ready to make some simple swaps this Organic September? Lucy’s got five super easy and fun tips to help make the change with ease:
Play the logo game
Starting to shop organically becomes much less overwhelming when you know exactly what to look for. The good news? You can immediately trust foods displaying the Soil Association logo. This is a circular logo with ‘Soil Association Organic’ written in a loop. Products stamped with this icon have been certified by the Soil Association, an organisation known for its rigorous standards. From animal welfare to pesticide regulations, they ensure that only the highest-quality organic products receive their seal of approval.
“The Soil Association has certified a number of supermarket own brands, as well as independent companies like Organix. Why not turn label hunting into a fun game by encouraging little ones to become label detectives on your next food shop? It’s a great way to teach them about high-quality foods while shopping!
‘Tis the season for conscious shopping
When deciding where to shop, consider buying locally from a farmer’s market or arranging home deliveries from an independent producer. This not only ensures fresher food but also supports local businesses too. Plus, farmer’s market produce is often more budget-friendly than supermarket options and visiting farmers’ markets can be a fun adventure for the kids. Challenge your little ones to spot new ingredients and swap out-of-season items for cheaper, in-season alternatives.
Prices of organic produce can really vary depending on the season – you’ll find them at their cheapest when they’re in season. To save money, get creative with your recipes by swapping out-of-season ingredients for more affordable alternatives. For example, you can swap spinach (best between March and June) for kale (best between September to April) in Autumn salads, such as Organix’s Peach Chicken Salad, and vice versa for Sweet Potato and Kale Bites.
Ditch the ‘Dirty Dozen’
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ refers to foods that are most frequently contaminated with pesticides while growing. While pesticides are used in farming to control pests, weeds and diseases, they are also a major source of pollution and can be harmful to us over time. While you can reduce exposure to pesticides on your food by washing them under flowing water or peeling and scrubbing them, these methods aren’t guaranteed to remove pesticides completely.
Items on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list include strawberries, peaches, green beans and peppers. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as swapping out just one or two of the items on the list to an organic alternative is an easy way to make a huge difference! And replacing just a couple of your usual ‘Dirty Dozen’ foods for foods with thicker peel – like mangoes, sweet potatoes and onions – is beneficial, as these are less susceptible to pesticide residue.
Plan, Freeze, Thrive!
Planning ahead is a great way to begin dabbling in the organic lifestyle while also saving money by knowing what you’ll eat and when you can avoid overbuying and reduce waste.
“Many supermarkets also offer frozen organic foods, which are a fab option for satisfying out-of-season cravings, while still being budget-conscious. Also, bulk buying store cupboard essentials that won’t go off quickly – like oats, tinned beans & pulses, herbs, spices and cooking oils – can keep you stocked up longer and is especially handy if there’s a multibuy discount going on – cha-ching!
Open little eyes to organic
Making organic swaps can feel a little daunting with kids – especially if they can be picky eaters! But getting kids excited about organic eating is easier and more fun than you’d think! Babies can start enjoying organic foods early, thanks to brands like Organix, which align with NHS recommendations for introducing solids around six months. For toddlers, Organix also offers a variety of tasty & fun organic snacks.
What’s more, you can engage kids in the process of growing their own organic produce by giving them a window box or patch of the garden to grow their own foods. Herbs are a great place to start, as they’re low maintenance and don’t need a lot of space, meaning they can thrive in a small outdoor space such as a balcony or even just a sunny windowsill. While peas, beans and baby carrots are also great choices for Autumn.
For more information on Organix and its range of baby and children’s food, please visit Organix.
Sponsored content in collaboration with Organix.
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