Sometimes, the ‘old fashioned’ way is the best way. Hundreds of years ago, people were not using chemicals to prolong the life of their food, so why should we settle for it today? I agree, to an extent, that we should eat as organic as possible, wherever possible. But I’m also realistic. We live in a world where eating ‘Organic’ has become somewhat of a trend, rather than the norm. The trend has created a reality whereby organic food is now expensive food, which is a shame, given it is the food in its purest form. Once I properly became aware of the term organic and why I should make the switch to eating as organic as possible, I started to consciously switch as much food as possible to its original, purest form, if only to avoid the chemicals that are ruining many foods in order to preserve and prolong their lifespan which benefits supermarkets. 
While it’s not always possible to eat 100% organic, there are foods known as the ‘Dirty 12’. You should eat organic because of their high rate of chemical content. When grown conventionally, they need a lot of pesticide. These are strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarine, apple, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes.
The ‘Clean 15’ are foods that can more safely be sourced not organically, some because of an outer shell, which protects the produce and means it’s ok if they’re not organic.  These include avocados, egg plants and pineapples. 
Organic produce tends to be more expensive because organic farms are smaller than conventional ones, and they take more time to produce crops since they don’t use synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. I believe in the healing power of naturally grown food. I know that it’s safer for the environment and cleaner and healthier for my body. The future is organic, and I believe it is important to support local farmers and help stop the use of chemicals on our food. But I’m also very sympathetic to the reality of how organic food isn’t always an option for everyone. One of the biggest complaints I hear from people who are trying to eat healthier is that organic foods is expensive — and well, they’re absolutely right. Organic food is more expensive than regular food. 
Organic foods come with higher labour costs, and organic farmland only accounts for about 1% of farmland worldwide. Most organic farmers use cover crops to improve nitrogen retention in the soil after their main crop has been produced. This makes the soil more nutritious for future products, but it also limits how much can be grown.
Organic food is more expensive, but understanding why helps justify the cost. But even so, the important message here is that if you’re trying to eat healthy, there’s no need to buy all of your food organic. Step by step, you can better your life, your body, your fitness level and your wellbeing by introducing more fruits and vegetables into your diet, specifically knowing which would be better as organic (the ‘Dirty 12’), and which will be just fine taking the less expensive option (the ‘Clean 15’). 


* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92