As organic foods become more mainstream, you may be wondering if its time for you to switch. Or you may worry (as I sometimes do) that you're doing a disservice to your family because you can't afford to switch. It's true that organic foods are usually significantly more expensive than conventionally grown food and not everyone has access to them. So how do you decide whether to go organic or not? This article helps to shed some light on the issue.

So what does organic really mean? It means that the food is grown with no pesticides and on land that has been pesticide free for at least three years. It means that irradiation is not used to preserve the food and that no chemical fertilizers or sewage sludge were applied to feed the crops. Organic farmers often use compost or manure instead. Current regulations allow for a 5% tolerance of pesticides, so some organic crops may contain minute amounts.

The pros of eating organic food are that you're limiting your exposure to pesticides and that your food dollars are going to support organic farming methods. Organic farmers use methods that promotes the health of the plots they tend and never use practices that damage the earth. Some communities believe organic foods are more nutritious, but there have been no conclusive studies to that effect. The cons of choosing organic are the price. Because organic farming is more labor intensive, the prices are usually higher.So what to do as a consumer? Only you can decide. If you choose to go organic, read up on what different labels mean. The green USDA seal means that the product is wholly organic or made with at least 95% organic ingredients. If a package says "made with organic ingredients," it means that at least 70% of the product was organically grown. Keep in mind that when something says "free range" or "hormone free" it's explaining something about the product, but doesn't mean the product is organic.

If you don't want to or can't afford organic (and as an aside, I truly hope the price gap between conventional and organic products will begin to close soon) there are some things you can do to reduce your own exposure to pesticides. Keep a list handy of the typically most contaminated produce (sometimes called the "dirty dozen") and try to buy these organic or wash them carefully. Buying locally is another way to reduce pesticides. While there is no guarantee the products have not been sprayed, local produce is fresher and hasn't had as much time to lose nutrients. Interestingly, some products become less contaminated with processing. Apple juice, for instance, shows low levels of pesticides though apples are at the top of the contaminated list. And canned peaches, because they aren't grown to look pretty, are sprayed much less often.

Whether you choose organic or not, remember that the same rules apply: organic sugar is just as bad for your waistline as conventionally grown sugar. Organic white flour is still second to whole wheat flour when it comes to nutrition. What's your take on this subject?