Produce you should buy organic in 2. Shutterstock. In produce aisles across America, shoppers face the same conundrum over and over again Buy organic to avoid pesticides, or save money and just get the cheaper stuff Theres no one size fits all answer. Pesticide use on fruits and vegetables varies from one crop, region, and grower to the next, and buying organic doesnt always guarantee a food will be pesticide free. The USDA permits organic farmers to use certain pesticides also, chemicals applied to conventional crops can drift onto plots of certified organic food. Pesticide exposure likely isnt as dangerous as many advocacy groups claim, and washing all produce can limit exposure. Still, there is some evidence that pesticides may affect the health of kids. Even low levels of pesticide exposure can be harmful to infants, babies, and young children, Dr. Phillip Landrigan, a pediatrician and epidemiologist at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, told USA Today. So when possible, parents and caregivers should take steps to lower childrens exposures to pesticides while still feeding them diets rich in healthy fruits and vegetables. One way to cut through the noise is the Pesticide Data Program run by the US Department of Agriculture USDA. The program targets foods most commonly eaten by children, collects thousands of samples nationwide, tests them for pesticide residues, and annually releases its findings to the public and government agencies. The programs reports can run hundreds of pages long, however, so each year a non profit called the Environmental Working Group EWG compiles the data into its dirty dozen a list of conventionally grown produce items with the worst track records when it comes to pesticide residues and the ones EWG therefore recommends you buy organic. Recipe Pizza Sauce Fresh Tomatoes. Weve provided EWGs 2. Each crop is scored and ranked based on six criteria, including the amount and variety of trace pesticides found. While not an end all, be all answer, its a handy guide for those who dont have time to sit down and pore over the latest USDA dataset. Things You Should And Shouldnt Buy At Whole Foods. Love it or hate it, its hard to deny that Whole Foods is one of the highest quality grocery stores in the nation. If youre looking for lots of organic options, and hard to find ingredients like coconut aminos or bulk millet, its one of only a few convenient options. A major drawback is Whole Foods pricing scheme, which for many people, is sky high. In a recent tell all, however, a long time employee explains a few tricks to shopping at Whole Foods that will help you avoid spending your whole paycheck. For my partner and I, entering a Whole Foods is like going to church. We talk in hushed, reverent tones while squeezing organic avocados, and ooh and ahh over the beauty of the wild caught seafood. The entire experience is pretty glorious until we take our tiny basket up to the cashier. With each beep of the scanner, the total seems to jump exponentially 7 for a jar of organic spaghetti sauce, until were almost cringing. Foods That Should Be Organic' title='Foods That Should Be Organic' />Each year the Environmental Working Group releases its annual dirty dozen list a list of foods that you should always, whenever possible, buy organic. Our grandparents lived when supermarkets didnt exist. Healthy foods came from their backyards and community. So versatile, you might just go hemp oil happy Add the deliciously nutty, lighttasting oil to salad dressings, smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods and more. Nutivas. Even with a total thats approaching 1. And thats just for the two of us I see entire families shopping at Whole Foods with an overflowing cart and can only imagine the number at the end of the receipt. According to the Whole Foods worker who spoke with Business Insider on ground of anonymity which doesnt really surprise me this painful experience doesnt have to be the norm. Following her expert dos and donts, you can actually get some good deals at Whole Foods, and leave feeling savvy instead of sad. Here are her top 5 tips for what you should and shouldnt buy at Whole Foods Do Buy. Oats, raisins, and other dried goods sold in bulk this also cuts down on packaging waste2. Cakes the ingredients are MUCH higher quality than other grocery store bakeries. Also they sell single slices if youre low on self control3. Bread for around 2. Soy or almond milkbut only in double packs. Single packs are the same price as other stores, if not more. Spicesagain, only if theyve got what you need in bulk. Dont Buy. 1. Nuts in most cases you can find the same quality for less elsewhere, especially if theyre on sale2. Produce I know, Whole Foods produce is so prettyBut in most cases, identical stuff, even organic, is cheaper at other stores3. Chicken organic, free range options exist elsewhere, and for less4. Dairy milk better to look for national organic brands sold elsewhere, or hook up with a local dairy or milk share program5. Meat another one that hurts Even stores like Safeway and KrogerKing Soopers are carrying organicgrass fed meat now, and its at least a dollar or two cheaper per pound. Final thoughts Lest it seem like Im bashing Whole Foods or glorifying conventional grocery stores, I wanted to clarify a few things. First, savvy shopping saves you money no matter what store you frequent or how you eat. So most of these tips are fairly common sense, i. Second, while many people get stuck on the price tags at Whole Foods its necessary to think about exactly what youre paying for. Whole Foods is well known for unprecedented transparency in its supply chain. No, its not perfect, but when it comes to verifying that stuff labeled humane is actually humane, or supporting local farmers and artisans whenever possible, theyve done a really great job. Most national grocery store chains wont go nearly as far as Whole Foods when it comes to quality which yes, is something you have to pay for, and for that, we commend them. Related on Organic Authority Whole Foods to Grow Its Own Food. Whole Foods vs. Monsanto. Whole Foods and Trader Joes Throwing Out Millions of Pounds of Edible Food Image healthiermi. Tags bulk food, buy in bulk, groceries, grocery shopping, shopping, shopping for good, whole foods. Beth is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Colorado. Her passion for the planet started with the Truffula Trees, and shes never stopped trying to make it a better place to live. She writes about sustainable agriculture, green living, and environmental issues for a number of popular websites, including  Inhabitat and Care. Beth believes collaborative consumption and opensource innovation is key to ending our mindless waste. Learn more about the overlap between sharing and sustainability in Beths new book, Sharing is Good.