A few months ago I decided to add a weekly dose of organic vegetables to my diet. These came in the form a large box, delivered each Friday, which contained an assortment of whatever was available that week.
Whilst the food itself was good, the delivery prompt and the service generally as expected; one major problem arose. I realised that a bit of dietary variety can be great - as long as I get to make the choices.
This effectively means that my quest for organic foods isn't quite as important as the quest for the right types of foods. Imported, pesticide-laden broccoli may not be quite as healthy as its organic counterpart, but it's an awful lot better than none at all.
I've gradually realised the order of importance with the major food production techniques (once the basic diet has been sorted out). These are :
- The food item listed in the diet plan
- An organic equivalent
- A free-range equivalent
- A fairtrade equivalent
Occasionally (the nearest supermarket is Morrison's - not known for bounteous healthful produce) the stars align, and several - or even all - of the above techniques coincide. Healthy and politically satisfying.