
Navigating the maze of organic foods can be daunting. Here are four easy steps to help you choose fresh and healthy fruits & vegetables.
We live in a country where arrays of colourful vegetables and fruits line every marketplace. We’ve grown up watching our mums effortlessly pick fresh, delicious vegetables and fruits for us. At times, when mum wasn’t around, we’ve removed wilted greens from the fridge and wondered where it all went wrong.
And when we finally shopped for ourselves or our families, we realised that picking the right kind of veggies and fruits is an art.
Is there a shortcut?
Well, yes. To begin with, choosing organic produce immediately ensures that you’re picking vegetables and fruits that are cleaner, healthier and better for you.
Going organic means that you avoid the chemicals and pesticides that are used in the growing of regular produce.
But there are other steps you can also take to make sure you’re choosing the best produce possible.
The First Step: Go Seasonal
Picking seasonal veggies and fruits mean that you’re eating the way nature intended. This also means that you’re eating produce that is at its freshest and healthiest, as it is sold soon after it is harvested.
The Second Step: Use your Eyes
Don’t go for glossy or shiny produce. Size really doesn’t matter either. Medium-sized vegetables and fruits that are colourful but not Photoshop-worthy are your best bet. Leafy veggies should be a fresh green that is soothing to the eyes; without yellowing on the edges or outsides.
Bonus Tip: Don’t be afraid of speckles and spots. That just means your vegetables and fruits were grown as naturally as possible and are ripening naturally as well. Bananas, in particular, are always more flavourful when they are slightly speckled.