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Any helpful advice for someone learning how to cook organic food?

S

SpookyJoann

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Joann, but most of my online friends call me 'Spooky' or SpookyJoann. I grew up in the microwave and fast food generation. I was an overweight child starting at age 10 or 11, now I am an overweight woman with type 2 Diabetes and I blame lack of exercise, fast food and unhealthy cooking. (For me 'home made' was something frozen or already packaged, that I popped in the oven or microwave, poured into a pan and heated up in my kitchen at home! It wasn't anything truly made from scratch.)

It took me a while, but I've learned to live without the microwave. I didn't realize really how much I didn't know how to cook until after I made the choice to really cook from scratch. For example I've never made my own spagheti sauce, I've always opened up a can or a jar.

After 'devouring' every health book I can find, I decided to pay attention to ingredients. It's paid off because -although I'm still heavy- I have lost a lot of weight, but more than that I am feeling better.

After reading up on organic, I decided to try to cook and eat organic. This is where I need the help. Is there anyone here already cooking organic food that has any helpful tips or suggestions? Or organic recipes? I am also working on making an organic cookbooks for my large family. I live with my mother (my parents are separated) and nephew, but I have a younger brother and sister with health problems, 4 aunts, 5 uncles (most obese with health problems such as diabetes) a grandmother with diabetes..

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!
 
Hi SpookyJ,

Welcome to SpicePlace! I have always tried to cook and eat healthy since I became mother. I love organic, but can not afford it alot of the time! I do cook almost everything from scratch, and have been blessed with good health so I am hopeful that eating well does not matter if it is organic or not.
There are many good books on eating organic, there is one by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond that I can not remember the name of but I used it so much back in the late 1970's and early 1980's it was my bible on good eating. I believe it was called "Fit for Life", their eating program worked. I always lost weight when I followed their advice. You may want to give it a try.

I know you will find lots of help, and advice on good healthy cooking here if you simply do some searches and ask for help. Lots of great people here to offer their advice!

Welcome, and enjoy being a member of SpicePlace, CCCathy
 
Cooking everything yourself is the biggest step toward eating right. In my opinion fast food and convenience may be cheap, but you pay big in the health department. I don't cook organic or even try to make things "healthy" but I refuse to eat junk.
Welcome to the forum.
 
Hi, there is a new magazine out, Clean Eating that I have been enjoying--
Welcome to Clean Eating Magazine!
you can pull up menus and recipes from that website.

Another good source is the Whole Foods website. Many, many recipes and it's arranged well. Whole Foods Market: Natural and Organic Grocery , then go to recipes.
I have always tried to eat well and organic when it's available. Mostly become a label reader. If you can't pronounce it, maybe you want to check out what it is??

As far as cooking goes, just stay away from the deep fat fryer and try to saute, grill, steam or roast your meals.

Not sure is there are farmer's markets where you are, but that will be your friend in the summer. For winter, check out grains, legumes, beans. Winter veggies and fruits are good. I use a lot of frozen veggies too.

Cooking Light also has a good website with lots of recipes.

enjoy,
Nan
 
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Hello SpookyJoann it is nice to know someone who is interested in organic food, it is extremely expensive to maintain but worth it, I was brought yp on organic foods then I came to America and for awhile enjoyed the shortcuts of cooking, I began cooking and using organic foods again, what I can tell you is that you "must" eat three meals a day, and your dinner if it consists of meat should not be eaten late, too many of us eat dinner including meat and fall asleep on the couch most times immediately which is our downfall. EXERCISING is also a "must" I am a firm believer in exercising, even 40 minutes of a daily fast walk helps. Try and be persistent maintain a daily schedule.
 
What's the deal with "Organic"? I just thougfht organic foods were foods made with no artificial ingredients or additives, farm fresh with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers and no with no steroids and such.
I would think that the preperation of these foods would just follow suit. I would think that growing ones own herbs and spices would go a long way in the persuit of organic cooking.
 
You are absolutely correct! The deal with organic is it is definitely the healthiest meal ever, I grew up only eating real foods nothing canned or frozen at that time that was all we knew and I partially maintain that habit as much as I can depending on how busy my schedule is, but it is a big deal ask any nutritionist
 
The Ironic Chef said:
What's the deal with "Organic"? I just thougfht organic foods were foods made with no artificial ingredients or additives, farm fresh with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers and no with no steroids and such.
I would think that the preperation of these foods would just follow suit. I would think that growing ones own herbs and spices would go a long way in the persuit of organic cooking.
Click to expand...

Exactly - and half the foods out there with e-coli are organically grown.
My garden is organic - I don't use anything - so what's the big deal - they just charge more money.
 
Howdy SpookyJ and SpicySweet- welcome to Spice Place- both of you! :)

Congratulations to you both on your endeavor to eat differently! My best wishes to you...

And certainly not to burst your bubble- but be aware that some of the items you'll find claiming to be organic- are not. I was a professional chef for a long, long time and I've seen a lot of the sneaky hoaxing and tricky misleading that goes on out there. Much that you'll happen onto won't be any healthier or any different in any way than the so-called unhealthy "normal" stuff.

Still- eating more fresh produce and leaner protein is always a great thing for folks who wish to make change and experience improvements- even w/ items not necessarily "organic".

So again- congratulations, have fun, and happy cooking! :)
 
Spooky don't waste your money. Organic means absolutely sweet Fanny Adams dietary wise. It is a way of ripping you off and taking your hard earned cash to stuff their over filled stuffed, pious, pompous pockets.

There are the same amount of vitamins and minerals in both. The thing is freshness. Organic may be better for the environment but that's all.

The best thing you can do, is don't add fats to food just because the recipe says so. Think about it, does it really need fats.

I very rarely use fats, gone are the days of making a rue, now I use corn flour and water for thickening, as every little helps.

If you cook it from scratch yourself you will know exactly what's in it

Just reducing fats and sugar in your meals will make a hell of a difference.

Save your money and buy yourself something nice to wear instead.:) best of luck and wishing you well with your new life style.
 
Hi Spookyjoann,
My tip would be to cook soups. Choose your favourite vegetables peel, chop roughly boil and blitz if you like a smooth soup once it's cooked and veg are soft. Most reciope books have a soup section and use only fresh vegetables, fish or meat.
 
I totally agree that some items are definitely organic, mainly because of our seasons especially during winter you will be lucky if you buy anything fresh from the garden, so do the best you can and if you think it is organic then buy it.
 
Reply to Keziah---

Yes, vitamins and mineral may be the same but I would rather not have the chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Also there are organic canned and frozen products that are nice. Here in Alaska most of what we get hasn't been fresh for a long time. I still buy "fresh" as much as possible, but also know that most frozen things are frozen at the peak of goodness and quite good.

Roux is not just a thickner but also gives flavor depending on the color it is cooked to. I do use olive oil in my roux.
 
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RE: "I still buy "fresh" as much as possible, but also know that most frozen things are frozen at the peak of goodness and quite good."

Being single, I actually prefer buying frozen over fresh- reason being, if I buy a large resealable bag of frozen broccoli, stir-fry veg, or Italian veg. blend, I can open and remove what I need for 1-2 portions, then throw the rest back in the freezer for another day. Whereas if I buy fresh, I have a few days only to get it all eaten, and I tend not to eat it fast enuf, so I have waste. And as Nan says- frozen veggies are usually frozen at their peak- so nothing is lost nutritionally. Frozen veggies rule! :)
 
and Kevin, when you have a big bunch of bags in the freezer, you can make a rockin' soup.
I had several chicken carcass in the freezer. Make stock and had no idea where I was going--threw in chicken meat-- the many bits of vegiges, can of tomatoes and one of white beans--that led me to Italian mmmmmm! dinner tonight and a few freezer containers.
 
Rockin' Soup!

shipscook said:
and Kevin, when you have a big bunch of bags in the freezer, you can make a rockin' soup.
I had several chicken carcass in the freezer. Make stock and had no idea where I was going--threw in chicken meat-- the many bits of vegiges, can of tomatoes and one of white beans--that led me to Italian mmmmmm! dinner tonight and a few freezer containers.
Click to expand...

Indeed, Nan! And your soup sounds yummy! By the way- "Kluski Noodles" are real popular here in the Mid-West. Have you ever had them? SO GOOD and they make a fantastic chicken noodle soup when tossed into broth w/ a few handfulls of frozen veggies... -YUM!
 
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In reality frozen food is no comparison to fresh food but because of the era and lifestyle we live in we have no choice
 
thanks for the warm welcome!

oh noooo I didnt know that some things claiming to be organic are not really. Is there a way to tell the real from the fake? It kind of defeats the purpose of eating organic some of the time haha

thanks!
 
>>some things claiming to be organic are not really

first, toss out all the hyperbole.

once upon a time a centuries ago, there was "organic" gardening / farming.

then _everybody_ wanted to have that "label" - so eventually the Federal government had to set "standards" for things to be labeled "organic"

have you heard the story about the blind men describing an elephant?
same goes for committees and compromises.

at the supermarket level, "organic" has morphed into "less pesticide residue" - but that's about the end of the story, regrets.

if you go to usda.gov, look up "organic products" - check out the listings. there's stuff that is "approved" for organic
there's stuff that is "prohibited" for organic
and then there's two lists of "inert ingredients" curiously, streptomycin is lists as an "inert". for the life of me, I'm unable to find a naturally occurring "-mycin" anything; usage restriction or none....

some research required.
 
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