Organic, Natural, GMO free, Dirty Dozen -- What does it all mean?!?!

I eat a pretty clean diet.  What does that mean?  Basically nothing artificial, man made, something with 67 ingredients I can't pronounce, etc.  There is all these words out there nowadays -- ORGANIC, GMO FREE, ALL NATURAL, IM CRAZY.  Baahhaha Jkjk but wouldn't that be awesome if something did have that on the label?!  Ok for real, I've been doing this organic game for awhile and everything is not created equal.  (NOTE I am not a certified nutritionist or fda worker, just a crazy person who loves organic food and mac n cheese -- shapes to be exact because I am 30 going on 5).  So let's break it down to websters dictionary of what the words mean (if you are a kid who grew up in the 90's remember having to look up words in the dictionary for school?! Ugh kids have it so easy nowadays.  Too bad so sad they didn't have lisa frank trapper keepers like we did).  So here we go 

Organic = grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals
Natural = existing in nature and not made or caused by people; coming from nature not having any extra substances or chemicals added; not containing anything artificial
GMO free = genetically modified organism free or is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. 

So let me break it down for you in my terms: 
Organic = the way our great grandparents ate 
Natural = ground beetle is a natural tasty red coloring (mom the next time you run out of food coloring for dad's red velvet Christmas cookies, you can just use this!!!) Don't believe me HERE ya go! 
GMO free = it's free of scientist's trying to take something in it's natural form and create something totally different.  Look squirrels can even tell the difference between gmo corn and non gmo corn.  They basically create something that gives off its own pesticides...what?!?!  Crazy 


So what does this mean for us?

In my own opinion all the chemicals added to stuff nowadays is causing the alarming rate of obesity and cancer in america.  I could be wrong, but that's why we are all entitled to our opinion.  I choose to try and eat as organic or natural as possible.  My daughter most certainly eats organic 90% of the time.  Organic stuff is expensive though because it takes more time, energy, money, etc to make sure crops thrive without all the pesticides.  If you have ever done a CSA box from a local farmer you will see (and taste) the difference between their strawberries and the ones you buy at costco that are white inside for like 6 days.  Do I buy them at costco still?  Not going to lie I totally do.  But they most certainly don't taste as good as the CSA ones.  The meat I buy is grass fed, pasture raised, or free range.  I'm lucky to live by some awesome farmers who have some equally awesome cows (and pigs) who roam near my house eating grass til the cows come home (aahaha get it?! ok sorry) But most people don't have that luxury.  Luckily though nowadays you can find this type of food at most local grocery stores (walmart near me sells grass fed beef and free range chicken ... woop woop!  And Aldi's just started carrying it also).  All rambling aside, not everything I buy is organic.  Like I said it's effin expensive.  So I try to abide by the DIRTY DOZEN aka the food that uses the most pesticides.  Sooo whats that list you ask?  Here ya go: 


Oooookay you got all that?!  Great.  

So in the long run I usually always buy the dirty dozen organic and my other groceries either natural or gmo free.  Even my mac n cheese is organic (and delish!  Thanks Annie's! and costco for having bulk size of it!) 

You're still reading?  Terrific here is a simple recipe that I make pretty much once a week since I always have most of these ingredients on hand.  

Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Potatoes
serves 4 (or 2 hungry sleep deprived parents)

1 pkg hot Italian chicken sausage (I've used mild too and tastes fine) or pork sausage
2-3 bell peppers (red, orange, yellow is what I normally use)
2 onions 
4 potatoes (I like to use 2 yukon gold and 2 sweet potatoes, but you could use whatever you have on hand)
Olive Oil 

Preheat oven 425 degrees.   Line a sheet pan with foil and spray with non stick cooking spray.  (I enjoy Trader Joes coconut oil spray) 

Thinly slice (but not too thin!  Don't want them to burn) your peppers and onions.  Set aside in a big bowl.  

Dice your potatoes.  Add them to your bowl with the peppers and onions. 

Drizzle some oil over the potatoes, onions, and peppers and add a dash of salt and lots of pepper. 

Dump the veggies and potatoes on the sheet pan and throw in the oven.  I usually don't ever time it just look every ten mins and stir around to make sure nothing burns.  

While the veggies are cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat.  Add in chicken sausages when pan is hot.  Brown them, about 1 min a side.  Once cool enough to handle, slice into decent size chunks. ***Here is where I switch it up.  Sometimes I'll admit I'm lazy and I slice the sausage raw and throw it on the pan with the veggie about 30 mins after they have been in the oven.  It works all the same in my eyes**

The veggies will be soft and caramelized and potatoes roasted that's when you know its done.

Enjoy! 

I like to sprinkle a tiny bit of red pepper flakes and fresh parm on top of mine.  My hubs likes the shaker cheese and garlic bread on the side. 

**This is GREAT the next morning with eggs and spinach.  Or for lunch with a bunch of spinach**

Thanks for reading my ramblings!  Until next time!

--Kam