Forget Whole Foods — Walmart is stocked with healthy, fresh organic produce at affordable prices
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With so many temptations around every corner (and described in every recipe and pictured in every Instagram post), it’s easy to get carried away and indulge my love of wine and cheese and cupcakes. That’s why I try to eat as much fresh produce as possible, so that I don’t feel so guilty about a happy hour charcuterie board.
But you probably aren’t surprised to know that all produce isn’t created equal. Some fruits and vegetables are especially susceptible to absorbing pesticides, and when we eat them, we unknowingly absorb those harmful chemicals. That’s one of the reasons I like Walmart+ grocery delivery — read on and you'll see why.
Every year, the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that advocates for a cleaner, healthier, environment, releases a list of the “Dirty Dozen,” the 12 foods that have the highest rates of ingestible chemicals found in them. On the 2021 list: strawberries, spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, pears, bell and hot peppers, celery and tomatoes. (It’s also not all bad news: the EWG also releases an annual “Clean Fifteen,” the 15 foods where there’s no discernible difference in pesticide levels between organic and conventional.)
Knowing there are better choices, and that those same pesticides aren’t found on those foods when they’re organically grown, is comforting to me — but when I see the prices of the organic versions versus the regular ones, sometimes it’s hard to stomach that kind of cost. One day, I was placing my online order through Walmart+ to be delivered the next day, and I wanted to order some vegetables. I searched Walmart’s site, assuming I’d need to place a separate Whole Foods order for the kind of organic produce I wanted. To my surprise, I found a huge amount of organic produce available from Walmart, and at prices that were lower than for conventional produce at other grocery stores.
Walmart+ grocery delivery is $12 a month, or $98 for a year’s subscription, and is free for the first month on a trial basis. (Btw, Whole Foods recently started adding a $10 delivery fee in certain locations). If you’re in the market for organic produce, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you'll find at Walmart for options and for cost. I know I have been. Here’s what I’ve been ordering for organic produce from Walmart+.
Fresh USDA Organic Strawberries, 16 Oz
Is there anything better than perfectly fresh strawberries? Yes, organic ones that cost less than conventional berries at other stores.
Organic Medium Hass Avocados, 3-5 Count Bag
I love avocado so much that I could eat it every day, and often, I do: I add it to salads, sandwiches, eggs... sometimes I just mash an avocado up with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of sea salt and eat it with crackers as an afternoon snack.
Marketside Organic Green Onions
Green onions are one of my secret weapons when I’m cooking. I keep them on hand all the time and chop some up to add to any sauté when it needs a little extra flavor, or as a quick garnish on top of pretty much anything. Try it, you’ll see.
Whole Organic Brown Mushrooms
I wish I understood people who don’t like mushrooms, but honestly, I don’t. I love them so much, especially sautéed with an onion and some Worcestershire sauce to put on top of a veggie burger. I try to keep that mixture on hand all the time for when I’m feeling uninspired and want something delicious and quick for dinner.
Marketside Organic Cauliflower
Cauliflower is delicious roasted on its own, but it sneaks into tons of other foods for an extra serving of vegetables. It’s an especially good trick for picky eaters — stir some riced cauliflower into macaroni and cheese and watch it disappear.
Organic Honeycrisp Apples, 2 lbs
Apples are hands-down my favorite fruit, but there's something special about a Honeycrisp apple, especially this time of year. One of my favorite nostalgia snacks from my after-school snack days is a fresh Honeycrisp cut into wedges alongside a dollop of peanut butter. Sometimes, there's nothing better.
Sign up for the free Walmart+ trial and see if it simplifies your life too.
Read more at Yahoo Life:
Walmart+ swoops in to save my yard with same-day delivery! What does your lawn need?
Coffee catastrophe! Never fear, Walmart came to the rescue with same-day delivery of my go-to brew
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