What is the Difference Between Organic and Natural? And Does It Matter?
The choices are yours to make. Here is a quick guide to decoding food labels:
- Organic: Items that are 100% organic are certified to contain ingredients that have been produced using only methods considered good for the earth. Organic means 95% organic ingredients.
- 100% Natural: These products do not contain artificial additives such as colouring, flavouring, preservatives, or synthetic ingredients.
- Free: This refers to an ingredient that occurs in an amount so small that health experts consider it nutritionally insignificant.
- Low Fat: These products contain two grams or less of saturated fats and trans fats combined.
- Sodium Free: These products contain less than five milligrams of sodium.
For more information on food labels, visit Health Canada's ingredients guide page.
Recipes For Healthier Eating
There is no point in buying healthy ingredients if you do not have the time to prepare meals with them. The best thing you can do is plan a weekly menu, shop according to a set list, and then prepare in advance as much as possible.
For example, if several of the recipes you will be making include peppers, simply chop them, put them in a reusable, sealed container, and freeze or refrigerate. Imagine how much easier that stir-fry or salad will be when you can just throw in the veggies.
Another consideration is seasonings. If you're a fan of fresh garlic, but not a fan of peeling and mincing, look for jars of the ready-to-use variety in the produce cooler, next to the fresh herbs and bagged salads.
