Peg Harvey-Sweeney

Food as Medicine: Here is a list of common produce items that you should print out, cut out and carry in your wallet. According to the Environmental Working Group, you should always buy organic from the list of “The Dirty Dozen,” as these are the most contaminated with pesticides and herbicides. Foods from The Clean 15 are not as contaminated, so you can safely buy them conventionally (and usually less expensively).

The Dirty Dozen

• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Bell Peppers
• Spinach/Kale/Collards/Lettuce
• Cherries
• White potatoes
• Grapes (imported)
• Dairy

The Clean Fifteen

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet corn
• Pineapple
• Mangoes
• Sweet peas
• Asparagus
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Cantaloupe/Watermelon/Honeydew
• Sweet Potato
• Grapefruit