In a 2006 study, it was shown that switching children to a purely organic diet immediately reduced the exposure to certain types of pesticides. The study tracked twenty-three elementary age children for fifteen days. Five of those days utilized a diet of organic food. When the children were switched from the commercial food sources, the amounts of organophosphorus pesticides immediately disappeared. When the commercial foods were reintroduced, the levels returned to their previous status. This led researchers to determine that children on organic diets have a severely reduced exposure to pesticides.
Making the Switch
To switch to organic foods, there is little effort required in finding alternatives in your supermarket or possible switching to a new store entirely. Large cities especially have stores that specialize in organic foods. The younger you start with organic food choices, the easier the transition is likely to be as brand recognition hasn't yet set in and your children are much more adaptable at a younger age to any difference in flavor.
Start Early
If possible, start your child on an organic diet right from the start. Using baby foods made from organic farms rather than the commercially prepared ones will immediately reduce the amount of pesticides your child is exposed to. In fact, if you use only organic baby foods, organic formula and later organic milk, you might very well avoid any pesticides in your child's diet for well over a year, especially if your entire household eats organically.
Switching Older Children to an Organic Diet
Making the switch is understandably harder for older children. They are used to having things that are packed and marketed in a certain way. While corn chips made with commercial corn and those made with organic corn might look the same and even taste the same, there is a psychological attachment to the commercial brand if he has been eating for years up to this point.
Substitute Before Introducing
To make the switch as gentle as possible, but to get it done as quickly as possible for health reasons, don't branch out and try new things right away. Instead, find substitutions for the items you use in your home every day, even if they are not a fully balanced diet. By offering the same foods, only in different wrappers, you'll be allowing your child to make the transition gently. In the case of fruits and vegetables, they won't look any different that it did previously, so that will be the easiest change to make.
Once your child is eating his normal diet with a new organic foundation, you can start to introduce and try new things. Organic farms often produce a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, so shopping in a specialty organic store can broaden your horizons significantly. You will be surprised at the healthy and delicious food choices to bring home to your loved ones.
