Summer means backyard gardens and fresh fruits and veggies from your harvest. My tomatoes are still blossoms, and I can’t wait for them to grow, but these organic beauties from Trader Joe’s were the next best thing I could find for now. Now, the basil? That’s from my beautiful basil plant. All you need are a couple more staples, and this caprese pizza is all yours! Fresh, healthy, and satisfying.

Healthy Caprese Pizza

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium sized tomatoes, sliced
  • 2 large basil leaves, torn or sliced into small pieces
  • 2 slices of fresh mozerella (or leave out of dairy free)
  • Homemade Tzaziki or store-bought (I love Trader Joe’s or making it myself with a dairy-free yogurt)
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Thick whole wheat wrap (I used the “middle eastern style” from Trader Joe’s; it was thick like thin pizza crust


Directions:

  1. Add a layer of Tzaziki to wrap
  2. Layer mozerella cheese, tomatoes, and basil
  3. Top with fresh ground black pepper
  4. Enjoy with a knife and a fork, or wrap up into a taco and chow down!
  5. Bon appetite! 


Two things I love – pasta and Alfredo sauce. Too bad when you hit 25+ all things go down hill with the “I can eat whatever I want phase.” So, meet Zoodles, which you’ve surely heard about unless you’ve have blinders on throughout the whole clean-eating movement and sliralizer phenomenon.
Warm summer nights leave me wanting to eat light, fresh dishes, so this evening Tanner had spaghetti and meatballs while I swapped noodles for Zoodles and spaghetti sauce for a lighter seasoned and ‘sauceless’ version, veggie ‘alfredo’ Zoodles. Alfredo in quotation marks, as this dish is anything but an unhealthy cream sauce…

 

Veggie ‘Alfredo’ Zoodles

Serves 2

Ingredients

  • Two large organic zucchinis, washed (optional, peeled)
  • 1 small box organic mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets, washed
  • Steak seasoning
  • Ranch Flavor God
  • Avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened coconut cream
  • Optional, add turkey meatballs
  • Spiralizer

Directions

  1. Spiralize zucchini and set aside
  2. In large frying pan, add a teaspoon of avocado oil, teaspoon of steak seasoning, and two shakes of flavor God.
  3. Add broccoli and mushrooms, sautéing until brown
  4. Once broccoli is al-dente, add zucchini and sauté about three minutes, or until Zoodles are aldente.
  5. Add two teaspoons ranch flavor God and 3 tablespoons coconut cream and mix everything together until Zoodles are coated evenly in “sauce”
  6. Serve and enjoy! Optional, add turkey meatballs or chicken

 

It’s officially the start of summer, and with BBQ season here and in full effect, it’s time for pool parties, margaritas, sunscreen, country music, and cookouts. In my opinion, you can’t have an all-American BBQ without baked beans. GOOD baked beans – not just a boring ‘ol can of them.

This recipe will leave all your guests asking, who made these beans?!” Pinky. Promise. AND they’re healthy, full of fiber, copper, manganese, folate, potassium, vitamin B1, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, and more. My mom has made these since we were little, using her friend Julie Donald’s recipe (these were featured in newspapers, ya know, before Pinterest was invented).

Being the clean(ish) lifestyle blogger that I am, I had to revise Julie’s original recipe a bit, ditching the ground beef and sugar; cleaning it up a tad. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and friends do.

Beans beans the magical fruit, these gems are certainly worth the toots…

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photo via Shaken Together, featuring her version of Calico Beans

BBQ Bacon Baked Beans

Serves 16

Ingredients:

  • 1lb. nitrate-free bacon
  • 1 organic onion, chopped
  • 1 cup organic ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 tablespoon organic avocado oil
  • 1 1/2 cup organic coconut sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons organic apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s, “with the mother”)
  • two 15-oz. can of pork + beans
  • two 15-oz. can of butter beans (aka lima beans), drained and rinsed
  • two 15-oz. can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

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photo, the worktop

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy; set aside on paper towels when cooked
  3. In the same skillet as bacon, add chopped onion (leave bacon grease and cook onion in it); sautéing until browned
  4. Drain the bacon fat in a jar and discard
  5. Add bacon, onion, and all other ingredients to a large oven safe dish like a Dutch oven
  6. Bake for about 2 – 2 1/2 hours, or until top of beans is caramelized and crispy(ish)
recipe modified from my mom’s friend, Julie Donald;  originally called “Calico Beans,” which now I’ve seen circulating Pinterest, but she’s the creator of the original Calico Beans

 

Fun fact about bacon via bacontoday.com –

“Unlike the Omega-3 Fatty Acids supplements derived from fish sources, the ones that come from bacon aren’t chock full of poisonous mercury, like most of the popular fish oil versions are. So bacon Omega-3’s can not only help prevent heart disease, as well as lower your cholesterol, reduce inflammation and improve circulation, but also help you to avoid mercury and other toxic poisons being regularly spewed into our planet’s oceans.”

When it comes to functional-fitness, let’s be real, the gear is almost just as important as your WOD time or a weight-lifting PR.

HYLETE performance apparel is one of my all time fav lines for fitness + lifestyle clothing, accessories and more (think backpacks, headbands, crops, shorts, tanks, crew-necks, tanks, towels, yada yada yada!)

 

Their men + women’s lines are made with love, high-quality fabrics + your functional fitness lifestyle in mind. If you’re looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift for a fit daddio in your life, look no further than HYLETE for men.

and for all your fit babes, be sure to check out some of my personal gear found within their women’s line

No matter how much you lift at the gym, how fast you run your mile, or how much you sweat during a workout, there’s something for everyone at HYLETE.

A few of my personal favs:

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Save up to 40% on your order today! Enjoy!

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This post contains my personal opinion on Hylete, although they are within the Seashells and Sit Ups’ community of proud parters

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My neighbor and I decided it’s time to detox away our shenanigans, so this entire week we’re following (and being guinea-pig testers) of a new healthy eating 5-day plan by Seashells and Sit Ups.

Today, Monday, was day one, and the dinner menu was healthy lettuce wraps. I was just expecting them to be okay since I was keeping this extremely simple and affordable (the goal of the 5 day detox), but HOLY COW, I was actually really surprised with how delish they turned out. So, I’ll share with you, because you need them in your weekly dinner menu, stat.

Not to toot our own menu planning horn, but TOOT TOOT. These babies are amaze.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil (for quinoa) + 1 tablespoon avocado oil (for veggies)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid coconut aminos (soy-free soy sauce alternative)
  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked
  • 1/4 of a red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 zucchini, chopped
  • 1/4 onion, chopped
  • 1 chicken breast or chicken cutlet, sautéed in avocado oil and onion powder
  • Dash of onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper
  • 1/4 cup shredded broccoli, carrots, and cabbage mixture (can find the pre-sliced bags that people add to coleslaw, etc).
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted
  • 4 butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon of healthy teriyaki sauce
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon water chestnuts, chopped
  • Optional toppings: avocado + sriracha

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DIRECTIONS:

  1. Add 2 cups of water to a pan and bring to a boil, then add dry quinoa + 1 tablespoon avocado oil and cook for 15 minutes, lightly covered, until quinoa is fully cooked
  2. In a large pan, add diced veggies (bell pepper, mushrooms, onion), and sauté with 1 tablespoon avocado oil until lightly browned.
  3. Add onion + garlic powder
  4. Add diced, cooked chicken and broccoli slaw to pan
  5. Mix everything together, then add coconut aminos, optional soy sauce, and blend.
  6. Add toasted sesame seeds to veggies + chicken
  7. Add 1/4 cup of the quinoa to veggie + chicken mixture and blend (save the remaining quinoa as leftovers for the rest of the 5-day detox plan).
  8. Remove from pan and spoon servings into dried butter lettuce leaves
  9. Top with sliced avocado and sriracha (if you want a little kick; or you can add a hot pepper to the veggie mix)
  10. Serve and enjoy!

want more from the 5-day detox recipes? comment below, or let me know on Insta


When I had shingles last month, I had to get all my labs drawn. Turns out I’m oddly really low in potassium and Vitamin D (which makes zero sense since I eat a million smoothies with bananas, and live in sunny Encinitas). My doctor’s orders to raise my potassium levels was to 1. Eat more bananas and 2. Eat more potatoes.
Not normally a potato fan, I decided to make them cheesy, because who doesn’t like cheesy potatoes?! There are plenty of dairy-free cheese options these days, too, which is a great substitute to the cheese portions in this recipe.

I know my posts are normally about clean eating and healthy recipes, but…YOLO.


Roasted + Cheesy Red Potatoes

serves about four

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium to large sized organic red potatoes, washed and scrubbed and cubed
  • 5 tablespoons avocado oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup organic shredded Parmesan cheese 
  • 2 tablespoons ground Parmesan cheese 
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Ranch Flavor God
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons Garlic + Herb Rondele
  • Optional: one leaf fresh basil, chopped finely

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
  2. Add all ingredients (except Rondele) to a large bowl and toss until evenly coated
  3. On a nontick pan or baking sheet lined with parchment paper (that can handle broiling temps) or nonstick tin foil, add an even layer of potatoes
  4. Bake for 30 minutes
  5. Remove from oven and toss in Rondele 
  6. Add back to pan, and bake again for 5 minutes
  7. Let cool and serve. These are amazing with my Jackson Hole Chicken and Sassy and Sweet Brussels Sprouts without the meat options (I apologize for the outdated photos on those old but fav recipes!)

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Ingredients:

  • 1 can black,  pitted olives
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, either whole or sliced in half
  • 2 cups whole wheat or gluten free pasta, cooked
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 bundle of asparagus, ends discarded and chopped
  • 2 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped
  • 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • OPTIONAL, 2 beets, sliced and chopped (be warned these will take over the flavor a bit, so only use if you really like beets_
  • 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar “with the mother”
  • 4 tablespoons avocado oil
  • OPTIONAL, top with sliced avocado when serving
  • Top with ground black pepper to taste, or add additional seasonings of choice
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder, or add chopped, roasted onions
  • 6 fresh basil leaves 

Directions:

  1. Add all vegetables to a large pan and either sauté them, or add to an over preheated to 400 degrees and cook until roasted to al-dente
  2. Cook pasta while you’re waiting for veggies to roast; drain and rinse and set aside.
  3. Once vegetables are roasted, add all ingredients into a large bowl; add oil + vinegars and toss together until everything is blended and mixed.
  4. Add ground black pepper and other seasonings of choice
  5. Cool and refrigerate until ready to serve, or serve warm

When I first started Seashells & Sit Ups, I thought no one would read my blog, no one would follow me on Instagram (and I kept it all super secret so they couldn’t; it was like my second life I did for me – to be happy and feel free from judgement, gossip, and criticism)…

I assumed no one would ever care about my recipes, fitness blurbs, or random articles, and that no one would ever probably find me inspirational, and I didn’t mind any of that, because I did it as an outlet for myself. I did it for my peace of mind, for my soul, from my heart. 

Then life happened; I kept blogging, I kept sharing my journey, and I kept writing. And today was one of the best days in my blogging career….

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I WAS PUBLISHED ON THE The Huffington Post!!!!!!

Like, WHAT?! ME? I have an event planning, hospitality, tourism, and now wellness background turned lifestyle blogger, and never in a million years would imagine being a published blogger. 

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READ THE ARTICLE HERE

PINCH ME. If you’re ever scared of being judged, feeling alone, different or failing at something, STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Keep listening to your gut and keep being yourself – because that’s the best thing you can give back to yourself and put out into the world. I would never have imagined writing about this topic would be something I’d ever have to consider, but this is life, and there’s beauty in a breakdown.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shelley-hopper/how-to-kill-it-as-a-modern-day-single-mama_b_9917104.html

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Thank you, Meredith Hurley, for believing me enough to share this internally with your team because you believed in me and my writing; it truly meant and means the world to me. heart emoticon

What a wonderful early birthday surprise…so so so grateful.

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PS, If you feel inclined to share the direct Huff Post link above and/or comment on the post on their site, it can help drive traffic to have it featured in more places.

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Right now, “How to Kill It as a Modern Day Single Mama” can be found in HuffPost Parenting, HuffPost Divorce, HuffPost Parenting After Divorce, HuffPost Motherhood, and I’m a featured blogger on HuffPost Parenting, HuffPost Divorce, and am the featured blog post on HuffPost Divorce Advice.

One word: GRATEFUL. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has encouraged me to be strong, brave, have a voice, and always stand up for what I believe in while staying true to myself. It truly means the whole wide world.

 

Being a modern mama in my late 20s, my friends consider me a fun mom, and I’d like to agree. It doesn’t mean Tanner and I just folic all over without a care in the world, as much as I wish that were true. Being a “cool” mama, means you have your sh&^ together and hustle to give you and your littles a good life, making sunshine out of rain, and sparkles out of dust.

I’m almost 30, I have an almost 3-year old, I live in a cute beach shack, and have a couple part-time jobs that allow me to work mostly from home. I dabble in dating, try to keep a decent relationship with my co-parenting PIC, and believe life is better through adventures – whether that’s in the kitchen cooking, going on a road trip, or simply exploring our own North County, San Diego backyard. I hand picked some favorite gift items for the special moms in your life so you can find some inspiration how to bring love and sunshine to the mamas that make your world go ’round.

shelley and tanner.jpg

When you’re trying to think of gifts to get the special mamas in your life, try to think outside the box (literally, the present box). What are they into? Their hobbies? I mean, being a mom and having hobbies is like finding a $100 bill, but, hey…you never know; a hobby is still a hobby, even if it’s fulfilled barely once a year.

When brainstorming the perfect Mother’s Day gift, ask yourself…

What are their interests to do with or without baby/toddler/kids? What’s their favorite store? Restaurant? Fro-Yo shop? What do they like to do to relax; a massage, mani/pedi, park stroll, workout, explore, go on trips, etc…really try to come up with something creative to make them feel special and loved. Because moms basically rule the world, and without them we’d be lost. For those without mamas, or who have someone else serve as a “mother” in their lives, honor them. This day does not have to be purely a Hallmark holiday. Spread the love, the laughter, the memories. 

 


With that, here’s my round up of 10 gift ideas for the mama(s) in your life…


 

 

1. A gift certificate to get a mani/pedi or a massage.

Because no mom EVER has time for this, and when they do, we feel guilty spending money on ourselves – or taking an hour out of our day to be selfish. Offer to babysit for an hour alongside of this gift card, and your mama, friend, sister, wife, whoever….is sure to SWOON. If you’re hubby, prepare to get lucky if you throw in some extra cash for her to upgrade to the one that includes paraffin wax…and let her go get a new outfit or meal afterward. Boom. You’re golden and will get repaid on Father’s Day.


 

 

2. A monthly membership to a wine club like Club W.

Yes, this exists. Yes, it’s magical. It shows up straight to your doorstep, once per month, and is basically a motherhood God of support, relaxation, and stress-relieving potion. Click here to get started, customizing everything from pallet favs and pairings.


 

 

3. A phone charging clutch or purse from Chic Buds.

HI, THIS IS EFFING GENIUS. Why? Because what mom isn’t scrolling on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, or their mailbox 192837 times while breastfeeding, putting their feet up for five seconds during nap time, or once they finally crawl into bed. We also always seem to stream Pandora lullabies at 8pm each evening, or fun children’s music on in the car during the day, all of which completely drain a phone battery. Don’t even get me started how quickly being on SnapChat, Bumble, or Tinder completely warps all power within an hour. Oh, and let’s talk about the 129387 photos we take per day, of our same tiny human, doing 239487 different things. All which obviously MUST be captured. You know what that means? Low battery. ALL DAY ERRRR DAY. So thanks to Chic Buds, the holy grail of mom life, you can now charge your phone WITH your purse. As in, these gems of an accessory literally charge. your. phone. Don’t believe me? Well, that’s rude. BUT, you can save 20% using the coupon code “seashells20” while shopping here.


 

 

4. A fresh new perfume. 

Don’t you dare buy something floral and horridly strong that smells like an 80 year old (unless, of course, that’s her favorite scent and by request). Looking for a light, airy, but romantic and flirty smell? I’ve literally been wearing Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue for over ten years (how lame and predictable, I know). Buf if you order this for her, you’ll see why I’m a loyal fan and customer. and it totally brings all the boys to the yard. and women asking what you’re wearing. So, if you need a new boyfriend or new BFF, or just want someone to sniff your neck, maybe you should try Light Blue.


 

 

5. The Soul Searcher’s Handbook: A Modern Girl’s Guide to the New Age World.

“Regardless of what you’re seeking, The Soul Searcher’s Handbook is your awakening to a more fulfilling and soulful life; From aromatherapy and numerology to healing crystals and meditation, this fun and sassy guide to everything body-mind-spirit defines New Age practices for a new generation” (Amazon, 2016). I love how much this book caters to my wanderlust spirit, and constant search for peace and love through chaos. What mom doesn’t that speak to? Other fav reads include Mastering Your Mean Girl and Adventures for your Soul

 


 

6. A donut mold.

Who doesn’t love donuts?! Sure, there is NOTHING, and I repeat, NOTHING that even comes close to your local bakery’s which are soaked in grease, fat, and LOVE…BUT, as mamas know, that baby weight doesn’t disappear from a donut diet. I’m OBSESSED with my BPA-free, silicone donut mold by  More Cuisine Essentials that allows me to BAKE homemade donuts. If you follow my Instagram or my snaps, you’ve most likely seen my donut recipes, and if you weren’t drooling, you might need to reevaluate your life. Like, are you happy if your tastebuds don’t dance when you see fresh homemade, donuts?!? —and if you’re on a diet and asking yourself “WTF, CLEAN donuts that are actually healthy?? Noon way…” Oh yes, they exist, and taste amazing — check out my gluten free, fat free donuts here, and add this go-to guiltless recipe on a note card attached to her new donut mold so she’s ready to rock and roll, donut style. If you live together, you’ll reap the brekkie or late night snacking benefits, too, so that’s a win-win, for her, and your tastebuds.


 

 

7.  Essential oils. 

and don’t just buy like two oils or something, because that’s like eating a salad without dressing; pointless. Splurge and get her the Premium Starter Kit she deserves. I’m a huge fan of Young Living Oils and all their products. I love the community and mama tribe they encourage, and there are seriously SO many little hippie remedies for EVERYTHING! Why do I recommend the starter kit versus just a few random products? Because it’s the mother-load and what got me hooked – I STILL buy the entire kit at least once a year and add to a new room in my house. It includes so many goodies, like you can see below. and signing up as a member saves you a bunch, so makes it totally worth it. I can pinky promise no one will ever regret playing around with all the different scents in one of their diffusers, among many other tricks and tips she’ll learn along the way. AND there’s even adorable themed dinosaur diffuser for little boy’s rooms, and kits personalized for those living active + fit lifestyles…the order add-ons are amaze.

  • Dewdrop Diffuser
  • Premium Essential Oils Collection (5-ml each) Lavender, Copaiba Vitality™, Peppermint Vitality™, Lemon Vitality™, Frankincense, Thieves® Vitality™, Purification®, RC™, DiGize™ Vitality™, PanAway®
  • Stress Away™ 5-ml
  • AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment
  • 10 Sample Packets
  • 10 Love it? Share it! Sample Business Cards
  • 10 Love it? Share it! Sample Oil Bottles 
  • 2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples
  • Product Guide and Product Price List
  • Essential Oil Magazine
  • Essential Edge
  • Member Resources

 

 

8. DIY gardening goodies, succulents, or cute additions to her garden or yard.

I’m swooning over all the options via Etsy, like this hanging ceramic planter, these mason jar wall planters, and these space-saving + genius self watering magnetic fridge planers. Find more green-thumb Etsy top picks here.  Bright, airy, fresh, and fun, I LOVE all things succulent and DIY gardening — and all my neighbors and mom friends do, too. So you’re basically approved by the entire town of Encinitas that these gifts are a definite mama win, no matter where your mom/sister/other special mother-figure in your life lives, or how old she may be.


 

 

9. Coffee or tea, a gift card to her her favorite coffee shop, or cup-o-joe/spot of tea accessories.

If she happens to be sassy & sweet like me, I’m head over heels in love with this unicorn mug. I also HATE wasting plastic, or anything that’s terrible for the planet, so am trying to give up pre-packed K-Cups from my Keurig that aren’t biodegradable. Because of that, I’d like to get a french press and get into making my own coffee – without all the sneaky additives and ‘natural flavoring’ found in plastic K-cups.  So if you have a mama in your life that needs her caffeine fix in the morning, consider something fun and old-school-meets-modern like a french press, some freshly ground coffee from a local fav coffee shop, a cute and fun tea strainer, lose-leafed tea, or a gift card to her favorite local spot when she wants to splurge without the homemade effort. All of those goodies would make a great gift bundled together in a cute basket!


 

 

10. Custom jewelry with their little one’s name(s), initials, or special engravement.

I love these personalized name rings; SO CUTE. Bar necklaces are always a classic, and so are layering bracelets like these, because you can wear them with a casual outfit, or dressed up for work/a special event. Nothing says “I love you, mama” like a sweet little personalized gift that’s unique, special, and warms a mama’s heart full of memories and love.

What are you getting your mom or special mother in your life you want to honor this Mother’s Day? Plan on shopping any of these ideas? Would love to hear!

Wishing all the mamas out there a beautiful Mother’s day….and not only on Sunday, May 7th, but every.single.day. You deserve it, you pretty little thing. Remember to find love, gratitude, and laughter in every day, and savor the moments that create memories for years to come. 


 

xoxo, Shelley

 

Organic… to save or not to save, that is the question. Money AND your health, that is.

It’s no secret that buying organic can often be significantly more expensive than those “regular ‘ol fruits and veggies.” However, a healthy heart, body, and mind thanks to less/safer pesticides should always be at the top of your grocery list.

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photo, Peterson Garden

Thanks to co-founder Tenley Molzahn’s DIY Cleanse post this morning on the CLEAN 15 + DIRTY DOZEN (chart below), you can have a quick reference to see what you should almost always buy organic, the DIRTY DOZEN, since these foods are most pesticide-infested.

“Safer” produce is considered the CLEAN 15, where pesticides don’t seep into the fruit as much, or aren’t as heavily sprayed. When trying to save money and narrow down organic priorities, these can help save your dolla-dolla bills and piece of mind. However, still try to buy NON-GMO for the cleanest, healthiest options.

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photo, Instagram: DIY Cleanse

Organic.org also weighed in with their opinion on the dirtiest organic non-organic produce. According to the Environmental Working Group, their chart looks like this:

guide.jpgphoto, organic.org

 

Based on both of those charts, and Livestrong.com, your cleanest options for non-organic produce are:

  • Onions
  • Avocado
  • Cantaloupe
  • Pineapple
  • Mangoes
  • Asparagus
  • Sweet Peas (Frozen)
  • Kiwi Fruit
  • Cabbage
  • Eggplant
  • Watermelon
  • Sweet Potato
  • Grapefruit Mushrooms
  • Sweet Corn, Frozen
  • Bananas
  • Broccoli
  • Papaya

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photo, kavodseniorlife.org

and the produce + other grocery list items you should always try to shop organic whenever possible are:

  • Peaches
  • Tomatoes (all kinds)
  • Cucumbers
  • Apples
  • Sweet Bell Peppers
  • Celery
  • Corn
  • Hot Peppers
  • Nectarines
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Pears
  • Grapes (Imported)
  • Snap Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Soy
  • Spinach
  • Leafy Greens: Lettuce, Kale and Collard Greens

 


 

What’s your opinion on what your go-to organic shopping items are? I also add dairy + meat to the list, and Livestrong agrees, with their commentary and photos below:

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MEAT

“If you eat meat, it’s important to be aware that conventional meat contains hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. The pesticides found in cows, chicken, turkey and other animals comes from their feed which is grown using synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. The negative impact that the hormones, antibiotics and additives can have on your body make organic meat worth the extra money” (Livestong.com, 2016).

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DAIRY

“Even if you’re on a budget, reach for organic milk, cheese, yogurt when in the dairy section of your grocery store. Certified organic dairy means that the cows did not received any antibiotics or growth hormones and they only consumed 100 percent organic feed. If you want to take the extra step, look for organic, grass-fed milk. This means the diet of the dairy cow enjoyed a grain-free diet comprised mostly of grass and forage” (Livestong.com, 2016).

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photo, iovine.com

For more detailed information on why certain foods are on the “no-no” non-organic list, visit Livestrong’s slideshow here.


This information provided above is just a general opinion and reference on organic and non-organic produce and pesticides from the following sources, which are not scientific studied or journals: Tenley Molzahn, Health Coach and Nutritionalist Advocate, Organic.org, Livestrong.com, Environmental Working Group. Please note the Seashells and Sit Ups disclaimer before making any health or fitness decisions, an be sure to consult a professional prior to any changes in your lifestyle.