I know I’ve been talking about growing your own food. The whole reason my family shifted to this lifestyle is that we want to eat better and safer food. We want to trust and be sure what goes into our bodies is safe for us, but at the same time, I want to be honest with you that I know we can’t possibly grow everything, at least not yet. So for now, while waiting for our house and garden to be ready, we are just doing what we can at our own capacity when it comes to consuming safer food. I know when it comes to safer food, the first word that usually will pop up in people’s heads is ‘organic’. And the second word will most probably be ‘expensive’. But if you know me personally, trust me when I say that getting safer food does not have to break the bank. We just need to be smart enough to know what type of food to prioritize to be safe rather than sorry. That’s all. I think having the awareness of checking the source of our food is already a very good start.
One of the easiest and most affordable places to begin is with local organic vegetables. We’re talking about the basics you probably already buy every week — things like Siew Pak Choy, Bayam (spinach), and Bendi (lady finger). These are not only commonly eaten in our household, they also tend to carry more pesticide residue when grown conventionally. That’s why switching just these few vegetables to organic can already make a big difference for your family’s health.
Choosing organic means choosing food that’s grown without harmful chemicals like pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, or hormones. Over time, eating organic can reduce your family’s exposure to these toxins, especially important for young children, whose bodies are still developing. It’s also better for the environment and supports more sustainable farming practices, so it’s a win-win.
I usually find organic greens for around RM5 to RM6 per pack at supermarkets like Village Grocer or Jaya Grocer, and there are also lots of online options now — some even offer delivery straight to your doorstep, such as Homegrown Farm and Veggie Malaysia. So it’s really not as difficult or “atas” as it might seem. I also check out the promotion rack in the organic vegetable section in Aeon and can find some good deals sometimes.
Another ‘safer’, cheaper option that I usually go for is to choose ‘compost grown’ labeled vegetables in the supermarket. I think nutrition-wise wise it won’t be as rich as soil grown, but I think it has fewer toxins. There is a difference between compost grown and organic. Compost-grown” means the plant was grown using compost as the main fertilizer. “Organic” is a wider farming method that avoids synthetic chemicals and may use compost, but not always as the main soil input. So, all compost-grown crops can be organic, but not all organic crops are compost-grown. Might sound a bit geeky here, I can write more about this soon, but I hope you get the idea.
Now, because we all have different budgets and priorities, it helps to have a guide. Think of it like an “organic food pyramid” — not just about nutrition, but about where it makes the most sense to go organic first.
At the top of the list are things like leafy greens, soft fruits like strawberries, apples and grapes, and anything you’re giving to small children or babies. These tend to absorb the most pesticides, so if you can only afford to switch a few items, these are a great place to begin.
Next are root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, followed by things like bananas and oranges, which have thicker skin, so they’re less affected by pesticides and can be kept non-organic for now if needed.
Meat, eggs, and dairy that come from organic-fed animals are great if you can afford them, but honestly, for most of us, they’re more of a bonus than a necessity. Unless your family eats a lot of those things every day, you don’t need to stress about going organic here right away. For us, if we really have to buy chicken, we will buy the ones labeled as ‘antibiotic/hormone-free’ chicken in the supermarket, such as Nutriplus. If we have a little bit more budget that month, we will get ourselves a Kampung Chicken from the supermarket.
I also noticed in our over-consumption world, many products are marketed as ‘organic’. Cereals, pasta, or even chips. Sometimes I do feel skeptical about it too, I wonder if it’s just a marketing tactic to price the items 2 or 3 times higher than the non-organic ones. So my personal opinion on organic dry goods is the least of the priorities.
For me, the key is to start small and be consistent. Maybe you start by switching just the greens you use in your weekly salad (since we eat this raw). Or the fruits your kids snack on every afternoon. Over time, these small choices add up.
So to all other parents out there who are trying their best, know this: you don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t need to be perfect. Just starting with that one small change in your kitchen is already a big step toward a healthier home. And that, truly, is something to be proud of 🙂
RR