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Paleo Basics & Beyond

Buying Paleo Ingredients:

Produce

What to Look for When Buying Produce

The paleo diet encourages you to eat organic, non-GMO fruits and vegetables whenever possible, since these are not grown using pesticides and so will not contain any trace chemicals. If you can’t buy all organic produce, try buying organic for the items known as the “Dirty Dozen” (below). This list is published annually by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The food with the highest pesticide residue is at the top.

On the other hand, the EWG also publishes the “Clean 15” (also below), which lists the items with the least amount of pesticide. These are considered safer to buy conventionally grown. This list starts with the food with the lowest pesticide residue.

DIRTY DOZEN

Apples 

Peaches 

Nectarines

Strawberries 

Grapes 

Celery 

Spinach

Sweet Bell Peppers 

Cucumbers 

Cherry Tomatoes 

Snap Peas (imported) 

Potatoes 

CLEAN 15

Avocados 

Sweet Corn (not paleo)

Pineapples 

Cabbage 

Sweet Peas (frozen) (not paleo)

Onions

Asparagus 

Mangos

Papayas

Kiwi

Eggplant

Grapefruit

Cantaloupe

Cauliflower 

Sweet Potatoes 

Vegetable Side Dishes

Recipe Sautéed Summer Squash Ribbons

The creamy, delicately flavored flesh of summer squash pairs perfectly with most proteins.

 

Read Our Guide to Buying Seafood

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