I want to go organic... but my parents don't?!

I love your approach to this. Very well thought-out and mature. Your idea with gardening is especially heart-warming to me.

Basically, the bottom line is, you need to talk to your parents. Right now, you are just making assumptions about them. Some of them may be true, some of them may not be. But if they see how much thought you have given it, they may be more willing than you think. Even if they personally have no problem with eating non-organic produce and factory-farm chicken doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be willing to give it a try for their child. You don’t have to demand food out of them, but there is nothing wrong with asking and explaining your opinion. Approach them calmly and rationally as you have on here. Present the research you have done to them so they can see where you are getting this from. Tell them your garden idea so they can see you are serious.

If you are cutting back on your meat intact, does this mean you will be helping out with the cooking? You said your mom cooks some vegetarian dishes, but I didn’t know how often this was. I know when I first started messing with raw vegan foods, my mom was willing to buy foods in order for me to experiment. She wasn’t personally willing to make raw food for me, but she viewed my interest in the kitchen as a good thing. If you ARE cooking any of your own food, I think that gives you a little more leeway in asking for the foods you want. After all, the cook is who is using the ingredients.

For all of your organic produce, if you haven’t yet, see if you can do a cost comparison. You may also want to decide which foods are most important to be organic. Apples where you eat the skin may be more important to be organic over an orange where you do not. Be willing to make compromises, but at the same time stand up for what you believe is right (be convicted or else you can be pushed aside).

I wish you the best.

yes

I wish I had tips for you besides this: maybe changing one thing at a time with them will help them ease into it. Find places that sell cheaper organics (they are out there). As for bringing it up, all I can say is that sometimes the most direct route is best. Sit them down and have a serious conversation with them. Let them know your process for thinking and feeling the way you do. Tell them you heard what they said, and let them know how it made you feel. Communication is important- if they don't know they can't change.

My situation is different. My husband and I don't make enough to buy the organics I want to but we are trying to find ways around this. I too am planting a garden this spring (seeds already bought). I want to say that I am proud of you for doing what you are at your age. I am turning thirty this year and finally figured out what our food system is all about. Your determination and eagerness to research and fully know your options is awesome. I hope things work out for you :)

Eating organic and local isn't all about the health benefits, the carbon footprint that it leaves is considerably smaller. If you go to a McDonald's and order a burger, the amount of energy put into that burger is astronomical. Where the cows are from, and the buns and the tomatoes, lettuce, etc. All of that has to be shipped in. If you eat local it is lowering a carbon footprint and is healthier while promoting small business.

I had parents who were very stubborn about changing their eating habits. My best advise is to try and make small changes at first. You're not going to convince them to switch to all organic products and cut out their meat consumption. But suggestions like "hey let's try some tofu in this dish" or "maybe the organic milk would taste better, let's try some!" can go a long way.

You're really mature in your approach.

Start out with the dirty dozen http://www.organic.org/articles/showarti…
These are items that are better to be organic, vs the least contaminated that you shouldn't waste your money on. They should be relatively cheaper to purchase at a farmer's market instead of your grocery (it really depends on where you shop).

As for the meat stuff, you could try to convince your parents that pastured cows are healthier than grain fed cows (those also tend to be better treated also).

If you're offering to pay the difference, your parents really shouldn't have an objection.

good luck!

http://www.google.com/search?client=oper…

The word "organic" may appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other single-ingredient foods. Certified organic requires the rejection of synthetic agrochemical, irradiation and genetically engineered foods or ingredients. Literally, of course, the term is a redundancy: all food is composed of organic chemicals (complex chemicals containing carbon). Any materials used in the production or processing of organic food must be proven safe. Awareness is growing about the value of organic foods. But, whether organic chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents "healthier" alternatives has long been a subject for debate.

http://www.organic-items.com/what-organi…