Living a 'Natural' and 'Organic' Life (Part 1)

In a three-part series, the Early Show delves into a booming consumer trend: people living a naturaland organic lifestyle. Maria Rodale is the founding editor of the new magazine Organic Style and shetalked about natural and organic foods on the Early Show.

Natural/organic food stores were once only the grocery stores used by health-conscious hippies whocouldn't eat enough wheat germ and granola. But in recent years, hippies have had to make way inthe grocery aisles for the next generation of natural/organic food consumers: baby boomers andgeneration X-ers.

Most boomers are choosing to eat healthier as they try to fight or slow down the aging process,while generation X-ers have spent years listening to news about the dangers of chemicals andpesticides found in mass-processed foods. As a result, the natural/organic food industry is booming.

Natural food stores were once small, poorly lit, with minimal stock. They have been replaced byspacious supermarkets that either carry only organic goods or both organic and conventionalproducts. For the novice shopper, the terms "organic" and "natural" may imply the same thing. Butthey are not.

Rodale is also the author of Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening: Your Seasonal Companion toCreating a Beautiful and Delicious Garden and Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening Companion . Sheis the granddaughter of J.I. Rodale, who helped popularize the word "organic" in 1942.

The labels "natural" and "organic" are different. What is the definition of each?

"Organic" is very specific. There are no chemical pesticides or no residue in the foods. It is regulatedby the government and certified organically grown. "Natural" is more of a marketing term, there isno standard, but it implies from nature. It does not refer to the way ingredients were grown butrather to the ingredients themselves being "natural."

If you hear the word "natural" you automatically think healthy. Does this mean every product labeled"natural" is healthy?

"Not everything labeled organic and natural is healthy. Organic butter is still butter. If you have toeat butter then eat organic butter, the best and purest. So you need to balance what you eat. Youshould always read the labels on products. If something is labeled "natural" it doesn't mean thateverything in it is 100% natura.l"

What should a consumer look for when shopping for organic and natural foods to make sure thatthey are getting the healthiest products available?

"They should look for the least amount of ingredients on the the product. They should look for freshand unprocessed ingredients. Pronounceable words are always good. If there is anything on the labelyou don't understand then you might want to do more research to see if you want to eat it or not."

Organic and natural foods can cost up to 20% more han conventional foods. Why is it so much moreexpensive and do you see the cost coming down?

"Organic foods cost more, because it is the real cost of real food. There is not a lot of price pressurewith organic farmers since they are only making enough to make a living. Unfortunately for thesmall farmer the cost will come down. As organic foods become more popular, larger farmers startto grow organic foods, making it harder for the smaller farmers to compete."

If someone is planning on making the transition to natural/organic foods, what is the best way to doit?

"Start with fresh produce and then the staple products--flour, sugar, eggs. Try organic snack foods,prepared dinners. If you can't get it at your local store, ask for it and they get it for you."

If someone doesn't have access to a local natural food market, what's the next best way to getnatural and organic foods other than growing them yourself?

"There are a ouple of Web sites that lists organic sites who deliver all over the United States."

For more information about organic products, visit:

Whole Foods Market

Organic Style

Organic Trade Association

Organic Farming Research Association

USDA's national organic program

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