A September 12, 2006 Associated Press article by Melissa Rayworth about families making meals under time pressure, quotes ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava about why organic foods need not be a priority:
But according to Ruth Kava, director of nutrition for the American Council on Science and Health in New York, there's little research to suggest they are healthier.
"I'm not a big fan of organic foods," says Kava. "As far as pesticides go, the amounts that are on conventional foods are so tiny that honestly I don't know that it makes a difference."
So what should time-starved parents put in their grocery carts?
--Frozen, canned and prepared vegetables and fruits:
Bagged salad, peeled baby carrots and pre-sliced apples are all good options, according to Kava. "The important thing is to get the child used to eating these things and not to expect them to love everything the first time."
Canned vegetables, which may go from the field to the processing factory within hours, may offer more nutrients than fresh vegetables left sitting on store shelves for more than a week. But all cans are not created equal. Make fruit salad from refrigerated grapefruit sections and other pre-sliced fruits, Kava says, rather than buying canned fruit salad packed in syrup...
Gina Rogers, a working mother of two in New Rochelle, NY, cooks turkey burgers on a grill and buys cooked rotisserie chicken, serving it sliced or in quesadillas. Her children enjoy it, but they prefer boxed frozen chicken -- which can be higher in fat, calories, and sodium than rotiesserie.
"Any of these products could be part of a healthy diet," says Kava, but "minimize the use of fried products. Maybe keep a package of the grilled variety in the freezer for emergency dinners."