Last night, I was not in the mood to go to a special blogger event, even though it was being hosted by Stonyfield, one of my favorite companies.

I was exhausted after a long week, starving,  had a splitting headache, and all I wanted were comfies and my bed. Luckily, I had a partner in crime for the event which made it that much more appealing at 6pm. I met Theodora after a long work meeting and we headed downtown to Counter together.  I’ve actually been to Counter once before for a blogger brunch Melissa hosted right after I moved to the city.

As soon as we walked in, thirty minutes late due to traffic and work, I realized this was a formal event. I felt horribly, walking passed the very well dressed and poised speaker who had already begun. Luckily, we were only five minutes late and the group was very understanding of New York’s traffic and transit issues.

For the evening event, which attracted mommy and health bloggers, Stonyfield teamed up with Robyn O’Brien, the author of The Unhealthy Truth. The subtitle, One Mother’s Shocking Investigation into the Dangers of America’s Food Supply– and What Every Family Can Do to Protect Itself, describes last night’s speech perfectly.

Robyn made some great points during her conversation which each of us, students, wives, and or mothers alike were able to relate. She came across as very real and sincere. She admitted that even after she discovered the differences in America’s food supply, the changes didn’t come easy or cheap. She discovered, a few years ago, that Europeans don’t have the same health problems Americans do–because they don’t eat the same chemical-filled food many Americans do. Thirty-one percent of American girls, she said, are starting puberty at the age of 8 because of what they’re eating.

She pointed out that there are multiple ways to save money in your budget so you can afford organic foods. Here are a few tips she shared:

1. Meatless Mondays is an easy way to save money since items like beans and rice are so much cheaper.
2. You can find a great deal of deals on food staples in mass and club retailers such as Amazon.com, Target, and WalMart.
3. Buy in bulk whenever possible.
4. Frozen fruits are sometimes cheaper than fresh, especially when they are out of season.

She also stressed that change won’t happen overnight, even if you are single. Instead of stressing out over the process, focus on what you or your family eats most often. If you have drink two glass of milk a day, switching to RBGH or organic milk is a great start.

Also, focus on going organic with the dirty dozen, or those foods most likely to be contaminated.

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

On the other hand, these foods are the 12 least likely to be contaminated.

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

I should also note that while we were listening to her conversation, we had the opportunity to enjoy some delicious food. The tamari almonds and roasted portabella and onion sandwich put my hunger at bay during her discussion so I was able to focus on her content and enjoy myself.

Thank you Stonyfield for including me in this very informative event. It was great to hear a new perspective into organic food from a very informed mother. In addition, it was great to catch up with Katie and Theodora, as well as finally meet Lindsay!

I look forward to reading Robyn’s book!

Question: Do you eat organic? Which foods do you tend to buy organic?