We all want to eat healthy. But what many people don’t realize is that how your food is grown can affect your health just as much as what you’re eating.
Everyone knows that pesticides are bad.
They’re chemicals sprayed on crops to keep bugs and weeds away. That sounds helpful until you realize that some of those chemicals stay on (or in) your food, even after you wash it.
Over time, eating a lot of foods with pesticide residue can mess with your body in subtle but serious ways. Some pesticides have been linked to:
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Gut issues
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Hormonal imbalances
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Fertility problems
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Trouble with focus or mood†
And while one apple with a little pesticide probably won’t hurt you, eating pesticide-treated foods every day adds up — especially for kids and people with hormone or gut health concerns†.
That’s why more and more people are reaching for organic foods: they’re grown without those synthetic pesticides.
But here’s the thing: eating healthy can get expensive fast.
If you've ever looked at the price difference between organic and non-organic groceries, you know what we’re talking about. For many people, buying 100% organic just isn’t realistic.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to go all-organic to eat well and reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
There’s a smarter, budget-friendly way to shop, and it’s called the Clean 15.
What Is the Clean 15?
Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a list of the fruits and vegetables that have the lowest levels of pesticide residue when grown conventionally (aka non-organic). These are the foods that are considered “safe” to buy non-organic, because they don’t retain much of the bad stuff (even if they’re not grown using organic methods).
That list is called the Clean 15.
Here’s the full 2025 Clean 15 list:
🍍 Pineapple
🌽 Sweet corn
🥑 Avocados
🍈 Papaya
🧅 Onions
🥶 Frozen sweet peas
🌿 Asparagus
🥬 Cabbage
🍉 Watermelon
🧄 Cauliflower (there’s no cauliflower emoji)
🍌 Bananas
🥭 Mangoes
🥕 Carrots
🍄 Mushrooms
🥝 Kiwi
Broccoli, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, snap peas, and eggplant weren’t far behind. They comprise #16-20, respectively.
Notice anything in common? A lot of these foods have thick skins, rinds, or outer layers that you peel off before eating. That outer barrier keeps most pesticides from soaking into the edible part of the food.
If you’re trying to eat clean but can’t afford to buy all-organic everything, having this list in mind can help you make smarter choices while grocery shopping.
So what should you buy organic?
At ViCera, we’re big believers in eating clean, but also eating smart. If you’re trying to make the healthiest choices without breaking the bank, we recommend prioritizing organic when it comes to animal products like:
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Meat
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Dairy
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Eggs
If we were your personal dieticians, we’d opt for the best possible choices in these three areas specifically. Why? Because toxins and contaminants (like hormones, antibiotics, and pesticide residues) tend to accumulate in fat and animal tissue. That means you're more likely to consume those chemicals from conventional meat or milk than from, say, a non-organic avocado.
So instead of going all-in on organic everything, think of it this way:
✅ Buy organic meats and dairy when you can
✅ Then use the Clean 15 to safely save money on produce
You don’t need to be perfect, but you do want to reduce your daily toxin load. Pesticides and other chemicals may affect your gut, your hormones, and even your energy levels over time†. By being strategic with what you choose to buy organic, you can lower your exposure without emptying your wallet.
This also makes room in your budget for higher-quality nutrient-dense foods & supplements such as organ meats, wild-caught fish, or functional nutrient blends (like ours!) that support your gut and metabolism†.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It’s about making the best choices you can with what you’ve got.
The Clean 15 gives you a simple, science-backed way to shop smarter and eat cleaner without the stress.
So next time you're in the grocery store, put your dollars where they’ll count the most.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
