Making Safer Choices Is as Easy as Pie

christina headshot 2015November is winding down and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! Not only is this a time to reflect on what we are thankful for and to spend quality time with our loved ones, but it’s also a holiday centered on a delicious, home-cooked meal. As much as I love to indulge in the turkey and all of the fixings, I, like many of you, always make sure to save room for my favorite part of the meal: dessert.

While enjoying a slice of pie (or two), we often don’t think that one of our favorite foods could be contaminated with harmful chemicals from its ingredients and their packaging. However, there are choices we can make to avoid these chemicals and to enjoy our pies without worry.

If pumpkin pie is on the menu this Thanksgiving, try making your own pumpkin filling with organic ingredients instead of using one that comes in a can which often contain BPA, a known endocrine disruptor. Or, if you are following a traditional family recipe for apple pie, consider buying organic apples to limit your exposure to synthetic pesticides.

Maybe you think fruits and vegetables don’t belong in desserts, so you’ll be digging into a chocolate pie for a treat. Look for organic chocolate to avoid pesticides that are sprayed on conventionally grown cocoa beans, and growth hormones rBGH and rBST found in some milk chocolates. And of course, pie is more than just the filling. Be cautious of store-bought pie crusts that may contain preservatives such as BHA and BHT.

Choose to protect your health and that of your family and friends this Thanksgiving by using organic ingredients in your desserts. Be thankful you can feel good about indulging in every last bite of your favorite pie.

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