Take the stairs. Avoid fast food. Walk, don’t drive, to the store. Why does it seem like getting healthy is really just robbing us of our precious time?

At least one healthy movement is now easier than ever to participate in, thanks to a growing interest in organic foods.

“The playing field, the organic field, has come really beautifully into the mainstream,” says Ellie Krieger, author and TV chef. “It’s really wonderful to see organic food in regular stores now. It’s easier for everyone to incorporate organics into their life.”

Organic apples now may occupy the bin right next to conventionally grown ones in your grocery store’s produce section, but that only better enables you to compare price tags. Eesh. At 50 cents more per pound than regular apples, why should you choose the organic variety?

What is organic?

Standards that make a product organic vary based on whether the product is made up of produce, such as fruits, nuts and grains, or livestock, such as chicken or dairy products.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Web site, all natural substances are allowed in organic production and all synthetic substances are prohibited.

“We don’t use any harmful pesticides or fungicides,” says Matt McLean, president of Uncle Matt’s Organic, a citrus grower in Clermont, Fla., who is a board member for the Organic Trade Association. He is involved in creating policy for organic standards. “Most people have that as the take home definition.”

These methods are seen as being better for the mineral content of soil. Pollution levels in the water supply can decrease, since runoff from such farms contains fewer synthetic chemicals. And, the ultimate goal is that fewer of these chemicals will contaminate the foods you eat.

Why organic?

“Basically I see it as premium fuel,” says Krieger. “It’s better for you. It’s better for the earth, and it’s better for the animals that are involved.”

Studies on the impact of organic foods in the diet have been small and are not yet long-term enough to be a good gage, but the impact on the environment seems to be more immediate.

“You’re kind of being a good steward by supporting organic farming,” says McLean. “You’re supporting a farming method that makes a lighter footprint on the environment.”

As pesticide levels on farms decrease, so may the levels that show up in our waterways, in our foods and, eventually, in our bodies.

It may not be proven for years that organically grown foods are actually better for you, but Krieger says the immediate impact of eating organic foods can be felt.

“Right away you can feel good that you’re giving your family the best food you can give them,” Krieger says. “I feel a sense of calm knowing that I’m getting all the good stuff from my food without getting all the stuff I don’t want.”

Incorporating more organic goods

Just because the words “natural” or “environmentally friendly” are on the label doesn’t mean the product is organic. McLean encourages you to look for the little green USDA organic seal to make sure a product is being produced under the government’s set of standards.

Children, and the desire to conceive, seem to be a big impetus for people to look at what they are eating.

“We see a lot of people who are early moms or expecting mothers or couples who are trying to conceive who try to change their diets to all organic so there isn’t some kind of added risk,” McLean says. “Organic baby food was one of the first things that really took off and did well in the mainstream supermarket.”

Dietician Krieger, who recently teamed with Horizon Organic to help coach mothers about the benefits of organic foods, suggests starting with the foods you eat most.

“If you look in your cupboard and you read the ingredients, a lot of conventional snack foods and crackers have a lot of artificial ingredients, whereas organic foods don’t,” Krieger says. “So if you’re eating a certain type of bread or cereal every morning, you might want to look for an organic alternative.”

Other staples, such as dairy products and the fruits and vegetables you most often eat -- especially those that don’t have a peel — are a good entry point when choosing more organic items.

Going to an organic foods market and allowing children to pick out their own foods can be a good way to get them interested in healthier eating, too, Krieger suggests.

“Sometimes if I take (my daughter) to a more organic store, I don’t mind if she picks out the cereal, because they are even now using fun characters. At a conventional store, if she picks out the cereal it would be mostly marshmallows.”

Yum, marshmallows. Don’t worry: Those come in organic form, too. Which leads Krieger to the admonishment: “Just because something’s organic doesn’t mean it’s a healthy food; they have organic potato chips. I think it’s sometimes better for you, because it might use a better oil, but still, a snack food is a snack food. You still can have an imbalanced diet even if you’re choosing an organic diet.”

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