The Organic Hypocrite

I have a bachelor's degree in biology (thus the title of my blog) and therefore have always been concerned with things having to do with the human body and the environment around us.
Before I had children, I did not worry about the types of foods I ate, other than limiting carbohydrates due to my Type 1 diabetes.
Once I saw those tiny, precious toes and kissable teeny lips, though, my attitude changed.  I stopped purchasing grocery store meat, and switched to organic produce, whenever possible.  I choose uncured bacon (even though it is not organic/all natural) and stopped buying hot dogs.  Organic milk, free range eggs, chicken from a farmer.   McDonald's is the evil of all evils.  Juice Plus+ was the supplement of choice.
Those were all really good, honorable choices, and I don't regret them.  However, some are simply not sustainable. And by sustainable, I don't mean the buzzword for all things green and crunchy.  I mean actually practical in daily living.

When organic milk rose to $6/gallon, I stopped buying it.
When I couldn't find a farmer that raised free-range pork, I stopped buying it.
When local hens aren't laying in the winter, I buy store eggs.
When I couldn't find free-range chicken for under $9/pound, I stopped buying it.
When the local produce stand or farmer's market has gorgeous red tomatoes that I am sure are pesticide-laden, I still buy them.
When I want a hot dog/bratwurst (and I mean the regular, fatty, preservative-filled ones), I buy them.
When I can't find organic strawberries, I buy the lethally-coated ones.
When my girls wanted an ice cream cone after a special event, we got one at McDonald's.
When our grocery bill was over $1000/month because of organics, I cut back and started shopping Aldi.(one of my very favorite stores, with a huge selection of organics and naturals now!)
When I can't get a ham that's hormone-free and vegetarian fed, I buy a honey glazed one anyway.
When I couldn't bake my own bread, cakes, or muffins from scratch, I use a boxed mix....whatever is on sale. (Don't tell.)

I do still purchase my beef from a local farmer, and I hope that never has to change.  I still have a box of organic produce delivered to my doorstep twice a month.  One of my students brings me gorgeous eggs from her chickens. In other words, I am trying. I am trying to keep GMOs and pesticides out of our food, but I can't always do it. And I don't apologize for being an Organics proponent, a hormone-free-fighter, a local Farm supporter.  But I am a hypocrite when I buy a bottle of ketchup or shelf-stable cookies. I am a hypocrite when I choose a drive-thru over a sandwich with uncured ham at home. And I do feel guilty.  I feel like I am poisoning myself and my children. But then I remember the million-and-one other ways I am protecting them, nurturing them, and shaping them into young women, and I don't feel so bad over a toxic small fry.