The next time you sit down for a snack of milk and cookies, instead of eating the basic Oreo cookie, be adventurous and try an organic version of “America’s favorite cookie.”

“Organic foods are agricultural items grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides,” said Stacey Brown, operations manager at Wheatsfield Cooperative, 413 Douglas Ave.

While the absence of chemicals may sound like a good thing, Judy Trumpy, registered dietitian for Thielen Student Health Center, said organic foods are not necessarily healthier.

“There needs to be more documentation,” Trumpy said.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s Web site, “no conclusive evidence shows that organic food is more nutritious than is conventionally grown food.”

If a food is labeled USDA Organic, the label doesn’t mean the item has greater nutritional value or is safer.

Bonnie Norman, owner and partner of John’s Natural Foods, 326th Fifth St., said since organics are grown without chemicals, buying organic food protects the environment and ensures that your food is “grown the way it’s supposed to.”

If you purchase nonorganic produce and are concerned about pesticides, Trumpy recommends running cold water over your produce for 30 seconds and using a brush and peeling to eliminate pesticides.

Unfortunately, organic foods and products can be more expensive than those that are nonorganic, which can be a hindrance for some students.

Vanessa Peterzen, sophomore in civil engineering, said she would buy more organic food if it wasn’t so expensive.

“I would prefer organic because it wouldn’t have any chemicals on it,” Peterzen said.

One reason organic foods are more expensive is the increased cost of producing and distributing food that can be labeled USDA Organic.

“You’re justified in raising the price because [of] all the restrictions you have to go through to be certified,” Trumpy said.

Peterzen thinks organics have become more popular because people are more health-conscious.

“Hopefully, if they become more popular, they’ll become less expensive,” Peterzen said. “If there’s a demand for it, the price will go down.”

For beginners who have never tasted organic food, Norman suggested trying produce such as bananas and apples. He said fruit grown organically is “allowed to ripen normally [and] tastes better.”

Norman and Brown both admitted organic foods can be expensive and recommended buying food in bulk to cut down on the cost.