You Are What You Eat

This is as true today as it has always been.  But today we have so many options now that it seems overwhelming at times to pick the right foods for your body.  So it makes sense that the more natural your food is, the better it will be for you-but also the planet as well.  

We should all be concerned about where our food is coming from-we should be more aware of the process from planting to picking, from birth to slaughter and even in the handling and transportation. There was the spinach scare of 2006.  The on-going recalls of products coming in from China-but most especially the contaminated seafood.  Then there was the meat plant that got shut down in California for torturing its animals.  Now there is the tomato and now bagged lettuce recalls going on right now.  It is enough to make you want to stop eating. However, all you have to do is know how your food was treated before you bought it.  Greater care=greater nutrition.    

Going to Farmer's Markets is the best way to get to know your food. You can actually talk to the people who own and work the farms to find out what practices they use to grow and cultivate your food. There are a few websites to check out to find one near you.  

• http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets
  
• http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets
  
• http://farmersmarket.com

If there is not a Farmer's Market near you, then check out the Local Harvest website.  You can have food delivered right to your door, or you can find a grocery store in your area that sells locally farmed products.  The Land Connection can connect you with local food as well.  

Buy organic.  If the product is organic, then you know it is better for you.  Studies are being done to bear this out.  Organic foods are free of the harmful chemicals, but they are loaded with more of the nutrients than their non-organic counterparts.  Organic foods just taste better too.  If you are unable to find organic, look for all-natural, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, cage-free. When shopping for seafood, look for sustainably harvested.  Check out Seafood Watch for more information. 

Remember, you are what you eat.  The better your food is treated, the better it is for you and for the planet.  And companies that treat their food well will be proud to tell you about it-in person, on their packaging, on their website, etc.  Get to know your food.