To Market to Market to Buy a Fat Pig!

I thought I would start off with applied research and so decided to go grocery shopping. This would be a great way to learn, not to mention I'm genetically wired to be a gatherer soooo, well I enjoy it ok!

So I start by looking online for local agriculture, i.e. CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and Farmer's Markets, and organic and environmentally conscious grocery stores. I begin at the local Farmer's Market.

I've been going to the NC State Farmer's Market for years, but I have never asked the vendors if their produce was organic. I really didn't know. Nor have I ever asked if the beef was grain fed and pasture raised without hormones. I will tell you, it was a little awkward at first. I mean, who asks this really? Do many people? Am I being a pain to the vendor??

You have every right to know what you are putting in your and your family's bodies. This is a competitive, capitalist society and you can easily move on to the next vendor if one is resistant to answer your questions. Vote with your dollars on what you want available in the market!

Continuing, I did a bit of online research before going to the Farmers Market and here is a great link to help you find farmers markets, CSAs, and grocery stores anywhere in the country (even Tarboro and Rocky Mount!) Find your local NC farmer's markets here. Also check out the Eat Well Guide to find local, sustainable, and organic; farms, restaurants, and markets, anywhere in the US and Canada.

A CSA is a great way to get fresh produce and support your local economy. The produce arrives at your door anywhere from 12-18 hours from when it is harvested vs. 2-3 days when purchasing from the grocery store. Plus, you save $$$! You are not paying the overhead of food transportation, storage and labor that the grocery store passes on to you. It's simple economics. It's fresher and cost less, this is really a no brainer here folks, and a great habit to get into if you haven't already.

If you have a family of four, or more, you may find that having a CSA deliver regular orders to you is more convenient. If you are single or in a relationship with few or no dependents, you may find that visits to your local farmers markets makes more sense for you. For myself and my fiance, we find that occasional visits to the farmers market works better for us as we are able to pick and choose what we'd like to eat for the week and less food goes to waste.

I want to mention next the plate method. If you have never been to a nutritionist, or are unfamiliar with the plate method, you will appreciate this. When preparing your dinner, your plate should look as follows: 1/2 the plate should be greens and vegetables (ex. 1/4 salad and 1/4 vegetables), 1/4 of the plate should be carbohydrates, and the last 1/4 plate should be your protein. Keep in mind that the amount of protein you consume should be no larger than a deck of cards. That plate method is great for animal protein consumers. If you are however a vegetarian or a vegan, you'll want to refer to this power plate method.

If you do, or someone in your family, consumes animal protein, you can also access a list from the American Grassfed Association of certified members, those whose animals are grass fed by state, to purchase your animal protein from.

I purchase my meats from Rainbow Meadow Farms. They have a booth at the NC State Farmers Market and offer wonderful organic products and practice sustainable agriculture. Their beef is grass fed and they are happy to answer any questions you have about their product. They are highly regarded in the area both by local laymen and chefs alike.

Once I purchased my fresh local produce and animal protein I continued my research. I visited several local grocery stores that claim to be organic and environmentally competitive. Those stores include Harmony Farms, Earth Fare and Whole Foods. I have also visited Trader Joe's and you should check them out if you haven't already.

Now I realize that organic food oftentimes is monetarily more expensive than non-organic. This is not always so. Again, if you buy directly from the farmer, you are saving a great deal more than you would have to pay at the grocery store. Each meal should consist of more vegetables than animal protein and so you in purchasing directly from the farmer, your grocery bill should actually go down. In order to have fresh, organic produce year round, you should can and freeze your veggies so that you can eat them in the of seasons. More tips on freezing here. Also, consider growing a few tomatoes and herbs on your patio or porch too.

The research on the difference between organic and non, begs the question what are you paying for? Every time you eat non-organic, processed food you are really playing Russian roulette with disease. More and more research is finding that diet plays a huge role in disease prevention and even implies that diet can reverse many diseases and disorders. Diet is more important than genetics, environment, and location in determining health.

In conclusion, some changes you can make immediately are:
1) BUY LOCALLY FARMED, ORGANIC PRODUCE: Find local farmers and buy directly from them. This is good for the environment, your personal and local economy, and your health. EAT MORE VEGGIES!
2) BUY PASTURE RAISED, FREE RANGE, ANIMAL PROTEIN: Find local purveyors who can supply your family with fresh beef, pork, and chicken. This supports sustainable agriculture, and animal welfare, in addition to your local farmers.
3) BUY ORGANIC: The toxins in non-organic foods are potentially lethal to your health. With each organic purchase you are telling the food industry what you want. This will in time make it more affordable and accessible for all. In the meantime, buy as much organic as you can!

Change doesn't have to be done overnight. Decide on a few things you want to do now and make that change on your next visit to the grocery store. Slowly incorporate change into your diet.

Lastly, ALWAYS CONSULT A PHYSICIAN, NUTRITIONIST AND/OR DIETITIAN WHEN MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR DIET.
Be informed, don't just take it from me, do your own research!

In my next post: DON'T DRINK THE KOOL.., er, MILK!! Why you should seriously consider eliminating milk and dairy from your diet.

SOLE Searching

SOLE FOOD: Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical.

In the last few years I have been hearing how organic food is better for you than non-organic food, or food that has been chemically treated with pesticides or GMO's (genetically modified organisms). I have been buying organic for the last few years (not entirely organic but certain things for sure, i.e. milk, yogurt, etc.), but recently my interest in making sense of the vast amount of often confusing information has heightened. I won't lie, I will tell you that watching the movie Food Inc. (http://www.foodincmovie.com/ If you haven't already, watch this!) played a big role in the initiation of my research. I have to confess, it was my catalyst.

The main issues that I want to address in this blog are:
1) What is truly the healthiest and most nutritious food for myself and my family?
2) What is the most ethical treatment of animals if I am to continue to purchase animal protein? and
3) How can I make the least negative impact on the environment?

You hear so many different things about what's good for you and what's not and oftentimes the information is contradictory. Organic food tends to cost a little more and if you have a family to feed on a budget, it can be very difficult to consistently buy all organic.

Then there's the environment and your carbon footprint. Should you always buy local? What about things like coffee and other items that aren't produced locally? You have to consider deforestation and the impact on the environment, don't you? Isn't that what responsible global citizens do???

What about factory farming and the ethical treatment of animals? How do you know where your food really comes from??? Whether you buy it in a grocery store or a restaurant, how many people ask the sales person or server, "Who is your purveyor and is this beef grain fed?" Is this animal protein filled with GMO's and did this meat come from factory farming?

To be a responsible global citizen is the goal. This can be a very daunting task and there is enough misinformation to make even your fairly intelligent citizen give up before the quest is even begun. That's where this BLOG comes in.

I will attempt to make sense of, and document, my research. I will attempt to find the most reliable and credible sources to list for you, in an effort to give you accurate information and save you time because I have done the research for you. I want to be a responsible and informed food consumer but you just about have to get a degree in agriculture and nutrition to make a truly educated decision. BUYING GROCERIES SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT OR CONFUSING!

As I document my research and discoveries, I will welcome, and encourage, feedback and discussion. This is an open forum and not a political or any other type of formal institutional statement. This is an exercise to deduce as much truth about proper nourishment as is possible! I am not a scholar (no comments please!) just a regular gal looking for some concrete information so that I can use my dollars to vote on the best food sustenance available. My intention is also to use the reliable documented information that I find to back up my purchase decisions, as well as to use the information in educated discussions in an effort to inform those around me.

In summation, this is my mission statement: To make purchasing healthy food for yourself and your family a simple and uncomplicated task.

WELCOME TO MY TRIP!

ps. this is my first blog ever. i am sure i will learn over time things that i should have included, or excluded, in this first blog. please forgive typing errors or other non-fact related mis-typings, mis-spellings, grammatical errors, or my general lack of blogging and other knowledge. other than that, all comments are welcome and THANK YOU FOR JOINING!!