Eating "Local"

Shopping at farmers’ markets and eating locally grown food is one of the best ways to find high quality ingredients, be environmentally friendly, and help support your community’s economy.

But to get the biggest benefit out of your local market, it helps to know what to look for and what questions to ask the farmers. 

When your produce is hand harvested from a farm near you, it is more nutrient dense and those nutrients are passed along to your body with a freshness that isn't provided when you have to wait for it to travel across the country or from another country for that matter.

A Few Key Tips/Questions to Ask When Shopping in Your 'Backyard'

- Does the farm use pesticides? What is the process for producing the food?
- If you are looking for meat: Is the beef from a grass-fed environment? Grass-fed beef provides healthier fats.

- Are your chickens free-range or raised in a pasture? 

- If you are looking for a particular item: What is the growing season if I wanted to consume the freshest _________ ?

These are just a few suggestions and ideas that hopefully provide a brief education on local farming.  Brainstorm ways that you can eat healthier, stay healthier, and feel better, by using local farms.  A lot of cities have various co-op groups that provide a list of produce and meats 

that are in season, where you can choose what you want and it is hand delivered to your door step. 

Knowing that your food consumption is better than it was before with a few minor, yet major changes in how you eat what you are already eating, can get you faster progress towards your goals!!

Happy Monday!

In Health, 

Zeke Samples - IFA, - IDEA

Surrealbody@gmail.com