Where the Hell Do You Think Food Comes From?
You don't need to get radical to get healthier and feel better. Just get really picky about where your food comes from. You also don't need to give up a lot of your favorite things like hamburgers or even pizza, just buy only the best and freshest ingredients.
A grass-fed or bison burger on a whole wheat bun might actually be good for you considering the Omega-3's in the meat and the fiber in the bun. And a slice of cheese probably won't kill you either.
Compare this to ground beef purchased at the supermarket where you have no idea where it came from...it's probably loaded with saturated fat, hormones, antibiotics and who knows what else and came from a very unhappy cow. Couple that with a white bun made last month in some factory with a list of ingredients a mile long, none of which you can pronounce, and I am sure you can see the difference.
Or substitute your store-bought commercial cereal for Cowgirl Granola (plug, plug, plug).
The truth is locally grown food is more nutritious than food that has been trucked 1,000 miles or more or perhaps comes from South America. So, obviously one of the best ways to improve your diet is to buy your food locally at either a farmers market, CSA (community supported agriculture), food co-op or a grocery store that features locally grown and made products.
Plus, freshly picked produce and freshly made foods taste better. It's true, which may give you an added incentive to eat more veggies and other healthy foods!
Why not challenge yourself to find a nearby farmers market and check it out? Right now is the beginning of the height of produce season where you'll find peaches, blackberries, carrots, herbs, rhubarb, green beans, squash, zucchini and so much more.
Don't always feel like you need to buy organic.
Talk to the vendors at the farmers market and see how they raise their crops and animals or make their foods. You may find their approach is just as good as organic but they don't want to go through the expense and government BS to label their products "certified organic."
Another bonus to shopping at a farmers market is that many vendors cater to people with special dietary needs, such as gluten-free or people with diabetes. And if you talk to the vendor about a special request, they are usually more than happy to accommodate you.
If you live around San Antonio, I invite you to visit the newly established New Braunfels Farm to Market. Located just south of the plaza on S. Castell in the old Krause's parking lot which is now the Friesenhaus.
There's about 40 vendors, all of whom are dedicated to providing you with great tasting food. This will be my fourth week as a vendor and I love it.
There's live music, picnic benches for you to sit down and enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a breakfast taco while you shop. Last week they even had someone making roasted corn. It's a real community event.
You'll likely see your friends and neighbors and make new friends at a farmers market, now matter where you live. So get out, take the whole family and enjoy the weather as you get some great farm fresh produce and artisanal foods. Be inspired.
So instead of giving up a lot of your favorite foods, try making them with healthy ingredients. They'll probably taste better. They'll be better for you and you won't feel like you're being deprived of your favorite foods.
Depriving yourself of things you like to eat rarely works because sooner or later you're going to go back to eating them. But if you figure out how to make them from healthy ingredients, you'll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
See you at the market! Be sure and let us know about your favorite farmer, food or farmers market and how it inspires you.
Buen provecho!
A grass-fed or bison burger on a whole wheat bun might actually be good for you considering the Omega-3's in the meat and the fiber in the bun. And a slice of cheese probably won't kill you either.
Compare this to ground beef purchased at the supermarket where you have no idea where it came from...it's probably loaded with saturated fat, hormones, antibiotics and who knows what else and came from a very unhappy cow. Couple that with a white bun made last month in some factory with a list of ingredients a mile long, none of which you can pronounce, and I am sure you can see the difference.
Or substitute your store-bought commercial cereal for Cowgirl Granola (plug, plug, plug).
The truth is locally grown food is more nutritious than food that has been trucked 1,000 miles or more or perhaps comes from South America. So, obviously one of the best ways to improve your diet is to buy your food locally at either a farmers market, CSA (community supported agriculture), food co-op or a grocery store that features locally grown and made products.
Plus, freshly picked produce and freshly made foods taste better. It's true, which may give you an added incentive to eat more veggies and other healthy foods!
Why not challenge yourself to find a nearby farmers market and check it out? Right now is the beginning of the height of produce season where you'll find peaches, blackberries, carrots, herbs, rhubarb, green beans, squash, zucchini and so much more.
Don't always feel like you need to buy organic.
Talk to the vendors at the farmers market and see how they raise their crops and animals or make their foods. You may find their approach is just as good as organic but they don't want to go through the expense and government BS to label their products "certified organic."
Another bonus to shopping at a farmers market is that many vendors cater to people with special dietary needs, such as gluten-free or people with diabetes. And if you talk to the vendor about a special request, they are usually more than happy to accommodate you.
If you live around San Antonio, I invite you to visit the newly established New Braunfels Farm to Market. Located just south of the plaza on S. Castell in the old Krause's parking lot which is now the Friesenhaus.
There's about 40 vendors, all of whom are dedicated to providing you with great tasting food. This will be my fourth week as a vendor and I love it.
You'll likely see your friends and neighbors and make new friends at a farmers market, now matter where you live. So get out, take the whole family and enjoy the weather as you get some great farm fresh produce and artisanal foods. Be inspired.
So instead of giving up a lot of your favorite foods, try making them with healthy ingredients. They'll probably taste better. They'll be better for you and you won't feel like you're being deprived of your favorite foods.
Depriving yourself of things you like to eat rarely works because sooner or later you're going to go back to eating them. But if you figure out how to make them from healthy ingredients, you'll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
See you at the market! Be sure and let us know about your favorite farmer, food or farmers market and how it inspires you.
Buen provecho!
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