How to Eat Local, Stay Healthy, and Save Money

There are few ways to better reduce your toxic load than to clean up your eating. Avoiding processed foods (see our Cooking From Scratch blog for some great tips and recipes), and eating organically are the best ways to do this. Some people shy away from buying organic foods due to a perceived higher cost, and lack of understanding of the value. But as some of our previous blog posts have demonstrated, it doesn't have to be more expensive to eat organically, and even if your food bills are slightly higher to start with, this may be offset by lower medical bills in the future!  Eating clean and natural foods without all the chemicals and additives can help your immune system and whole body function better and better over time, as your body rids itself of toxins, and all your systems begin to work together as they are supposed to.

While organic produce can be found in just about any grocery store nowadays, we believe that eating locally-grown foods is a much more valid choice for holistic living - both supporting your local farmers and community, protecting the environment from unnecessary fuel usage, and providing you with fresher and therefore healthier foods, which have not been stripped of vital nutrients during transport and storage.

Image via WikipediaShopping at your local farmer's market is a great choice for finding fresh, local, and often organic foods - and can also be a lot of fun which the whole family can enjoy together!  There are literally thousands of farmers markets throughout the US (as well as other countries), and more crop up every day, as more people opt to support their local communities and make healthier food choices.You can find lots of local farmers market listings at one of our favorite sites: http://www.localharvest.org/

If you are super-busy like me, and find it hard to get out to a farmer's market on a regular basis, a CSA may be a great option for you. Community Supported Agriculture has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds over the past few years. (When I first moved to Columbus, I could only find 5 or 6 CSAs in my local area; 8 years later, there are about 30 available - and more every year!) Using this model, customers are able to purchase a share of a farm's produce during the growing season, and the farmer has a built-in market, and also gets an influx of money right when they need it - during the spring planning season - rather than hoping to recoup their costs later throughout the year, and being uncertain as to how much planting to do. Typically shares are collected at a centrally located drop-off point - or in some cases even delivered directly to your door! This model creates much more efficiency through the whole process, reducing waste and maximizing food dollars.

Image via WikipediaIn most areas, summer CSA season is now in full swing. While some of the crops were delayed this year due to all the rain this spring, July brings an ever-increasing bounty of harvest, and I am greatly enjoying it, even if the first few shares are small. In my area, our CSA now includes lettuce/salad mix, cucumbers, herbs (dill, basil, cilantro, etc.), summer squash, mushrooms, and more. Green beans, peppers, and tomatoes are something to look forward to! (Your selection of available fruits and vegetables will obviously vary depending on your location.)

And remember that the CSA model is now used for many different things other than fruits and vegetables, so you may be able to increase your local food choices more than you would think. I also currently participate in a meat CSA (organic, local meats), and am also aware of a local herb & honey CSA, and local cheese, milk, and bread options through a CSA format as well. Many farmers of many different types are embracing the CSA model as a profitable and efficient way to get their products into the hands of consumers - and it's economically feasible for the consumer as well - often at a cost equal to or less than buying organic through a grocery store.

For more information on CSAs, as well as how to find one in your area, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/csa.html.