Meat(less) Monday: Recipes, nutrition tips and advice on food your body will thank you for. OK, maybe not completely meatless, but healthy, for sure.
By: Collin Dieffenbach
Nothing is better than biting into a fresh, vine ripe tomato that you bought at the local farmers market on the corner. The texture is firm but juicy. You can taste the sun-warmed flesh. There are a lot of benefits of eating local produce and not just including taste. The food is healthier for you, supports local farmers and helps reduce harmful emissions from semi-trailers.
When your vegetables come from your neighbor, you don’t have to worry about them being flash frozen. The cucumbers you just bought are going to be packed full of nutrients that are often lost in the freezing process. Plus, the vegetables stay fresh longer with no mushy flesh. The freshest vegetables make the best dinners. It is also possible to know where your vegetables come from.
Commercial farmers are more likely to use harmful pesticides and herbicides. The produce you buy at the local farmers market is much more likely to be organic. If you have any concerns, you can talk to somebody from the farm and find out what they use to combat pests. Stands at the market are likely to be staffed by somebody from the farm or somebody who knows about the farm. The produce from the market isn’t just healthier for you, it is also healthier for the planet.
A big factor of carbon emissions from food production is in the transportation process. The processed food has to travel thousands of miles just to make it to your grocery store. When you get the food locally, it only has to travel a few miles, meaning a smaller carbon footprint. Buying local is also a good way to help your local economy because it keeps money in the community.
If you want to get the most nutrients and taste out of your produce, you should head down to your local farmers market. Every week you can enjoy the freshest foods to put on your table. Eating locally benefits you, your community and your planet.
Photo courtesy of tastefoodblog.files.wordpress.com.
