With all the documentaries out there about unhealthy foods and about how long your produce and other items are sitting on a truck getting from one destination to another, it can make anyone a little leery of the foods they eat. If you are one of the people out there trying to take care of your body and eat healthily, you want to know what’s in your food and where it came from.
This is why so many people are seeking out fresher products, shopping more organically, opting for locally grown, or simply just learning more about the foods that are out there. If you want to start investing your hard earned money on fresher foods for you and your family, here are some of the things you should be considering.
How Foods Are Stored
Many grocery stores and produce handlers use nitrogen generators to help keep food fresh. These pump N2 into the food, helping keep them from decaying as quickly as they do in O2 (oxygen). You’re not going to really have this option when you get your foods home though.
You can invest some money in cute containers to hold certain items, like an onion shaped container that helps keep your onion fresher or an avocado shaped one to keep your sliced avocado from browning as quickly. They’re often adorable, as well as being functional.
Shop The Farmer’s Market
You can get fresh from the farm items at your local farmer’s market. Make sure you ask if they are fresh from the farm though, as some people may try to sneak in items from Mexico or elsewhere, which means they still spend at least a few days on a truck (depending on where you’re located).
By investing money in produce and other foods at your local farmer’s market you are also giving back to your community and helping local growers keep their farms and businesses going. You might even want to consider plotting out your own small or large garden.
Buy In Season
You can invest your money and health more wisely into food by only purchasing produce when it’s actually in season. The grocery store carries asparagus all year, but it tastes best when you buy it in the late spring or early summer when it is growing and being harvested. After that, you’ll be buying stuff grown in another country, or in a less than natural way, and it might not taste as good.
Consider really getting into the season of your favorite fruits and vegetables and visiting a farm that allows you to pick your own. Not only can this save you money, but it can also be a fun experience for you and your entire family. You might even learn something too (and get a good workout).