As you know, I just recently updated my Digital Vision Board. One of the images that has stuck with the vision board despite its updates, is one of good, healthy, wholesome food. Now, I may be a little late on the Health Food Bandwagon, but a little late is better than never when it comes to health.

There wasn’t a specific event that made me rethink the way I was eating. In fact, ever since I invested in a personal trainer and began my “let’s get healthy” journey, I’ve been doing nothing but trying to figure out what I should and shouldn’t eat.

I, like the majority of America, had never really thought about where my food comes from. I had never questioned the labels on boxes. Did I know that the bag of Cheetos I devoured was not the best choice for a midnight snack? Of course. But that wasn’t going to change the fact that they were delicious and I wanted to eat it.

Processed foods are one thing — we all know they’re not good for us. But what about meats or produce? I never questioned the quality of meat that I picked up at a grocery store. It was all packaged nicely and displayed neatly, how would I ever thing to wonder where it came from? I never thought about what type of living condition the animal was exposed to. What the animal was fed. Whether it was happy or taken care of. I never thought about f the veggies and fruits I pick out are in season. Are actually ripe when they’re picked. Are genetically modified or doused in pesticides and are full of preservatives. And how does any of that even affect me?

I’ve been on a variety of diets over the past year on my quest to get healthy. From the HCG to the 4HB to Weight Watchers and back, I’ve experienced the ups and downs of trying to figure out what you really should eat.

So, I did some research (and watched Food Inc. about 4 years late).

Eating Local

1. Local foods are fresher. When food has to travel a great distance it is picked unripe which will improve shelf life however reduces the taste and nutritional quality of the food item.

2. Local foods promote food safety. There may be different standards for pesticide & herbicide usage in different countries potentially resulting in more chemicals being used on foods from other countries.

3. Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons.  By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.

4. Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism.  Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination

5. Supporting local providers supports responsible land development.  When you buy local, you give those with local open space – farms and pastures – an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.

Eating Organic

1. Nutrient density. Organic farmers nourish the soil that feeds our food. Research shows that organically-produced foods are higher in antioxidants and other nutrients than their conventional counterparts.

2. No persistent pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Designed by intent to kill living organisms, persistent pesticides can be harmful to wildlife and human health, especially as they contaminate our food, air and water or accumulate in our cells. Synthetic fertilizers require large quantities of fossil fuels to produce, and contribute to soil degradation and ocean dead zones.

3. No synthetic growth or breeding hormones. Avoiding synthetic hormones (which are frequently given to conventional dairy and meat animals to alter reproductive cycles and speed up growth) means less stress for animals, and reduced human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals

4. No GMOs. Genetically engineered crops are a relatively recent technology with potentially devastating impacts on ecosystems and human and animal health. Organic regulations forbid the use of genetically engineered seeds or animals (including clones).

5. Animal care. Organic philosophy means raising animals in harmony with nature. Quality animal care keeps animals healthy and productive, naturally. Animals should be cage-free and grass-fed. After all, you are what you eat.

Lucky for me, I live in San Francisco, where local farms come from no farther than 50 miles away to bring their fresh produce to our Farmer’s Markets. I’m reinventing the way I think about food, what I put in my mouth, and acknowledging my food from the source. I know it’s more expensive, but I’m excited to see if this new way of eating and approaching food with affect my health, weight and overall mood!

Do any of you eat local/organic? What do you think? Why do you do it?

Oh, and another new endeavor… Becca has persuaded me to start up a little “fashion blog” where I’ll house some photos of myself in my favorite outfits. I’m really looking forward to having some good pictures of myself — a change of pace from always being behind the camera 🙂 Take a look at the newest member of The Off Beat Report Family: Aubergine or Eggplant.

sources: http://www.organicvalley.coop/, http://localfoods.about.com/od/finduselocalfoods/tp/5-Reasons-to-Eat-Local-Foods.htm