Eat Farm-to-Table for You and Your Community

Did you ever think that what you eat could not only benefit you but also those around you? Imagine being able to do good by your community just by eating certain foods. These are the realities of eating farm-to-table. Now before your mind fills with visions of ploughing fields and turning in your stilettos and briefcase for garden gloves and a hoe; you don’t need to grow your own food to eat farm-to-table. I’m talking about eating locally grown food.

What’s In It for You?

Eating farm-to-table offers up loads of benefits for those who make the effort to do it. When you opt to eat locally grown food that comes to your table without all kinds of stops along the way, you get the freshest food possible. What this does is give you food that not only tastes better, but is more nutritious too. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, even foods that follow the highest standards when it comes to post-harvest handling still lose some of their nutritional value when they travel to locations farther away.  The longer time they spend in transit, the lower the nutritional value when it finally gets to you. Shopping locally often means that you’re able to buy the food within 24 hours after it’s harvested so you get to enjoy maximum freshness, nutrition, and flavor.

We all know that when something tastes good, we’re a lot more likely to eat it and this goes for adults and children. Fruits and vegetables that are fresh tend to taste as luscious and rich as they look which makes them a whole lot more appealing. And when it comes to fresh fruits and veggies; the health benefits are endless:

·       They’re low in fat and calories making them great for filling up to keep your weight in check

·       They contain antioxidants that have been linked to a lower risk of cancer

·       Diets rich in fruits and vegetables lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke

·       Fruits and veggies are a high source of fiber so you can enjoy better gastrointestinal health

·       Orange fruits and veggies can reduce vision problems thanks to beta carotene and lutein

·       Leafy greens are excellent sources of calcium that strengthen bones and protect against osteoarthritis

Choosing to eat locally grown organic foods also give you the added benefits that come from eating foods that haven’t been treated with chemicals and pesticides, which have been linked to all kinds of conditions, some of which include cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. And, the shorter the distance they travel, the less contaminants they risk coming into contact with for food that’s safer all around.

What’s In It for Your Community?

What you eat isn’t just about you. When you choose to eat farm-to-table you’re benefiting your community and even the world. Here’s how:

·       You benefit the local economy and support local farmers

·       You encourage sustainable agriculture

·       You help send the message to governments that locally grown, organic foods that are free of contaminants are people want

·       You help maintain more green space and farmland in your community

·       Your food doesn’t have to travel as far to get to your plate meaning a smaller carbon footprint thanks to less greenhouse gas emissions

Eating farm-to-table isn’t always more expensive, but when you consider all of the benefits for you and those around you, it certainly does justify the extra few cents you might have to spend sometimes. Eating locally gets you a whole lot more bang for your buck at the end of the day.

You can learn more about nutrition and healthy eating by clicking here.

Adrienne is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and fitness for more than a decade. When she's not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.

References

·       Healthy & Sustainable Food: Local and Urban Agriculture. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://chge.med.harvard.edu/topic/local-and-urban-agriculture

·       Vegetables and Fruits: Get Plenty Every Day. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vegetables-full-story/

·       Klavinski, Rita. (April 2013). 7 benefits of eating local foods. Michigan State University. Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/7_benefits_of_eating_local_foods

·       Food and Your Bones. National Osteoporosis Foundation. Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://nof.org/foods