Eat Healthier - Here's How!

A nutritionist once said we should shop only around the edges of the grocery store. I thought this kind of odd until I realize what he was getting at. All of the food around the edges, or fringe food, were fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, dairy, meat, and so on. It was what you might call 'living' food. All of the stuff in the middle is relatively 'dead' food; canned veggies, canned fruit, canned meats, cookies, cake mix, soda pop, chips, greeting cards, light bulbs, household cleaners.

I'm very particular about my produce. For this reason I go to our local Farmer's Market. The choices are a bit limited because they sell fruits and vegetables that are in season and have just been harvest. Every July I buy about thirty pounds of freshly picked blueberries from a local grower. I take them home and eat them fresh and also freeze them. Freeing them is as easy as falling out bed. Just wash them drain them, put them in an airtight container and freeze. Raspberries are excellent frozen - with these and strawberries is wash them and remove the stems, then place them on a cookie sheet until they're frozen solid, then put them in freezer containers. Cubed melon works well too.

I get the apples from the 'apple guy' who is a third generation apple grower. He has dozens of varieties and tells you which apples are best for what - he also gives free samples. I'd never heard of a Pricilla apple, mostly because they have a very short growing season and don't keep well at all. You almost have to eat them the same day they're picked, but they are so very tasty! I get apple cider from him as well and freeze some of that too.

There is a 'Turkey Guy" at our farmer's market who sells chemical and hormone free turkey. I love the turkey tenders; I roll them in egg, then breadcrumbs and bake. He also sells turkey sausages and a sausage stick called a gobbler that is very delicious. There's turkey 'ham', bacon, and turkey jerky (great for road trips or long air flights.) I just know that this meat is much better for me than what's sold in grocery stores - it's never frozen and lives free not metal cages.

The Egg Guy is next. His organic, chemical/hormone free eggs are fantastic. My dogs love them because I buy the Jumbos that quite often have a double yolk - the dogs get the extra yolk as a treat.

There are bakeries that make some of the freshest, wholesome breads and rolls you'll ever eat. The also have goodies, like croissants, pies, cakes and cookies - so be careful. I always allow myself one slice of "applejack" which is like a flat square pie drizzled with icing.

There is the Cheese guy who has just about any cheese you'd want; havarti, chocolate cheese, cheese with hot peppers in it, real Parmesan freshly grated while you wait. It's top quality products that keep me coming back.

The Chicken Guy sells organic chicken and it is wonderful - very tender and juicy, never stringy. I can also request the necks and back from him as I feed my dogs the raw fool diet.

Some times their produce isn't so great off-season, but most places don't have great fresh blueberries in January of good apples in May. I shop by what's in season and enjoy it to the hilt. I'm sure that eating the 'live food' is better for me and knowing the person who raised or grew the food, who's been doing it for years, makes me feel better about it.

There is another perk to shopping at a farmer's market - you're taking care of the earth because most of what you buy there is only transported a short distance, requires refrigeration for a short time and puts money into the pockets of your local growers.

Buying in bulk and freezing ahead will save you a lot of money. Store your food in glass containers to avoid any potential off-gassing issues that arise from plastic. Many herbs are excellent when dried and if you have a garden, grow your own herbs, such as lemon balm, mint, parsley, chives, basil, oregano,stevia leaves and sage. A good food dehydrator is a great investment and will pay for itself in not time when you consider the high price of dried herbs these days - and you'll know yours are pesticide and chemicals, as long as you don't spray them on your plants!