Nutritionists typically suggest that in order to lose weight, we have to change the way we think about food.
The same can be said about changing the way we think about how our food is grown. While many of us have become more mindful about what we’re putting in our bodies, how many of us have become more cognizant about where our food comes from; how it’s grown; and what it’s grown in?
Here’s a list of some of the things we all should be thinking about the next time we’re at the grocery store:
There’s a laundry list of ingredients listed on the food item you’re considering. This is fairly typical of just about any packaged product. And while many foods have readily identifiable ingredients on the package, if you can’t pronounce it, and you have no idea what it is – should you really be buying it?
The next time you’re shopping for meat, whether it be beef, chicken, or pork, grass-fed or organic is the way to go. Even if you don’t care if the animal was treated ethically (although you should), why purchase meat that’s full of unnecessary antibiotics or growth hormones? Particularly since there is an alternative. You are what you eat. And guess what? If the animal if full of hormones and antibiotics, you will be as well.
Do you care what kind of dirt your vegetables were grown in? Soil is one of the most overlooked assets we have on this planet, yet people still treat it like plain dirt. It’s well-documented that Holistic Management producers have been able to increase organic matter while bringing more carbon out of the atmosphere and into the soil to produce nutrient-dense food. Were your carrots grown in nutrient-dense soil or soil that was treated with fertilizer and other chemicals? I’ll say it again – you are what you eat.
It’s the middle of winter, but you have a taste for fresh strawberries. Never fear, you can still buy ‘fresh’ strawberries, flown thousands of miles to your local supermarket from other countries. But is it really worth the carbon footprint you’re creating each time you purchase an item that has traveled thousands of miles to end up in the produce aisle of your local store? Instead, start thinking about what’s in season where you live, and choose from those items that are available. And if you absolutely have to have those strawberries, hit the frozen foods aisle.
As consumers, we have become accustomed to having an almost unlimited number of choices when we purchase our food. But as educated consumers, we should understand that our choices affect more than just our own family. The next time you’re in the grocery store, consider making the purchases that are right for all of us. And leave the antibiotics for when you’re sick.
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Please Help Us Grow
Holistic Management International’s mission is to educate people in regenerative agriculture for healthy land and thriving communities.
We have helped farmers and ranchers in 130 countries learn and practice Holistic Management for the past 3 decades. You can read some of their Success Stories to learn how Holistic Management has changed their lives and impacted their land.
As a non-profit organization, HMI is always grateful for donations in support of our mission. You can help regenerate land for healthy food and healthy lives with many giving options including scholarships for farmer/rancher training. Learn more here.
