Okay, I know I said I'd continue on with my 'perils of high fructose corn syrup' post, but I'm in a very positive mood. Rather than focus on what you shouldn't eat, today I'd like to talk about what you should be eating to maximize your heath. One of the best ways to ensure you're getting the most bang for your buck from your food (nutrient wise) is to eat food at the peak of ripeness, as close to the time it was picked as possible. Fresh produce loses its nutrient value after it has been picked. The longer you go from the time of harvest, the fewer nutrients are in that food. If you are eating fruits and vegetables that have been transported long distances, they will be more depleted than those fresh from the field. So how do you get around this? Eat seasonally and locally!
When you eat foods that are in season, you are consuming them at their most flavorful and nutritious. To me, one of the most striking examples of the taste benefits of seasonal eating is tomatoes. There is no comparison between the sweet, juicy tang of an heirloom tomato fresh off the vine, and an out of season, flavorless, mealy tomato from the grocery store that has been shipped here from the southern hemisphere. And when you eat seasonally, you are also eating foods when they are most readily available, which translates to most affordable!
Those of us in Lancaster County and the surrounding areas are incredibly fortunate to have a bevvy of fresh, seasonal produce widely available. We are surrounded by some of the richest, most productive, non-irrigated agricultural soil in the world! Stop at any of the farm stands scattered along the roadsides, visit one of the local Farmers Markets, or sign up with one of the growing number of area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs for fresh, nutritious, local foods year round. Not sure where to start? Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local is a fantastic resource! Check them out on Facebook or click here to check out their April news. Not from Lancaster County? Check out http://www.buylocalpa.org/ to find your local chapter.
Better yet, grow it yourself! Plant a garden! This is the perfect time of year to start thinking seasonally, and it doesn't get any more local (or cheaper) than your own yard, windowsill or patio! No matter how little space you think you have, you can probably grow something, whether it is potatoes in a bucket, herbs in a pot by the window, or a garden full of the freshest, most flavorful and nutritious produce. Not sure where to start? Check out my the following links to interesting container gardening ideas (like growing carrots in an empty 2 liter bottle or turning an old pallet into a vertical patio garden). So what are you waiting for! Get out and garden! Or join a CSA! Or visit a local market! Your tastebuds, wallets, and health will thank you!
When you eat foods that are in season, you are consuming them at their most flavorful and nutritious. To me, one of the most striking examples of the taste benefits of seasonal eating is tomatoes. There is no comparison between the sweet, juicy tang of an heirloom tomato fresh off the vine, and an out of season, flavorless, mealy tomato from the grocery store that has been shipped here from the southern hemisphere. And when you eat seasonally, you are also eating foods when they are most readily available, which translates to most affordable!Those of us in Lancaster County and the surrounding areas are incredibly fortunate to have a bevvy of fresh, seasonal produce widely available. We are surrounded by some of the richest, most productive, non-irrigated agricultural soil in the world! Stop at any of the farm stands scattered along the roadsides, visit one of the local Farmers Markets, or sign up with one of the growing number of area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs for fresh, nutritious, local foods year round. Not sure where to start? Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local is a fantastic resource! Check them out on Facebook or click here to check out their April news. Not from Lancaster County? Check out http://www.buylocalpa.org/ to find your local chapter.
Better yet, grow it yourself! Plant a garden! This is the perfect time of year to start thinking seasonally, and it doesn't get any more local (or cheaper) than your own yard, windowsill or patio! No matter how little space you think you have, you can probably grow something, whether it is potatoes in a bucket, herbs in a pot by the window, or a garden full of the freshest, most flavorful and nutritious produce. Not sure where to start? Check out my the following links to interesting container gardening ideas (like growing carrots in an empty 2 liter bottle or turning an old pallet into a vertical patio garden). So what are you waiting for! Get out and garden! Or join a CSA! Or visit a local market! Your tastebuds, wallets, and health will thank you!
Pallet Garden
Carrots in a 2 liter bottle
Hanging Herb Garden
The article lists how many of each kind of veggies to plant in each square of a square foot garden.
Guidelines for growing vegetables chart: planting timing & watering frequencies for the garden
