BY JOSEPHINE MULGREW, CHC
O
ver the past few years, the local food movement
has become increasingly more popular across the
US. Before I dive into the numerous benefits of
eating locally, let’s review what exactly it means
to be a local eater. Wikipedia defines it as a
movement aiming to connect the food producers
with the food consumers in the same geographic community. This
type of connection will develop a more self-reliant community
and a community in which local economies are flourishing. If we
aren’t eating locally, then we are most likely falling into the global
food model. This means our food is likely travelling hundreds or
thousands of miles before it ends up in our kitchen.
Local food should be available at any healthy or whole food store
and, of course, farmer’s markets. In April, you will likely find lots of
blueberries and strawberries since they are in their peak season in
Florida. Here are two of my favorite berry recipes:
The Healthified Blueberry Muffin:
(modified from alldayIdreamoffood.com)
Ingredients: 4 eggs, 1/4c swerve sweetener, ½ tsp vanilla extract,
1/2c coconut flour, 1/4c grass-fed butter, 1 tsp baking powder, ½
tsp salt, ¼ tsp cinnamon, 1/3c water, 1/2c fresh blueberries
So, what are the benefits of eating locally?
1.) Purchasing locally grown fruits and veggies almost ensures
that your food was picked less than 24 hours prior. This freshness
brings incredible amounts of flavor. When produce or fruit is being
packaged and shipped across the globe, this naturally fresh flavor
is often lacking.
2.) Eliminating the processing steps (harvesting to washing to
packaging to shipping to distributing to purchasing) between a
product being grown and a product ending up in a kitchen will
lessen the chances for contamination. This ensures a safer food
supply for you and your family. - Preheat oven to 325 and grease a muffin tin. In a blender, add
eggs, swerve and vanilla. Blend on high until smooth. Next,
add the remaining ingredients beside the blueberries. Evenly
distribute batter into muffin tin. Press a few blueberries into each
muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until set. Enjoy!
3.) Not only does eliminating the processing steps decrease the
chance for food contamination but it also increases the nutritional
values of the product. Unfortunately, processing procedures often
times strip nutrients from our fruit and veggies. PB&J Smoothie:
Ingredients: 1/2c fresh strawberries, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp
flaxseeds, 2 tbsp peanut butter, 1/2c unsweetened vanilla almond
milk, dash of cinnamon, small handful of ice
4.) Eating locally means you’re also eating seasonally. When you
eat locally, you’re only able to eat the fruits and veggies that are
naturally growing in their peak seasons. When grown naturally in
their peak seasons, the flavor is full, the nutrients are robust and
the processing is eliminated - you’re probably sensing a pattern
here ;)
5.) Purchasing locally grown food supports the local economy.
The money you spend on local food will ultimately be reinvested
back into your community.
- Blend all ingredients in blender on high until smooth. Enjoy!
RPCRA.ORG | MAY/JUN 2017
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