Eat sh*t that grows. Eat fresh foods. That is all. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
No, but really. If we want our bodies and minds to function properly we have to consume fresh food. I am not here to shame anyone on what they eat. I’m a lover of Graeter’s ice cream and believe all things butterscotch flavored should be considered a world wonder. However, I do believe in the ability to recognize what is real food so you can be empowered to fill your body up with foods that not only make you feel good but also energize you. Then you can keep doing all those outdoor activities you love so much.
Let’s talk about what eating fresh food really means and how to start eating food that grows.
Food, don’t we all love it?? With so many options all around us, it can be hard to even remember what FOOD actually is, and what it isn’t. Food IS something that provides you nutritional support so that you have the energy to function. From body maintenance to immune health, it is important to feed yourself things that your body can process.
We have turned food from something needed to survive to a social phenomenon, and to the detriment of our bodies. More people than ever suffer from chronic medical conditions, many of which are a result of questionable eating habits. Fresh food is not processed. It’s not modified. It’s certainly not a bunch of chemicals made up of random alphanumeric combinations.
To be clear, processed foods are designed to make you real-life addicted to them. Feel free to fact-check me on that but be prepared to go down a long rabbit hole.
{Read More: Fresh Tips for Starting a Garden}
It can be hard to make the choice to eat fresh and real food. A great rule of thumb is, “if it comes from a plant, eat it. If it’s made in a plant, don’t.” What about meat? Get your hunt on, babes. Those free-range options are the way to go. And what do you know, they follow the rule of eating things that grow. It matters where your food comes from.
Why is it important? If you are eating things that are nutrient-rich, you’ll be more likely to eat only what you need and your body will be able to process it more completely. This results in things like less bloating and prettier skin – what girl doesn’t want that?!
We’ve smoked out that we want to eat fresh food. With some of those tricky, trickster companies labeling things to make you believe things are food when they are not, here are some sweet tips to keep you on track.
How to Sniff out Fresh Food
- Looking at the label is a great place to start. Ask yourself, “does this ingredient grow?” If the answer is “no,” put it back. Even just running through the ingredient list and not buying things that have ingredients in them you don’t know. Blue 1, Yellow 5?? Thanks but no thanks.
- Eat the rainbow. No, skittles don’t count. Pay attention to what you have on your plate. Is it colorful?! Fruits and veggies come in so many different shapes, and sizes, and we need them all. I'll spare you the lecture on phytochemicals but know that these natural chemicals do everything from preventing diseases to protecting us against yucky germs and even harmful solar rays.
- A variety of real food is better. To enjoy all the benefits of food, you have to change it up. We all have our special go-to foods but it’s time to throw in a few switch-ups, and change-ups so you can reap all the benefits these foods have to give you.
Fake food tastes good and leaves you wanting more because it’s made to be that way. But real fresh food is both natural and delicious. Fruit, veggies, meat, herbs, the Earth has everything we need to keep our bodies healthy and satisfied. This is why hunting and harvesting are so great. You have control over the source.
