When it comes to raw foods, you have several purchasing options. The first option is to go to your local supermarket and purchase your raw foods out of the organic section of the produce department. Your second option is to pay a visit to your local farmer's market and keep your money within the community. You do have a third option, which involves planting your own garden. Which option you choose is up to you so make sure you read on as each option has incredible advantages.
Shopping at Your Local Supermarket
Your local supermarket most likely has an organic section in the produce department. This is where you want to shop because organic foods are not genetically altered and they are not covered in pesticides. Pesticides never come in contact with organic foods. This is a great thing because this means that you are not polluting your body with unecessary toxins. Another positive aspect is that the foods are kept fresh a little longer because they are kept in a cool environment that is also very moist.
Shopping at Your Local Farmer's Market
If there is a farmer's market in your community, this is the ideal shopping spot. You want to ensure that organic raw foods are available because you do not want to eat raw foods that have been compromised by pesticides. Pesticides can be harmful to you and your family because they have been associated with birth defects, neurological problems, and cancer. These issues are more prevalent in children because children's systems are not fully developed and they are small. That is why you want to make sure your farmer's market carries organic foods. If not, then your supermarket or grocery store may be your best bet.
Having Your Own Garden
You can always plant your own garden and keep it free from pesticides. You can use the most natural of methods to raise your garden and your family can be happily fed for quite some time. When you harvest, you can preserve or 'can' or denydrate the food so that it will be readily available for fall and winter. This is something that many gardeners do so that their crop will last until the next harvest. Canning jars can usually be purchased at grocery stores and super markets. You’ll find that having your own garden will save you many trips to the supermarket or the farmer's market, which means you’ll save on fuel costs as well as reducing air pollution.
Go for the Obvious
The obvious choices here are to go to your farmer's market or plant your own garden. Not just because you want to save on fuel costs and keep money within the community, but because you’re doing something great for the environment.
If fewer people purchase their raw foods from the supermarket, the supermarket would not have to arrange so many shipments. The trucks that are used to ship in these raw foods use a lot of fuel and they emit a lot of pollution. So not only are you benefiting you and your family through the consumption of raw foods, but you are also doing something great for the environment. By doing great things for the environment, you are improving the air you breathe and so much more.
Give Raw Foods a Try
So if you've never embarked upon a raw food diet, give it a try. Some people turn their noses up at eating raw foods because they like their foods to be cooked. However, it is those that eat nothing but cooked foods that are not getting proper nutrition from their food. Cooking removes a lot of the nutrients needed for a healthy life. If you don't want to eat 100% raw foods, you don't have to. Some people find that they are happier to incorporate some grains and cereals into their diet, but have 75% of their diet consisting of raw foods. There are many raw foods out there and many combinations, which make leading a raw food lifestyle much easier. Sometimes it may seem harder than what it is, but a person doesn't know until they try. So check out your local farmer's market and don't forget to buy organic so that you’re free from pesticides and genetically altered foods.
By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari
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