roots

I'm always asked what led me to becoming so conscious with my eating habits and overall lifestyle. And, I would say it came in two defining moments - the first being at the age of seventeen after I stumbled and giggled through my first yoga class.

As I was driving home a thought hit me like a brick wall.. my body didn't need meat anymore. With my newfound vegetarianism came a completely new lifestyle that involved regular exercise, loads of greens and less refined sugar. I began eating to fuel my body. 

The second moment of enlightenment came while watching Food, Inc. this past summer.

Michael Pollan - author of "The Omnivore's Diet: A Natural History of Four Meals" - was being interviewed and his take on the food industry made so much sense:

"There are no seasons in the American supermarket. Now there are tomatoes all year round, grown halfway around the world, picked when it was green, and ripened with ethylene gas. Although it looks like a tomato, it's kind of a notional tomato. I mean, it's the idea of a tomato."

Yes, repeat that a few times to yourself. It's the idea of food.
It looks like an apple, tastes like an apple but does not contain the nutrients a t r u e home-grown  Apple possesses.

So why the hell are you eating it? Our body doesn't growl for food just to be given an apple-like food item. Our body needs nutritious food that can be turned into muscle power. 

Our body wants to do its job efficiently so we can finish a 5K, brush our teeth and shop all day without feeling fatigued. Our body is a beautiful temple that allows us to do everyday tasks, but these tasks can't be completed unless we aid our body in doing so.

Mother Earth doesn't grow delicious Sweet Potatoes and Beets for us to simply make our own with technology. Instead, we should take advantage of these delicious gifts by eating what comes directly from her roots.

I'm extremely proud to say that 90% of the food that goes into my body is USDA organic, Non GMO Verified or was grown by someone I know by name. This sense of intimacy with each ingredient in my meals allows me to stay connected with my inner and exterior self.

Hopefully I've shocked you enough to rethink your current eating habits. So to aid in your (hopefully) new lifestyle, I've compiled a list of tips on how to eat more consciously:

1. Shop Local. Take time out of your day to shop at the Farmer's Market (or Jack O Lantern Farms) and seek out locally made bakery items such as bread, pasta and chips. Much to my surprise, it's significantly cheaper to source locally (taxes are wavered when buying from a farmer AND their prices overall are lower). Court Street Market is opened daily from 10-6 and sells locally sourced goods only.

2. Buy USDA Organic. When it comes to the items you have to purchase from grocery stores such as cheese, yogurt, nuts, etc. opt for the product that is USDA and Non GMO certified.

3. Read the damn label. If you can't pronounce more than two ingredients then put it back..

4. Do your research. The most valuable information I have learned concerning health and what to eat/not eat have been through health magazines, books and online articles. When it comes to recipes, do your research on substitutions for ingredients like vegetable oil and margarine.

5. Get to know your kitchen. Take time to make your own treats such as Peanut Butter, Granola Bars, and Hummus that are filled with sugar and preservatives when bought in-store. Trust me, once you try the home-made versions of these goodies you will never purchase them in-store again. And, it's cheaper to make your own.

(Think: $1 container of home-made Hummus v. $4 Store-bought)

6. Ditch the soda. Spend five minutes googling what's in that shit and I promise you'll never touch it again. If you need another incentive, studies have shown that for every year you ditch soda you lose a pound. I encourage you to try out Kombucha for a healthier alternative - fermented goodness with a soda-like flavor.

7. Get creative. Eating healthy does not mean you have to eat a salad for every meal.
Have fun with it!



It's time to get back to our roots.