Since I declared my resolutions for all to see on here I'm feeling particularly motivated to make real changes this year. One of my biggest priorities is food. Now that Quinn is eating us out of house and home, I want to make sure she's eating the best there is. I also want to teach her the value of eating right; not just for her own well being but for the well being of the environment. That is why I'm putting my foot down and changing the way we eat from now on.
My first mission was to look into local, ethically raised meats. I signed up for the PETA newsletter a year ago and have learned so much about factory farming practices in North America. It is absolutely horrific. The factory farming/meat industry has done a good job of keeping average people in the dark about what they do which is why I believe our society has gotten to this point. When you buy meat at the grocery store you don't think about the animal it came from. If you knew the meat you are about to eat is from a tortured, malnourished and probably sick animal you might think twice about eating it. Some might argue there is no 'humane' way of eating meat. I get that. If you are vegetarian or vegan than good on ya! I just don't think I'm ready to make that change yet. What am I willing to do is buy meat from a local organic farm. The kind of farm where farmers actually value their livestock and don't abuse them. The kind of farm where animals can graze and be outside, not locked in pens with thousands of others.
Simon and I had previously done research on this and found a very good butcher not far from our home. They only source local, ethically produced meats and as a bonus they are super friendly people. If you are in the Ottawa area and are looking for tasty, local meats we highly suggest popping into The Manotick Village Butcher. They have both fresh and frozen meats and offer 'freezer boxes' with a selection of different frozen meats and cuts. We normally buy a small or medium box which tends to last around a month. While the cost of local meat is higher than grocery-store meat it is much better to eat less of a good thing than lots of a bad thing.
My next mission was to find local, organic fruits and vegetables. The Ottawa/Gatineau area is surrounded by hundreds of acres of farm land so there were many options. Its funny that I never considered buying food anywhere other than a grocery store. We have fruits and vegetables shipped to Canada from other countries when we have those same fruits and vegetables being grown basically right on our doorstep. Ridiculous!
The benefits of eating organic fruits and vegetables are pretty substantial. No pesticides on food = no pesticides in your body = reduced risk of cancers, allergies, mental health disorders, etc. BUT, while going organic is great for your body, the same can't be said for your wallet. Organic food IS more expensive; sometimes a LOT more expensive than their pesticide covered buddies but I have decided to make the food we eat a priority so I pay the extra moolah. If you can't justify paying more you should at least consider going organic with the 'Dirty Dozen':
1) Apples
2) Celery
3) Strawberries
4) Peaches
5) Spinach
6) Nectarines
7) Grapes
8) Peppers
9) Potatoes
10) Blueberries
11) Lettuce
12) Kale
According to the Environmental Working Group's annual report, if you go organic with those twelve foods you can reduce pesticide exposure by 80%. Definitely something to consider.
My hunt for local, organic fruits and veggies turned up LOTS of options, but I ended up finding a local farm that offers weekly delivery. Yes, DELIVERY! That means I won't have to begrudingly go to the grocery store every week. YAY! They will send me a basket of mixed vegetables, lettuces and herbs every week. Some of the vegetables will be new to us, but I'm looking forward to trying out new recipes and flavours.
Well, that was the easy part. The hard part will be sticking to this new, healthy lifestyle.
Happy Weekend!
xo, Vicky
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