Whole30 Day 4: The Elements- Earth

There are so many sources that say we should be eating everything organic and some even say especially when you eat paleo, vegan or any other diet. There are some foods that I do believe should be bought organically; however, I think the more important aspects are they local and are they a seasonal food item.

Buying local produce is almost always a sure way to get organic, clean vegetables. Whole30 defines clean foods as foods that are pesticide free and dirty foods as foods that are heavy with chemicals and pesticides. Local products also help out the small farmers and businesses rather than the big corporations by enriching the community rather than the corporate shareholders. The profits stay with the farmer and can be used to benefit and expand their business.

Seasonal bouquet and berries I picked up
at the PSU Farmers Market last year.

There are so many varieties of produce and each is successful depending on their location- the soil content, the amount of sunlight, altitude. So buying locally also ensures that you are buying products that take in the most benefits from its surroundings. Another aspect that ensures your produce has the most nutritional value is to buy them seasonally.

Seasonal produce means produce that grow in a specific season- such as root vegetables grow best in the fall and winter due to the soil and weather change. There are some vegetables such as onions, carrots and mushrooms that are able to be grown year around. Buying produce seasonally has several benefits. First off it's less expensive to purchase, there is minimal work and more is produced when the items are in season rather than being shipped to different areas.

Produce that has to be shipped some place else lose so much more. The nutrients begin to breakdown and so does the color, the freshness and crispness of the vegetables resulting in a wimpy, unattractive piece of food. In some areas produce is flash frozen to help keep in all the nutrients and can be just as healthy as getting them fresh (just check the packaging for any bad preservatives and additions) Instead of buying out of season, you could have a fresh vegetables that were grown just down the road and taste delicious.

I try and pick out something new each time I go to the market
 to cook with and there are always and abundance of new peppers.

So, yes, we should buy a lot of our produce organic but some vegetables do not necessarily need to be organic. For instance, sweet potatoes, eggplants, pineapples are all considered clean produce and do not have to have to be organic to provide the best nutrients and saves you a little moola. However, produce such as celery, collard greens, peppers and grapes should be bought organic as often as possible since they are considered dirty. To me organic is not as important as seasonal and local produce.

Tip of the Day: Farmers Markets are tons of fun, a lot of fresh produce, local farmers and butchers and really good food cooked right there for you. If you have a market near you, check it out- it's worth it! My parents just took us to the Sante Fe Farmer's Market and it was a blast and all indoors for the winter months. Another catch phrase to look out for specially for protein "All Natural" vs "Free-Range"- that's for another time.