Reusng those bulk bags

I got somethings in bulk and get some nice bags from Earth Fare  that have the zip type tops.  I usually have a bag in my reusable bag I got from them so I get the same things again.  BUT sometimes I forget to put it back in the bag... so I have a few sitting around.  I also work at a warehouse club were I get some good deals on things like berries. You know when they have too many and more coming in at the height of the season. So I got some strawberries and thought I freeze some for later.  I saw my bags and thought ok it might have a little bit of the sugar in them but then it won't hurt the strawberries. Why not?  I also have a raspberry and  blueberry bag.

Real Food Plan

I hate that they are calling this the real food diet, cause diet don't work. It is more like the real food change of lifestyle plan. I have made the new year resolution to eat less pre-packaged meals and healthier. You may have seen Michael Pollan the mind behind the book _In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto_ on "Oprah". I knew when I saw the ads for this show it had to be along the lines of the movie "Food Inc". But I found out that I am trying to follow his advise with trying to eat healthier.

His main points for the real food plan is:

Eat but not too much, mostly plants.

Eat REAL food anything that dies he pointed out..... Not super processed food.

Eat Local.

Eat in season

Eat Superfoods foods that are packed with nutrients.

I think that the greatest thing I have heard is that the deep colorfully vegetables and fruits are rich in anti-oxidants because they are that way to protect themselves from the environment . So look for the bright food.

Becoming a Lovavore

Local food networks include community gardens, food co-ops, Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA), and farmers' markets.

Lovavore which combines "local" with "omnivore" or "herbivore"


1/5 of all the oil products used in the United States is used in Agriculture. So if your are going green, learn to eat locally. Which is now the term Locavore. Many Locavore will only eat ina 100 mile radius from their homes. (This started out as a diet!) While some will include their home state.


It is changing the retail markets! Giant Eagle has signs on where the food is from and including signs for local foods. Krogers, Walmart and Sam's Club are now looking for local producers to cut cost for thier customers.
Best Buy, DreamWorks, and Nordstrom are using local farms in their cafeterias.


Why Go Locavore?


Taste!
Food at local farmer markets are picked 24 hour before hitting the shelf. PLUS it isn't picked green and sprayed with chemicals to keep for along trip to your store,


Healthy
Many plants are sprayed with chemicals that can cause things like miscarriages and cancer. Because it helps them stay fresher for longer trips that could be hundreds of miles, not with local farmers they just take it to the local market!


Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination! Really after what is happening with peanut butter lately, why not eat locally


Build your local economy.
More money in means strong local economy.
New Economics Foundation in London reports that it brings in twice the amount that a bused in product does!


Can't find locally grown? How about locally produced? ( I live near Smuckers! how lucky am I?? Fruit spread is a sweet treat!- the just friut stuff doesn't taste much different than jam) Try to get as much as you can locally if you can't get all your food that way. It is a step to the right direction for our environment!

Being that this is the winter and I not trying to lose weight but the more I buy local grown the less of a carbon footprint I leave