How can I Eat Green?

The New Year is finally here, and it’s about time we start taking our personal health seriously! Eating nutritious, balanced meals every day is essential for keeping one’s immune system intact, staving off diseases, and living longer. This news is not new by any means, but it is nice to have a reminder every now and then.

With that, more and more people are jumping on the “green” bandwagon- you know, the one that emphasizes the consumption of organic foodstuffs and views GMO’s as a plague that should have been eradicated long ago.

The best thing to do if this is your first attempt at going green in the nutrition department is to make the transition slowly. It can take a little while for your body to adapt to healthy eating habits, especially with a diet high in fruits and vegetables!

Green eating for the newbie

Buying your greens from nearby farmers’ markets and retail chains is the best way to ensure you’re consuming fresh produce. In addition to being an eco-friendly choice and contributing to your local economy, the health benefits of these green fruits and veggies are that they have a longer time to ripen, contain far fewer pesticide sprays (since they do not have to be shipped long distance), and as a result, they often taste much better.

While the push for organic food consumption has been on the rise recently, not everyone can afford the high cost of these products.

Ideally, you should aim to purchase only greens in organic form that have high chemical loads when grown alternatively. Otherwise, you could very well up spending three times the price for food that has nearly the same nutritional value!

Try to avoid buying foods that are not sold in line with your region’s growing season, as these types are usually imported from other parts of the world and thus may feature be doused in higher chemical concentrations.

Naturally, when it comes to eating greener, you will want to limit your intake of meats, especially the red variety. If you choose to retain these in your diet, at least minimize meal portion sizes and go with those produced from grass-fed livestock.

Farmers must strictly adhere to government regulations in this respect, so if the label says “100% grass-fed,” you know you are getting the real deal.

Lastly, don’t go into your new diet with a limited mindset! Be open to eating new foods and recipes; the possibilities are bigger (and tastier) than you may realize.