While it’s not unusual to get close to your nail lady, hairdresser, or esthetician (nothing expedites a friendship like a Brazilian wax), it’s scary how little we know about the food we eat. Sure, picking a favorite nail polish is easy, but picking the most nutritious nectarine isn’t quite so intuitive.
With the help of Dr. Esther Blum (holistic nutritionist, media personality, and author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous), we put together four first steps toward healthier, eco-friendly eating.
1. Go Organic: Recent studies back up the conventional wisdom: overall, organic food is healthier, as it contains fewer pesticides and synthetic substances.
2. Go Local: Buying sustainably grown foods from local farmers reduces the carbon footprint from travel, requires less packaging, and helps your local economy to boot. The food is also fresher! Find farmers’ markets near you with Local Harvest, Urban Organic or Suburban Organics.
3. Shop Smart: Farmers’ markets are a fabulous and fun place to shop. You’ll get to know your local growers and their hunky, health-conscious customers (a win-win!). No farmers’ market near you? Check out Trader Joe’s. The national chain features eco-conscious products at super-affordable prices.
4. Prioritize: On a budget? We know organic products can be expensive, so start by focusing on the most commonly contaminated foods, such as dairy products, apples, bell peppers, celery, grapes (imported ones are “little pesticide bombs”), nectarines, peaches, raspberries, and potatoes.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
