The End

With this week comes the end of my 10 week experiment to eat as sustainably as possible.  There were times it was difficult and my cravings for bananas or off season produce won out, but overall I think I did pretty well.  I bought as much as I could that was organic and now that the farmer's markets are open I get to buy local as well.  It was certainly a hit on my finances as the organic section is a bit more expensive than the regular corporately grown section.  That being said though, I enjoyed my food more.  It just tasted better.  Seriously, organic sweet potatoes are the best things I've EVER eaten! 

When I entered into this experiment I did it because we were asked to as part of a class but I also chose this because of the readings I'd done about all the chemicals in our food.  I didn't want them in my body and I'd rather support farmer's who don't put them in the ground and in our water.  It was a very personal choice to try and be the best steward I could be of the Earth.  This was a decision of the mind and I didn't expect a bodily response and yet that is what sticks out to me the most at the end of these 10 weeks.  I still think about the planet and the chemicals and all that stuff but what I see and hold onto tightly is the change I've experienced within my body.  I have always had digestive troubles and took them to be a way of life.  Yet, as I sit here, 10 weeks after eating primarily organic foods, I feel amazing with very few of those troubles I've had for years.  I have more energy and more endurance throughout the day.  It is certainly true, that what we eat fuels our bodies and apparently cutting out many of those chemicals has allowed my body to heal in a lot of ways.  I'm not saying this is miraculous or that I was healed of some disease but I do feel better and feel as though my body is more in sync with itself than it's ever been before.  It's been an interesting 10 weeks and I'm not sure I can go back to what I ate before.

Farmer's Market Season is Here!

Well it's official, the farmer's markets are once again finding their full stride as the days get longer and the sun feels warmer!   I've been attending the St. Paul farmer's market on and off all winter to pick up some tasty treats from my favorite meat guys at Bar 5 Meats as well as other fabulous products such as honey, local goat cheese and even chocolate products but the season has finally warranted weekly trips.  This weekend I was delighted when I was able to buy asparagus, spinach, radishes, rhubarb, spring onions, oyster mushrooms, bacon, eggs, chicken breasts and some fabulous black pepper linguini!  I basically got what I needed for the week's lunches and dinners.  All this food is locally grown and although some of it is not "organic" most of it is "all natural" a distinction that I'm finding is rather silly.  The lovely people at Bar 5 rolled their eyes when I asked and said, "it's all natural" meaning it's organic without the government stamp of approval.  Either way it's tasty not to mention an adventure to come up with meals as you see what kinds of amazing produce you can find!

This week I've been having spinach salads or egg salad with lots of veggies for lunch and an amazing pasta dish with that black pepper linguini, chicken, spring onions, mushrooms and asparagus.

If you've never been to a farmer's market, you should take a half an hour to check one out.  They are full of amazingly tasty food and even more amazing people who have brought it to you.