Where does your food come from?

[JPete]

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I am sticking with Atkins, it makes sense to me and i believe it.

But our family is getting very concerned about where our food comes from and what happens to it between being grown and being consumed by us.

Particularly anything packaged, processed, modified, force fed or treated abhorrently. Fortunately i have enough space to grow a lot of vegies and we do, usin rainwater and no pesticides. Now we are sourcing grass fed organic meat and eggs. We just need to find raw milk straight from grass fed cows nearby. (its semi rural where i live). We are fortunate that we have cheap, natural, local products home delivered like cheese, vegies etc.

Does anyone else think about this stuff? Got any tips or stories? If not, just google a few of the ingredients you find listed on the back of packaged products - you might get a fright!

Does anyone know much about coconut oil? http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-l...h-coconut-oil/

I like the term; SOLE Food (Sustainable, Organic, Local, and Ethical)

[atkinsgal08]

>> Does anyone else think about this stuff?>>

Yep.

I wish I could afford to buy organic everything ... alas, I can't. So I make my choices ... and do the best I can.

Our church is in partnership with a local farmer ... and I believe that next year we'll do it. (Couldn't this year.)

Awareness of food is one of the side effects of doing Atkins!

[Ohbehave007]

I think about this stuff but I don't really have the money (i'm an unemployed college grad) to go out and buy everything organic. I tend to go to farmer markets so I know that it is locally grown and I try to get animal by products that have been raised in the fields (which is pretty easy to find here). My boyfriend bought me some bio-friendly pastas (whole grain) when it was on sale...it should last me a very long time.

And to be honest, in my own opion, I don't think organic veggies have to be the way to go, fresh locally grown ones are great aswell. I just can't stand when my meat has been turtured so I really only buy from places that advertise where there by products are from and how it was raised.

[JPete]

Originally Posted by Ohbehave007

And to be honest, in my own opion, I don't think organic veggies have to be the way to go, fresh locally grown ones are great aswell.

For sure. I think the best thing we can do is go for the least amount of processing and interference as possible.

For example In Australia they put fluoride in the water so after having one of the best fresh water supplies on earth, we dump loads of chemicals in it...its a real shame. So i have rain water tanks to catch water for my family - the difference is amazing.

Maybe its enough just to be aware and make informed choice when we have an opportunity?

[Ohbehave007]

Maybe its enough just to be aware and make informed choice when we have an opportunity?

I agree.

About the water I know what you mean. When I lived in Alabama they did the same to the water. Lots of fluoride and chemicals. Here in the Netherlands they don't do that. The taste alone is so much better. I remember being in class during High School and them showing us where our water came from. It is practically from the same source as the mineral water they sell here.

[Aways2Go]

I absolutely think about these things. I too go for local, sustainably or organically grown (certified or not makes no difference if I know the farmer and their beliefs and practices), pastured free range animal products, etc. The less processed a food item is, generally the more I am interested in it. Local farmers markets have generally proven to be the best source of any/all of these, with natural foods stores/co-operatives coming in second.

I also cannot always afford to shop the way I would like to (or locate what I want) or I may sleep through the morning farmer's market hours just because I am tired - that being the case, I just do the best I can and always aim to do better as money and time allows. I also grow some of my own vegetables and a few herbs. Mostly summer vegetables, but I have a tiny fall garden out right now with salad lettuces and greens, turnips, etc.

If you enjoy this topic, I highly recommend Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" about her family's year long quest to eat locally and seasonal. I found it both interesting and entertaining besides encouraging. I also subscribe to Mother Earth News magazine, which covers all these topics regularly.