5 Steps to a Civil Pantry

There is a lot of buzz about food now thanks to foodies of all shapes and sizes; locavores, vegetarians, nutritionists, organicists, etc.  and many places you might go to find information on food/what to eat are plagued by biases based on one of the various spokes that comprise the foodie wheel.  Much like religious denominations, they’ve forgotten we all have a similar goal in mind and instead bicker over their differences. Lets face it though- it’s nearly impossible to perfectly encompass all of our beliefs on what to eat into one pantry. It’s important to be knowledgeable on all the propaganda from the foodie sects, but the real question is how do we sort through this information? And as we are being torn so many different ways, HOW can we keep a civil pantry?

1.     Rebudget your monthly expenses. Your food budget should NOT be what you have left after paying all those other ‘real’ bills/expenses. Food should be a major priority, and the truth is while eating local and organic isn’t as expensive as the myths have made you believe, it will sometimes cost a little more. But your health is worth it. Here is the thing- you WILL spend the money eventually anyways but you have two options for spending it- pay the farmer or pay the doctor. What could be more important than the stuff you put IN your body everyday?

2.     Forks over knives. Not just the movie, but in real life. Michael Pollan says “Eat. Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Doesn’t get much more simple than that. Am I concerned about the slaughter of innocent animals? Not really. Am I concerned that diets higher in animal products leave me feeling ‘blah’ and have been proven to cause higher rates of cancer? Certainly.  What about the protein though? This message was backed by for a number of years and by a large number of scientists- most of who were hired by companies specializing in the production of animal products. Truth is while eating a plant-based diet 8- 12% of your calories will be from protein. And if you are looking for more protein rich foods, each some legumes, wild rice, white corn and beans, etc. In most cases what is best for our own health is also what is best for the environment, and this is not an exception. Our mega meat addiction contributes almost 20% of the greenhouse gases. Its estimated that if everyone in the US ate no meat or cheese just 1 day a week it would be like not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road. I'm not proposing we all run out and become vegetarians. I like a big juicy hamburger just as much as the next person. I'm only suggesting a cut back, and if a drastic cut back isn't in your cards try Meatless Mondays for a start. 

3.     Buy local. You won’t be able to find everything you need by shopping locally and you might only be able to shop locally during certain seasons, but when you can, please do.  This is my favorite part about maintaining a civil pantry because it is the responsibility that is in my opinion, the most fun way to be more involved with your food. There are so many different ways to buy local today. Join a CSA! CSA’s make eating local oh so simple- sign up and pay the dues ($200-$300 for a four to six month CSA program is average) and the farmer will provide you with a box full of produce about every two weeks or so. Some farmers even have days when they invite their CSA members to experience the farm themselves. Visit websites like localharvest.com and find the nearest farm with a CSA program and most often its as easy as sending an email to the farmer to get signed up. If you don’t feel like committing to a CSA, why not go to the local farmers market? An outdoor market is one of my favorite places on a Saturday morning, and there is little more that can make me feel more secure than shaking the farmer’s hand that grew the food I’m about to eat.

4.     Start a garden. If you grow it, you’re more likely to eat it. I’ve always heard starting a garden and inviting your children to be apart of the experience is a great way to get kids to eat vegetables. Here is a secret though- it also works on adults. People want to be apart of what they eat, even if they don’t realize it. It’s a natural instinct within us to interact on a more basic level with our food; we just have to find ways to tap into that instinct. And at the risk of sounding too earthy…there is something special about putting your own hard work and sweat into what your family eats. If land is not a luxury your home has, do not underestimate the power of a container garden.

5.     Eat organic. The price of organic produce is still inflated a bit compared to non-organic, but if its something you can afford, its worth the extra change to enjoy food with less toxins. Less harmful for you, your family, and good ole’ Mother Nature. If you need help cutting corners and deciding when to buy organic check out the link below for a great article from Greenopolis.com.

                                                     Greenopolis: When to Buy Organic

Choosing to be healthy

Check out Dr. Fuhrman's high-nutrient density diet. But to be fair this is not just Dr. Fuhrman's diet...This is the common sense diet. The necessary diet. The natural diet. The diet our bodies crave. The diet that will allow us to feel our maximum capacity of happiness, peace, energy, etc.  Keep in mind 70% of the illnesses American's suffer from today are caused by everyday life choices- like our diet. We are choosing to be sick, so put down the knife and pick up the fork (or juicer), and make the choice to feel good.

 

Go Green on the Go: apps that help maintain a civil pantry

The one thing in my life I interact with as much as my garden (ok...probably more) is my phone.  Being able to hold an endless amount of information, art, entertainment, etc in the palm of your hand is addicting sometimes, but we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. We can wield this power for good. I've found some great whole-living, green apps that will help maintain your family's civil pantry.

1. Fooducate: Scan the barcode on almost any food product and get a 'grade' based on ingredients, calories, etc. It gives accurate warnings of toxic ingredients and gives detailed descriptions of many of those ingredients, including why we find them in our foods, the affects they have on our body, and how we might be able to avoid them. It of course gives basic information such as calories and tips for dieters. My favorite feature of the app is the alternatives tab, which provides a substantial list of alternatives to choose from. Great app with a fun and easy to use interface.

2. Locavore: Maps out farms and farmer's markets nearby. You can search by zipcode or use your phone's GPS to locate local food sources close to your current position. Eating locally is a crucial part of keeping a civil pantry in your own home and Locavore is where its at.

3. Garden Guide: If you like to play in the dirt as much as me, you MUST get this app. Its the virtual version of your favorite gardening resource, with all the excitement that comes along with finding Urban Farm in the mailbox. It has detailed crop descriptions (that include plating and harvesting instructions) and tips on pest control, season extension, watering, etc. If you can find it online, in a book, or in a magazine...you can find it on Garden Guide. If you are a gardener with limited space, such as myself, check out Garden Squared as well. Its a great app that helps make sure you are getting the most out of your square foot or container gardens.

4. GoodGuide: Simply scan a barcode to make sure the product is sustainable healthy, and safe. This app includes awesome detailed ratings for the health, environment, and social responsibility of more than 70,000 products and companies. A super informative app!

5. Seafood Watch: The Monterey Bay Aquarium developed this resource to educate consumers about sustainable seafood. Their recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid."