Where to Shop for Healthy Food

One of my Facebook friends was lamenting the fact that they are doing all kinds of research on food and finding out all sorts of things that they should not eat.  They, along with many of you, are becoming increasingly concerned about Genetically Modified Organisms, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, food additives and preservatives, artificial hormones and antibiotics, etc. contaminating most of the foods that fill today's grocery stores.

This friend's lamentation, however, was not this fact alone.  It was the fact that he didn't know what he could do about the problem.  He didn't know where to find food that wasn't contaminated with these things, and he felt like there was nothing left that he could eat.

I've got good news for him, and for you too, if you're finding yourself with the same dilemma.

There are plenty of places where you can procure good, wholesome food that is full of nutrients and free of contaminants.  You just have to know where to look, and in the next few posts I'm going to tell you just that.

Today I want to focus on my favorite resource for healthy food: your local Farmer's Market.

The surest way to ensure that what you are eating is “clean” is to know exactly who grew or raised it, and how they did so.

Now, be careful, and don't just assume that everything you buy at the farmer's market is wonderful, organic food.  Some sellers are a little tricky – they buy cheap produce from who-knows-where and bring it to re-sell at the farmer's market.  The result?  You pay extra for food that's no better than what you could have gotten at this week's sale price in the grocery store.  I'll mention a little later how you can avoid the scammers.

But first I need to help you locate your local Farmer's Market.  The easiest way to do that is to go to www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets and type in your zipcode.  With the click of a button, you'll see all the Farmer's Markets in your area.

Now, here are the answers to questions you may have about shopping Farmer's Markets as well as some helpful tips.

How do I avoid the re-sellers?

• Well, first, you can obviously just ask where they got their produce.  They may tell you they grew it themselves, or they may hem and haw and try to convince you it's local in-season produce.  Ask them where their farm is located.  Can you stop by for a visit?

• Take a look at the types of produce they're selling.  Are they all in season in your area?  If not, you probably don't need to buy from them.

• Get to know the policies of your particular Farmer's Market.  Some do a great job screening out re-sellers and you shouldn't even need to worry about it.

• Make friends with others who are farther along than you on their healthy eating journey.  They will be able to share their experience and knowledge with you on a lot of things, including who not to buy from.

Is all the food organic?

• Most farmers are not selling food that is certified organic, because it's quite an expensive process to be certified.  However, many of them grow their food using organic principles, and some even out-do the government's requirements for organic food.  You most likely won't find signs on their booths advertising “organic produce” because it's illegal for them to label anything as organic if they aren't officially certified.  Again, this is where you have to ask questions.  What, if anything, do you use to spray your crops?  How do you fertilize your soil?   What do you feed your animals?  Where do your animals live?  Do you treat your animals with any antibioitics?  These are all good questions to which to learn the answer.

Should I buy stuff that's not organically grown?

• Obviously, if you can get the organic stuff, you should do that.  But if you're just not finding it, local non-organic produce is better for you than store-bought non-organic.   Since local produce is picked just when it's ripe, and not weeks before like produce that has to be shipped cross-country, it contains more nutrients, tastes better, and stays fresh longer.  Also, the people that pick, pack, ship, unload, and display grocery-store produce are many and have no accountability to you the consumer, which greatly increases your risk of food-borne illness.

More good questions to ask at the Farmer's Market:

• What is this and how do I prepare it?  Shopping the Farmer's Market offers you an inexpensive avenue to try all sorts of new foods.  There's no better person to ask for recipes than the person who grew it.

• Will you sell this at a lower rate if I buy in bulk?  Remember that while you're looking at an abundance of fresh produce, in a few weeks time, it will be done.  You won't see it again until the next year unless you buy extra to take home and can or freeze.

A few more helpful tips:

• Go early.  Some farmers have limited amounts of certain items that only have a small production window (asparagus for example).  Since it's only available for a short time, it will be a popular item that will sell out quickly.  If you're going to get any, you'd better get to the market early enough to get it during the few weeks it's available.

• Make 2 rounds – the first to scope out who's there, what they're selling, and for how much.  Then go back and buy the best quality and/or least expensive options.

• Use social media to your advantage.  Many farmers are learning the importance of maintaining a Facebook page.  Follow your favorites so you can keep up with who will be at the market and what they'll have.  Many a Saturday morning I make the effort to get up extra early push my husband out of bed extra early so he can get to the market to get something specific before it's sold out.  Because I know for sure it will be available that week, I make an extra effort to make sure one of us gets there early enough to get it.

• Bring bags – this is optional since most vendors will have plastic bags available, but using your own does save them the trouble of collecting bags throughout the week to use for customers.

• Bring cash – Some vendors can accept credit cards, and many Farmer's Markets are developing the ability to accept EBT, but using good old fashioned cash keeps costs down for the farmers so they can stay in the business of providing quality food for your family!

What are your best tips for shopping at Farmer's Markets?

It’s Here! Get the Natural Mothering Ebook Bundle Now!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

For those of you who are mothers or hope to be mothers, you'll want to get in on this: $525 worth of mothering resources for 95% off!

This is a downloadable package designed to encourage and equip mothers to nurture their families (and themselves!) naturally.

The package includes the work of 32 well-known Ph.D.'s, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, natural health professionals, authors, and bloggers who are passionate about motherhood and caring for mothers.

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The eBooks

Natural Fertility and Pregnancy

Unbound Birth by Jennifer Yarbrough of Unbound Birth ($2.99)
Fearless Birth by Kristen Burgess of Natural Birth and Baby Care ($17)
Nourishing Foods for Labor and Childbirth (article reprint) by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy ($2.99)
My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy of Simply Designs ($9.99)
Fertilise Yourself by Natalie Kringoudis of Melbourne Natural Fertility ($19.95)
Eat Your Way to Parenthood by Gabriela Rosa, MScM, BHSc, ND of Natural Fertility Breakthrough ($35)
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Finding Balance with Attachment Parenting by Andrea Olson, MA of AndreaOlson.com ($17)
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Rebuild From Depression: A Nutrient Guide, The Digital Abridged Version by Amanda Rose, Ph.D. of Traditional Foods ($12.95)

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Crock On by Stacy Myers of Stacy Makes Cents ($5)
Creative Ways to Make Family Holiday Memories by Kit Singleton of Raising Small Souls ($25)

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Natural Beauty Recipes by Katie of WellnessMama ($10)
Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie Langford of Keeper of the Home ($12.95)
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The Power of a Thank You Note

The following is a post by Imperfect Homemaker contributor, Nicole.

Once upon a time, people looked forward to the arrival of the mailman each day. Yes, sometimes bills or other discouraging things are found in that little metal box, but there was the possibility of getting a real, tangible, heartfelt letter from a friend. Remember those days?

Now, getting a pen-and-paper note is very rare. We check our email and social media several times a day, no longer waiting for that one moment when mail is delivered. Being able to communicate more often, and even immediately, with friends and family is a blessing of the internet age, but at the same time we miss out on something by not getting the meaning that goes into a handwritten note.

Rustic Thank You via Sweet Sights on Etsy

With the price of postage, I don't generally turn to handwritten notes very often, but there is one exception: Thank you notes. I think that a written thank you speaks volumes to the recipient, and shows that you really are truly thankful for the service they gave you! It doesn't take much to type out a quick thank you in an email, but to take the time to write one out, and then pay to mail it, shows a more genuine thanks.

Here are some things that I believe deserve a genuine Thank You note:

• When you've received a gift
• When you've been a dinner guest
• When you've been an overnight guest in a home or guest house
• When someone has done a favor

Some of these may be more informal at times, and a thank you note might not be necessary. But many times, they are! I like to look for opportunities where a note would be a blessing and show just how thankful I am.

Chalkboard Thank You by LilyandVal on Etsy

Here are some fun ways to write thank yous:

• After spending the night in someone's guest bedroom or a prophets chamber, leave a note on the bed where the hostess can clearly see it. Makes for a fun little surprise!
• Have kids that were included? Let them write their own note on the card, or sign their own name. If they are too young for real writing, let them color in a blank space or dictate a short note. If nothing else, the hostess will get a little chuckle.
• Include a picture that was taken during your experience with the host/hostess. Makes it a bit more personal.
• Add a meaningful Bible verse.
• Use a fun pen, or add a colorful embellishment.

Thank you via littlethingsstudio on Etsy

Now I'd love to hear your thoughts…how often do you write a handwritten thank you note? When is a thank you appropriate? Have you ever given a gift, and never received a thank you for it? How did you feel about it?

Big Berkey Water Filter Review

Disclosure: I received a free product to review.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

When I first began experiencing some of my health issues (what has now been diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, and leaky gut syndrome), I looked into every possible cause of what could be contributing to my problems.

Although we were doing pretty well with taking baby steps to healthier eating, I really stepped up my efforts and tried to go all-out, making sure our food was only from the best sources and was the most nutritionally dense as possible.

But I didn't improve.

My search continued, and I began to wonder if I was suffering from heavy metal toxicity.  Our house has old copper pipes, and many of my symptoms matched up with what I read about copper toxicity.

Whether that was the problem or not, I decided that I wanted to make sure our water was filtered.  Although we have well water and didn't have to worry about added chlorine and fluoride, I knew there could possibly be parasites lurking in our water, and any number of harmful bacteria.

I had a couple relatives who used a Berkey water filter, one of which who lives in Brazil, where the water is so dirty that their filter gets so caked with gunk that it has to be cleaned off before water will filter through it again.

I did some more research, and found out that not only does the Berkey filter out all the bad stuff, but it leaves behind important minerals which many other filters remove.

What it removes:

• bacteria
• cysts
• viruses
• parasites
• herbicides
• pesticides
• foul tastes
• chemical contaminants
• reduces heavy metals up to 95%

Is it affordable?

• The Big Berkey water filter can be purchased for around $258.
• Each filter lasts up to 3000 gallons, and since the Big Berkey comes with 2 filters, it will last up to 6000 gallons, for a total price of less than a penny per gallon!
• If you have fluoridated water, you can purchase additional filtering elements to remove the fluoride, which will bring the price per gallon up to about 7 cents a gallon.
• Berkey filters actually exceed EPA log 7 ANSI / NSF protocols for filtration and thus are rated as water purifiers, not just filters.  A water purifier is typically quite expensive and don't last nearly as long as the Berkey filters before they have to be replaced.

Other benefits:

•  Filter both treated and untreated water.  (You can filter your city water to remove contaminants or filter water from a stream or river to make it drinkable.)
• No electricity required.  In case of emergency or power outage, having a Berkey filter on hand ensures a source of drinking water as long as you have access to a pond, river, or even a swimming pool.
• Portable.  Take it along when you're traveling to ensure a clean source of water whether you're staying at a condo or camping in the wilderness.
• Easy to test.  If you're unsure of whether your filters need to be replaced, simply fill the upper chamber with water and add a teaspoon of red food coloring per gallon of water.  If the water comes through the filter clear, your filters do not need to be replaced.

 Our personal experience

I was so curious to find out whether I could taste any difference between water filtered with the Berkey and our well water.  I decided the best way to know for sure would be to do a blind taste test.

First my husband prepared two cups of water for me while I wasn't looking.

Then I did the same for him.

Neither of us could tell any difference at all, which was actually fine with us since we have always loved the taste of our well water anyway.

Another day, I brought some city water home from my mom's house and we did the same thing.  We both easily guessed which one had been filtered with the Berkey.  It was as if you could taste the additives in the city water, and once they were removed, the water tasted better.

The Big Berkey filter was a very good choice for our family.  It holds 2.25 gallons, which is just about the perfect amount of water for our family for one day.  I usually refill it right before I go to bed and the water lasts us until the next night.

I like the fact that it doesn't take up very much room on the counter, and its stainless steel design looks attractive in my kitchen.

The kids and I are also happy with the fact that they are able to reach it easily and get their own drinks.

It's not often that I give a product five stars on a review, but the Big Berkey hands down gets 5 stars based on the combination of its performance and price.

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We All Scream for…

Yes, it's not a trick question.  The answer is ice cream.

Everybody loves ice cream.  I especially love homemade ice cream.  I got the book “Just Making Ice Cream” as part of the Ultimate Homemaking Ebook Bundle that was on sale last month.

Why I did not read this sooner I don't know.

This book is absolutely amazing.

I  never knew there were several ways to make ice cream even if you don't have an ice cream maker!

I don't know how anybody has the patience to figure out from scratch 50 different recipes for homemade ice cream, sherbet, and sorbet.  And all the recipes use healthy ingredients!  That means I can eat as much as I want, right?

With flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Salty Caramel Pecan, And Almond Joye, I just don't know where I'm going to start!

Besides recipes, the book is full of tips and advice on choosing the best ice cream maker, no-maker methods, and troubleshooting advice to make ice-cream making headache free.

It normally sells for $12, which I think is well worth it considering the quality of the book and how much time the author had to have put into figuring out these recipes.

It's part of the Bundle of the Week sale this week, though, where you can get 5 summer-themed books for $7.40.

Here's the whole lineup:

Disclosure: Affiliate links included

The Summer Survival Guide by Jessica Fisher
Summertime, though rich in possibilities, can be a challenge for parents, especially when there are bored children about! Jessica’s Summer Survival Guide is filled with inspiring ideas and practical suggestions for making the most of the summer as a family, including 37 customizable planning pages, calendars, and worksheets for kids,  100+ family-friendly book and movie suggestions, inspiration for home management during the summer months, 16 summertime learning themes with related crafts and activities, and more.

2013 Summer Survival Calendar by Susan Heid
Susan’s 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four-month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31, with clickable links so you can easily view project directions or supplies needed. It’s the perfect way to keep kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days!

Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn Beard
Just Making Ice Cream is more than just a recipe book! In this ebook, Marillyn offers practical ice cream-making tips such as choosing an ice cream maker, how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker and the basic principles of delicious homemade ice cream. You’ll also find more than 30 ice cream & gelato recipes, 9 cultured milk recipes, 10 sherbet recipes and 10 sorbet recipes that will keep you busy taste-testing all summer long!

Simply Summer by Kate Tietje
Simply Summer is the perfect summer cookbook! You’ll find plenty of fresh, seasonal summer recipes — exactly what you need when you want to enjoy summer’s bounty — including grilled, marinated meats, fresh salads, fruit and even wonderful desserts! Many of Kate’s selections are allergen-free and GAPS-friendly to help families with allergies and dietary restrictions find recipes to enjoy as well.

Simply Scheduled: On the Go by Tammie Nelson
Feeding your family healthy food during the busy summer months can be a challenge, and Tammie’s Simply Scheduled: On the Go is your guidebook to creating easy, affordable menus away from home. With over 80 pages of charts, lists, menus and recipes, including printable recipe cards and pre-planned menus, this ebook will help you plan for camping trips, barbecues, picnics and road trips so that you can enjoy your summer without stressing about food choices or the grocery budget.

The Summer bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 6/3. Get yours today:

I try not to constantly advertise stuff to you, but I was just the tiniest bit excited about the ice cream book.  🙂  Just take my word for it.  It's amazing.

And stay tuned, because tomorrow I'm going to be posting 50 free summer activities for kids!

If you're not already subscribed to my free  email updates or following me on Facebook you might want to do that so you don't miss it!