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The food we eat is a multidimensional
aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to
grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is much, much more. Our
food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes
we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing
meals can be an art form. And the nourishment we derive from it promotes
wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget
that the profound pleasures of food go beyond simple sustenance. We eat
foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever
happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the
impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by
eating “close to the Earth.” That is — eating locally grown foods that
are in season and unprocessed.
If you have ever shelled and eaten
garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from
its tree, you likely understand that there is a difference between these
foods and those that are processed for mass consumption and stacked on supermarket
shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force,
and thus it has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure
you are eating close to the Earth — and enjoying the many benefits of
doing so — by shopping at a local farmers’ markets and getting to know
the individuals who grow your food. You will soon learn what foods are in
season in your area and how to prepare them.
As you savor the flavors of juicy, ripe
fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you also can take
pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the Earth, you are
supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem,
and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for
centuries.
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