How To-117: "How to Find Healthy Foods"

How to Find Healthy Foods

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It's common knowledge that healthy foods are good for us. However, finding healthy food among the many products making exaggerated health claims can be difficult. Here are a few suggestions to help with your decisions:

Steps

1. Buy organic. Look for pesticide-free products.
   
2. Buy local. Food that travels less requires less chemical and preservative measures.
   
   • Check out local farms. Many offer the option to buy in bulk.
     
   • Visit a farmer's market to buy what's in season.
   
   
3. Select healthy fresh food. Look for sustainable seafoods and fresh fruits and vegetables.
   
4. Select whole food. Look for whole grains, legumes and nuts. A whole fish is preferable to processed fish-sticks.
   
5. Try a natural food store. Stores like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods often carry healthier or organic versions of products that are less readily available locally, such as organic olive oil.

Tips

• Buy in bulk. It tends to cost less.
  
• Get a small freezer to store produce for the winter. They are inexpensive and energy efficient. Frozen food retains the majority of its nutritional value.
  
• Cook from scratch to avoid pre-packaged food. Try cooking whole oats for breakfast instead of cereal.
  
• Grow your own produce, if possible.
  
• If you do not have a yard, try a window sill garden, a rooftop garden or an indoor herb garden.
  
• Participate in a community garden project.

Warnings

• Be cautious of pre-packaged food labeled as "healthy" or "organic". It has less natural nutrients than whole foods.
  
• Many products make tricky health claims. Do your research. Take the time to ask questions.

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