Eating local vs. mass produced foods
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are rich with references to the grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits, and vegetables native to the Middle East. From Creation’s garden through thousands of years of history, civilizations have depended on gathering and preparing locally grown whole plant food.
Eventually, the cultivation of crops evolved in the Middle East — first, grains like wheat and barley; then pistachios, almonds, grapes, dates, figs, melons, pomegranates, beans, peas, garlic, onions, cucumbers, herbs, and olives.
What are “whole foods”?
The term “whole foods” simply means foods as close to their natural state as possible — best if fresh and locally grown! What is more heavenly on a late August afternoon than a watermelon right out of the patch? Or a fresh, ripe red tomato pulled right off the vine? Or just-husked corn five minutes from stalk to pot?
Throughout history, whole fresh foods had been eaten in their natural state until about 150 years ago. If not eaten raw or freshly cooked, foods had been preserved by drying, salting, smoking, fermenting, or curdling.
The Industrial Revolution brought with it the ability to preserve food for food safety, but also for convenience and mass production. The mass production of processed and convenience foods has changed not only how we eat, but what we eat.
“Seasonal”?
Locally grown produce has been replaced with every food imaginable — available at our fingertips, both in and out of season. We may be able to eat peaches in February, but the nutritional value and taste of the natural whole food has been compromised by early harvest and/or storage.
This is not to say that we should never eat produce from California, Florida, Chile, or Spain that is out of season in our home state, but the taste and nutritional value of locally grown produce will usually be superior, and by purchasing local produce, you will be supporting small farmers and your local economy.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
