Raising the (Energy) bar
Raising the (Energy) Bar
True fitness starts with fresh, local foods
It’s fair to say that food has become quite scientized in today’s society. A potato is no longer just a potato; it is a composite of carbohydrates and starches that can possibly negatively influence one’s waistline.
We are more likely to choose creatively packaged energy bars rather than farm-fresh produce. Labeling has a tendency to trump quality because it implies a sense of trust. It can be unnerving and at times intimidating for the consumer when they can’t see a calorie count or nutrient breakdown.
The fitness industry hasn’t helped much in the past by praising “nutrient dense” bars and supplements, shifting the focus to the nutrient at the expense of the food it came from. Food became “protein,” “vitamin,” “starch” rather than beef, tomato, pasta.
As the local food movement grows, so does our ability to improve our health via higher-quality local ingredients. Better health becomes more convenient and more attainable due to availability of higher-quality food and cooking with these high-quality local ingredients becomes more beneficial even than that day’s workout.
Local food is a major player in the game as fitness morphs into wellness. Living a quality life is replacing the allure of the six-pack abdomen. Quick-fix foods are falling to the wayside as more people shift into a food-first mind-set. Health starts in the fields of Houston’s surrounding farms and the goal is to ensure it makes it to our plates!
Here are a couple of action steps you can take to improve your wellness:
• Visit one of the wonderful farms and/or farmers markets in the Houston area.
• Cook! Cooking is the most vital health practice there is!
• Look past the food label and directly speak to farmers and local food vendors.
