Farm to Doorstep: How Ditching Grocery Stores Improved My Health

When I uprooted my family from Connecticut to Florida, there were a lot of new things I was looking forward to. Outside of the obvious pros of heading south, I was most excited about the new access I'd have to fresh food. It sounds a little crazy if you aren't privy to the depths of what I'm talking about, but put it this way: almost nothing where I lived in the northeast was farm-fresh. It couldn't be. Land in the surrounding NYC area is too valuable, the winters are too harsh, and the laws are too strict. Here is Tampa, I have it all... and without needing to shovel the animal crap myself on a farm to get it!

Where I live now is a city surrounded by vast farmland. Add in the more favorable climate, and I now have freshly-picked fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy whenever I want it. Plus, I have access to the raw foods - as Florida permits the sale of raw dairy (even though it legally must be labeled for "animal consumption only"). This means all of the good bacteria isn't being boiled away during the pasteurization process (but this rabbit hole discussion is for another day). Long story short, I now have the best quality food available to me and my family. It tastes incredible and makes me feel ever better.

What's more, is that I haven't needed to go to a grocery store since. Literally! Gone are the days of shopping carts, exhausting label-reading, long aisles, and corralling kids in the process. Now, if I want to food shop, I just swing 5 mins away to a farmer's market, or go to one of our nearby farms. I (and my kids) get to see our food being grown and harvested, learn about the process and different produce, visit the animals, and make friends while we're at it. Local artisans offer unique fermented vegetables, baked goods, home products, juices, jams, and more. It is literally heaven. Nothing has GMOs or preservatives; I don't need to worry about that stuff anymore. If you're into health, it is an incredible life change to unlock.

Up north, I was unable to get a hold of any raw dairy, and the produce was largely rotting by the time in ended up on our shelves (where I then paid insane amounts of money for the organic stuff anyway). Nothing was seasonal, as it was sourced from all over the world to fill aisles. We used to end up with a lot of things for our pantry and freezer, as a result.

So what about the prices? Well, that depends.

Raw dairy, organic sourdough breads, corn-free/soy-free eggs, and no antibiotic/vaccine meats are not cheap. But it's also not cheap to be sick.

I look at this lifestyle as an investment in my future and my health, and what could be more worthy for yourself or your children? But overall, we truthfully spend the same as we did back north ordering from Whole Foods or going to smaller, local markets. And things like produce, herbs, and other essentials often actually cost less - so it evens out.

Eating locally doesn't only mean the food is fresher, but it means that we're only eating what's in-season and available. It's so much healthier, and I've honestly never felt better. My kids beg me for whole foods, and they don't even eat the processed stuff if we are out somewhere with friends or at an event. It doesn't interest them anymore, because it doesn't taste better - and that's the bottom line. Real food is superior, in every way. And because I'm not aisle shopping now, there's no more picking up crappy options or having my kids dump the cartoon-marketing nonsense in my cart. So we only buy what we'll eat for the coming week, and there is quite literally no food waste in our house. They also snack way less, because the real food fills them up the way it's supposed to, since it's filled with the protein, healthy carbs, vitamins and minerals their little bodies need. If you've bought the organic, healthy snacks for kids in the past, you know it costs a mint. Imagine your kid asking for whole milk, sourdough bread with raw butter, or a fresh mango instead? This is what happens in my kitchen now.

The other important element of this new, true farm-to-table life is how much time I've gotten back. I used to spend hours per month buying groceries for our family. That time has been cut back significantly. So much so, that most weeks I don't even leave the house to buy food anymore. The local farm stores will literally deliver to your door... with a smile. I checkout my list on their website, and someone from the farm will pack and bring it all to me. FARM. TO. (MY.) TABLE. Besides the convenience, I love that I am supporting local farms, small businesses, and the families that are committed to keeping their community healthy. They are the true heroes of our local food supply, doing the hard work so we can all enjoy a healthy life. I am more than happy to support that - financially and otherwise.

I like knowing my farmers, I like knowing the farm stand owners. I like not having to buy into the big-box businesses anymore and interacting with real people in this precious little ecosystem we have here, without the need for corporate intervention.

For all the sunshine, beaches, city amenities, and pool days I am now enjoying, the healthy lifestyle with all of the fresh food is undoubtedly a new highlight of every day. I would move all over again just for this.