If you watched Monday’s episode of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” then you’d think the answer was: “Absolutely!”
Monday’s show featured Kate taking her kids to an organic produce farm run by an Amish family.
Cameras captured Kate and her eight kids picking up fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, corn and other veggies at “Henry’s,” then taking their goods home to make a “meal from scratch.”
“It is pure joy when I can go to a produce stand and buy produce that has been picked that morning and it will land on my table that evening for dinner,” Kate declared.
The kids had a simpler way to explain the process: “Jesus made it, Henry growed it, Mommy cooked it, and we ate it.”
The kids raved about the organic meal while Kate beamed with pride.
The “Eat Local Challenge” people must have been tickled pink.
I doubt that money was exchanged for the plug (Kate has been an advocate of organic food for years), but the episode certainly made the single mom look good for feeding her kids chemical-free food.
The show also illustrated that eating locally produced food is not that difficult, provided you have the means to obtain the items and the money to purchase them (in most cases organic produce cost more than non-organic varieties).
Regardless, parents and their children could gain a lot from taking the “Eat Local Challenge.” The event started in California in 2005 to promote the consumption of locally produced foods. Originally, it was designed as a month long challenge encouraging people to eat 100% of their diet from foods that were produced within 150 miles from their home. These days the concept has spread across the nation and individual states now adopt a time frame of their choosing. For example, in Wisconsin the challenge lasts for 10 days and recommends residents eat at least 10% of food produced within 150 miles of their homes.
In addition to being good for the environment (it reduces non-renewable energy resources wasted in transportation and cuts down on pollution), eating locally produced food yields a number of health benefits. Studies show locally grown produce contains fewer pesticides, but are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and glyconutrients. (Glyconutrients help cell-to-cell communication and boost the immune system and are only produced in vine-ripened foods.) Experts say locally grown produce also contains higher levels of antioxidants, which help prevent cancer. For example, vine ripened tomatoes and strawberries are higher in vitamin C than their counterparts. Studies also show that locally grown spinach has more iron, and local milk is higher in omega-3 fat and B vitamins.
You can obtain locally grown foods by planting your own garden or by visiting farmers markets and food co-ops. Locally grown food is typically chemical-free and sold within 24 hours of picking.
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