Comparing vegetables to people…

Comparing vegetables to people…

I enjoy diverse groups of people and spending time with unique individuals from different walks of life. I feel it’s important to gain new perspectives, experiences, and a sense of empathy. When I make the time to push past my bubble of comfort, I take away tiny gems of thought that I would have never conjured up myself. I would also get very bored hanging around identical types of people, everyday, for my whole life.

I liken this to eating the same kind of vegetables every day, for my whole life… just boring. It is easy to get stuck in routine, but never be afraid to mix it up a bit! Eating a diversity of whole foods is more important than finding a superfood or eating the same vegetable or fruit for months.

What do I mean by diversity? ’Tis a good question! In my mind, diversity of food could mean anything from a different variety of tomato to eating a different part of a plant. Diversity could mean a different cooking style, or a different pairing or side item. Since I am currently a “conscious” omnivore, I enjoy the seasonal approach to a diverse diet: heavier on hardy greens and root veggies in Fall, heavier on stored grains, meats, and canned veggies in Winter, and all the abundance Spring and Summer offer. Don’t make it complicated, make it your own. If you notice you always prepare baked sweet potatoes every Tuesday, or only tried turnips once… mix it up.

Edible whole foods are fascinating. In the wild, I assume their genetic makeup would constantly be changing, and their taste would change as their environment changes. I promise that science hasn’t discovered or measured everything that our body needs to fit that ideal spectrum of health. So try something new.

Embrace the subtle differences in a new variety of carrot, the Hakurei turnips, the Chinese cabbage, or the Red Jewel sweet potatoes because…

If the diversity of plants dwindle, resilience dwindles. When you choose to buy the lesser known variety, you are supporting ecological diversity on small farms in this region (with nutritional value for your body as an added bonus)!

Go to the market (open ’til 9pm Monday) >>
Andrew in Hall
Chuck in Rabun
Teri in Habersham