5 Health Benefits of Eating Farm to Table Foods

In recent years, the demand for local food has been rising.

As a part of this, the farm to table movement has been growing as well.

“Farm to table” refers to restaurants, schools, and consumers purchasing local food goods from local producers, ideally directly.

What are the benefits of farm to table eating, though? Let’s take a look at five of them.

1. More Nutritious

When you buy produce in the grocery store, it has usually traveled a long way to get there. Normally, fruits and vegetables are picked before they’re fully ripe so that they stay good long enough to make it to the store. This means that they tend to be less nutritious than food that’s allowed to ripen naturally on the vine.

Many types of fruits and vegetables lose 30% of their nutrients only three days after they’ve been harvested. Through farm to table eating, you can ensure you’re getting as many nutrients as possible.

2. Not Processed

Lots of foods you buy at the grocery store are pre-packaged and processed. While they might be convenient, they aren’t necessarily healthy for you. This is a big part of why the movement to eat “whole foods” has been gaining traction in recent years.

3. You Can Know Where Your Food Came From

Let’s face it: you don’t ever really know where your grocery store food has come from, how it was grown, and what processes it’s been through unless you grow it yourself. One of the benefits of farm to table eating is that you can know what farm it came from and what practices they use. This means you can make an informed decision about what you do and don’t put in your body.

Interestingly, the FDA recently announced a new recommended FSMA rule to help track foods at every rung of the supply chain.

4. Healthier For the Environment

Not only does produce lose nutritional value when it’s shipped across the country, but it’s also pretty rough on the environment. One of the benefits of eating local food is that the food travels far fewer miles from the farm to your plate.

5. Healthier For Your Local Economy

Whether you’re shopping at the grocery store or online, a lot of the money we spend leaves our local economy. When you engage in farm to table eating, you’re not just keeping yourself healthier. You’re keeping your local region’s economy healthy, too.

By supporting your local farmer directly, you’re helping to ensure that they can continue to provide fresh, healthy produce to your region.

Farm to Table: The Future of Food!

Are you wondering how to eat locally? Luckily, there are tons of ways you can participate in your local food economy.

Whether you join a local CSA, grow your own garden, commit to making recipes when fresh foods are in season, shop at the farmers market, or eat at farm to table restaurants, there’s no shortage of options.

Did you find this article about farm to table benefits interesting? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!