In Huffington Post on November 11, author, Nicolette Hahn Niman, provides an excellent list of how to consume better quality food in your everyday life.
I have only two comments in response to the article: Eating fresher does not necessarily mean paying more as my daughter, Debbie, points out in her post earlier on this blog. If you're buying at farmer's markets or growing your own, you can save money, at least in California and Hawaii where Debbie and I respectively live. In addition, neither Debbie or myself are vegetarians, though we respect and understand why it is an ethical and healthy lifestyle.

Given these to caveats, Niman's article is nevertheless enlightening on the topic of buying food locally. Check it out: :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicolette-hahn-niman/avoiding-factory-farm-foo_b_353525.html

MAKE A DATE TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL FAIR NEXT YEAR The pigs in the photo to the right were raised by kids who exhibited them at the Ventura County Fair this last summer. These events remind us of our agricultural heritage and how it is still with us today...even in our own backyards in the city or in small towns around the world.

While at the fair during the summer, I became mesmerized by one of those amazing faire salesmen (they are the masters at what they do!) and purchased a Vita Mix blender. I did NOT have buyer's regret later, though. In this instance, it was a great purchase. I can create fresh, raw veggie and fruit smoothies from any and everything from my city farm, with a little whey protein and flaxseed thrown into the mix. These smoothies are incredibly nutritious and great-tasting! For blending ideas I suggest checking out the Vita Mix web site. There is a bit of an art to combining produce to make your smoothies optimally healthy as well as yummy. It's a clever way to get fresh vegetables into resistant children (and adults). Go to: www.VitaMix.com .

Warning: This blender, though remarkably powerful, is pricey. If you need to use a more affordable blender, that's fine. The major difference between a high-end vs. a low-price blender is the power of its motor; therefore, what and how much it can blend at one time will vary.