This week I was struggling with what to write about, and it wasn’t until my mother and I went to the farmers market that it hit me. We were enjoying our delicious breakfast from Flavour when we started talking about just how great ‘real’ food is. This reminded me of how much the quality of the food we eat matters, and how so often we have no idea where it comes from. I eat a predominately plant based diet, and recently I’ve started learning about the relationship between our bodies and what we eat. It can be a beautiful friendship if we fill our bodies with wholesome, colorful, ‘real’ foods; or we can cut corners, which we ultimately suffer from in the end. Many big food companies like to cut corners to get the most of their money, but the proof is in the pudding when you start shopping locally.

1. Passion

It takes a lot to start your own food business of any kind. Whether you’re a farmer or a food truck owner, it’s easier said than done. It takes passion! To make a living you have to be devoted, finding as many ways as possible to get your name out there. This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting so many new faces, with so many diverse approaches to the way they eat. Each person had a unique story which they were happy to share with my mother and I as we kicked off our Mother’s Day weekend. Each story shared a common thread, the spark and knowledge behind it. The spark being the explosion of love for what they do, and the happiness that we wanted to hear what they had to say; and the knowledge surrounding what they were selling. Where, when, and how what they were selling was made, how to care for it, how to prepare it; not just a plastic label inked with an expiration date. From the food truck which I mentioned before my mom sparked up conversation with the owner on starting a food truck, as it’s always been a dream of hers. Similarly, the owner was happy to explain everything he was putting in his beautiful dishes to us, and where it came from. We shared a delectable African dish called Shakshuka, and from a different vendor learned about the health benefits and best ways to each Kimchi.

2. Produce

For the same price, if not less than what I would have paid at a grocery store, I bought a beautiful head of lettuce, fresh strawberries, loose tea, a tea diffuser, kale, two Austrian strudels, and breakfast for two. The beauty of it, is the farmers market had so much more to offer, we just didn’t have the space for it, but we will absolutely be going back for more. From fresh eggs, to fish, to a clothing boutique on wheels, the market had something for everyone to love. Each vendor was different than the next, the selection of varying goods created an environment where it was nearly impossible not to find anything. It had been so hard to feel satisfied with my meals while eating college campus food, as I’m pescatarian as well as I don’t eat dairy, so I was often left with few options. However, that was not the case while walking down this alley of endless options. The Austrian stand we went to, Little Austria, had vegan and gluten free options. This brought me joy, as I’d usually have to sit that one out due to being lactose intolerant. There were accommodations for those who needed them at almost every stand.

3. Purpose

The purpose of knowing where your food comes from is to feel confident in saying you are what you eat. A lot of times that means you’re filled with GMO’s and other chemicals that our bodies don’t really like. I’m proud to say that I am what I eat, because I’m filled with foods that I know where they came from, and I know they were fresh. I know people say it all the time, but since I’ve altered my lifestyle to be conscious of what I eat, I feel so much better. This doesn’t mean limiting yourself, I’m not on a diet, I eat what I want, but with my body’s best interest in mind. Shopping locally, and giving myself the opportunity to meet those who grow my food, and nourish my body, and having a ton of fun while doing is something I’d be happy to do any day of the week.

After my mom and I shopped our way through the farmers market and the rest of our Mother’s Day weekend, we cooked up a delicious dinner to celebrate the time we shared together. We made fish tacos using other locally grown foods to create a dish worth drooling over. For dessert we had the Austrian pastries and tea that we bought at the market. While it can be difficult to have access to locally grown foods, it’s important to do research on the foods you eat as best as possible when shopping. Our bodies rely on us to fuel them, and without knowledge of what’s in our food our bodies can suffer. Fuel yourself with the passion, produce, and purpose of locally grown goods to be proud that you are what you eat.