I spent the Thanksgiving holiday in south Florida. There are a lot of people living down there, and a lot of grocery stores. However, the stores didn't have much variety. Publix is on every corner, and there is an occasional Winn-Dixie, and a few Whole Foods. There are apparently five Whole Foods stores in the West Palm Beach / Lake Worth area, but they are by no means mainstream. It was challenging to feel cut off from what I call "real food".
I'm sure some of my difficulty stemmed from just not being familiar with the area. I know that Publix has a "green" store they have rolled out, although I've not seen it, but I'm actually thinking that my expectations have changed. I currently buy my raw milk and eggs from a dairy farm, where I also purchase grass fed lamb and pastured poultry. I belong to a CSA that provides me with organically grown produce, and I try to get to the farmers market as often as I need to. Whole Foods is a place to buy milk (when I run out), bread (organic is not easy to find in a conventional grocery store), and fruit. I'm spoiled. I don't have to read the labels anymore, and I find that when I have to use a grocery store, it takes me forever to shop because those pesky labels are crying out to be read. Twenty-five ingredients? Forget it. I no longer trust the food.
That is the crux of it for me. I no longer trust the food. When our government allows undocumented additives in our food, how can I trust it? If I don't know the rancher or farmer, everything is suspect, because many take the easy way out.
The next time I travel, I will be spending more time beforehand researching farms and availability to ensure that I can maintain what I consider to be a healthy diet. Right now, I'm in detox for a week or so.
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