Picture this. It’s early in the morning, you wake up and make your way downstairs (to the coffee machine first, duh) and then, you walk out into your backyard to pick up fresh eggs and veggies to make a luscious frittata. Alright, that sounds pretty dreamy, right? Lately, the idea of consuming food that was bought straight from a farm without any middlemen in between has become widely popular. What’s more, the shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle that results from “farm to table” living has also piqued the interest of eco-friendly babes everywhere. If you’re curious about this new wholesome trend and want to find out how you can get started on your very own healthy journey, just keep reading our Beginner’s Guide to Farm to Table Living.
What exactly is farm to table?
We’re so glad you asked, gorgeous. In a nutshell, the farm-to-table movement is mostly what it sounds like. Buying and consuming produce and other foods that come straight from your local farmer instead of those big box stores. In fact, this concept thoroughly encourages people to really “know thy farmer”, thus being in touch with where their food comes from.
The benefits of leading a farm-to-table lifestyle are numerous. Firstly, it does wonders for your local economy and of course, helps to support farmers in your community. What’s more, by opting to buy produce locally, you are ensuring that the food you are eating is fresh, flavorful, and is healthier for you overall.
However, the bigger picture is that by embracing the farm-to-table concept you are also doing some major good for the planet. Produce that you purchase at big chain grocery stores is often imported from countries all over the world. This means that those fruits and veggies spend a lot of time in a truck being shipped to their destination. Additionally, this food usually requires the help of life-extending chemicals for it to make it to those grocery store shelves intact. On the other hand, when you visit your local farmer to stock up on those fresh berries, you are reducing your carbon footprint and fewer greenhouse gases are affecting the air around you.
As you can see, there are *tons* of reasons to get on the farm-to-table bandwagon, babe. Even if you don’t buy all of your everyday products locally, you can slowly make the switch and make choices that embody this concept. Not sure where to start, though? Don’t sweat it. That’s why you’ve got this Beginner’s Guide to Farm to Table Living at your fingertips!
Who started the farm to table trend?
You might think that the farm-to-table movement is yet another millennial food trend that will come and go. And if you have your doubts, we totally get that. This is why we’re going to hit you with a super quick history lesson on where this idea originated from. Don’t worry babe, you won’t fall asleep during this one – we promise!
Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Americans were getting increasingly annoyed with how bland and unhealthy processed foods were. Due to this, the concept of “farm to fork” restaurants and “farm to table” food more broadly was born. Chez Panisse in California was one of the first farms to fork restaurants to exist and is still a popular hot spot today. Although now, restaurants that favor using local fresh produce can be found in cities across the country.
If you’ve researched the farm-to-table concept before, you may have also heard of the term “locavore”. This is a term used to describe a babe who makes a conscious effort to eat locally. Clever, right? According to locavores, this produce always tastes better and is of course, more nutritious and safer for the environment as a whole.
Need some healthy inspo? Check out these farm to table recipes & cookbooks.
We’re about to let you in on a little secret here, babe. A farm-to-table recipe can quite literally be anything you want to cook, so long as the ingredients are sourced locally. When cooking farm-to-table food, experts recommend always using what’s in season. This ensures that you’re getting the tastiest results and that you’re supporting your local farmer’s latest successful crop.
If you’re not the most creative cook in the kitchen (seriously though, how many babes really are?), we’ve got you. These farm-to-table cookbooks are sure to inspire you. And, they’ll give you a solid idea of what you should be looking out for during your next trip to the farmer’s market.
From spaghetti arrabbiata to a cozy plate of bread pudding, Earth to Table Everyday has something for all palettes. Chefs Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann are slow food advocates that put together a collection of simple recipes you can easily recreate.
If you’re looking for a book that will help you learn how to use fresh produce all year long, the Taste of Home Farm to Table cookbook is where it’s at, babe. It boasts 279 recipes that all prioritize using fresh, local food.
With a title like “Half Baked Harvest: Recipes From my Barn in the Mountains”, we had to give this book a read. Author Tieghan Gerard put together 129 unique recipes that favor using the produce that is available around you. If you can’t get enough of the book, she also has the Half Baked Harvest blog that is sure to help you figure out what to make for dinner. Because isn’t that what we all want to figure out at the end of the day?
This health trend has taken over TikTok…
And we can’t say we’re surprised!
Ready to partake in some farm to table living? Here are the pointers you’ve been waiting for.
If you’re a total beginner at this healthy way of life, we’re glad you found this Beginner’s Guide to Farm to Table Living, babe! Incorporating farm-to-table principles into your lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, we think it’s pretty easy! Not to mention, totally rewarding. Here are the tips and tricks we swear by for those who are just getting started on their farm-to-table journey.
- Start by making a small change in where you buy your food. This could mean focusing on your veggies or fruit (or both!) being purchased locally. Or, your eggs and dairy products. Once you’ve gotten the hang of buying select items locally, it becomes much easier to add more farm to table foods to your list!
- Hit up your local farmer’s markets more often. Let’s be real, here. What could possibly be better than going to your local farmer’s market with a cup of coffee in hand on a Sunday. Find out where the markets nearest to you are. Then, make it a habit to visit them regularly instead of going to the grocery store.
- Eat seasonally whenever you can. Whether it’s the fruit you buy or the veggies you use in your salad, making the shift to eating what’s in season will help you on your farm to table journey. On top of that, you’ll enjoy more flavorful and nutrient rich foods. What’s not to love about that?
- Get into the habit of checking ingredient lists. Once you do, you’ll notice that so many foods we buy from big grocery stores contain ingredients we can’t even pronounce. Buying fresh and locally will minimize the amount of processed food you’re eating. And babe, your body will thank you for it.
Did you really think we’d leave out the skincare part?
In case it hasn’t hit you yet, the farm-to-table lifestyle is more than food-centric for some. And if we’re being real, many farm to table enthusiasts try to bring this concept into all areas of their lives. As for us, we think that the idea of living humbler and cleaner can easily be applied to other things we do on the daily. From cleaning products to skincare, there is value in taking a simpler approach to the items we regularly use. Here are a few products that we think embody farm-to-table principles. Not to mention, that you’ll love reaching for and incorporating into your beauty regimen.
Boar bristles are loved by beauty enthusiasts for their natural flexibility and ability to evenly distribute oils throughout hair strands. When it comes to dry brushing, the stiffness of boar hair is perfect for an invigorating brushing session. What’s more, we made this brush with highly durable wood so that you can keep it for months!
All of BBE’s luscious body scrubs
No matter what scent you choose, these gems are made with simple and effective ingredients like jojoba oil and Vitamin E that deliver instant results. Seriously babe, your skin will be smoother and softer after just one use.
Unscented moisturizing lip balm
No need for extra chemicals or add-on’s here, honey. Just nourishing essential oils you can actually pronounce. And, an ingredient list that won’t have you running for the hills after one glance at it.
Unscented yet effective deodorant
If there was a farm-to-table-approved deodorant, this would be it. We’ve kept it simple and sensible by skipping the aluminum, parabens, and fragrances in this guy. You’ll be fresh and dry without ever compromising on clean, reliable ingredients.
Want to learn more about farm to table everything?
You’re in luck, babe. There is a mountain of information out there about the farm-to-table movement. You know, beyond the solid basics we just shared with you in this Beginner’s Guide to Farm to Table Living. Whether you Google away to your heart’s content or pick up one of the books we suggested earlier, we totally encourage you to do as much research as you can on this healthy concept. And once you’ve uncovered a few stellar tips, be sure to share them with us below!
Sweet berries & Green veggies,
Carey <3
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