Posted by Savneet Singh on Sep.14, 2010

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Just knowing your nutrients and nutrition facts is not enough. Health issues start at the farm and extend all the way to our tables. The concerns are endless, but the main concern is that foods are safe and loaded with full quota of nutrients.

Take, for example, some fresh organically grown zucchini, placed in cool conditions of the store, brought home in a cool bag, stored and prepared soon before lightly cooked. In another scenario, you buy the zucchini which has been sat too long in the store, carried in a overheated shopping bag and  kept around in the vegetable rack for more that a week before it is cooked. The first zucchini  is loaded with Vitamin A and other nutrients, but the second has lost almost all of them.

You might have noticed that the lower-cost juices have printed in small font “10% juice.” These kind of juices are loaded with lots of sugar and other additives. There is much more vitamin C content in top-of-the-range 100% fruit long life juice.

Also, there are far greater chances of contracting food poisoning from the chicken purchased just on its sell-by date and left in the warm kitchen atmosphere. The idea is that you should be a safe and sensible food shopper and handler.

Where to Shop?

Where you buy food from is quiet important. Do you go to corner store, special store or super markets?

When it comes to fresh food avoid buying food from the stores that keep food near windows or roadside. Vitamin A, C and B get diminished with light and heat.

Stores with high turnover nets you get fresher fruits and vegetables.

Buying from a farm may be cheaper but you have to find out how much. You tend to get you paid for.

When to buy?

Try to find out when do the supermarkets get the fresh lot of the produce. It is usually after the weekends. If you shop Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, you are likely to get the fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meats.

Don’t shop for perishable items if you can’t place them in proper cool conditions promptly.

Try not to shop when you are busy or tired. The food is important so your attention is required while you choose each and every item, checking sell-by dates.

Plan Ahead

Before going for the shopping make a list of what all you need, preferably a week ahead so that you can have a balance of health and pleasure. It is best to buy frozen or chilled food at last. Also, it is wise to get the heavy items like bottles and cans first and fruits, vegetables later.

Look for Quality

Use your senses to get an idea of freshness. See the fruit or vegetables. Smell them if not packed. The fresh food has sweet smell and looks fresh.

Meat shouldn’t look bright, it can look dark red or pale pink, but not gray. It shouldn’t smell at all.

Fish packed for sale have controlled atmosphere, so you can’t smell, but the ones sold loose should smell ocean kind of. Any smell like ammonia is unsafe. Shellfish must be really fresh both for taste and texture.

Buy Organic

Organic should be your first choice. Look for fruits and vegetables of the season, locally grown and the food is not damaged or bruised. It is still OK to have a few blemishes on the skin of the food but shouldn’t be deeper in to the food.

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Posted under Food Facts, Food, Nutrition & Recipes, Health Alerts.