Eating local during the winter that does not want to end is proving to be a bit of a challenge. While I have an assortment of produce preserved from last summer, I am finding that there are many other items my family wants on a weekly basis that are not grown locally.
Some weeks I am thrilled with the number of meals that I am able to generate from local ingredients. I have found myself equally discouraged on other weeks.
Either the food rules need tweaking or I need an attitude adjustment. It is usually the latter.
After re-visiting the food rules, here’s how I am thinking: 
- Nutrition is #1: For many reasons I don’t buy what the Gov’t tells us about our diets. However, I think that (at least) ½ our plates being veggies & fruit is THE way to go. My random bits of preserved foods are not going to fill ½ of anybody’s plate consistently. I should look at getting more variety preserved this summer.
- Real Food: Homemade if possible, minimal ingredients that are recognized as food.
- Source: Is it locally available? If not, is there a locally available substitute.
- Cost: Obviously, we have to be able to meet all of our expenses. If a particular item is outside of our budget we need to consider going without it or something else to balance the expense.
- Let Go: When nothing is growing around us, I need to let-go and focus on the #1 rule. Life happens, some weeks will require less food-prep and the purchase of convenience foods.
Local Limitations
One of my three children cannot tolerate dairy, at all. According to the doctors she is simply (very) lactose intolerant. However, 24 hours after consuming a lactose-free dairy item she is in agony with very painful gas. Her sleep is also very disturbed if she consumes dairy. Recently, she has discovered that dairy products smell horrible to her. It is very clear that her body knows what it needs. Thank God she listens!
There are so many processed foods that contain dairy ingredients as fillers. Avoiding dairy really helps me stay on-course with our rules. I do however need to provide her with suitable nutrient-dense alternatives. This is where rule #2 takes over. I make nut milks for her and for now I regularly buy coconut-based yogurts. Nuts & tropical fruits are far from local; however they are an A+ from a nutritional standpoint.
