Edible Orlando Magazine

Let’s talk some more about food for thought.  I’m great at getting nutrients through fruits and veggies and I can explain to you how to thin your thighs or scientifically why egg yolks aren’t satan’s spawn…

BUT…I’m a real slacker when it comes to seeking out local, organic foods.  I KNOW they are better for me AND for the environment.  Then why don’t I do it?  Lazy? Busy? More expensive? Lack of knowledge? It could be any or all of the above, but thanks to my new subscription to Edible Orlando magazine, I now have the tools and the motivation to seek out local options.

I was asked a while ago by my friend Mara, a fellow blogger and PR whiz, if I would like to review and receive a subscription to Edible Orlando magazine.  While the subscription was free; my opinions are all my own.

The magazine has been around for just over a year and it celebrates Central Florida’s food culture.  It was very visually appealing, easy to read, and lit a fire under my bottom to pick more local, organic produce and meats. 

For those of you not from Central Florida, take some time and visit a Farmer’s Market or research local foods.  It will feel internally rewarding.

For my Central Floridian, let’s get excited because there are wonderful local foods to be enjoyed here!

Did you know that at HomeGrown, a local food cooperative, you can pre-order local fresh foods from 50 producers and pick them up downtown bi-weekly? That’s like express, local shopping! How cool! They have a farm fresh delivery every Wednesday and Saturday. I plan on making an order soon..it’s too easy no to! Visit www.homegrowncoop.org

The magazine is also packed with local food oriented events and recipes. 

This month featured a vegan Thanksgiving spread.  While I acknowledge the many, many benefits of vegetarian and vegan eating I personally am not ready for that change yet.  I did find a delightful recipe for green beans and butternut squash in coconut milk that I’m going to make.

I also enjoyed the kid-friendly focus in this issue.  It costs far less to prevent obesity than to treat it.  By starting young and feeding our children right there can be hope for a healthier America.  This issue talked about the efforts to bring more local produce to school lunches and the Farm to School initiatives. www.farmtoschool.org

Also if you are in Orlando mark your calendar for November 19-20.  That’s the Winter Park Harvest Festival.  It will include local produce, seminars, workshops, a farm to table dinner, kid friendly activities, and music. Winter Park has a killer weekly Farmer’s Market, so I can only imagine the “awesomeness” of this event.

It’s clear that we all need to be more mindful of what we eat and know that the quality of what we put in our body matters. 

Thank you to Edible Orlando for being a great reminder and resource for that here in Orlando.  I’m looking forward to my subscription AND sharing one with a reader!

EDIBLE ORLANDO GIVEAWAY:
One reader will be given a year-long subscription, 4 issues, to Edible Orlando magazine.  Here’s how to enter (do 1 or all for extra entries):

-       Comment on this post about your experience or lack thereof with local foods

-       Tweet something like, “Loving learning about local foods with @CarissaAnneB & @edibleorlando – enter to win a subscription on her blog”

-       Follow @edibleOrlando on Twitter

-       Post a FB comment that you want to enter

-       OR since this is such a great, healthy resource just shoot me an email or tell me you want to enter and you’re in!

Thanks again to Mara and Edible Orlando for fighting the good, healthy fight!

Love and keeping it in the 407,

Carissa & Kyle