A little over a year ago my GF and I checked out the documentary "Forks Over Knives" (currently on Netflix streaming), which completely changed our view of diet, specifically it's direct effect on one's health and well being.
We immediately changed our eating habits, eliminated meat and dairy from our daily diet (my GF went all in and is 100% Vegan; I'm some sort of Vega/Carno hyrbid and eat Vegan during the week, but allow myself time off for good behavior on weekends). Shortly after seeing the film we started buying fresh locally grown organic produce from Abundant Harvest.Organics, a California farm-share delivery service.
So here's how it works: You order one of their weekly produce boxes online (they come in various sizes) and then pick them up each week from one of their local delivery sites (usually at a mall or city parking lot). The spots are listed on their website and are staffed by volunteers (known as community hosts) who live in your neighborhood. Where I live, the pickup spot is at the local library parking lot, between the hours 1pm and 1:30pm each Saturday.
Their produce is 100% certified USDA organic, fresh from the fields of California family farmers, and makes the GMO junk sold at corporate groceries look and taste like the crap it is. Included in your weekly box are fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, and occasionally dry spices. You get whatever is in season at the time (right now we're getting a ton of oranges, leeks, kale, etc) so the contents vary with time and are always extremely fresh. The small box we get each week runs $21.80 and is way more than enough for two people.
In additional to their weekly boxes, you can also order organic dry goods (including black beans - a staple at my house) as well as juicing carrots and the like. We juice almost every night, so this comes in very handy (I drink carrot juice every day and their carrots are awesome).
The end result of all this is that our monthly grocery bill has dropped dramatically while the quality of the produce we consume has noticeably increased. Now we only need to hit Vons or Whole Foods for things like dry nuts, bakery goods, almond milk, etc.
This system is a great way to not only eat and feel healthier, but also support local farms and reduce your monthly expenses. A win-win all the way around.
You truly are what you eat, so eat what's good for you and buy the freshest highest quality food you can (which doesn't always have to cost more). And if you haven't seen it already, take a look at "Forks Over Knives"; You may be surprised by what you hear.
Highly recommended. read more