The Anticancer Lifestyle Team Whether you have a fire escape, a small patio, or a large backyard, you can grow foods that nourish you. No yard? Try a tomato plant and basil in pots. If you have a yard, you can turn some of the grass into a garden area. A world of delicious, homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs will delight you. If you’re on the fence, here are 11 reasons why you should start growing your own food. You will:
- Enjoy delicious, fresh-tasting produce, and fruit.
- Take advantage of nutrients at their peak. Fruits and vegetables harvested ripe are the most nutritious.
- Introduce your kids to yummy fresh produce. (Parents, take note: A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that preschool children who were almost always served homegrown produce were more than twice as likely to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day—and to like them more—than kids who rarely or never ate homegrown produce!)
- Learn about seasonality. Eating in season, when local products are ripe and don’t need to be shipped from a long distance, is not only healthier but will add a satisfying seasonal rhythm to your diet.
- Save money
- Reduce fossil fuels
- Get exercise
- Practice meditation by engaging in a mindful activity
- Eliminate food safety concerns
- Waste less. When you grow your own food, you are less likely to let it go to waste. 40% of all food in the U.S. does not get eaten. Americans are throwing away hundreds of dollars each month per household of four in the form of uneaten food. And worse, almost 70% of what we throw away is actually edible.
- Feel the joy and pride of growing your own food and sharing it with friends.
