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Once again, it’s time to reboot the new year with personal resolutions that build confidence, hope and health. While some of us decide which new paths to follow and redesign workout routines, others join the locavore movement by choosing locally grown and produced food.

Re-phrased as the 100-mile diet, locavores intend on developing new shopping patterns to buy fresh and preserved food (including honey and cheese) produced within a 100-mile (about 160 kilometers) radius of their home. We know that eating healthy includes eating local, but there are even more benefits to supporting community-based agriculture.

Local food doesn’t need long distance transportation to reach its end goal, so it’s good for the environment, as short hauls mean a reduction in greenhouse gas emission. Shopping local means we support our own communities to build healthier economies and it sends a big signal to our food producers that we recognize and appreciate the hard work they do on our behalf.

Local foodies love the fact that the fruit and vegetables they consume have passed some of the highest safety standards in the world. Western Canada adheres to strict regulations on labeling and organic certification ensures safe practices regarding pesticides, herbicides and other harmful additives. If you’re an omnivore, it’s comforting to know that no growth hormones are given to dairy cows, poultry or pigs in Canada.

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Detoxing is one way to super-boost a new year’s resolution to healthier eating. There are several choices for detoxing that include hydration and naturopathic kits found in health food stores. Detox diets claim to eliminate toxins from your body, and promote weight loss, a claim that many advocates agree with. Once the detox process is finished, a new diet can be introduced to promote holistic goals, such as diving into your new year’s resolution for healthy eating.

Although we love supporting local restaurants, bistros and pubs, cooking at home is a sure-fire way to control your diet. When you cook at home with fresh, local produce, you know exactly what you and your family are consuming and nutrition can be customized for distinct family tastes. Home cooked meals often contain no preservatives or sugar from processed foods, and if family members are lactose intolerant or have allergies, the allergens can be avoided. Preparing meals at home can be a family affair, increasing quality time together to create closer bonds.

The benefits of eating local food is lauded by natural food researchers as one of the best ways to stay healthy. “We are what we eat” may be an old adage, but new findings suggest this is true and feasible by shopping for local, seasonally available food. Try browsing your local grocery store for products labeled as locally grown or manufactured. Having so many options under one climate-controlled roof can kick-start your new diet plans and make your resolution a success.

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