Thanks to our dedicated trainer, Micheal Okumura from Fusion Health Studio, culturites spent Monday afternoon trolling the aisles of our local healthy grocer, learning about the tips and tricks to really clean up our diets and get to the bottom of all the myths and misconceptions that surround eating organic foods.
We were greeted at Whole Foods by Micheal and an empty cart (as well as his adorable and organic-fed 1-year-old Mateo).
Back to Micheal. This man is a specimen. He is extremely selective on what enters his body – and for good reason. He is his own brand. With a successful fitness and wellness studio in Rosedale, Micheal trains some of the cities most fit (or most motivated to be fit) entrepreneurs – including The Society Toronto team (we fall into the latter category!).
Upon arrival, we asked Micheal to break it down for us - all the things we need to know about navigating this confusing labyrinth of temptation. Below are some of the tips we learned:
1. Always remember the three P’s:
- Perimeter (If you shop the perimeter you can’t go wrong as the freshest is always on the outside.)
- Produce (Load up on fruit and veggies as this should make up the largest part of all your meals.)
- Protein (We only need about 4 ounces per meal and it should always be organic.)
2. Cooking with oils:
- The best options are grapeseed or coconut oil – at high temperatures they do not turn to trans fat the way olive oil does. Micheal also recommended using butter – Culturites loved this suggestion.
3. Be a detective:
- Culturites assumed that if it is sold at Whole Foods, then it is organic – NOT SO. Be sure to read the labels to find out if something is conventional or organic.
- It's tempting to pick up the pre-cut and packaged fruit at the entry way of many healthy grocers – avoid the temptation as this fruit is conventional, not organic unless otherwise stated on the label. Same goes for the deli meats, some are organic, others are not.
4. Pecking order when selecting your proteins:
- The best choice is always organic.
- If organic is not available, grass fed, antibiotic-free free range is second best.
- If neither of the above are options, go with local.
5. Dairy:
- If you drink milk, ensure it is organic.
- Stick to raw or unpasteurized cheeses.
- Always read the labels to ensure your cheese is organic.
Do you eat organic? Any tips for navigating the grocery store?
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