As conscientious and responsible humans, we want to do all the things. You know, like get active, eat healthy meals, live a sustainable lifestyle, be organized. But when things get busy, it isn’t always easy to do the things we know will make our lives and our world better. We may cut corners and short-change ourselves in the process.
Taking the time to source high-quality, fresh local ingredients, for example, can be difficult for a constantly on-the-go family. But healthy meal prep and delivery services make eating healthy and sustainably so much simpler. It’s true! You can feed yourself and your family with the freshest, organic ingredients that your body needs and deserves, even when you're super short on time.
That all sounds amazing, right? Fresh, local, organic, whole ingredients that are perfectly packaged to make mealtime a snap.
But it can be a little confusing…
When looking for healthy ingredients, a few words get thrown out – two of the most commonly used are natural and organic. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two? Some people wonder, aren’t they essentially the same thing? The short answer is no.
Let’s break it down for you…
Natural
The word natural refers to food that remains as it does in nature, without tampering. If we were to think about natural in that strict sense, it would leave us with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Foods labeled as natural are often assumed to be free of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics and minimally processed. This can be true but is not always the case. Buying products labeled natural does not have to meet a third-party regulation.
The companies themselves determine to what level their products that are labeled ‘natural’ must meet. They often process these foods free of the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives that their conventional items include, but they are not held to the same standards as organic foods.
Organic
Food labeled organic must meet rigorous standards, which include factors related to soil, the treatment and growth of animals, pest and weed control, and how the food is processed. In short, organic foods must be produced with care for the environment and avoid using toxic synthetic materials such as pesticides and antibiotics.
In addition, to be considered organic, foods are verified using certification methods and are inspected to ensure they comply with USDA regulations. These inspections are announced and unannounced to ensure quality and compliance.
Fresh, whole foods fuel your body. They give you the nutrition you need to stay healthy and keep moving. That's why Farm Fresh Meals is committed to creating delicious, healthy meals using fresh and organic ingredients from local farms.
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