Here in Lake Highlands most, if not all, of us get the majority of our food from the grocery store, instead of growing it ourselves.

That makes it harder for us to think about where our food comes from and the fact that some foods have more of an environmental impact than others.

It takes water and energy to grow, process and transport all the food we purchase.

This month's column is part one of a two-part series that aims to help you “go green” in the kitchen and eat healthier as a result.


Buy local or grow your own

Local foods tend to be fresher, healthier and tastier, plus they are usually more eco-friendly because less shipping is required.

Community gardens and backyard gardens are gaining popularity here in Lake Highlands. My son is so excited about the corn he's growing in our backyard. He keeps measuring it every few days and now it’s even taller than him!

I know of at least two community gardens here in Lake Highlands – the Lake Highlands Community Garden and the Highlands Christian Garden at Highlands Christian Church. A lot of folks are finding that digging in the dirt is fun, or at least rewarding!

For a complete list of community gardens in Dallas, click here.

For those who don’t wish to try to develop a green thumb, local markets provide fresh, local options.

White Rock Local Market is a non-profit, independent farmer’s market held twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month in growing season. For more information on location, vendors and hours click here.

Also, the Dallas Farmers Market near downtown is open 362 days a year, but some products are not locally grown, so you'll need to do a little homework before you buy.

Yet another option is to join a local co-op.

An acquaintance of mine uses Your Health Source. She picks up produce at a home in the White Rock Elementary attendance zone biweekly on Tuesdays.

Your Health Source also offers Saturday biweekly pick-ups. There's an extensive organic dry goods list available as well. In Googling “Dallas organic co-op” I saw another organic co-op based out of Coppell/Grapevine and several stores and farms offering fresh foods, but I didn’t see any other Lake Highlands area organic co-ops.

Co-ops vary by operation and some are not necessarily local or organic. In my sister’s co-op, she and her friends may not always receive their favorite fruits and veggies, but it does encourage their families try some new things at times.

Remember that for most of our shopping, at the grocery store, we can now choose local options when available.

Grocery stores are now posting the country or state of origin of their produce so shoppers can be more informed. The Whole Foods website details its commitment and reasoning behind providing local choices when possible.

I definitely don’t buy local all the time, since we really enjoy the blueberries and other fruits and veggies from Chile and Mexico in the winter before our local growing season starts.

But we do try to buy local whenever possible.