“What advice do you have for someone who would like to incorporate more local foods into his or her diet but isn’t sure where to begin?”

That’s a question I’ve been asked frequently, and it deserves more attention than I can usually give it in the context of a quick take-away response.

Maybe you found your way to this website because you have the same question. Or maybe you’re already deeply committed to the local/organic/sustainable food movement, and would like to help others just starting out on that path. Let’s take clear look at how to get started.

Don’t Think You Have to Be the Perfect Locavore

None of us is perfect, and eco-guilt is an increasingly common malady. If someone says they aren’t even going to bother to try to eat a little more locally because they know they won’t do that 100% of the time, cheer them on with this fact:

For the average person, changing just 25% of their food to locally grown and raised will lower their carbon footprint by more than all of their glass, plastic and metal recycling combined.

25%. That’s the salad on your dinner plate maybe. It’s doable.

When You’re Given the Option…

You’re buying apples at the supermarket. One heap of them is from New Zealand, the neighboring pile from New York. You live in New York. Buy the ones from New York.

This may sound obvious, but many of us still aren’t used to thinking about where our food comes from. Paying attention to those source signs (and asking for them if your store doesn’t already do them) is a simple but hugely significant step.

Where Is the Farmers’ Market on What Day?

Farmers’ markets are great sources of locally raised foods and they are also fun. The official stat is that conversations are ten times more likely to happen at a farmers’ market than in a supermarket.

Grab a friend and introduce them to the colorful, yummily fragrant, festive environment of a farmers’ market. Take your friend home and cook up what you’ve bought together. Include a few non-local ingredients so they get the you-don’t-have-to-be-perfect point.

Keep Encouraging…

I try to keep encouraging my friends to be more aware of their food choices. I cheer them on when they remember to buy the local apple over the imported one. I get excited with them about going to that restaurant that goes out of its way to feature locally sourced ingredients. I remind myself to skip the scolding when they ain’t so green, and instead applaud them when they are (and I try to grant myself the same grace). One step at a time…