Reconnecting With Food: My Journey to Food Sustainability

As many of my readers know, my journey with health has been nothing short of a challenge.

For a long time, I did what so many people do. I bought my food at the grocery store, ate plenty of processed foods, went to my doctor when I wasn't feeling well, took my prescriptions as expected, and didn't think too critically about much of anything.

That changed after experiencing significant side effects from a pharmaceutical medication I was taking.

Suddenly, I started questioning the systems I had trusted for so long. I questioned the medications I was taking, the way we approach chronic health conditions, and eventually, I started questioning something else:

What am I actually putting into my body every day?

Finding my way back to food

I'd always loved going to farmers markets, but looking back, I don't think I fully understood why I was so drawn to them.

I remember going to the Cabbagetown Farmers' Market in Toronto's east end, chatting with the farmers and looking at all of the beautiful produce. One day, I pulled out a carrot that was so hilariously shaped that we dubbed it "Kim K's booty."

And let me tell you... it tasted so much better than any grocery store carrot I'd ever had.

There was something different about that experience. I knew where the carrot came from. I could talk to the person who grew it. I felt connected to my food.

As my chronic health issues became more difficult and my gut health took a dive, I began making bigger changes. I started going to farmers markets more often and finding local produce wherever I could. In Toronto, I'd wander through Kensington Market and shop at Vince Gasparro's on Bloor Street, getting to know the people there.

I started composting. I rode my bike whenever I could. I became more conscious of waste and where the things I purchased were coming from.

Without really realizing it, I was moving toward a more holistic and sustainable way of living.

Coming home to Saskatchewan

Eventually, I made the decision to go back to school for Holistic Nutrition and moved back to my home province of Saskatchewan.

Living here made my appreciation for local food even stronger.

Saskatchewan is an agricultural province, and we're incredibly lucky to have so many farmers and producers right in our own backyard.

I started making regular trips to farmers markets, trying different vegetables and discovering different varieties of tomatoes. During nutrition school, I also became fascinated by food sustainability and the bigger picture of our food system.

I started thinking about more than just the nutrients in my food.

Where was it grown? Who grew it? How far did it travel? How was the land treated? And what happens to all of the food we waste?

Those questions changed the way I look at food.

Why food sustainability matters

Food sustainability is about creating a food system that can nourish both people and the planet for generations to come.

Our food system has a significant environmental impact. Agriculture uses enormous amounts of land and freshwater and contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Farming practices also affect soil health, biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

Sustainable farming practices can help protect these resources while supporting farmers and creating a more resilient food system.

And then there's food waste.

So much edible food ends up in landfills, where it contributes to methane emissions as it breaks down. Simply learning to use what we already have—freezing extra produce, using leftovers, preserving seasonal foods and composting scraps—can make a difference.

But sustainability isn't only about the environment.

It's about community, too.

When I buy eggs directly from a local regenerative farm or purchase meat directly from a farmer, I'm not just buying food. I'm supporting the people who are doing the work of producing it.

And I genuinely love talking to them.

I love knowing where my food comes from, how it was raised or grown, and who I'm supporting with my money.

Eating locally doesn't have to be perfect

I don't think sustainable eating needs to mean completely changing your life or buying everything from a farmers market.

Not everyone has access to local farms. Not everyone can afford to buy everything locally. And that's okay.

For me, it's about doing what I can.

Maybe that's buying Saskatchewan-grown produce when it's in season. Maybe it's getting eggs from a local farmer. Maybe it's growing a few herbs, composting your food scraps or simply making an effort not to waste the food you already bought.

Small choices add up.

And I think there's something really special about reconnecting with the food on your plate.

Food is more than nutrition

As a Holistic Nutritionist, I spend a lot of time talking about the gut microbiome, nutrition and how our diets can influence our health and longevity.

But the more I learn, the more I realize that food doesn't exist in isolation.

Food is connected to our environment, our communities, our farmers and our health.

Healthy soil helps grow our food. Clean water is necessary to produce it. Biodiversity supports our ecosystems. Farmers are the people who make it all possible.

And when we know where our food comes from, I think we naturally begin to appreciate it more.

We waste less.

We cook more.

We become curious about the seasons.

We start recognizing the farmers at our local market.

And food becomes more than something we simply consume.

It becomes something we're connected to.

When I look back at my health journey, I never would have imagined that my struggles would eventually lead me to think so differently about food.

But I'm incredibly grateful that they did.

Today, I feel very lucky to live in Saskatchewan, surrounded by farmers and producers who work hard to grow and raise the food that nourishes our communities.

I love buying my eggs from a local farm.

I love talking to the farmers who produce my food.

I love wandering through a farmers market and finding a weird-looking vegetable I've never tried before.

And yes, I still get ridiculously excited about a really good carrot.

Because food isn't just about calories, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Food connects us to our bodies, our communities, our farmers and our planet.

And I think creating a healthier future means remembering that connection.