As Virginia Woolf said in A Room of One’s Own: “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”  

With the new year upon us, a lot of folks are thinking about changing their life for the better, which often means improving one’s diet.  It’s not obvious how to do that given the torrent of food marketing, online self-help gurus, and endless fad diets we are all inundated with daily.  It helps to have a trusted and experienced guide at your side as you make your first foray of the year into healthy eating and a healthier you.  You can scour the internet and come up with dozens of healthy and mouth-watering recipes for the “new you”, but the moment of truth is not at your computer, it is when you finally set out to pick up what may be several unusual-sounding ingredients that you’ve never bought before.  

One way to help simplify this aspect of your new approach to food is to do your shopping at the Marquette Food Co-op (MFC).  There are many unique and healthful products and food items at MFC, but one of the best parts of shopping there is the warm and knowledgeable staff.  

If you find yourself searching the produce department, for instance, you may not realize that many of the vegetables you’re surrounded by are grown on nearby farms, but what I’m sure you didn’t know, is that some of the produce clerks have worked on some of these same local farms.  Who better to help you pick the best leafy green for your smoothie or potato for your casserole than someone who helped grow and harvest your food?  

Healthy eating isn’t just all about vegetables though, if eaten as part of a balanced diet, cheese can be a great source of protein and calcium.  The MFC cheese counter has the best selection in the U.P. and is staffed by a handful of committed professionals who have been certified by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.  

But why stop at food?  At the Marquette Food Co-op we believe a healthier you comes from eating right, as well as caring for our bodies in other ways.  The Wellness section at MFC has a comprehensive selection of teas, nutrition supplements, aromatherapeutics, body care items and more to compliment a diet based in wholesome foods.  Maybe you’re unfamiliar with the world of holistic wellness and self-care products.  Fortunately, our expert wellness associates have years of experience with our wellness products and are always happy to offer recommendations and advice.  

Looking for more? We offer plenty of cooking classes, some free of cost and many focused on healthy eating.  Make 2017 your year, with a healthier you.  The Marquette Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery store, but it’s really more than that.  It is a community and a family committed to a holistic approach to health and a whole food approach to diet. Join us!