The Wellness Issue

By Lauren Titus / Photography By | Last Updated January 21, 2020
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red cabbage nori rolls

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well,
if one has not dined well.
– Virginia Woolf

On January 1, as part of our annual family tradition, I bake corn bread in a cast iron skillet to serve with black-eyed peas and collards. It’s our way of welcoming good health and prosperity to the New Year. For this year’s batch I used Alabama King® Fine Ground Corn Meal, a brand long favored by my mother-in-law. As I was putting away the bag of corn meal, I noticed a phrase on the package advocating users to EAT BETTER, LIVE LONGER. It seemed like sound advice to kick off a new year, food packaging wisdom for a new decade.

Eating better food seems like an obvious path to wellness. But how we each interpret wellness when it comes to our food options varies from person to person. For some, eating better may translate to high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals, while other people focus on a plant-based diet. And for many members of our society, eating better means having more (or any) access to fresh food.

The Wellness issue takes a look at the role food plays in the health of individuals, our community and the environment. We examine how food insecurity – the lack of access to sufficient quantities of nutritious, affordable food – affects the well-being of our whole community and programs underway to address this challenge. Looking for local eateries offering some of the latest foods for healthy eating? We have some suggestions to get you started toward new culinary discoveries.

If taking more vitamins and supplements is part of this year’s health-consciousness, head to page 32 and read about the environmental impacts of staying well. Are you sober curious? Read why a night out doesn’t always include a hangover the next morning, as local bars and restaurants offer more alcohol-free options. Want to add some new, healthy dishes to your home cooking? We’ve got you covered, along with a DIY on making herbal tinctures and an introduction to elderberry. And we take a tour of a local farm and group home created with the well-being of its residents in mind.

These pages contain a small sampling of the definition of wellness in our region. We hope this issue serves as a catalyst to explore the myriad other ways businesses and organizations are building a healthy local community. Let us hear about your pursuit of well-being – be sure to tag us on social media @edibleneflorida.

Lauren TitusEditor

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STORIES & RECIPES FROM THE WELLNESS ISSUE

Joining Forces Against Food Insecurity in Northeast Florida

ready for veggies truck
Children and the elderly are the most at risk.

Healthy Food Trends on Local Menus

oyster mushrooms and caesar salad
Local restaurants cater to shifts in dietary demands of customers

The Environmental Impact of Personal Wellness

cost of wellness
There are many ways we can cut down our impact, keeping both ourselves and our planet healthy.

Peace of Heart Community

peace of heart community
This year-round working farm grows fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Spirit Free Cocktails: Making Room for Everyone at the Bar

wildcrafters
Increased interest in mindful drinking beyond "Dry January"

Making Herbal Tinctures

herbal tinctures
A way to use herbal remedies for healing and general well-being

The Healing Power of Elderberry

elderberries on a plant
Boost your immune system using traditional medicine.

Elderberry Gummy Bears

elderberry gummy bears
If you want to forage your own elderberries in Northeast Florida, you can find them in early summer, then again in late summer and early fall.

Heirloom Tomato Tart

tomato tart
This recipe was the winning entry in the 2019 Peace Out Pie Contest, held at the St. Augustine Amp Farmers’ Market. Fresh tomatoes atop a goat cheese filling on a Parmesan cheese crust make for a...

Sprout Kitchen's Macro Bowl

sprout kitchen macro bowl
This bowl features sprouted quinoa, a step that requires planning in advance. While quinoa is packed with nutritional benefits, recent evidence shows that sprouting may increase many of a grain’s...

Red Cabbage Nori Rolls

red cabbage nori rolls
This recipe is a good reminder to celebrate seasonal produce found in abundance at local farmers’ markets. You can mix and match vegetables as the season changes. Allow for about 1 cup of vegetables...
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