3 tips for selecting the freshest ingredients

(NC) As the old adage goes, you are what you eat. Fresh food not only looks and tastes better – it’s also packed with the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need. So, when it comes to feeding yourself, your friends or family, you want to make sure you’re using the freshest and highest quality possible ingredients. Here are three ways to ensure you pick the freshest ingredients when visiting the grocery store.

Use your senses
Visually inspecting fresh produce is the first way to pick the best items. Bright, vibrant colours generally indicate when something is at peak freshness.

Pick up each item and inspect it all around. Soft or discoloured spots often indicate that something is past its prime. With corn on the cob, peel back a bit of the husk to make sure the one you choose is in the best condition. For items in plastic packages, inspect the food from all angles, looking for signs of bruising or rot.

Finally, give it a sniff. Fruits like pineapple and mango will give off a sweet smell when ripe.

Shop local
Select grocery stores usually have signs indicating where the produce and other products they sell are grown. When you buy locally grown produce, you can feel confident that it was picked at peak freshness and appeared on store shelves soon after being harvested.

Locally grown seasonal produce is often cheaper than imported options. Plus, buying locally reduces the carbon footprint of the food you eat and supports local producers.

Be selective in where you shop
Nothing is more frustrating than reaching into the fridge for some recently purchased produce you plan to use in a meal to find out that it’s already spoiled. Find out what your preferred retailer’s policy is on returns. Most retailers lower the price of items that are close to their best-before date. The food is still good, it should just be consumed soon for peak freshness.

Find more grocery shopping tips at loblaws.ca.

Attention editors: This copy is reserved for use in Quebec only. Follow this link to find the version to use outside of Quebec:
3 ways to know you’re selecting the freshest ingredients