Food travels on average 1,300 miles from farm to table. That means that it takes a lot of fuel to ship all the produce around, and the food is not at it's freshest when it's time to eat it - it can take up to two weeks for your fruits and vegetables before they make it to the supermarket.

Buying locally produced food reduces your carbon dioxide footprint and supports local economy and family farmers. It also preserves the local landscape and fosters a sense of community. Local food is often more lightly packaged, and that means less waste. Not to mention that local foods are usually the freshest and tastiest. Make your menu more exciting and try eating what's in season at the moment.

Check out whether there's a farmer's market or a farm stand near you and pay it a visit. Local produce can also be available in some supermarkets and through food cooperatives. You can sign up with a local farm to have fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables to be delivered to your door (bi-)weekly. This is a good way to make yourself eat more healthy as you might just end up eating what you already have at hand instead of driving to grocery store for a bag of chips or a burger. Farmers who offer such service also have to stand behind what they deliver, bringing fresh and tasty treats, as if the quality lacks, you can just cancel the service. Eat well guide offers a search engine that finds local markets, farms, restaurants, wineries and more.