When you start to realise how deeply ingrained in our society poor quality food is, it can seem overwhelming. Don’t be discouraged though, the good stuff is there – and once you know where to find it you’re off and running. The important thing is not to try and do everything at once, and end up burning out under the pressure.

Here’s five ways that we can make a start on the road to True Food.

Eat as fresh as possible
Fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables starts losing nutrients as soon as it is picked. Food that has been kept in cold storage or transported a long distance won’t be as tasty or as good for you as fresh, local produce.

First steps: Find a local farmer’s market and pay it a visit, or see if there’s a veg box delivery service in your area. Check out Eat the Seasons and see what’s fresh right now.

Buy food close to its natural state
If you knew what they did to some foods during processing it would make your toenails curl. If it doesn’t look like food, and you can’t pronounce half the ingredients, chances are you shouldn’t be eating it.

First steps: Check through your snack foods and cut out just one thing that is heavily processed.

Eat organic wisely
You’ve probably thought about switching to an organic diet, but no doubt you’ve realised that that’s not only really hard, but mighty expensive as well. The good news is that different foods retain pesticides and chemicals at different rates, and it’s not critical to go organic on everything.

First steps: Check out Lisa’s post on the Dirty Dozen and replace three things that you eat regularly with organic, or an alternative.

Eat meat that eats well
We are what we eat, but have you thought about what this means for the steak you’re tucking into right now? Poor quality feed means poor quality meat, not to mention the cruel conditions that many stock animals are raised in.

First steps: Read 10 Tips for Choosing Healthier Proteins and pick one thing from the list to do right now.

Balance your diet
Everything in moderation. You’ve heard it before, but we’re just gonna keep on saying it! Nothing is ‘bad’ for you unless you eat too much of it, so the key is to keep mixing it up. At the same time, check out your eating habits: TV or dinner table? On the run or relaxed? Get the most out of your meals by eating thoughtfully.

First steps: Try something this week that you’ve never eaten before – maybe a new vegetable, or an unusual whole grain such as Quinoa.

By now, you’re up and running! When you’re ready for more, check out our Basics section where you’ll find our Top 10 Food Rules, Label Reading 101 and lots more simple ways to make changes for a happier diet and a greener planet!

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