Presented by Beyond HealthIn this episode of Feel Better Live Better, host Kristi Fury sits down with local nutritionist Veronica Castillo to explore how shopping local for meat and produce can support health, community, and the environment. Veronica explains how locally raised meats often differ from large commercial options in flavor, texture, and farming practices, and walks listeners through what common labels like organic, grass-fed, and pasture-raised generally mean. She also shares how stress, feed, and living conditions can influence the quality of animal products that end up on our plates.The conversation then shifts to fruits and vegetables, where Kristi and Veronica discuss why choosing regional and in-season produce can help preserve nutrients and reduce “food miles.” Veronica offers practical tips on reading labels, looking for nearby growers, and using tools like harvest calendars and farmers markets to see what is currently in season.They also touch on budget concerns, emphasizing small, realistic changes—such as swapping one weekly big-box trip for a visit to a local market or choosing a single local product like honey, eggs, or chile. Throughout the episode, Kristi and Veronica highlight how local shopping can support small businesses, strengthen regional food networks, and help families become more aware and intentional about what they bring home.If you enjoy our podcasts, please like and subscribe, and consider becoming a digital subscriber to the Albuquerque Journal, to help us continue to bring you more content like this. Follow the like below for a discount on a digital subscription. http://www.abqjournal.com/subscribe/abqpods/To get your digital subscription to the newspaper for $3 per week, normally charged monthly at $12 that’s a savings of $9.Thank you for Supporting The Albuquerque Journal New Mexico's leading local news source!#TheHiddenPowerOfEatingLocal#FeelBetterLiveBetter#LocalFood#ShopLocal#FarmToTable#SeasonalEating#HealthyEatingHabits#NutritionTips#GrassFedBeef#LocalProduce#SupportLocalFarmers#SustainableEating#EatLocalNM#AlbuquerqueJournal#NewMexicoFood#HolisticHealth#WellnessPodcast#GroceryShoppingTips