How Smarter Food Choices Can Boost Your Wellbeing
As World Heart Day approaches on September 29, many people are searching for effective ways to improve their heart health. While the benefits of regular exercise and a balanced diet are well known, another vital aspect is often overlooked: the impact of where and how we purchase our food. A growing movement of consumers is rethinking their shopping habits, questioning the health implications of traditional supermarket shopping, and turning towards more community-based food systems that promote fresh, seasonal produce reducing ultra-processed foods at the supermarket checkout.
Jayne Travers-Drapes, Co-Founder of the social enterprise business Box Divvy, is at the forefront of this shift. “Heart health isn’t just about the specific foods we eat,” she explains. “It’s about our relationship with food - how we choose and buy those foods. Supermarkets are designed to push ultra-processed products that can be detrimental to our health. At Box Divvy, we encourage people to focus on fresh, seasonal produce and carefully selected pantry items. It’s about making simple, smarter choices that can lead to significant improvements in overall wellbeing.”
Box Divvy is like a modern food co-op, offering a unique approach that blends the benefits of community support with direct access to local farmers and food wholesalers. As a social enterprise business, Box Divvy is driven by a mission to provide affordable, high-quality produce while promoting sustainability and reducing food waste.
Rethinking the Supermarket Experience
Supermarkets often use clever marketing tactics to promote convenience foods, which are high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salts. These ultra-processed options are strategically placed to catch the eye, making them hard to resist. As a result, many consumers end up filling their shopping carts with items that may harm their heart health in the long run.
“There’s a growing trend of ‘un-supermarketing,’ where people choose to spend less time in traditional supermarkets and more time sourcing food directly from local farmers and community food groups,” Travers-Drapes notes. “Our members at Box Divvy increasingly prefer to avoid supermarkets altogether, opting instead for fresh, unprocessed foods that support both their health and the environment.”
Many people don’t realise that much of the ‘fresh’ food in supermarkets has often been sitting in cold storage for extended periods before it reaches the shelves. This can diminish the flavour and nutritional value of the food. “People forget or don’t realise what real food tastes like,” says Travers-Drapes. “Fresh, locally and Australian sourced seasonal produce is picked at its peak and enjoyed soon after harvest, which means it tastes better and is more nutritious. At Box Divvy, we want to reconnect people with the true taste of real, fresh food, know who grew your food and what we’ve paid them.”
4 Simple Changes to Improve Heart Health:
1. Eat Fresh, Seasonal Produce: Prioritising seasonal fruits and vegetables is crucial for heart health. These foods are richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants because they are picked at their peak ripeness. Seasonal produce not only tastes better but also provides the essential nutrients needed to maintain cardiovascular health. Additionally, buying seasonal and local Australian reduces the environmental impact of long-distance food transportation from imported produce, ensuring that what we eat is as fresh and nutritious as possible.
2. Simplify Your Food Choices: The overwhelming variety of products in supermarkets can lead to impulsive buying and poor dietary choices. Community-supported food movements like Box Divvy simplify the shopping experience by offering a curated selection of fresh produce and essential pantry items. This makes it easier for consumers to focus on healthy, whole foods without the distraction of unhealthy options.
3. Support Local Food Sources: Choosing to buy from local and Australian farmers and food co-ops helps sustain small-scale agriculture and promotes environmentally friendly farming practices. By supporting local food sources, consumers can enjoy fresher, more nutritious produce and contribute to the local economy. Farmers spend money in their community, so it keeps local economies healthy. Box Divvy, as a social enterprise business, connects consumers directly with local farmers, ensuring that produce is harvested at its best and reaches families quickly without storage.
4. Cook More at Home: Knowing what to do with fresh food is a battle Box Divvy help you win. Lots of cooking videos and recipes are shared helping people prepare nutritious, heart-healthy meals. So preparing meals at home using fresh, wholesome ingredients allows you to control what goes into your food, reducing the intake of unhealthy fats, sugars, and salts. Box Divvy not only supplies fresh ingredients but also provides recipes and tips to help people prepare nutritious, heart-healthy meals. Cooking at home, getting the family involved too, can create a positive relationship with food. It is an effective way to gain control over your diet and make conscious choices that support heart health.
Hammad Ali, who migrated to Australia and is now a Box Divvy Hub Leader in South Turramurra, embodies the positive impact of these healthier food choices. “When I moved to Australia, I realised I needed to manage my health better focusing on regular
Creating a Heart-Healthy Community
Choosing where to shop not only affects individual health but also has broader community and environmental implications. As a social enterprise business, Box Divvy fosters connections between local farmers and consumers, ensuring that people have access to affordable, high-quality food while supporting sustainable farming practices. With over 270 Hubs across NSW and the ACT, Box Divvy helps members save up to 30% on their fresh produce lowering their overall grocery bills compared to traditional supermarket shopping.
“People think healthy food is expensive, but that does not need to be the case. Small changes in shopping habits can lead to significant improvements in heart health,” says Travers-Drapes. “By being mindful of what you buy and choosing fresh, local and Australian grown, and unprocessed foods, you’re investing in your health, supporting sustainable agriculture, and reducing your carbon footprint.”
Take Steps Toward a Healthier Heart
As we celebrate World Heart Day, consider how your food purchasing habits impact your heart health. By making mindful choices, supporting local food systems, and avoiding the lure of ultra-processed supermarket options, you can contribute to a healthier heart and a brighter future for yourself and your community.
For more information about how to join a Box Divvy Hub and start making healthier food choices, visit www.boxdivvy.com.