Fresh Start Wellness

My exercise today is to walk barefoot in the sunshine. Fresh air and drinking distilled water.

It's going to be a good day! 😎

FSW CLEAN GROCERY SHOPPING GUIDE

“Shop Smart, Not Confused”
Food fraud isn’t about fear—it’s about knowing how to pick the real stuff in a world of shortcuts.

Below is a simple guide to help you shop cleaner, safer, and more confidently.

🫒 OLIVE OIL (Healthy Fat or Mystery Blend?)

- What to look for:
“Extra Virgin” + single origin country
Harvest date (not just expiration date)
Dark glass bottle (protects quality)
“Cold-pressed” or “first cold press”

👍 Trusted brands:
California Olive Ranch (better-quality lines, check origin on label)
Kirkland Signature (consistent testing reputation)
Lucini Italia
Cobram Estate

🚩 Avoid:
“Pure olive oil” (not EVOO)
No origin listed blends
Very cheap large plastic bottles

🍯 HONEY (Nature’s Sweetener… or Syrup in Disguise?)

- What to look for:
“Raw” and “unfiltered”
Single ingredient: honey
Crystallization over time (good sign!)
Local sourcing when possible

👍 Trusted brands:
Y.S. Eco Bee Farms
Nature Nate's
Manuka Health

🚩 Avoid:
“Honey blend”
Ultra-clear honey that never crystallizes
Super cheap squeeze bears with no origin info

🐟 SEAFOOD (Wild vs Farmed Confusion Zone)

- What to look for:
“Wild-caught” with verified sourcing
MSC certification (Marine Stewardship Council)
Frozen-at-sea labeling when possible

👍 Trusted brands:
Wild Planet Foods
Safe Catch
Alaskan Leader Seafoods

🚩 Avoid:
No species listed (“white fish” mystery packs)
Extremely cheap “wild salmon” year-round deals

🧀 CHEESE (Especially Parmesan)

- What to look for:
“Parmigiano-Reggiano” stamped rind
Whole wedge instead of pre-grated
Short ingredient list

👍 Trusted brands:
BelGioioso
Frigo Cheese Heads (for general cheese, not authentic Parmigiano)
Organic Valley

🚩 Avoid:
Powdered “parm” in green cans as main source
Long ingredient lists with fillers

☕ COFFEE (Fuel or Fillers?)

- What to look for:
Whole bean (grind yourself if possible)
“100% Arabica”
Single origin or traceable farm
👍 Trusted brands:
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Peet's Coffee
Lavazza

🚩 Avoid:
“Instant value” bulk mystery blends
No origin or roast date

🍁 MAPLE SYRUP (Real vs Pancake Syrup)

- What to look for:
“100% pure maple syrup”
Grade A or dark robust flavor
Glass bottle preferred
👍 Trusted brands:
Coombs Family Farms
Maple Grove Farms
Butternut Mountain Farm

🚩 Avoid:
“pancake syrup”
Ingredients list longer than “maple syrup”

🌶️ SPICES (Tiny Jar, Big Fraud Risk)

- What to look for:
Whole spices when possible
Deep color that looks natural (not neon)
Trusted import brands

👍 Trusted brands:
Simply Organic
Spice Islands
Frontier Co-op

🚩 Avoid:
Extremely cheap saffron
Spices that stain instantly like dye

SIMPLE RULE OF THUMB (FSW METHOD)

If you remember nothing else:
- Choose single ingredient foods
- Look for origin transparency
- Buy whole instead of processed
- Trust brands with testing + traceability

🥗 FINAL THOUGHT:
You don’t need perfect food—you need less mystery in your food.
Small upgrades = big impact over time.