Eating Local in the Midwest

I've been in Ohio for the last week, attending a conference. How did I fare at eating responsibly on a budget in Ohio? Mixed results to say the least. You can eat on a budget (at least a Northeast budget) in rural Ohio, that is certain. However, finding local, sustainable food is a little more difficult. With a little reorientation in what it means to eat locally and a lot of help from a local guide, I was able to adjust.

My conference was in Lakeside, Ohio, and we also stayed later in the week in Payne, OH (population 1166). At Lakeside, were staying in a hotel room, and went in search of some breakfast food to keep in a cooler in the room (no mini-fridge available.) We headed to...well, this might require a second set of ellipses...Walmart. There are many irresponsible things about shopping at Walmart, but driving around the area, we could not find another grocery store. We probably missed something (as many visitors do), but it seems like Walmart is the major food supplier in this town. So we tried to shop as responsibly as possible while at Walmart.

Wonder of wonders, Walmart carries Stoneyfield yogurt! Now, this yogurt had a larger carbon footprint than usual, but it was delicious, the only organic option in the yogurt section, and not too expensive. We also bought vanilla chai and mocha cappuccino beverages from Bolthouse Farms. The two lasted the whole five-day conference as caffeine intake and overall deiciousness. We saved on not buying coffee or tea at the coffee shop and spent about 5 in total for the two. Bolthouse isn't exactly angelic, but they do have some investment in the environment and ethical practices. It is always worthwhile to check out whether the maker of your beloved and regularly purchased product has an ethics statement, statement on the environment, etc.

Life as a flexi-locavore means just that, a little flexibility. Despite the hundreds of thousands of acres of food growing around me, much of it was not meant for my consumption or able to be purchased at a nearby store (without heading elsewhere for processing to be sold back to said local store). So, sometimes eating locally when your options are limited means eating at locally owned food establishments. So we ate at several delicious restaurants during our time in Ohio, including Diana's in Port Clinton, a local establishment with EXCELLENT food, including a gyro sandwich meal for 6.45, and many lunches and dinners in the 5-7 range (with enough for leftovers).

I also wanted to mention Essen House, in case any of my readers are ever in Antwerp, OH. This, like Diana's, is the sort of establishment that lacks a website. It is, however, food home-cooked by locals: cheap and delicious. For about $5, I enjoyed a grilled chicken wrap with fresh cucumber, lettuce, and carrots as well as some french fries and an iced tea. Essen House is unique; it is attached to an adult care facility and somehow has something to do with the Amish. I still have not figured out all the lovely details of Essen House.

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout-out to co-ops. Heidi, recently vegan and living in the area, mentioned how difficult it was to find local, organic, vegan (or any of the above) options in the area. She had recently found out about a co-operative grocery store that was meeting all of her needs. 3 Rivers Food Co-op was a fascinating (and affordable place to visit), and I am now doing further research on co-operative markets and grocers. Basically, anyone can shop there, but people can also purchase a share in the co-operative in exchange for vote on decisions made by the store as well as discounts. I'll keep you posted as I learn more.

In the meantime, it was back to Boston. More responsible and affordable meals coming soon!