It’s time for a confession: I dread going to the grocery store. It’s overwhelming and takes too much time. Besides, food costs too much. And how is a mom or dad supposed to know if they’re doing the right thing for their family?  Go back to the basics.

         Confusion and emotionalism has made food a battleground. The marketing is getting bigger. The misinformation grows. Activists continue to bully. Celebrities and politicians take opinion-based positions instead of looking at the facts.  Food shaming persists. As a result of all of this, food buyers are filled with guilt, confusion and overwhelm. 

         I feel your pain. Unless I have a child along to try to teach them about making healthy choices, my grocery trips are known for speed – grab and go. Be done with it.

         Partially because I have the patience of a gnat. Mostly because I understand the system behind the food. I know the people raising food are doing it the right way for the right reasons. I also believe USDA, FDA and EPA protocol protect our food I know the science involved (sometimes too much) – and trust it.

         I can’t just grab a bag of potatoes, pick up a steak or select cereal without thinking about the people and practices it took to produce that food. That’s when the misleading claims about farm families and todays farming and ranching practices becomes personal and makes me want to run screaming down the aisles.

         Instead, I have to find comfort in knowing I’m doing the very best I can for my family – just as the dad next door is. Just as you are.

         What are you family’s ethical, healthy, environmental and social standards? Stick to those and measure all food claims accordingly. The truth in food lies in the way it was produced, how you choose it and the value it brings to your family. That is ultimately YOUR decision and you don’t need approval from an outside party. My hope is that you know the truths so you, too, can ask better questions and adjust as necessary.

         My mantra is to know the farmer, know the science, or know the system.  In other words, do you have firsthand perspective on how food is raised and why a farmer or rancher uses certain practices? Or, do you know the science behind the food claims to check that it’s common sense?  Or, do you know the agricultural and food regulatory system well enough to trust it?

         Here are three quick ways you can cut down on the clutter and confusion when buying food.

1. Go back to the basics. If a claim causes you to question it and say “wait a minute”, it is likely sensationalized and you should walk away.
2. Know your family’s ethical, health, environmental and social standards – and measure all food claims against those.
3. If you know farming, science, or the food system, you can stay focused on buying food that is right for your family – and quickly cutting through the claims.

         Check out with truth in food; leave the guilt behind.

Read more at  Food Truths from Farm to Table to arm yourself with 25 truths you urgently need to know about food so you can shop without guilt, confusion, or judgment. A new book, Food Bullying, releases November 5 to upend the way you think about eating choices.