When you've done something for an extended period of time you adapt and become accustomed to it.

For example, you walk into a room with a strong air freshener that you immediately notice. After a while, you stop noticing the smell.

The same is true with most things in life.

Including what you eat.

I've lived in the US my entire life.

For most of my adult life I've always heard about how bad the food quality is, how the US allows toxic ingredients that other countries outlaw, etc.

I've noticed the effects of it myself and always made an effort to get the highest quality food I have access to and can reasonably afford.

Over the last several years, I didn't really worry about it too much because I was buying organic produce, grass fed meat, etc.

I try to buy as much food as I can from local providers too. Farms and farmer markets where I can personally talk to the people who make the food.

But I don't buy everything from these types of places since they don't have everything I need and are not exactly close to where I live.

Over the last several months, I've been to 6 different countries on 3 different continents.

A fairly good sample size.

The difference in the quality of the food in these places compared to what I consume in the US has been astounding to me.

Again, I've been aware of the quality issue in the US, but I've been going out of my way to shield myself from it and stick to high quality food as much as possible.

So there still being a noticeable difference in quality of food I was consuming was not something I expected.

And I've just gotten used to the quality of food in the US. I haven't traveled in a while and I didn't really have anything to compare the food I was consuming in the US to.

It was one of those situations where I'd just gotten accustomed to it after so long.

But these last few months have really made me realize the severity of the food quality issue in the US.

I get a lot of questions from people in the US about this topic.

What are the best options for foods, is buying organic or grass fed worth it, etc.

I've always believed buying the highest quality option that's available and within budget is well worth it. Now even more.

But I think taking it a step further and seeking out local options like nearby farms or farmers markets is important as well these days.

Even places that are supposed to be higher quality, healthier options like Whole Foods coat fruit in wax or sell bioengineered food (with a tiny disclaimer that no one sees).

It is much harder for small, local food providers to compete nowadays with these massive corporations that supply 90% of the food in traditional grocery stores.

Their incentives are more aligned with the people who are consuming the food.

It's much easier for people to just go down the street to the local grocery store chain and buy things for less than it is to buy from them.

If they're also not providing quality food, they're not going to be in business for long.

But these options aren't accessible or affordable for everyone.

So they're left with few options that aren't genetically modified, pesticide-laced, bioengineered, etc. that are shipped from the other side of the world.

When it comes to the average quality of food that's available to the majority of people in the US compared to other countries, it is a night & day difference.

So to provide a little more input on the questions I get on this topic, yes, I think it is well worth it to invest in the highest quality food that you can afford if you live in the US.

I have had luck finding good options at more "traditional" stores in the US like Sprouts Farmers Market and occasionally at Whole Foods.

But you definitely have to pay close attention and check everything.

Because even foods that were once good quality I've started noticing disclaimers like "bioengineered" or that the ingredients are changing.

The best places to find quality foods are from local providers that sell at farmers markets or local farms.

Yes, this isn't going to be as convenient for most people.

It certainly wasn't for me.

But it's well worth it in my opinion. Especially after this wake up call being out of the country and seeing how much higher quality the food is elsewhere.

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- Nick