Healthy Food Choices

So I'm trying to do better for myself and my family by making healthier food choices. I'm reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" and am learning a lot. I watched the movie "Food Inc." a few weeks ago and it was eye-opening. I'm still working out with a trainer and they have a nutrition program that's helping me learn stuff as well. So let's just say I've been choosing to buy lots of fresh fruits and veggies (for meals and snacks), have been reading labels and NOT buying anything with high fructose corn syrup and am trying to adopt a "NO PROCESSED FOOD" mantra in my household. It's hard, y'all! But SO worth it! I want my kids to grow up healthy and have the right kind of food habits now so they can maintain healthy food habits throughout their lifetime. If you take 5 minutes to research this stuff, you'll quickly learn about the detrimental effects that processed and industrialized food has had on our health as a country. It's insane and it's something I'm choosing not to ignore any longer!

So on a related note... I am finding it quite frustrating that not once but TWICE in less than a week, I've purchased organic products (whole-wheat flour and strawberry preserves) that turned out to be EXPIRED already. I've always been in the habit of checking expiration dates when purchasing milk, cheese, etc. But flour? Never thought to check that. And strawberry jelly? Who knew?? Obviously it's taking me a bit to shift my mindset from the world of processed "foods" that are scientifically altered to last on your shelf for 3 years compared to fresher (is that a word?), organic, healthy foods that aren't designed to last forever. Okay. So I get it -- I need to pay more attention. But in the future, Bi-Lo and Walmart, can you please do a better job of checking the expiration dates on the products you're selling?

So am I the only one getting on this bandwagon of healthier eating? I follow some blogs written by moms who have been paying attention to this stuff for a while, but I hate to say I don't personally know many who are taking control over what they feed their families and choosing NOT to buy the junk. I love learning more and more about what TO eat, what NOT to eat, and how making the right choices when buying food sends a message to the government and food manufacturers to stop poisoning us with their chemicals and what-not. I have a lot to learn, and would love to hear from anyone who has anything to share on this topic. :)