When I look back on where this started, I think it was a gift. My wife got me the Bi-Rite Market’s “Eat Good Food” cookbook somewhere around 2009. The thing is, that book isn’t really a cookbook and I don’t actually remember any of its recipes. What I do remember is it showing me how to shop for food. The “How to Buy” section opened up my mind to thinking about food (and elevating what you make at home) in a way that was approachable and kind of exciting.
Figuring out how to buy things that I would never dream of buying before (anchovies packed in salt were just one example) that add to add depth and umami to every stew and pasta sauce. I became the guy in the office opening a tin of sardines for lunch (sorry about that, ex-coworkers.) Then, my wife got me a subscription to a little known company (at that time) called Rancho Gordo and it was over. (If you don’t know, Rancho Gordo is an heirloom bean company that has developed a cult following in the last decade plus.)
And heirloom beans were the perfect example of what made that book great. I never thought about beans before I saw their name listed in the “resources” section on one of the last pages of the book. So I ordered a few bags and I was hooked. If beans could become these unbelievably healthy and flavorful dishes that were also so good that you’d make them for friends, then you would look at everything differently. Pizza beans are a staple now.
The thing is, I did not grow up eating “healthy.” Fast food was in the regular rotation. I didn’t really know what organic meant. And I only thought about food as way of getting as full as possible. I never really thought about where it came from, the nutrients it provided or the humane (or inhumane) ways it got to my plate. Then that all changed and now we’re here.
So why The Greenest.com? I have been in the digital publishing and media space since 1999 (including one of the largest behavioral health directories.) And in the last 27 years I’ve had a lot of fun building and creating interesting and unique content (check out our neighborhood health section sometime.) I love playing with data and turning it into a story. And we have more data and information about what to eat, where to buy our food from, and how to live healthier than ever before. So let’s use it. Thanks for stopping by! — Cory Jones, Founder
A Little Bit More About The Greenest
The Greenest is a collection of registered dietitians, health and wellness experts and authors who understand the intersection between wellness, the foods we eat, exercise and activity. As well as functional foods and supplements. We know how to read a label. We know which brands have been around long enough to have built trust with consumers. And we know which brands may be promising more than they can deliver.
And we aren’t afraid to speak the truth.
Think of us as your friend who is taking you to their favorite shop, walking you around the aisles and explaining the products — including the potential benefits and drawbacks, pricing, quality and trustworthiness — for everything on the shelves.
We won’t recommend a product if we haven’t or wouldn’t try it ourselves. We’ll keep you informed on not only the basics, but what’s trending.
We’ll also throw in some great wellness, health and fun content as well. We won’t ever try to sell you. And we’ll talk to you the way you’d want your trusted friend to talk to you. Ready to join us?