It’s finally here. The end of 2020. A time that almost all of us had doubts that we would never see. With March and April feeling like years away from December, we are finally at the end of 2020.

What a year it was. This was the year that I thought would be my best year. It started out that way. But, turns out, this was the year of major redirection. What felt like challenge after challenge was just part of the growing pains of moving forward to a new direction.

It was the end of my 20’s. I turned the big 3-0 in November. I thought that I would’ve achieved some of the goals I had before that time. But unfortunately, the pandemic happened, and everything changed. It’s funny because we can have all these plans and then life gets in the way. But hey, that’s life!

Ultimately though, maybe the things we thought we wanted, actually were never the things that we needed. Maybe we were destined for more or for something greater than anything we have ever planned. We just always have to trust that no matter what, there is something better for us and that everything ALWAYS works out for the best!

This year was also year 11 of my organic journey. I love my organic passion and I am so dedicated to it. But this year, I have never felt so disconnected from my organic lifestyle. Not shopping at Whole Foods or any grocery stores for 6 months had a major effect.

I of course ordered organic grocery deliveries from Whole Foods and other grocery stores. I bought organic products from there, but it was just not the same. Also, as I had mentioned in previous blogs, I couldn’t consistently receive organic products, or the shopper picked conventional products even when I selected organic. It was a nightmare, but I learned to cope. Desperate times surely do call for desperate measures.

We are living through such uncertain times and a lot of products were unavailable. I had to learn that I couldn’t always get organic products. In times of survival, all that matters is that you are sustaining yourself with good nutrients, not whether something is organic or not. This year, I thoroughly learned how to cope with that and learned to not make myself wrong for not eating organic. It wasn’t that I chose to not eat organic, but it just wasn’t always available. That was a hard lesson to learn, but an important one. It truly opened my eyes to reality.

Also, not attending any organic food shows this year affected me too. The conventions are where I reignite my passion and immerse myself in all things organic. It is where I also learn the food trends for the year and try all of the new products coming to market. After those shows is where I then develop new content for my blogs and social media accounts. So this year I have had to create new ways to come up with content, since going to an organic grocery store or food show was not an option.

Despite all of the hardships that this year brought us, there were still many positives that came from it as well. It is all about perspective and how you look at it. I learned a lot and went through some necessary hard growing pains. In the end, I’m thankful for everything that this year has taught me!

I read a quote by Melody Godfred that said “I thought 2020 would be the year I got everything I wanted, now I know 2020 was the year I appreciate everything I have.” That quote resonated with me and it is so true. That was the the theme of 2020.

I appreciate my family, friends, and everyone in my life. I am thankful for everything I have and everything I have experienced. Thank you to all of you who read my blogs and follow me on my social media accounts. Thank you for inspiring me and for letting me inspire you.

All things considered, 2020 was a significant year and the lessons we gained from it are immensely valuable as we continue to go through life. I refuse to deem this year as the “worst year of my life” because it wasn’t. It was just a different kind of year, where we had to learn how to adjust to a pandemic and make sacrifices for safety. This was the year where the small things significantly mattered.

As this year comes to an end, I hope and pray that you all stay safe and healthy. I hope that you all have a better 2021 filled with new possibilities, goals, and dreams. I pray that this world transforms into a kinder and safer place to live. As our world slowly but surely returns to “normal”, I hope that it changes back to a better and new normal. One where we slow down a bit, where we cherish our loved ones, where we aren’t selfish, and where love is the answer.

I wish you all health, happiness, success, peace, serenity, and a magnitude of organic love in the new year. May this next year be 100 times better than the previous one. Here’s to the end of 2020 and a brighter 2021!!

Happy New Year!!

Love always,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

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      Another year, another Thanksgiving. But why is this Thanksgiving different than any of the other Thanksgivings? Well, most people are still quarantined in their homes, we are living through a global pandemic, people are still hoarding toilet paper, and our typical Thanksgiving feasts are being broadcasted and sponsored by Zoom. What a time to be alive!

This year has taught us all that life is extremely short and all of our plans, goals, and dreams can be taken away quicker than a blink of an eye. As a result, we must always do what we can, when we can. We must also appreciate the people in our lives while we can. If you have the chance to do something, to travel somewhere, to spend time with someone, to call someone, or to express gratitude towards someone, do it while you can. Don’t wait for another time because another time may never come. That is what Covid has shown us. 

We just never know what life has in store for us. It is important to have goals and a plan in place, but we must also be versatile and resilient when things don’t go according to our plans. Life is funny. But in the end, everything always does work out for the best.

With everything this year, like many of you, I put a lot of my goals and plans on hold. I took a lot of time for myself to reevaluate my life. After many months in quarantine, I decided to change some of my goals. I took this year as a total and complete redirection.

Also, with turning 30 just a few weeks ago, I wanted to take action on those new goals and have a fresh new start. I didn’t want to wait for things to happen or let fear dictate my life anymore. The old me would’ve procrastinated and convinced myself why I shouldn’t go after my dreams. Or, it would take me a long time to finally take action. But, Covid put so many things into perspective for me. I no longer will sit around and put what I want to do on the back burner anymore. Life is wayyyyy too short for that!

I know Covid has put a halt on many of the goals and plans we wished to obtain this year. But, this year isn’t a total waste like most of you are saying. There are many opportunities out there and goals we can still go after. We just have to get creative, adjust a little bit, and also stay safe while achieving them.

So with this very unusual and challenging year, there is still so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for my amazing family and friends. I am thankful for all of my readers, followers, and everyone that I have met on this journey. Also, I am so thankful for my organic lifestyle and for sharing my passion with all of you. This is a year to really hold your family, friends, and loved ones tight (within 6 ft distance of course). This is a year to keep in touch with others and make sure everyone knows they are loved, seen, cared for, and heard. Despite quarantine and all the tough times this year, I am so grateful for it all.

Covid has changed almost all of our lives and taught us what matters the most. Life is really about the little things. In the end, all that matters is how much you care, how much you love, how much you inspire, how grateful you are for everything, and the people that are in our lives. 

My heart goes out to everyone who has lost someone this year. It’s hard during the holidays because they remind us of those we have lost. But no matter what, they are forever in our hearts.

As this year is coming to an end, I am thankful for everything I have experienced! With organic thanks, I am also thankful for the new people that came into my life, the new goals that I am working towards, the opportunities that came my way, and this next chapter of turning 30. I am also thankful for the closed doors, as I realize now, it was just a redirection towards a path I am actually meant to go down.

I know it is so easy to feel defeated or mad for this year but when you are grateful through both the good and bad times, it makes a true difference in your life. Everything is a test and you will overcome it. If you choose to find the gratitude and thanks towards all situations, your outlook on life will change.

I wish you all so much love, happiness, health, and blessings! No matter which way you are celebrating, stay safe, and don’t forget to give organic thanks and show gratitude towards the ones who are in your life. Life is beautiful even through all of the hardships. Wishing you all a better last few weeks of 2020.

Happy Thanksgiving!

With organic thanks and love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

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Dear [Insert Name Here], 

     I am writing you this letter to let you know that changing your lifestyle and diet is scary. I know because I have been there. Change in general is frightening. The fear of the unknown will keep you stuck in a situation just for the sake of comfort. Your comfort zone is safe, but change can’t blossom from there. I am here to tell you that once you put on a brave face, get out of your comfort zone, and fight that inner self-doubt, I KNOW that you will succeed. Just imagine how great you will feel to know that you took a chance on changing your lifestyle and seeing positive changes in your life.

     You may be thinking, what will my family and friends think?, how am I going to make this work?, what if I fail and not stick through it? Trust me you will have page loads of reasons not to take a chance on something new. Just know that those are just thoughts and they will always be there. They are meant to keep you in a spot of comfort and fear to inevitably hold you back. Find a way to fight those disempowering thoughts and all of those negative doubts. You are so much stronger than you think and you have the power to fight those thoughts! Whether you are looking to change your diet to an organic, vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, or gluten-free one, just know that YOU CAN DO IT! I have faith in you that you can find a way to make it work, no matter the external or internal noises! It is time to reclaim your power! 

     I just want you to know that I have been in your shoes many times throughout my almost 11-year organic journey. There have been numerous occasions where I have had to think outside the box and move mountains to make my lifestyle work. During the past 11 years, while I was in college, traveling, going out to eat, holiday parties, family gatherings, hanging out with friends, dating, living with roommates/family, I have had to learn how to make this lifestyle work for me. It was a huge challenge. But when you are dedicated enough, you find any reason to make it work for you! You only see the possibilities and not the limitations.

     I have learned how to use my voice and speak up about the lifestyle I live to those around me. I made it apart of me. Instead of just “oh Sara eats organic”, it became “Sara is organic.” Once you decide on which lifestyle you want to start living, make it apart of you. I promise you that people will respect you for it even if they don’t agree with it or live it themselves. And if they don’t, that is on them and not you.  

    At the beginning, many people said such negative, mean, and hurtful comments to me about my organic lifestyle. Granted, organic was not as well known back then as it is now. No matter what, I never let that get me down or stop me from what I was doing. What they said did sometimes hurt, but it was more so annoying and unnecessary. You will run into that too. But don’t let that ever stop you from continuing to live the lifestyle that you choose.

     The reason for all of the outside commentary from family, friends, and people I met was because I was going against their version of the norm. Also, when you decided to make a change in your life, it scares the people around you. Even though they love you and want the best for you, they are afraid that you’ll change. They want you to stay the same version that they have of you in their minds. They are afraid that if you do something new it will change who you are and they will lose the person that they created in their head of who you are. What they don’t know is that they will be gaining a new badass empowered version of yourself in exchange.

     Remember, your lifestyle and diet is such a personal choice and decision. You have to do what is best for you and don’t let anyone deter you from your goals! Your health truly depends on it. Many of you think that you can’t change your eating habits because the other people in your household aren’t on board. For example, if you want to go vegan but your significant other is a meat eater, you might think that they won’t accept that. But I am here to tell you that you CAN make it work!!! It will just take some creativity. And sure, things will change, but they will change for the positive. Who knows, maybe when your friends and family see the changes in you, it will spark a change in them too.

     Also, when you start a new lifestyle and diet, it is inevitable that you are going to make mistakes. You are going to want to quit. You are going to want to return to your old ways. And let me tell you, THAT IS OKAY! It is bound to happen and there is no reason to beat yourself up over it. Just don’t forget to keep moving forward. This is a lifelong journey! Every time you fall down and fail, you are only going to get up that much stronger. Failing leads to victory which then leads you to the path you were always meant to walk down!

     Everyday you will learn something new about yourself. And you will be so happy that you committed yourself to something that is beneficial to you. The biggest investment and commitment you could ever make in your life is to yourself, your health, and your growth. Never sacrifice your health and your goals just to please others. Don’t stop yourself from doing something because others won’t accept you and you want to be accepted. That is truly a disservice to yourself! You don’t need anyone else’s approval! You want to do this because you want to see positive changes in your life, and you must not let anything come in between that!   

     I want you to know that I am proud of you for taking the first step. I am proud of you for taking the chance on something new to improve your health, lifestyle, and diet. Also, I am proud of you for breaking through all of the fear and the self-doubt, which is the hardest to accomplish. And even if you try a new lifestyle, gave it ample time, and it doesn’t work out, just be proud of yourself that you had the courage to take the first step. Most people never try. For that, you should feel gratified! 

No matter what lifestyle change you choose, I wish you all the best on this new journey of yours! You have the power do to anything that you set your mind to! This isn’t going to be easy, but I promise you that it will be worth it! 

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”   

The post An Open Letter To The Person Who Wants To Change Their Lifestyle And Diet appeared first on Sara's Organic Eats.

Hello, my name is Sara, and it has been 142 days since I have entered a Whole Foods Market. Just picture me with a surprised look on my face. My jaw dropped to the ground after I counted how many days have passed since my last trip to Whole Foods. That is unheard of for me. I rarely go a week without shopping at Whole Foods. But due to the pandemic, I have avoided shopping at all grocery stores.

I have tried to limit my exposure in public places and have relied on delivery services. I like ordering my groceries online, but it’s just not the same. For now, with the rising cases in Florida, this is the better option for me. Hopefully, I’ll get back in the store soon because I truly miss it.

Last week, I finally ventured to a local small natural grocery store. Unlike Whole Foods, this store is typically empty and it’s also small, so it was a good test. I was happy to peruse the aisles for new organic products and surround myself with all things organic. But, I still felt very uncomfortable. Even though the store was clean, empty, I was wearing my mask, social distancing, and taking all the necessary precautions for a safe shopping experience, I still felt anxious and full of germs. That confirmed that it is still too soon for me to go to Whole Foods.

Sadly, everyone and every place is viewed as a potential COVID-19 threat. I despise feeling that way because I love being around people, traveling, exploring places, and shopping at grocery stores. This is our current reality and it just takes some time to adjust to this new normal. Little by little, I know I will feel more comfortable shopping at Whole Foods and other large grocery stores.

This has been a challenging time for all of us. Every day is a new day, but it feels like the days are on repeat. Almost like the movie Groundhog Day. Somedays, I forget what day of the week it is. Even though I am keeping busy and staying positive, this pandemic feels like a nightmare you just can’t wake up from.

I took a minor break from writing for about a month. Because of the pandemic, I feel it isn’t right for me to post about organic information and products when several people have lost their homes, their jobs, and don’t know when and what their next meal is going to be. Organic food is unfortunately more expensive and considered a luxury for many people. Most people are looking to survive and not thinking about organic food. I just feel it is very insensitive of me to post about the organic lifestyle during this time for that reason.

However, in the back of my mind, I also have a voice that says, “but why wait to post new information?” All we have is today and this moment. There is no right time, we create the right time. Tomorrow or even later today isn’t promised. I may never know who comes across one of my blogs that needs it. So I am struggling with what the right way and time to post is.

With that said, I do apologize for my lack of sharing or writing. Rest assured, organic food is still my biggest passion! Once things start to calm down, I will continue to post more.

Since there is constant negative news blasted from every angle and especially on social media, I have tried to limit my social media use. I have spent a lot of my time in nature and on things that bring peace, happiness, and serenity to my life. So again, I apologize that I haven’t updated my social media accounts as much as I should.

I just wanted to share openly with all of you and let you know why I haven’t been as active on my blog or social media accounts. None of us really have the answers to what is going on, but we just all have to make the best decisions and take the necessary precautions for ourselves and our families.

Even with this stressful and unfortunate situation, I always look on the positive side. Instead of asking why is this happening, I have asked what is this trying to teach all of us. That has given me the power to get through some of the toughest days. In time, we’ll know. But for now, I am just taking this time to distract myself from the fact that I haven’t gone to Whole Foods in 142 days! I’m just kidding. I’m truly just using this time to focus on my growth, create new goals, and on what truly matters the most in my life.

I hope you are all staying safe !

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

The post The Pandemic Chronicles appeared first on Sara's Organic Eats.

Did we make America organic again? It’s a question I ponder on as I look back on a blog I wrote called “Make America Organic Again” four years ago before the 2016 election. Considering the slogan “Make America Great Again” became huuuuugeee during the campaign, I decided to add “organic” to it and wrote a blog. Because the 2016 election marked an important turning point for America, I felt hopeful that food reform would’ve served as another main focus for any of the candidates that were running. But, it wasn’t. As I look back on writing the other blog, I thought I’d write a follow up one to see if we did make America organic again.

Organic food and accessibility to it significantly changed since 2016. But it did not change because of our current president or political leaders. Organic food changed because “we the people” purchased more organic products. As a result, the demand escalated, and more companies produced organic products.

Since 2016, awareness of organic food grew, and more people wanted to eat organic. Health transformed into a dire necessity. Many people desired to change their eating habits. Therefore, more people educated themselves on organic food and purchased more organic items.

The awareness came from advertisements, social media posts from organic food companies, Whole Foods Market, other natural markets, and influencers in the community. Sadly, our government leaders still rarely talk about food issues and food inequalities in this country. Truthfully, I was hoping that would change within the past 4 years or in the new election coming up, but it hasn’t.

Even though more people are educating themselves on organic food, the majority are oblivious to the issues within our current food industry. Or, they simply do not care enough. Food issues are hardly ever spoken about in the mainstream media. Unfortunately, the education isn’t there or the facts get denied by non believers.

When it comes to organic food, unless someone follows this niche industry, they wouldn’t truly know about it. The majority still views organic food as an expensive sham and food for the prestigious.

Then, in August of 2017, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market. With the acquisition, it caused a lot of mixed opinions. But nevertheless, Amazon expanded Whole Foods Market and lowered the prices on many items. This allowed more access to new consumers. Also, Amazon introduced Whole Foods on Amazon Prime Now, where you can receive grocery deliveries within two hours. If you are a Prime member, when you shop at Whole Foods, they give you an extra discount on top of already discounted items. Many positive changes occurred with the purchase of Whole Foods.

In the past four years, the organic industry skyrocketed. Many new products arose, and more natural stores popped up around the country. In Florida, Lucky’s Market, Earth Fare, and Sprouts opened in different parts of the state. That was a great addition because now it was easier and more affordable to purchase organic products. Even mainstream grocery stores like Publix, Kroger, and Safeway, saw an increase in organic products on the shelves.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2020, both Lucky’s Market and Earth Fare suddenly closed. Even though the demand for organic food heightened, some stores still couldn’t survive against the competition of bigger markets.

So, to answer the question, did we make America organic again? Not fully. Until all of our food is organically produced, and all of the American people are eating organic, we won’t achieve making America organic again. Many people want to eat organic, but they lack the knowledge and financial means to have a full organic diet. It is sad and unfair. We must do better!

Despite it all, in these past four years, the organic industry grew tremendously. It got closer to making America organic again. But, we still have a long way to go. And to reiterate, it had nothing to do with our president and politics. In fact, I am still unaware of our current president or the new candidates stance on food in this country because it is rarely expressed. However, the industry grew because of the consumers and the ambitious producers who wanted to change our food system. This goes to show you that we vote with our dollars. Where we spend our money matters!

We’ve witnessed many organic companies, grocery stores, and products come and go. We’ve seen the several changes within the organic food industry, including Whole Foods. But what keeps on growing is the demand for organic and healthy food. We the people, everyone included, has the right to have access to organic food!

Lucky’s Market had a quote hung up in all of their stores that said, “Good food is a right, not a luxury.” I wholeheartedly stand behind that quote! Regrettably, that hasn’t fully changed since we “Made America Great Again.” Access to organic food significantly increased and prices did decrease. But, it still isn’t at a spot where it is affordable for everyone to have a full organic diet. Until we ALL have the right and access to good, organic, and clean food, will we then have finally made America organic again!

In the meantime, stand up for what you believe in, vote with your dollar, and fight for your right to organic food at affordable prices! Change starts with you first.

In the next 4 years, I will revisit this post and look back on how far we came. I will keep on fighting and advocating for organic food!  Maybe by then, or in my lifetime, I’ll finally manage to answer yes to the question on “did we make American organic again.”

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

*DISCLAIMER: I am not endorsing any of the candidates or current president. All views I expressed in this blog are of my own and my passion for organic food. My hope is to live in a country filled with access to organic food for everyone!

The post Did We Make America Organic Again? appeared first on Sara's Organic Eats.

Two months ago, South Florida went into a quarantine. All of us lacked the knowledge of what we were about to endure. All we could do was prepare in the best way that we knew we could. When they announced that we were going into a lockdown, I literally thought that everything was going to shut down. I thought that grocery stores were going to close for a few weeks and that we would run out of food. Initially, I think that many people had that same thought which caused everyone to panic buy food and other unusual items at the stores.

After the news cleared up what quarantine entailed, luckily, they left the grocery stores and other essential places open. When the news broke out about the lockdown, I had friends and family from all over contact me and tell me to prepare and stay safe. After that, I prepared in the best way a Florida native knows how- via hurricane style. I actually did not panic buy or hoard items, but I did get enough food to last at least a week.

At that time, I went to Whole Foods Market to buy groceries, but the shelves already emptied out of the essential items that I typically purchase.  Honestly, the store was cleared out in more ways than when a hurricane hits Florida. I know I explained this in my other post, but us Floridan’s really only know how to prepare for shutdowns in the way we prepare for hurricanes. It is our second nature and we are so used to that.

I would’ve never thought that trip to Whole Foods would’ve been my last one for these past two months. Whole Foods remained open, but instead of going to the grocery stores, I decided to utilize the grocery delivery services. Even though I miss going to the grocery stores, I thought that delivery was the better option during this time.

These two months have felt emotionally draining, exhausting, isolating, worrisome, and just overall challenging. Sleeping well is non-existent and my dreams are overly vivid and intense. There is an extensive amount of news articles about the virus blasted to us from all different directions at every moment of the day. It’s overwhelming to say the least. We hear and see it through social media, news alerts on our smartphones, the television, or from friends and family. Even if we try to avoid the news, it is almost impossible. We don’t know what to believe with all of the different articles out there. Fear mongering surely takes the winner of the main objective of the news these days.

Many people have lost their lives as a result of the virus. Every day I read another article of someone dying. It breaks my heart for those individuals and their families.  Also, many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and are just struggling. The virus isn’t just costing the lives of the ones infected, but also to the ones that aren’t infected. This time is testing us and pushing us to our limits in ways we never knew possible. Furthermore, the overall theme of these past two months is loss.

Even with all of the loss, death, darkness, and destruction that is so present, there is still so much beauty left in this world. It is so hard to keep up with the ever-fleeting positivity, but I am trying my hardest. Staying home all day can cause stress and wreak havoc on our mental health, but to know we are safe and have this time at home that we will never have again is something to look on the bright side for. Also, sometimes we need to go through loss and dark days to appreciate the light and value in our lives.

On December 31, 2019, I saw the most beautiful rainbow in the Bahamas. I spent New Year’s there with one of my best friends. The rainbow was situated between the darkest of clouds. But even through those dark clouds, the rainbow was full and one of the brightest ones I have ever seen. Seeing that beautiful sight gave me hope for the new year of 2020. Also, it taught me that no matter the darkness, there is always something so bright that will shine through. It was a lesson that I needed at that moment. But it was also a tool I could carry with me through my life and the new year that was about to happen.

I came back from the Bahamas on January 1^st, 2020 with a new perspective and new goals. The beginning of 2020 started out remarkably. I had all of my travel plans booked for the next 3 months. Also, there were many celebrations and monumental moments coming up. New opportunities were happening for me and for once in my twenties, I felt like I was in the right spot and heading in the right direction.

The first week of March came and we were all presented with new obstacles. The virus started to hit the United States at that time, and we were all about to encounter many challenges. I had to cancel travel plans and things started changing rapidly. Life as we knew it stopped in that moment and this silent war of a novel virus ensued.

It’s been two months now since the quarantine began. To say this is a challenging time would be an understatement. We are all dealing with our own adversities through all of this. Most importantly, staying busy, staying connecting with your friends and family, and finding productive activities to occupy your mind are the best ways to get through this time.

Having all of this time on my hands, I have learned so much. I learned that life is just so damn short and the only constant in life is change. Change is hard and terrifying but it’s also necessary for the birth of a new chapter. In a moment, we can lose it all and also lose the ones we love. Our goals can be squashed in a matter of seconds. As a result, we must enjoy every single moment we have and live life to the fullest. We shouldn’t take anything or anyone for granted because you never know what will happen. It’s important to value the people in your life who are always looking out for you, care about you, and support you.

We can either let atrocities brings us down or we can face them head on and keep moving forward. In the strangest of ways this time has been a gift. I have done so many things that I haven’t done in a while. I started writing a lot, creating videos, taking walks every day, riding my bike again, and just spending quality time with my family that I am quarantining with. We were all so focused on work before that we forgot about the simple things that matter the most.

I have a new meaning of what it truly means to be human. When it all comes down to it, if money was non-existent and life didn’t operate from an economic standpoint, what truly matters is how much you love and care, what you do for others, and how you contribute to society. Love is always the answer to everything. Balance is the key to life. Also, health is so important, both physically and mentally. Without our health we have NOTHING, so it is important to take care of yourselves and be proactive about it.

Last week, I saw another rainbow. The sky behind the rainbow was a beautiful pink color. It was another reminder from that day back in December to remember to find the light through all of the darkness and that brighter days are ahead. It also was a reminder to be a light when you can’t find it and to also be one for others.

I know everyone is so eager to get back to how life was before. But, what kind of life was that? People were overworked, greedy, selfish, and uncaring. We were always on the run and rushed through life. Everything was about “how can this benefit me?” Social media took over our lives and real-life social skills and connection disappeared. The majority of relationships turned into “situationships” and catching feelings became a sin. Most people didn’t value others lives and lacked empathy for them. We became emotionally desensitized. People who didn’t show their emotions were deemed strong, while the ones who were more in tune with their feelings were labeled weak. kindness was also mistaken for weakness. The environment on Earth was also suffering greatly.

Do you really want to return to a life like that? 

Of course, not everyone was like that, but what we value in society is all backwards. I really hope that once places start reopening and life begins again, it blossoms into a whole new way of living. Maybe if we were all a bit kinder, friendlier and didn’t put so much value on materialistic objects, this world would be a happier place to inhabit. We don’t have to wait for others to change, we all have the power within ourselves to do it. If we want things to change, we must first start with ourselves.

Even though this situation we are going through is terrible, sometimes it really does take an illness or catastrophe to wake us all up to create a new better world.

As two months have passed and Florida reopened this week, I just hope and pray that things do get better! Only time will tell. It’s been tough not seeing my other family members and friends. I miss them so much! I will never take spending time with them for granted ever again. Hopefully, we will all get to see each other soon!  A hug from them will carry a new meaning.

My heart goes out to those of you have lost a loved one during this tragedy

Thank you to everyone on the frontlines for your bravery and hard work during this time!

After two months in quarantine, I have felt every emotion imaginable, but I am holding onto the hope and faith that this will all end soon so that we can start this new normal. Hopefully, they still have organic food in this new world or maybe it will all be organic! Again, an organic girl can dream. I am praying for better days ahead for all of us and I hope that you all stay safe!

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

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So You Want To Go Organic?

Have you ever felt like your current lifestyle wasn’t working for you anymore? You feel tired all the time, unhealthy, and feel like you’re in a rut? Well maybe it is time for a change! It is a new year and a new decade. Now is your chance to finally do something good for yourself! One of the most common new year’s resolutions is to go on a diet. I don’t believe in the word diet, but I like to call it a lifestyle change.

So, you want to go organic? Organic eating is a return to tradition. It isn’t a new fad or something that is cool or prestigious. However, it is making a comeback into the mainstream and it is a huge buzzword in the media today. There are numerous benefits to having an organic diet. Those include supporting family farms, eating less pesticides, eating foods without added hormones and antibiotics, or eating foods that are not genetically modified. Eating organic is also better for the environment.

Most people want to start eating organic because they don’t want to eat foods with added chemicals or any other unnecessary additives. Also, because organic food is gaining popularity, people are starting to catch on and they are curious. Some may want to start eating this way because they think eating organic is cool (which don’t get me wrong, it totally is!), but really, it is just a return to the way our great grandparents used to eat.  Since eating organic is considered “new”, many people don’t know where to begin, which is where organic Sara, me, comes in. So here are 4 ways to start eating organic.

1. Start shopping for organic food
   • Visit your local grocery store, co-op, organic farm, or natural market i.e Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe’s. Even if you aren’t close to a well known natural market, most grocery stores nowadays carry a wide variety of organic products.
   • Simply buy your favorite products in their organic form. Either the brands you know have organic versions of the products you buy or find a new brand that sells your favorite product that is organically produced.
   • Start small by first buying organic produce, meat, and dairy, and then later incorporate other organic products.
2. Grow your own organic produce
   • Create a garden in your yard using organic soil and organic seeds and follow the organic practices to keep your produce all organic.
3. Research the organic lifestyle
   • Read and research what it takes to start living an organic lifestyle and to learn what it is all about before you begin. Learn how to read labels, learn about the organic standards, and learn what “organic” actually means. The more research you do, the more confidant you will feel.
4. Just do it!
   • Instead of contemplating or finding the right time to change your lifestyle, just do it right now! There is no better time than right now! You don’t have to wait for New Year’s Day, or Monday, or next month. Start NOW!

Once you start eating organic you will be glad that you did. There is something about eating food that is transparent about its ingredients and standards that makes you feel better. And also, organic food does taste better! Trust me, you can totally taste the difference.

When starting a new diet, you will make a lot of mistakes and you will learn what works and what doesn’t. Challenging yourself with a new lifestyle is all about trial and error. It will take awhile to find the balance. Don’t get discouraged or give up too early. You will have good days and you will slip up other days, but it is more than okay! What matters the most is that you found the courage to try something new, even if it isn’t perfect. Trust the process! It took me 10 years to perfect my own organic lifestyle and everyday I am still learning.

I encourage you all to try something new this year. It isn’t just a new year, but it is also a new decade. I started eating organic food and living an organic lifestyle at the end of 2009. It was just right before the 2010 decade started and I have never looked back. I can’t believe I have been living this lifestyle for a whole decade! I stand behind it wholeheartedly and it has changed my life for the better.

We are all unique and have very specific dietary needs. Even though I love the organic lifestyle and I believe in it 100 percent, I will never be the person to say “this is the only way to eat” or put someone down because they aren’t eating this way. I despise when someone does that to me and I will never do that to anyone. But, I will lay out all the facts for you, share my story with you, and I will let you make that decision on your own. Whatever lifestyle you may choose, I hope it brings a positive change for your life!

Happy 2020 everyone!

Love,

Organic Sara, “S.O.Eats”

*Just a side note, you can make the organic lifestyle as healthy or unhealthy as you like. Remember that just because something contains the USDA Organic symbol on the package, it doesn’t mean that it is healthy. Organic does not equal healthy! Organic is the way in which a product is grown and produced. Organic ice cream, cakes, and cookies are still going to deter you from your health goals.

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10 YEARS! What?!?!? Has is really been 10 years since I have lived an organic lifestyle? Wow, time sure flies by. I remember last year sitting at my desk writing about 9 years and now here I am writing about 10. This is mind blowing!

10 years of my short 28 years of life have been lived with organic intentions. I changed my lifestyle 10 years ago, when I was 18, because my health had deteriorated, my stomach issues were at a sky high, and I felt lifeless. I literally felt like a character in the Walking Dead back then. Around that time, I was in and out of doctors. One of them advised me to change my diet to an organic one, so I did. Because of that doctor, I didn’t just receive my joy for life back or an improvement on my health, but I created an entire community and career out of it, and found my biggest passion.

I fell in love with the organic lifestyle 10 years ago. It has been the longest love that I have ever taken a chance on. It’s the love that fell into my lap at the time that I needed it the most. You know, the type of love that you never knew you needed or ever dreamed of, but the one that changes your life forever.

So, what has happened in 10 years?

Well, when I first changed my diet, I was 18 years old. I just graduated high school and started college. I decided to push off going to a university in another city because of my health issues. Instead, I studied at my local community college for the first two years. Once I felt better, I transferred to the University of Central Florida, where my passion for organics fully ignited. After college, I wanted to start my career in the organic field, but I honestly was lost and didn’t know how. Also, living in Florida, there weren’t many organic companies to work for, so it was tough to find a job. But, three months after I graduated, I was able to obtain a job at a famous organic company that many of you know of. For privacy purposes, I will not name the establishment. But, it was a great place to get my foot in the door and surround myself with a ton of organic products. After about a year, striving to advance my career, I decided to resign and embark on another journey.

At the time that I resigned, someone mentioned to me about the Natural Products Expo in California and I decided to attend. The Natural Products Expo is the world’s largest natural and organic convention. That was back in 2014. It was one of the best experiences of my life. It felt like the Disneyland of natural and organic foods, which was funny because Disneyland was literally right next to the convention center in Anaheim. While at the convention, I met a nice woman who put me in contact with an organic company in South Florida. I would’ve never known the company existed if it wasn’t for her. I worked there for a few months, but I still felt empty and unfulfilled. One day at work, something came over me and said, “Sara you need to get out of there and do something else.” It was one of the strongest feelings I had ever felt.

After that feeling, without a question in my mind, I immedietaly resigned. However, I unknowingly knew what that something else was going to be. Well, after a few weeks, I remembered that one of my friends in college once told to me that I should start a blog. Back then, I didn’t have the time. So, I decided to finally give it a shot. As I always say, “What the hell do you have to lose.” For 5 months, I took classes all around the United States to learn how to create a blog and touch up on my video editing and Photoshop skills. In addition, I also took some cooking classes. It was almost like I went back to school without actually going back to school. I was finally doing what I set out to do.

So, after taking all of those classes, in January 2015, I registered Sara’s Organic Eats and opened up my website. It took me 6 months to create and design the blog. I worked on it all by myself with some minor help from a few angels. I kept what I was working on a secret from so many of my friends and family until the blog was where I wanted it to be. And ever since then, I have been working on building this blog and creating a platform in the organic community.

In the past 10 years, I have traveled all over the United States and to many other countries, seeking out organic products, natural/organic grocery stores, restaurants, juice bars, dessert bars, and anything pertaining to organics. I am always on the hunt to find the coolest organic products from different countries and different parts of the United States. That is my greatest joy!

I also created an awesome Jeep, which I named the Organic Response Vehicle, to create a conversation about organics wherever I went. Although I no longer have this Jeep, I still spread the awareness wherever I go.

One of my missions is to visit all of the Whole Foods Market stores. Out of the 500 Whole Foods Market locations, I have visited at least 200 of them. I am unaware of how that desire started, but I am determined to achieve that goal. You can totally call me a Whole Foods Market nerd!

From 10 years ago until now, I have witnessed a vast growth within the organic community. I remember when stores didn’t carry as many organic products. But now, organics are everywhere! Through the years, labels have changed, products have improved, many have disparaged, and new ones have sprouted. Trends have changed drastically throughout the years as well. Whole Foods Market has expanded rapidly in 10 years and since their purchase by Amazon, their prices have decreased.

When I first started eating organic, there weren’t nearly as many options as there are now. Even with the limited amount of options back in 2009, I was able to make the lifestyle work. When you are committed to something and want to succeed in it, you won’t ever see the downfalls or setbacks, only the opportunities and possibilities.

Since I was a child, I was incredibly shy, and I never thought I had a voice that could inspire others. That disempowering story I created in my mind, I carried with me throughout my life. I thought that because I was only one person, or that I didn’t have a big platform, that I couldn’t inspire others through my passion. Since my late teens and into my twenties, I have worked so hard to let go of that limiting belief.

At the beginning of starting this blog, I had the hardest time telling others that I was an organic food blogger because of my fears. But, I then had to dig deep to a place of pure vulnerability to truly write authentically and feel confidant in what I was creating. Since this blog is so personal and meaningful to me, I wanted to share from a place that is real, raw, and organic and without anything holding me back. To accomplish that, I had to tear down all of my walls, let go of my fears, and overcome my shyness. As a result, this blog has opened me up as a person, made me a better writer, and has helped me create the best version of myself that I had so longingly strived for.

And, here I am, 10 years into this organic lifestyle, and almost 5 years into blogging, doing what my fear told me I shouldn’t. I am no longer afraid to tell others that I am an organic food blogger. Trust me I had every doubt, fear, negative thought, excuse, and reason to give up before I got started creating this blog and also a couple times during. But, I am proof that taking action and doing things that scare you the most, bring you to the biggest victories and next levels of your life. Even if I don’t have one million followers, if I make a difference in just one person’s life, I feel like I have succeeded! Countless times I considered giving up, but every time that thought came up, an angel came around that told me to keep going or they gave me an opportunity. Also, hearing “because of you Sara, I started buying more organic products, or I started eating more organic food,” or whatever else it may be, gives me the ammunition to carry on.

I can’t say it enough how much this organic lifestyle has changed me, has inspired me, has helped me, has challenged me, and has made me into the person I am today. I never thought at 18 years old, during such a challenging time, that I would’ve found my biggest passion in life. I also would’ve never thought that I would be doing what I am doing at 28 almost 29 years old. 10 years is a long time, but it has been the best 10 years of my life! I would never change this for the world.

I hope to continue living an organic lifestyle for as long as I live. I can’t wait to see what the future of the organic industry looks like in another 10 years. Who knows, maybe we all will live an organic lifestyle by then because everything will be organic? (A girl can dream right?)

Lastly, don’t ever be afraid to go out there and live your dreams. Even when they seem so far out of your reach and you don’t know what you’re doing, do it anyway! You will learn along the way and meet the right people that will help get you to the next level. Once you declare to everyone around you that this is your dream and this is what you want to do, I promise you, your pathway to success and the right destination will come along. Share your passion, share your dreams, and watch them come true. You deserve to live a fulfilled life!!  Once you have a dream and a passion, pursue it, and DON’T EVER GIVE UP!!

Take that advice from a once shy girl with many fears, who unlike her peers took a very different route after college. I took a big chance and a major leap of faith on something that was not secure and not what I studied. I wanted to do this because it is my biggest passion and I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I wanted to once and for all find my voice that I never thought I had to inspire others. With hard work and perseverance, I can proudly say I created that! Trust me, you will be rewarded in more ways than you could possibly ever think of! And, you never know where that path will lead. If I can do it, so can you!

“Life is a journey, it’s not about where you end up, but it’s about how you got there.”-unknown

Most importantly, with my whole heart, I want to thank every single person that I have met on my 10-year organic journey. I want to give an enormous thank you to my family for their unconditional support in many ways throughout this endeavor. I appreciate them attending conventions and events with me, accompanying me to organic establishments, enduring long trips to Whole Foods Market and other organic markets with me, cooking organic food for me or with me, letting me cook organic food for them, and for always having organic options at holiday parties at their homes for me. Thank you to my friends, roommates, colleagues, new friends, and others, for also supporting me in many of those same ways.

I want to thank those of you who have opened doors for me in this industry by giving me an opportunity to work for you and with you. Every single person that I have met in these past 10 years has inspired me and made me a better person and I am truly grateful. I have learned so much from peers and leaders in the industry. Because of the organic lifestyle, it has led me to so many great paths and amazing people that I would’ve never imagined could be possible.

Lastly, I want to thank you again for letting me share my passion with you, for reading my blogs, following me on social media, and listening to me share about it in person! Even with what I wrote here in this blog post, words can’t fully express how I am feeling inside and how blessed I am for this journey. I will continue to share my organic passion, live my organic dreams, and keep on growing! There’s so many possibilities in this world, I’m ready for what’s to come next! Cheers to 10 years of being Organic AF and many many many more!

Love,

Sara, the most passionate, loving, organic girl that you will ever meet.”S.O.Eats”

*I apologize if my blog was a little long. 10 years is a long time to commit to something and words just kept on flowing.

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How to be a New Age Hippie 

Have you ever wanted to learn how to be a new age hippie? Well first, what is a hippie?

Hippie (n): a person, typically young, especially in the late 1960s and early 1970s, who believed in peace, was opposed to many of the accepted ideas about how to live, had long hair, and often lived in groups.

Back in the 60’s, hippies were all about free love and creating peace. They were against war. They refused to accept the conventional society. Hippies were rebels in their own right. They walked around with flowers in their hair, dreadlocks, boho type clothing, or barely any clothing. They ate an organic, natural, and mainly vegan or vegetarian diet. The ones who started the revolution of big organic food companies and grocery chains that we know today were hippies.

Fast forward to the 21^st century and today we have modern day hippies. Some of us might think that a new age hippie is considered a hipster but hipsters and hippies are very different. You can be a new age hippie without calling yourself a hipster. True hipsters don’t even label themselves as hipsters, they just live it. On the contrary, according to history, hippies loved being defined as hippies.

You may not find people wearing flowers in their hair, bell bottom jeans, and peace signs all over their necks like they did in the 60’s but you can still follow their same ways.

Here are 20 ways on how to be a new age hippie

1. Eat a vegan, raw, or an organic diet
2. Spread peace and love wherever you go
3. Spend time in nature as much as possible
4. Lead a spiritual life
5. Do yoga
6. Attend drum circles
7. Grow your own food
8. Drink Kombucha or make your own
9. Have a wanderlust spirit and always find ways to travel
10. Meditate
11. Have a “go with the flow” spirit
12. Live a green life
13. Talk about your chakras
14. Carry around crystals and stones
15. Dress like a bohemian, wear flowers in your hair, or have dreadlocks
16. Attend a music festival
17. Live in the woods or somewhere in nature far away from people
18. Walk barefoot
19. Attend a protest and stand up for what you believe in
20. Wear less makeup or keep a natural look

Now I know that most of those ways sound like what the original hippies used to do. But, to this day, you can still follow that same pathway if you want to be a new age hippie. You don’t have to wear the same fashion like they did back in the 60’s or 70’s but you can follow their same practices and ideals.

And remember, hippies never followed others and they wanted to forge their own paths. So in true hippie fashion, you can be whoever you choose to be, live however you want to live, and create anything you want for your life.

When it all comes down to it, all hippies wanted was to love others, live spiritually, save the world, find a new meaning for their life, live peacefully, and live freely without conforming to the conventional ideals of society. Love and peace was their motive for everything.

I find hippies to be super cool and so easy going. I love talking to them because they are always so passionate about saving the world and making the world a better place. Also, they always talk about love and peace which is comforting. They truly care about everyone and everything. They are very approachable people to talk to and wise beyond their years.

Our modern society is filled with so many materialistic objects. We are more in tuned to loving things than we are to loving other people or animals. Hippies want nothing more than to live in a loving society, listen to good music, find passion in everything, and love everyone and everything. There is no room for hate in a hippies life. If we all just got in touch with our inner hippies, maybe we would live in a more loving world.

As a true hippie would say, “Love more and hate less.”

“Don’t worry, be hippie.”

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

*Just because I listed ways on how to be a new age hippie, it doesn’t mean you have to follow any of these ways to label yourself as a hippie. You can label yourself in any way you like. If you want to label yourself a hippie and you don’t follow any of those ways then go right ahead. Don’t let anyone label you or tell you who or what you are and how to live. You are the only person that has the power to define your own life. 

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My other biggest passion in life is hospitality. It happens to also be what my college degree is in. What I love the most about hospitality is the essence of its meaning. To most people, hospitality means travel and tourism. But to me, it goes way beyond that. Hospitality to me is about giving high quality service and connecting with people.

For starters, my family is in the hospitality business. I actually did not grow up in the industry or was born into it. But, when I was 12 years old, my grandparents acquired a small 40-room hotel in Hollywood, Florida. They were in the real estate business at the time and they wanted to purchase these two apartment buildings. But, the only way that they could buy the apartment buildings was that they had to also buy the hotel that was in the middle of them. They never even thought of going into the hospitality business but that was the deal. Ever since then, I fell in love with hospitality.

At 13 years old, I loved going behind the front desk and helping the front desk agents check in guests. At that age, it was so much fun spending time at the hotel. When I was 16 and my grandparents acquired more hotels, I started to officially work at the one located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Although I never worked at the front desk, my older sister and I would run the gift shop together on the weekends.

When I was in high school, I thought about what I wanted to study in college. There was no question or doubt in my mind that I wanted to study hospitality management. I never once changed my mind.

After my graduation from high school, I went to my local community college to obtain an Associate in Arts degree. While in school, I worked as a server at the sports bar that was located inside of my grandparent’s hotel. At the restaurant, I learned so much about the hospitality industry and how to essentially “serve” others.

Then, two years later, I transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to finish and obtain my Bachelor’s of Science in hospitality. In my last year of college, I had a change of heart. My organic passion grew strong and I just knew I had to be in the organic industry somehow. I wanted to change to a nutrition degree, but unfortunately, UCF didn’t offer one. I was so close to finishing, so I just stuck it out.

Even to this day, I do not regret my hospitality management degree. My parents sometimes still ask me why I didn’t study something other than hospitality. Sometimes I wonder too. But, I try not to dwell on it too much because if I never studied hospitality, I honestly don’t know where my life would be at right now. I am so happy with everything that has led me to this moment. I am so grateful for what my degree taught me and also for the friends that I made. Because of that, I don’t regret it for a second. I learned some hard life lessons that I don’t think I would’ve experienced if I had taken a different path.

Above all, the best part of hospitality has been the people that I have met along the way. I couldn’t be more blessed with the people that I have met on my travels, at college, at various conventions, sat next to on airplanes, worked with in different parts of the world, took classes with, shared stories with, and gone on adventures with. Thank you to those of you that I have crossed paths with for touching my life in some way and for teaching me something. I will never forget those moments and those people. One of the biggest reasons why I love the hospitality industry and traveling so much is because of the people, even the difficult ones.

My dream has always been to connect my organic passion with my hospitality background in some way. I can say that I am living that right now because I am still working in the hospitality industry and I am also working in the organic industry. I’m still finding and creating ways to fully integrate the two instead of separating those passions. I know I will get there one day. But for now, I am so happy to work in both industries.

I strongly believe that everyone should work in some area of hospitality in his or her life. It gives you the tools and skills needed to succeed in life. Whether you are working in hospitality because you have to or because you love it, I have a lot of respect for you. It is truly hard work and long hours. Anyone can work in the hospitality industry. But, it takes a special kind of person to encompass hospitality in such a way that you leave feeling much better about yourself than you did when you walked into a hospitality establishment because of that person. “Hospitality is when someone feels at home in your presence.”

Organic hospitality is so much more to me than just traveling, or working in a hotel or restaurant. Organic hospitality is the true essence of what the word hospitality means to me. I love helping people. I love connecting with people. I love giving people outstanding service and going out of my way. True organic hospitality is so rare to find nowadays.

The hospitality industry has taught me how to deal with all kinds of people. It has taught me how to have more compassion and patience for people. It has allowed me to learn about many different types of cultures and it has broadened my horizons. Working in the hospitality industry has immensely helped me come out of my shell and eliminate my shyness. Trust me, you cannot succeed in the hospitality industry when you are shy. I learned how to give true and high quality service. I also learned how to go out of my way for others and to always find ways to say yes.

The organic life and the hospitality life have changed me in so many ways that I don’t even know where to begin. Both of them are equally as important to me as they have both shaped me in some way.  The hospitality life has provided me with so much knowledge and experiences that I will treasure forever. As Albert Einstein stated, “Only a life lived to the service of others is worth living.” I truly agree with that statement and I set out to be that person and always give true organic hospitality wherever I go. Lastly, no matter what I do or wherever life takes me, hospitality will always be a part of me!!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Ghandi 

Love, the most passionate organic hospitality girl,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”

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