With new information and investigations consistently popping up about what is in our food, students should look to eating locally grown food to avoid some of the worries store-bought food may bring.

Documentaries like Food Inc., 2008, directed by Robert Kenner, and Modern Meat, 2002, directed by Doug Hamilton show the controversial aspects of the food and farming industry like chemicals and hormones being pumped into much of what can be bought in stores. Buying food locally not only gives students an exact idea of where their food comes from, but it also supports the community.

Students as well as all community members have the chance to buy locally grown, fresh, eco-friendly food, but this opportunity needs to be taken by more people. Some may say they have no idea where to go, but the resources are all online. Eatlocaldekalb.org offers a lot of help to those looking to change their eating habits into something more sustainable.

This online site offers a list of events, including both the DeKalb and Sycamore farmer’s markets, and provides contact information for all the businesses in the area that use local foods. The site also has a map of every family farm from DeKalb to Chicago that is willing to let individuals come out and buy food directly from the farm.

Many of these farms require patrons contact the owner before stopping by, but all the farm’s information can be found by simply clicking on the icon that represents what the farm grows.

When people buy local, they’re not only providing themselves with great nutrition they know hasn’t been chemically altered and produced, they are also financially and morally supporting the regional economy. Along with supporting local families, buying locally grown food encourages sustainable farm practices, according to eatlocaldekalb.org.

When given the chance, community members should buy the freshly plucked apples from their neighbor instead of fruit that has been preserved and imported from who knows where.

It would be impressive if more and more people bought local food and eventually all mass-produced animal farms shut down or were forced to practice better farming. Numerous time lapse videos found on Youtube show it could take weeks for McDonald’s food to start showing any sign of decay.

There are also videos of molten copper being poured on a Big Mac without leaving much damage. In 2013, a man was featured on ABC news for having saved a Mcdonald’s burger for 14 years after he bought it. David Whipple, owner of the hamburger, has even created and dedicated a blog to the burger, oldesthamburger.blogspot.com, and believes it belongs in the Smithsonian.

Maybe one day the McDonald’s down the street will serve fresh, local meat instead of serving beef that has been known to not decay.

Visit eatlocaldekalb.org for more information about locally grown food or try to catch the DeKalb farmers market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays at 164 E. Lincoln Highway. Eating local food is only another way to feel healthier, while supporting local families and promoting sustainable living.