It was 6 p.m. My mom and I had just landed after a 12-hour flight. Exhausted, we were grateful to find a little kitchenette in our hotel room—just enough to heat something up and call it dinner. That night was perfect for a hot shower, something simple to eat, and a good night's sleep before heading to the beach the next morning.

I actually love visiting grocery stores when I travel. I think food says a lot about a place. In the U.S., grocery stores feel like mini cities—you can find lipstick, garden tools, socks, a bag of Doritos, and an apple all under the same roof. It’s bright, spotless, and colorful. Everything screams, “Buy me! I’m good for you!” High in fiber, packed with probiotics, loaded with protein and vitamins. But when you flip the label… It’s mostly sugar.

That night, too tired to think, I grabbed some smoked salmon and a few pre-washed veggies to throw together a quick salad. The salmon packaging was shiny and loud: High Omega-3! Wild-Caught! Alaska! Sold.

My salad? Meh. But hey, better than fast food, right?

The next morning, as I was taking out the trash, the salmon wrapper slipped from the bag. Almost like a sign. I looked closer. And there it was: artificial coloring, added sugar, and a list of preservatives I couldn’t pronounce. I didn’t feel guilty; I felt tricked. Marketing wins again. Legal? Maybe. Honest? Not even close.

Let Me Introduce Myself

But wait—hi! Let me introduce myself before I get too worked up.

My name is Morena Vicente, and I’m from Argentina. I studied Journalism and Marketing, and somewhere along the way, I became a wellness nerd. I’ve always been curious about health, not just the surface stuff, but the why behind how we feel.

When I started working at Dr. K’s office, I felt an instant connection with her purpose. Her warmth, her vision, and her deep respect and knowledge for women’s bodies. Those things aren’t easy to find in healthcare, really.

Like many women, I spent years bouncing between diagnoses. PCOS, IBS, low mood and energy. Pills like band-aids. Dismissive doctors and the classic “It’s all in your head” phrase.

But I knew there had to be more. And slowly, through lots of research (and some stubbornness), I found my way to functional medicine. A root-cause approach. A reminder that we’re not broken—we’re just disconnected from what our bodies actually need.

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to stop listening to the outside noise and remember—you already have the tools to heal. Navigate Wellness is that space where functional medicine and science meet empathy, mindset shifts, and real human care.

The Matryoshka Doll of Food

Not to kill the vibe—but shall we go back to the grocery store for a second?

Because there was something else that caught my eye: the packaging. Or, more accurately, the packaging inside the packaging inside another layer of packaging.

Why so much plastic?! It felt like I was buying a matryoshka doll of food.

Beyond being a ticking time bomb for the environment, this plastic overload has a more personal impact, especially for women. Many of the plastics used in food packaging contain chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS, which are known endocrine disruptors. That means they interfere with our hormonal systems, mimicking or blocking natural hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

These aren't just buzzwords. Microplastics and hormone-disrupting chemicals have been linked to:

Irregular menstrual cycles
Fertility struggles and ovarian dysfunction
PCOS-like symptoms in animal models
Early menopause and endometriosis
Placental and breast milk contamination
Increased inflammation and oxidative stress

And the worst part? These chemicals can leach into your food without you ever knowing, especially when heated or stored for long periods.

What You Can Do About It

But here’s the good news: you can do something about it.

By choosing food that’s minimally packaged, using glass or stainless steel instead of plastic at home, and filling your plate with colorful, antioxidant-rich produce, you help protect your hormones and your long-term health. Even small changes, like not microwaving food in plastic containers or switching to clean personal care products, make a real difference over time.

The food industry has taught us to prioritize convenience. But your health is worth a second look. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to start noticing.

And once you do, it’s hard to unsee.

“But everything is in plastic—how do I even avoid it?”
I hear you. It’s true. And it can feel overwhelming at first. But here are a few simple switches you can try:

Choose loose fruits and vegetables
Buy grains, legumes, and nuts in bulk
Look for glass jars instead of plastic tubs
Visit local farmers' markets

Bring your own reusable bags and produce bags.

Even swapping out one item per week makes a difference.

“But… what about food safety? Doesn’t plastic keep food clean?”

That’s what the industry wants us to believe. I promise, cleanliness doesn’t come from layers of plastic, it comes from the quality of the food, how it’s handled, and how we store it at home. Many organic brands offer safer packaging options without the hormone-disrupting side effects.

And real food? Doesn’t need to be shrink-wrapped in neon to be safe.

Where Did the Flavor Go?

This leads me to another major thing I noticed.

What’s wrong with the taste of meat? Plain chicken, turkey—even plain beef—all felt flat. No real flavor unless it had added colorings or flavor enhancers (hello, most of the options out there!), something I choose to avoid. The “plain” cuts didn’t even smell like meat when I was cooking them. I love spices, trust me, but it just wasn’t the same.

In Argentina, that’s different. We have 99 problems, but meat ain’t one.

Our country has a deep agricultural and livestock tradition, and people from all over the world travel to Buenos Aires to experience our famous asado. But—let’s be real—not everything is perfect. Even back home, the percentage of pasture-raised cattle has started to decline in recent years, so I really hope we can keep that part of our food culture alive.

Supply and Demand = Power

But here’s the thing: it all comes down to supply and demand. As informed, mindful consumers, we have more power than we think. Every purchase is a vote. And when we consistently choose quality over convenience, companies eventually shift. Because at the end of the day, what matters to them… is what sells.

Flavor, Preservatives, and Meat That Wears Makeup

Now, circling back to flavor, Argentinian meat has that je ne sais quoi that’s hard to explain but so easy to recognize. It’s satisfying. Nourishing. Real.

In the U.S., most cattle are raised in confined feedlots, fed grain-heavy diets, and injected with growth enhancers. To make the meat look “fresh,” they often use color enhancers like sodium nitrite—so it looks juicy and pink, even if it’s not. Add a few preservatives for shelf stability, and it starts to make sense. The flavor isn’t missing by accident—it’s been replaced.

Some of those additives have raised real health concerns. But more on that another time.

When Meat Tastes... Empty

If your chicken tastes like nothing unless it’s drowning in sauce, you’re not crazy. Highly processed, grain-fed meat raised in confinement often lacks depth, flavor, and nutrient density.

Here’s what can help:

Choose pasture-raised or grass-finished meat when possible. It often has better fat profiles (including more CLA and iron) and tastes more like, well, meat.
Skip the sterile cuts. Go for bone-in, skin-on, or organ meats occasionally. More flavor. More nutrients.
Ask where it came from. Local butchers or farmers’ markets usually offer more transparency and less chemical tampering.

Kardashians of the Produce Aisle

So while American meat might look plumper, juicier, or more “perfect,” the reality is far more engineered than we’re led to believe.

The same goes for fruits and vegetables. I mean, have you seen them? They’re flawless. Like, suspiciously flawless.

Walking through a U.S. produce aisle sometimes feels like scrolling past the Kardashians on Instagram. No bruises, no dents, no signs of, well, real life. Do filler and Botox exist for zucchinis? Kidding. (Sort of.)

While it might seem like a win, this level of perfection comes at a cost. Most supermarket produce in the U.S. is bred, stored, and displayed for looks. Uniformity and bright color sell—but taste, texture, and nutrient density are often sacrificed.

Back home in Argentina, a tomato might be lopsided or carry a tiny scar, but when you bite into it, it’s juicy, a little tangy, and slightly sweet. That’s the kind of food our palate recognizes. The kind that actually sends signals to our brain like, “Hey—there are real nutrients here.”

The Truth About “Ugly” Produce

Here’s the wild part: research shows that fruits and vegetables grown for cosmetic perfection often lack genetic diversity and can lose flavor and antioxidants.

All those “flaws” we avoid? Slight blemishes, shape differences, or discoloration? They’re not signs of poor quality. They’re natural. A little sun, some wind, a hailstorm. That’s real food.

Decades of marketing have conditioned us to believe that perfect-looking food is better. It’s not. And that belief drives food waste, disconnects us from our food, and hurts our health.

So next time you see a carrot with two legs or an apple with a freckle—choose it.

When Produce is Suspiciously Pretty

Nature’s not perfect. And that’s a good thing. The overly symmetrical, glossy produce in stores often sacrifices flavor and nutrition for shelf appeal. It’s the produce version of pretty privilege, great lighting, zero substance, and somehow always picked first.

Lean into this instead:

Pick the “ugly” ones. A scarred pear or crooked zucchini is still nutritious—and often grown with fewer chemicals.
Buy in season. It supports your local ecosystem and ensures higher antioxidant content (fresh = better).
Diversify your cart. Heirloom varieties or non-standard colors usually mean more phytonutrients.

A Bright Spot! Special Diets Welcome

But hey! There are some positive aspects too.

On the bright side, U.S. supermarkets are surprisingly ahead when it comes to catering to food intolerances and digestive needs.

For people managing lactose intolerance, digestive disorders, or FODMAP sensitivities, the variety is impressive: lactose-free milks, plant-based options, and a wide range of gluten-free products for anyone navigating celiac disease or fructan sensitivity.

Of course, you still have to read the labels (marketing doesn’t take a day off), but once you learn what to look for, you can actually find products that support your body instead of working against it.

That level of accessibility? Still rare in many other parts of the world.

In Argentina—and across much of Latin America—those shelves barely exist. Celiac, for example, was only officially recognized as a serious health concern relatively recently, which meant that for a long time, people had no choice but to adapt their diets quietly, cook everything from scratch, or simply go without.

Making the Aisles Work for You:

Reading past the label. “Gluten-free” doesn’t always mean gut-friendly. Avoid emulsifiers, gums, and hidden sugars.
Finding your go-tos. Once you spot clean, nourishing products your body loves, keep a short list.
Using your dollar as a vote. Brands that care respond to consistent, informed demand.

Final Verdict

So yes, it’s complicated. The U.S. food system isn’t perfect. Packaging and marketing still mislead. But it does reflect a shift: consumers are demanding transparency, and supermarkets are responding.

When you learn to read labels—and I mean really read them—you can turn this abundance into real nourishment.

And that’s a win worth celebrating.

The Packaged Salmon That Lied (And What It Taught Me About Health in the US)