Healthy
Shopping in a
Janet Fletcher's
book, Fresh
From the Farmers' Market, from which
the points below were taken,
gives lots
of tips on how farmers' markets offer so much to shoppers, farmers and
the community.
If you're a long-time fan of farmers' markets, you already know how to shop with us, so share this with a friend . . .
1. Browse the entire
market before you buy.
The way to get the best value
for your dollars is also the way to get the most exercise. When you stroll
the entire market first, you get a chance to compare prices as you taste
and sample the produce from many stalls. Going around again to make your
purchases gives you twice the exercise. This is a double benefit: fiscal
and physical fitness in one convenient stop!
2. Talk with the
farmers and their employees.
Find out which tomatoes are best
for sauce, or which oranges are best for fruit salad, and why.
Some farmers (or your fellow
shoppers) will also share recipes and cooking advice. If you're a backyard
gardener, you might even ask for a few tips on growing your own produce;
most farmers know that gardeners make better farmers' market shoppers,
because they appreciate the work and love that goes into growing wonderful
produce. This is a great way to relax and lower your stress level while
learning something: another double benefit.
3. Don't bring a
complete shopping list.
Make a list of items you need,
but be flexible and be prepared to be delighted by finding what's especially
good that day. Plan your meals around the best produce, and you'll gradually
begin to eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables. The more you shop,
the more conscious you'll become of cooking with the seasons, to purchase
fruits and vegetables at their peak of flavor. You'll eventually regain
your sense of seasonality that's lost when shopping in supermarkets that
carry all foods year-round, because various items are imported from literally
the world over. Eating more produce and fresher produce is another double
benefit: your meals will taste better and also be more nourishing, because
farmers' market produce hasn't sat in storage losing nutrients before you
even buy it.
4. Bring canvas
bags or wide market baskets.
If you're shopping with children,
bring a cart or wagon. Having a convenient way to carry your produce helps
you avoid crushing the delicate items, and it's easier on your back. If
you don't bring bags or containers that are easy to carry, you can always
make multiple trips back and forth to your vehicle, which adds more exercise
to your shopping experience. You're planning for the double benefit of
convenience and safe, healthy exercise.
5. Try not to overbuy.
Ah, the temptations of scrumptious
produce! Just remember; the more items you buy, the less you should buy
of each item. It sounds so obvious, but you can easily get home with more
produce than you can reasonably store or eat in a week. And you do want
to return the following week to see what's good, don't you? Buying just
enough saves you money, and helps you avoid wasting food that your friendly
farmers have worked so hard to grow and harvest.
6. Bring your children
to the farmers' market.
Decide together which fruits
and vegetables to buy, and plan meals your kids will eat! Never underestimate
the lure of samples offered by someone other than parents: your children
will taste things they'd normally never try. Once they try it, they might
even like it. Talking with the farmers will also help your children learn
where food comes from, and how it grows. Your kids will get the double
value of educated minds and educated palates.
7. Shop early for
the best selection.
The early bird gets the worm,
as well as the choicest cherries and the loveliest lettuce . . . sleepy
slugs just get lazy and fat. Shopping early gets you the cream of the crop,
and it also healthfully jump-starts your day.
8. Go immediately
home to store your food.
If you can't go straight home
from the market, bring a cooler to protect your investment. You get a wider
array of produce in farmers' markets, including heirloom varieties; most
items are not genetically engineered for long travel or storage. Taking
everything home as soon as possible avoids wilting and nutrient loss, and
it gives you the chance to get cooking while your inspiration level is
still high!
HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY YOU .
. .
It naturally starts with healthy
shopping! Enjoy healthy shopping year-round in the Harbor Area Farmers
Markets. See you there!
Back to the Top
The handy navigation
bar is courtesy of http://www.milonic.co.uk/menu