Old McDonald Had a Farm…

By Jonathan Aluzas

…and, chances are, his farm is coming to a neighborhood near you!  Look, if you want to know a simple step that you can take toward living a healthy lifestyle, here it is:

Visit your local Farmer’s Market.

My wife and I recently began shopping at the local Farmer’s Market on Sundays in our neighborhood, and I have become a true believer.  Farmer’s Markets are fantastic.

• We’ve been getting unbelievably delicious, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables.  They may not be certified “organic,” but that’s mostly because there’s a cost involved in having them labeled as such.  The important things are that they’re pesticide-free and grown using sustainable farming practices that are earth friendly.  But, trust me, the key issue here is that this stuff is delicious.
• Everything is locally grown, which supports local economies and reduces pollution that results from long-distance shipping.
• We’ve also gotten eggs from grass-fed chickens and responsibly harvested wild fish, both of which were really good.  Also available: nuts, meats, breads, clothing and lots more.
• On the downside, the produce is more expensive than the grocery, but you get what you pay for.

If you decide you want to try out your local Farmer’s Markets, here are a few suggestions:

• Bring a rolling cart or at least some re-usable shopping bags so that you don’t break your back trying to haul around your bounty.
• Bring cash; small bills work well.
• Come early to get the best stuff.
• Make a loop around the entire place and size each booth up before buying anything.  Get a feel for the inventory and vendors on the first round and then buy on the second when you’re informed.
• Bring the kids.  There are usually carnival-like snacks to be had and they might even enjoy getting to pick out some of the food.
• Don’t go crazy!  The temptation is to buy some of everything that looks good.  The problem is that it will end up fermenting on the counter if you’re not careful.  Just buy small amounts at first and get a feel for what you like and how quickly you can consume it before it goes bad.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, as I do, here’s a link to the market I go to:

http://pdmarkets.com/site/markets.html

If you live outside of this area, here’s another helpful link:

www.eatwellguide.com

Jonathan Aluzas is the owner of Arena Fitness, a personal training and fitness training facility in Encino, California.

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