Farmers Market 101

 

What Does $13 at the Farmers Market Get You?

A whole lot, actually.

As the summer rapidly comes to a close, there’s a ton of reasons to shed a tear. White dresses, beach trips, summer fridays at work and my favorite, cheap seasonal fruits and vegetables…all soon a distant memory.

Walking into a farmers market can definitely be overwhelming. Not only must you ride out the current of the swarming crowd, but you also must locate the best quality and the most competitive prices. Here’s a few tips to help you navigate these waters and ensure you have an amazing first experience.

1. Take your Time: Don’t have any reason to be in a rush. You’ll want to set time aside in your day to enjoy the scene.
2. Go Green: All vendors will offer you plastic bags to tote your goods around. Bring a reusable bag to save the plastic. Plus, they can be totally chic! To showcase your personality in a bag, I recommend Baggu. 
3. Come Baring Cash: $20 can get you a lot and it also is fun setting a monetary limitation of what you can get with such a small amount. I recommend bringing $5 bills since you’ll be makings numerous purchases from various vendors
4. Take a Lap: When you arrive, get familiar with the landscape. Before grabbing the first bunch of kale you see, explore the whole scene to find the best and fresh deals
5. Spread the Love: Farmers markets are very competitive with pricing so while that vendor is selling those tomatoes are an unbeatable price, I bet those avocados are a whole dollar less at another stand.

6. Mix and Match: You see a sign for six lemons for $1, but only need three for the week? Only pay 50 cents instead, or spend the rest of the dollar buying some limes for those tequila shots you’ll be shooting back next Friday.

7. Show Up Late: Vendors will start slashing prices towards the end of the day to try to get rid of produce before packing up. Make your trip later in the afternoon to snatch those deals.

8. Invest in a Fruit and Vegetable Wash: The food you’ll be buying is fresh. So fresh, the carrots won’t be peeled and those beets will be covered in Mother Nature’s makeup (dirt). Fill a big bin with water and the wash solution before consumption. Yes, maybe a bit more time consuming, but completely worth it…and you’ve already done #1, so what’s the rush?

 

 

Basil Strawberry Watermelon

Today’s smoothie ingredients:

• 1.5 (12 oz.) coconut water
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 cups frozen watermelon
• 3 leaves of fresh basil (more for a stronger taste)

Benefits:

• Coconut Water: contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes
• Strawberries: a low glycemic food also high in fiber, which helps to regulate blood sugar and keep it stable;
• Watermelon: a natural electrolyte that helps regulate the action of nerves and muscles in our body;
• Basil: contains antibacterial capabilities. It has been shown to stop growth of many bacteria, even some that had grown resistant to other antibiotics.

Nutritional information:

Calories: 243

Carbs: 61

Fat: 0

Protein: 3

Sodium: 45

Sugar: 44

I see you, Corporate America

Photo by Brent Hofacker

America, I applaud you. In 2013, the U.S. of A is no longer the fattest kid on the international playground. This summer, a report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization found that Mexico has surpassed the U.S. as the world’s fattest nation, beating our rate of adult obesity (31.8 percent) with a 32.8 percent.

Not saying we are in any place to start showing off our macho muscles, but with Americans paying closer attention to what they’re eating and drinking, food and beverage companies are quickly learning that certain unfamiliar additives on their packaging is inviting criticism from the public. Thanks to the web, people are shouting their concerns to the world. As a result, companies are quietly reformulating popular snacks to remove suspicious componenets.

Want an example? PepsiCo Inc. this year claimed it would stop useing brominated vegetable oil (huh? I was drinking what?) in Gatorade and find another more natural way to distribute the color in their sports drink.

With the Internet acting as a loud speaker, it is great to see people taking a stand for what goes into their bodies. My only concern is does this invite companies to become sneakier? They are already being devious by removing these additives in a way that seems like – POOF – they were never really there! My hopes are that while corporations are showing a genuine interest in the putting better ingredients in their products, we all colletively choose that apple or baby carrots instead of that unfortunate bag of baked potato lays (I mean really. Baked? You might as well at least enjoy your unhealthy snack by picking the Cheetos for goodness sake).