Farmer’s Markets: Eat Fresh
Here’s a math problem for you: If the produce you buy at your supermarket takes three days to reach the shelf and spinach can lose up to 47% of its vitamins while stored at 50 degrees for six days, how much of the nutrients you need are still in spinach when you take it home? Forget the math, just buy your veggies fresh from the farmer.
That’s the idea behind your local farmer’s market—fresh fruits and veggies direct from the farmer to you. Along with lots of homemade goodies, crafts and, sometimes, food trucks. So close your eyes as you pass any calorie-laden snacks and focus instead on the many benefits of buying your produce at a farmer’s market:
1) Did we mention the freshness? At Professional Weight Management we’re all about giving you what your body needs to function at its best, so you feel great and resist the urges for unhealthy foods. We even recommend our own high-quality supplements to ensure you get the vitamins and minerals needed to lose weight without losing muscle mass. Fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables can deliver those same benefits if they are consumed as closely as possible to the moment they are harvested. And fresh tastes great!
2) In-Season quality is ideal. Fruits and vegetables can be grown in greenhouses or shipped from more favorable growing zones, but for maximum quality it’s hard to beat a food grown in the correct season with the ideal temperatures and hours of sunlight. If you’ve ever bit into a homegrown tomato while it’s still warm from the summer sun, then you know what we’re talking about. We dream about that taste all winter.
3) Variety makes your plate more interesting. And you’ll find more variety at the farmer’s markets because most mass marketed produce is chosen or genetically engineered to survive shipping and handling at the market. Fruits that bruise easily or heirloom vegetables that wilt quickly aren’t viable choices for mass market farms but often are grown on small farms. So if you’re bored with grocery store tomatoes, try a dark and richly sweet Cherokee Purple. Or if you can’t face one more Red Delicious apple, try the complex flavors of a Cherry Cox from your local farmer. Just as multiple colors on your plate ensure a full complement of nutrients, adding variety to your fruits and vegetables boosts your enjoyment and your nutrition.
4) Eat whole foods, not processed. Sure, some processed foods are perfectly healthy, as we discussed in Hidden Dangers of Processed Foods, but many processed foods have had their nutrients cooked out of them, and have salt, fat, sugar and chemicals added. Ultra processed foods can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and even dementia. So eat whole foods in their natural form instead, and it doesn’t get any more natural than a head of lettuce grown in local ground, especially when it was grown organically (check with the vendor to guarantee your purchase is organic).
5) Get out of the house and into your community. There’s a reason farmer’s markets often have live music or special events, and that is because food is just one of the joys of life. There’s sunshine and smiling faces and cute kids. People on the other side of the vendor tables to chat with and learn about, and new friends to make over a sample of cheese fresh from dairy. It’s easier losing with a friend and you’ll find lots of friendly faces at a farmer’s market. Get out there and enjoy! And feel great about supporting your local farmers!
Ready to buy fresh from local farmers? Try these SW Missouri Farmer’s Markets
Greater Springfield Farmer’s Market
Where: parking lot Battlefield Mall, Springfield
Hours: Saturday 8am-noon year-round / Tuesday & Thursday 8am-noon mid-April thru October
What Makes Them Different: Billed as the Springfield area’s only true farmers’ market. No resellers are allowed so all vendors have personally planted, grown, harvested or made what they sell.
Where in Springfield: Farmer’s Park, 2144 E Republic Rd
Hours: Saturday 8am-1pm (Spring/Summer/Fall) and 9a-1pm (Jan-Mar)
Where in Downtown Springfield: The Square
Hours: Saturday 2:30pm-6:30pm (May-Oct)
Where in Branson: Branson Landing
Hours: Tuesday 2:30pm-6:30pm (May-Oct)
What Makes Them Different: A covered vendor area gives this one year-round protection from rain. Check their Facebook page for special events such as Artsy Alley with local artisans or Lit Fest featuring author’s and family story time.
Where in Springfield: Historic Commercial Street
Hours: Saturday 9am-2pm & Thursday 4pm-8pm April-October
What Makes Them Different: Billed as the Sweetest Little Market Up Town. Has hosted Culture Fest in previous years, with international food and live performances.
Where: Alamo Drafthouse in Springfield and Grace Community Assembly in Branson.
Hours: See below
What Makes Them Different: This one isn’t really a Farmer’s Market but they do deliver fruit fresh from wherever the seasonal harvest is happening. We just missed their strawberry run so you’ll have to check their website or sign up for their notifications to see what is being delivered next and when the truck will be at a stop near you.