Keeping Healthy at Your Local Farmers Market
Few summer pastimes are better than exploring your community farmers market.
In our region, farmers markets, like the Crossroads Farmers Market in Takoma Park and the Fort Washington Forward Farmers Market in Fort Washington, offer a variety of foods and activities to help keep you healthy: fresh produce, crafts, health screenings and a chance to get outside and move.
We asked Ogechi Anyaoku, MD, internal medicine physician with Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group in Fort Washington, for her tips to make your next farmers market trip a healthy success.
Health Benefits for the Picking
When it comes to food, local farmers markets will offer a variety of options, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, homemade breads, fresh meat and desserts. For produce, Dr. Anyaoku noted “the fruits and vegetables are usually harvested at the peak of the growing season. This means they are fresh and often taste the best.”
Tips for Healthy Choices
The bounty at a farmers market can provide several options for healthy eating. Dr. Anyaoku recommended this strategy: “Pick many different colors as you shop for fruits and veggies. It’s a great way to eat the rainbow, which will help keep your plate healthy. Also, try new fruits and vegetables that you may not be used to eating. Speak with the farmers and sellers about the best ways to prepare and consume the various types of produce.”
Trying new cooking techniques can encourage you to explore foods that you may not typically purchase.
More Than Just Healthy Food
In addition to selecting healthy and locally sourced food options, visiting a farmers market can be a great opportunity to support businesses near you. “Visiting your local farmers market helps support your community by keeping the money you spend closer to where you live,” explained Dr. Anyaoku. This community focus also extends to the food selection. “You can often get fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables that are less likely to be treated with pesticides,” she added.
Whether you go once a summer or once a week, visiting a farmers market is a great place to select healthy food options, grown right in your backyard.
