Losing weight and eating healthy are probably the two most common New Year’s Resolutions. This year, make those resolutions into realities by choosing to eat more plants. Although fad diets may be tempting, they almost always backfire – the real way to get healthy is to load your plate with low calories, nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.
The FDA recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables a day but, according to the latest data, 75 percent of Americans fall short. The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that filling up on fruits and veggies can help you stay slim.
Make veggies and fruits part of every meal and sneak in more produce by making smoothies or enjoying fruit as dessert. Small changes like topping your oatmeal with fresh berries, adding sliced peppers to your sandwich and tossing a handful of spinach in your smoothie really add up.
In addition to your usual picks, opt for more seasonal produce. Try citurs fruits, dark leafy greens and potatoes. These new items will add variety to your diet and can help you fall in love with a new veggie. If you’re unsure of where to start or how to cook a particular item, ask the farmer – they know their produce better than anybody.
The Victory Park Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday from 8:30am-1pm at the 2900 block of North Sierra Madre Boulevard. Call (626) 449-0179 or visit www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org for more information.
