How the Farmers’ Market Can Be the Key to Weight Loss Success

You can get fresh, nutrient-rich food at a great price  Produce and other goods from a farmers’ market are almost always fresher than counterpart…

Losing weight may be simple, but it’s not always easy. To lose weight and keep it off, you’ll likely have to make some major lifestyle changes, including changing your eating habits, getting more exercise, and paying attention to packaging and nutrition information. Finding something that can make this process easier and more fun is important for success.

Enter the farmers’ market.

Farmers’ markets aren’t just a way to support local farmers—though that’s important too! Regular trips to a farmers’ market can actually help you on your weight loss journey, giving you access to delicious fresh produce, an opportunity for a little extra exercise, and other benefits.

Read on to learn how farmers’ markets can help you lose weight.

You can get fresh, nutrient-rich food at a great price Mature couple sitting on tailgate of truck with garden vegetables.

Produce and other goods from a farmers’ market are almost always fresher than counterparts found in a regular grocery store. Grocery chains will sometimes feature “farm fresh” local produce, but this is often an exception—not the rule. And because there’s no intermediary inflating the price for a profit, fresh produce is often cheaper at a farmers’ market too.

Additionally, food from a farmers’ market may be more healthful than what you’d find in a grocery store. Grass-fed beef, for instance, generally has a lower fat content than the grain-fed beef you’d buy at a supermarket.

You can get inspiration for healthy recipes—sometimes from the farmers themselves 

As you adjust your eating habits, you’re probably trying to tackle some new healthy, produce-rich recipes. While it can be hard to concoct new salad creations when you’re first starting out, many farmers’ markets offer produce samples, so you can start trying out flavors to make fun new combinations. Finding some tastes or textures you like might encourage you to eat more vegetables, which could be a big help when it comes to your weight loss. Furthermore, this is a more eco-friendly, sustainable way of buying produce.

Plus, there’s a good chance that the people who grew your produce will know some amazing ways to prepare it, so don’t hesitate to ask the farmers how they recommend using the food you’re buying.

You can get out and get some extra exercise 

With how prevalent office jobs and sedentary lifestyles have become, we could all use a little more exercise. And if you’re trying to lose weight, every step counts. Walking a mile burns around 100 calories, so don’t discount it just because it doesn’t seem like vigorous exercise! A farmers’ market can encourage more walking as you browse the produce, fresh-baked bread, and other delicious products local farmers have brought.

You might find your new favorite health food Closeup front view of late 20's attractive woman choosing some fruit at local food market.She's holding a pack of strawberries and smiling. She's wearing a nice casual yellow blouse.

Farmers’ markets tend to have a wide variety of healthy food options, including some options you may not have even heard of. Being exposed to new foods can encourage you to try them, and you might just find your next must-have side dish!

Things like fresh-ground nut butters and fruit varieties not often stocked in grocery stores can have surprising weight loss benefits: Almond butter, for instance, is very filling and packed with healthy fats and protein. And fresh tart cherries—a harder variety to find in supermarkets than sweeter types—are delicious, and their juice can help with post-workout recovery if exercise is part of your weight loss plan.

You can avoid the temptations of grocery store advertising Male farmer selling fresh summer vegetables to senior woman. Carrots, radishes, and a beet are all in the small basket. The man is wearing a blue apron. Close up of vegetables and hands, the faces are out of the shot.

We all know the temptation of the grocery store. Aisles packed with processed snack foods, checkout lanes crammed with candy bars—it can be a hungry dieter’s worst nightmare. At a farmers’ market, the worst thing you’re likely to find to tempt you is more fresh produce. This can actually be a huge help in your weight loss journey, as many people find the hardest part of losing weight is changing habits and avoiding the temptation to break a diet.

From access to fresher food to opportunities for more exercise, there are tons of benefits to hitting up your local farmers’ market. If you’re making weight loss a priority, it’s definitely worth checking out. As part of a balanced diet and exercise plan, it might just be the key to a new healthy lifestyle.

 

All of the content and media on Lifesum is created and published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Users should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice. If you have or think you are at risk of developing an eating disorder, do not use the Lifesum app and seek immediate medical help.