You can get fresh, nutrient-rich food at a great price

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

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

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.

#farmers-market

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