My First Excursion to the Farmer's Market

Day 12 -  Good morning.  Today, I have a little pep in my step.  I feel so good on the days I power through my arms and abs workout.  I feel good the other days too, with the cardio workouts (and the cardio workouts with the resistance bands), but pure strength training days are different.  For some reason, afterward, I feel ready to climb a mountain.  It doesn't hurt that it's Friday and the sun is shining.

Let me take a moment to stress something.  When I began this experiment only 12 short (long) days ago, my intention was to change the composition of my body mass by focusing on building muscle. My hope was that would lead to a faster metabolism, more health and vitality and definitely weight loss (fat loss, not muscle and water loss).  Doing a quick assessment, I feel this is working.  I really feel so much stronger in just that short amount of time.  I feel more confident, more at ease overall and definitely that I am making huge strides toward achieving that mind-body connection.  I am being that good friend to my body that I talked about early on.  So, a pat on my own back for that!

I have a very busy day today with some work deadlines and my housework, laundry and kitchen chores piling up.  I chose a fast breakfast of shredded wheat with banana and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a handful of walnuts and my beloved orange juice.  I found myself trying to walk toward my desk with my breakfast to get a jump on my day (old habits really do die hard), before I stopped myself.  I gently reminded myself that whatever I need to do today will get done, but right now, I need to fuel my body and take these few minutes to be mindful while I eat.  And I was so glad that I did.  I enjoyed my breakfast, I concentrated on doing my belly breathing (feeling my lower belly expand and contract gently while I breathed) to center myself and I felt much calmer, nurtured and ready to begin my day.     

Yesterday late afternoon, I ventured to the Farmer's Market that Jacquelyn Ely (the Nutritionist at the Wellness Center) mentioned the other day at the cooking demonstration.  How has this escaped me all the time I've lived here?  I felt like I was at the fair.  There was such a wonderful, wholesome atmosphere which drew me in right away with live music playing.  Come, I'll take you on a tour with me.

The first table I stopped at was selling olive oil - imported from her father's olive farm in Greece.  The woman  (I think she said her name was Gia) was so sweet and cheerful and agreed to let me take her picture.  I bought a small bottle.

The next table that caught my attention was selling fresh herbs and a wide variety of produce.  I bought some fresh oregano and thyme.

 

 My favorite was this handsome Greek man who was charming enough to get me to buy pita bread and olives, though we did talk hummus and some sort of grape leaf filled edible.   As you can see he had a wide variety of Greek foods including baklava (I believe) and some sort of meat (which he offered me to taste, I'm assuming lamb) - but I politely declined (since I don't eat much red meat).  His accent and personality were delightful.

Next I stopped to buy some green and red peppers and zucchini from the folks at Simmons Farm.

Lastly, I stopped by to talk with this guy and buy some homemade banana bread for my husband and kids.  His mom makes all of the breads herself.

Somewhere along the way, I also purchased local honey and a loaf of homemade rye bread.  It was a happy blur being there caught up in the environment and with the music, so I really can't recall. Oh wait, the honey bottle says, "Conover Organic Farm" (I missed getting their picture), but the bread is not marked.

When I got home with my beautiful bounty (pictured up top), I couldn't wait to dip some rye bread in olive oil.  What is more Mediterranean diet than that?  I cut a piece and poured some olive oil on my plate.  And for fun, I brought the olives over.  I was a bit nervous about the olives (they are an acquired taste, in my opinion).  I ate an olive and it was a very interesting taste experience.  First it was like, "eh, it's just an olive", but then this unique spicy flavor took over my mouth like fireworks.  So insanely good!  Very glad I didn't turn my nose up at them when the Greek man pointed them out to me.

Over all, my bounty cost me $50.  That sounds like a lot (I know), but I bought specialty purchases like the olive oil and the local honey, which will last me many, many uses each.  I also splurged on 3 types of breads (the pita, rye and banana) and those delectable olives.  But if I just stuck to the produce and fresh herbs?  It was very affordable.  Two red peppers, two green peppers and two zucchinis cost me $4 and the fresh thyme and oregano were only $2 each.  Handing an actual local farmer or baker cash for organic, wholesome food felt fantastic!  Truly, there is a wonderful feeling in that.  I will definitely make this a part of my shopping from now on. 

Real people.  Real food.  Real connection.  Real sense of community.  Yes, Please, Thank you, More!

Until next time...  Be well!
~Tracy