As leaves begin to unfurl, spring can be a great reminder to take a moment to get reconnected with the natural world and recommit to personal self-care. One of the best ways to assist your health, and especially your immune system, is by being more mindful of your diet. Here in the South Sound, the abundance of farmers markets makes finding local, fresh, and whole foods incredibly easy.
Spring brings an explosion of green to the produce offered by farmers. The array of greens will include familiar favorites such as chard, kale, lettuce, sorrel, and spinach, but also the more unusual fiddleheads and nettles. Expand your use of greens from the salad and try some cooked greens. After eating them a few times, you will quickly find out why cooked greens are part of such a variety of cuisines from China to France to India. With a short cooking time, versatility, unique flavors and important nutritional benefits, greens can become a regular part of healthy eating either on their own or nestled in other dishes. Here are some ways to try spring greens:
- Saute greens until tender in a large pot with olive oil, salt and garlic or onion. Add additional flavor with a dot of butter or cream along with seasonal herbs, salt and pepper.
- Add sliced kale to soups and stews during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking.
- Toss some chopped fresh greens into a smoothie.
- Increase the nutritional power in your breakfast by sautéing chopped greens and garlic before you add eggs for scrambling.
Farmers will also be offering leeks, potatoes, rhubarb, and sprouts among their spring bounty. Eating fresh whole foods can be cleansing and enlivening for your body after the limited choices of winter eating which often includes more processed foods. With an extensive history of family farming, the communities of the South Sound have been growing crops for decades. Today you can find markets throughout Tacoma, as well as in Puyallup, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, and Olympia. It can be a fun family outing to go visit a new farmers market to explore new vendors, neighborhoods, and parks. So don’t be deterred by the spring rains and plan a trip to a farmers market today.
For Additional Information
Lakewood Farmers Market | City of Lakewood
cityoflakewood.us/lakewood-farmersmarket
Olympia Farmers Market
olympiafarmersmarket.com
Tacoma Farmers Markets
tacomafarmersmarket.com
Gig Harbor Waterfront Farmers Market
gigharborwaterfront.org
Puyallup Farmers Market | Puyallup Main Street Association
puyallupmainstreet.com
BY HILLARY RYAN
Some of the best Washington state wines have been described as having the structure and finesse of the Old World while displaying the flashy and ripe fruit of the New World. We’re pleased to present our third annual list of favorite Washington wines—perfect for sharing with friends and family this holiday season.
