Tag Archives: Localvore

Aug 9 2012

NH Eat Local Month

It’s August which means that crops are being harvested, farmer’s market’s are in full swing, and local food can be found EVERYWHERE!

Tomatoes fresh from Brookford Farm

Shredded carrots and zucchini fresh from Brookford Farm

In New Hampshire the month of August has been declared the Eat Local Month. For this localvore, this may be my favorite month of the year!

Breakfast made with all local ingredients – except for the avocado and Trader Joe’s Bread!

Seacoast Eat Local has a great webpage that is dedicated to NH Eat Local Month. This webpage is a great resource for finding local food, fun events, and food related blogs in the State (where Be Healthy Be Happy Be Local is featured! A huge thanks to Seacoast Eat Local for adding this blog to the list! I am honored!)

And don’t forget to check out Seacoast Eat Local for farmer’s market’s in your area! I’ve listed some below that are in the Plaistow area, for all of my local followers!

Strolling on of my favorite markets

- Atkinson Farmer’s Market – Wednesdays from 3-7pm at the Atkinson Community Center. This is a GREAT market! Vendors there offer vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, a variety of baked goods and treats, crafts, and an assortment of goodies for the dog lovers out there.

- Plaistow Farmer’s Market – Thursdays from 2:30-6:30pm at the Town Hall

- Hampstead Lion’s Farmer’s Market – Saturdays from 11am-3pm at the intersection of Rt. 111 and Rt. 121

- Salem Farmer’s Market – Sundays from noon-4pm at the Lake Street Garden Center

- Haverhill Farmer’s Market – Saturdays from 9am-1pm at 40 Bailey Blvd., next to the Police Station

I have yet to try the Hampstead, Salem, and Haverhill markets, but I plan to before the season ends.

Now go out there and get some local food! Your body will thank you, and so will the farmers :)

Jun 21 2012

Ingredient of the Week: Strawberries

There’s just something about a local strawberry….

First strawberries of the season!

It tastes sweeter, juicier, and all around tastier that it’s California counterpart.

So sweet, so juicy!

Strawberry season is short in New England, it typically only lasts a few weeks, and since this year’s crop is earlier than normal, now would be a great time to go and grab some local strawberries! If the taste alone isn’t enough of a reason for you to be rushing to your nearest farm stand or market, below are some health benefits showing just how good those red berries are for you.

Some health benefits of strawberries include….
- High in vitamin C – a serving of 1 1/2 cups has the daily recommended dosage of vitamin C, which makes it a great way to naturally enhance your immune system and fight off colds and flus. Vitamin C also helps your body replenish collagen which helps keep your skin looking young and wrinkle-free.
- Strawberries also contain good amounts of fiber, folate, and potassium.
- Strawberries contain antioxident phenolic plant chemicals, like anthocyanins and ellagic acid, which help block cancer cells and prevent cancer.
- Strawberries help lower your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.
- For additional articles discussing the health benefits of strawberries, check out She Knows, Best Health, and Livestrong.

Pick Your Own is a great resource for finding farms and orchards that allow you to pick-your-own fruit. The link directs you to the State page, where you click on your state and a list of farms/orchards appears by county. I live in Southern New Hampshire and there are numerous farms that have PYO strawberries in the seacoast region, as well as just over the border in Northern Massachusetts, including AppleCrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls, Monahans in East Kingston, and Rogers Spring Hill Farm in Haverhill. No matter where you live, I’m sure there is a PYO farm nearby. Go pick-your-own strawberries today!

My husband and I picked 13 lbs. of strawberries at Monahan’s farm last weekend!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a strawberry recipe post, including two new recipes that are perfect for a hot summer’s day!

May 10 2012

3 Articles

Today I came across 3 different articles regarding health and the food industry that I wanted to share with you all.

The articles are well written and bring to light some food and health related issues that really interest me, and are part of the reason why I have decided to become a health coach.

The first article my friend Eileen shared with me: Hospital Food So Fresh, Even The Healthy Come to Dine. My Favorite part of the article is the ending: “If patients eat better, they’ll feel better and leave the hospital quicker.” Food = medicine.

The second article I found through a Facebook group through my school, Institute for Integrative Nutrition: Why The Campaign to Stop America’s Obesity Keeps Failing. I love how the author is looking deeper into the issues of obesity and how the answer may not just be from working out more and eating less. Although both of those factors definitely contribute to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle, it’s the food choices we make that are part of the obesity crisis in America; it’s the ingredients that is in our food.

The third article I found through Seacoast Eat Local: Localvore Index 2012. I am happy to see that my home State of New Hampshire is near the top of the list, ranking at #13! And I am proud to say that I am part of the localvore movement in my State, by belonging to a CSA and buying from farmers markets and local farms. I couldn’t help but think this article was a great answer to the second article – perhaps buying and eating local, wholesome food is the answer to obesity crisis?

Which article is your favorite, and why?

May 2 2012

What’s a Localvore Eating These Days?

I am a self proclaimed localvore.

What is a localvore you ask? Our friend Wikipedia defines localvore as “a person interested in eating food that is locally produced, not moved long distances to market. The locavore movement in the United States and elsewhere was spawned as interest in sustainability and eco-consciousness became more prevalent.”

Because I eat local, I eat with the seasons. Yes, I still go to the food stores and buy produce that is not local to my area, like bananas and avocados, but if it is grown local, I eat it when it is in season. I am proud to say I have not bought a super market berry in over a year… Which means I am counting down the days until the first strawberries arrive in June!

In all honesty though, I have found that although I do miss a few things, berries mostly, I don’t even notice produce that I am missing from my diet. When corn is in season, I eat so much of it that I’m looking forward to the Fall squashes that arrive shortly after the corn dries up. I fill up on apples, squashes, and other Fall delicacies until the Winter root crops arrive. Just as I’m getting sick of carrots, turnips, and potatoes, low and behold the Spring crops start coming in. It’s a continuous cycle that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Barbara Kingsolver describes this process nicely in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. If you are interested in eating seasonally, I would highly recommend reading her personal narrative of eating nothing but local food for an entire year.

This past weekend was the last of the indoor farmer’s markets in my area, and I was able to get some delicious Spring produce that I’ve been waiting all Winter for. Fresh greens, Spring dug parsnips, rhubarb, and one of my favorite vegetables – asparagus.

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As I was washing the asparagus and prepping to place it on the grill, I kept saying, “Look at how beautiful this asparagus is! It’s so beautiful!” Not only was it beautiful, it tasted so so good…. There’s just something about the first bite of asparagus of the season. Yes, I think it’s safe to say I’m a complete food weirdo.

Now feast your eyes on this beautiful leafy green….

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That’s right – spinach! Popeye was onto something with this nutritious vegetable.

I also picked up some lettuces….

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And kale, of course…. For my recent posts on kale click here and here.

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I also picked up some yummy Spring dug parsnips that I used in a sweet potato soup (recipe to come soon!)….

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And last but not least, I purchased some rhubarb. I’ve never bought or prepared rhubarb before, but I’m sure I can find some yummy recipe to make….

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Last weekend was the last of the indoor farmer’s markets, which can only mean one thing – outdoor markets are opening up this week! Woohoo! For those of you who are in the Southern NH area, Exeter Farmer’s Markets will be held on Thursdays, Portsmouth Farmer’s Markets will be held on Saturdays, and Newburyport Farmer’s Markets are on Sundays. STARTING NOW!

For other Farmer’s markets in the NH and ME Seacoast area, check out Seacoast Growers Association and Seacoast Harvest. If you live elsewhere, check out Local Harvest to find a Farmer’s market near you.

Happy shopping and eating!

What is your favorite Spring produce?