Houston Farmers Market Weekly News

We are regularly bombarded with the latest, greatest spin on what our diet should consist of. I personally have lived long enough to see both extremes in the recommended diet plan, ranging from a fat-free to a fat-laden regimen. And frankly, we all tend to jump on the latest bandwagon in hopes of a quick fix. But it never really works, right?

The only good that has come from this barrage of misinformation is that serious nutritional study has actually begun to bear fruit, no pun intended. For instance, it now seems apparent that:
       
       -the body metabolizes nutrients best when taken in their most natural form,  
       -when a wide variety of the 3 food groups (fat, carb and protein) are consumed; and
       -when we avoid processed and chemical-laden foods.

Taking our cue from these sound dietary facts, The Houston Farmers Market suggests these guidelines.

1) Forget calorie counting per se.
2) Strive for a wide variety of food groups at every meal.
3) Since the dinner meal tends to be our largest meal of the day, be especially diligent at this time. Follow the Thomas Jefferson prescription of making sure that dinner includes 5 different items on your plate, in about equal proportion: a meat, 3 vegetables, and a fruit. Salads and soups make it easy to attain the 3 vegetable suggestion.
4) Take a casual walk after dinner, but spend at least 20 minutes on your walk. You'll
notice that your digestive process gets a jump start toward the end of your walk.
5) Consume as much fresh, locally produced foods as you can. Avoid factory food.
6) Don't overcook your food. Keep it as close to its natural state as possible.
6) Never, ever cook in the microwave. It destroys the nutrient values of food.

This year's slogan from our Texas Organic Farmers and Producers is "Thousands of Miles Fresher." Fresh, locally-grown, chemical-free food to implement your new diet plan can be found twice-weekly at The Houston Farmers Market.

Eat well to live well.

Glen Boudreaux, Jolie Vue Farms

• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup cold pressed olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 5 basil leaves
• 1 tsp Nama Shoyu OR 1/2 tsp sea salt
• Dash of cayenne
• 4 cups sliced or shredded beets

Blend all except beets.  Pour mixture over beets and refrigerate. This will keep for 4 ˆ 5 days and is great over salads, in wraps, or by itself.

Recipes courtesy Pat Greer, Central City Co-op