If you’re looking for ways to incorporate healthy living into your routine, look no further than the garden. Gardening for your health combines cooking, gardening and being active into a happy trio that can benefit you for years to come. Ready? Let’s go!
•Start off simple. Growing your own vegetables is one of the best ways to kick off a healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to get fancy. Even the most basic tomato plant will produce fruit that is 10 times better than what you’ll get in the store.
•Try heirloom veggies. Heirlooms have been around for decades. They might not have the same commercial look as other veggies (odd-shaped tomatoes or weird colors of carrots), but they are delicious and good for you.
•Enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor. Maybe growing your own veggies isn’t quite in the cards. By signing up for a community supported agriculture group (CSA), you’ll be guaranteed fresh produce all summer long. Here’s how it works. At the start of a growing season, you commit to either weekly or biweekly deliveries for a set price. During delivery week, expect to pick up a box of fresh farm-grown vegetables. To search for local farms that offer CSAs in your area, visit localharvest.org. Also check out slowfood.com, a nonprofit member-supported association that helps educate consumers on the impact of their food choices.
•Try something different. Next time you’re hesitant about a specific veggie, bring it on home. Research it, cook with it, have fun with it. You never know what you’ll end up absolutely loving.
•Explore the farmers market. Wake up early on a Saturday morning and, coffee in hand or pup in tow, discover your local farmers market. Chat with the local farmer about why his produce is truly the best, and get cooking inspiration from those around you.
•Head outside to get moving. Cooking and gardening definitely go hand in hand, but don’t forget the third component: staying active. Walk or bike to your local farmers market. Or just make it a point to get out in your garden on a regular basis. A few examples of the approximate number of calories you burn per half hour while gardening: general gardening: 170 calories; planting seedlings: 150 calories; weeding a garden: 170 calories; laying sod: 170 calories; raking: 130 calories; bagging leaves: 130 calories; and digging and spading dirt: 190 calories
Danielle Calkins is a writer with Birds Blooms. This article is excerpted from a longer one. For more information or to sign up for a free email newsletter, go to http://www.birdsandblooms.com.
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