It is no secret to anyone around me that in 2012 I want to be a size 12. After having four children in as many years, I gained a total of 100lbs! Yes, I am putting it out there. The reality is, my youngest, the twins, just turned five and out of that hundred I have lost and found the same twenty pounds repeatedly.

From exercising, to eating less, I haven't consistently done them both at the same time for a long enough period of time to make a big difference. After 9 years of being married and 8 of being a mother, I have decided that I do not mind keeping twenty of those pounds but those other eighty have got to go. I mean actually, I am carrying around another person.

So for Christmas this year I received a childhood item to assist me in my journey, a bicycle. I also have cut out all fast foods for the year 2012. Twenty 25 days and counting and I haven't had as much as a french fry. Looking back I realize how much time I spent in a drive- through over the years was enough to have made part-time income.

So what do I do now when I want a fast snack or light meal? I prepare in advance. I eat a lot of nuts and dried fruits and I carry them around with me. Of course, the ones from the farmers market are the freshest. Lehman's Orchard has an online farmers market that sells a wide variety of dried fruits like cherries, apples, apricots, pears, blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes, peaches, pineapples and mango. They also sell nuts, peas and seeds. These hand held snack options make eating healthier between meals a cinch and they will satisfy every sweet tooth in America. Give them a try. You can also come out to the Green City Market and purchase them on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Farmers Market Chicago area locations have many alternatives to the fast foods that we once loved so check them out. I am loving local, how 'bout you!

Lehman's Orchard
2280 Portage Rd.
Niles, Michagan 49120
stevelecklider@aol.com
269-683-9078
http://www.lehmansorchard.com/

Green City Market
Wednesdays & Saturdays
7:00 am–1:00 pm
South end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive
Chicago, IL
773-880-1266
http://www.greencitymarket.org/index.asp

For other farmers market locations, see the directory we are building at www.farmersmarket.com.