Like a Kid in a Candy Store...

Huh? Candy store? Dietitian? Something is not making sense, right?

Well, let me start out by saying, this is no ordinary candy store...but it is as colorful, as vibrant, as fun, and as delicious.

I am referring Farmer's Markets. (Ahh, now it begins to make sense).

This past weekend while visiting the Santa Monica promenade, the gorgeous, vivacious, and delicious farmer's market happened to be present. I was walking the streets with my boyfriend's family, and we were looking through various windows and stores, and mind you, I dislike shopping, so I was starting to get a little worn out from that.

crossing Santa Monica Blvd from 3rd street Promenade all of a sudden I see..."Santa Monica Farmer's Market", and I"m not joking when I tell you I literally jumped 5 feet in the air and lit up like a light-bulb after a long dark night. I went from tired, to so excited I turned into a child, entering her candy store.

I said to my boyfriend at one point..."Wow...a dietitian's dream!"

This has not been the first farmer's market I've ever been to, but it was a large one, and it seemed like every third kiosk had free samples of some of the sweetest most delicious fruit and vegetables you have ever tasted.

In fact, after one sample of a mouth-watering peach, I started to say..."Oh my g-" and the man who offered me that piece of fruit yelled out to the crowd..."From her own mouth, we have an Oh my G-d, you hear it here first folks, a testament!", and it's true! It really was worthy of my effusive commentary.

Now I remember why I so enjoy eating fresh fruit and vegetables straight off the farm as opposed to those that have been sitting in store warehouses for weeks. The intense sweetness, juiciness, and freshness of the fruit at the farmer's markets was just so powerful that you knew whatever you were eating HAD to be good for you.

No piece of candy (save for chocolate) can ever replace the satiating power of a ripe yellow-red peach that oozes with flavor.

There had been an initiative in LA county to provide Food stamp coupons that could be used at the farmer's markets...the families who used these incentives ate much healthier well-rounded diets with more variety, ate seasonally, and had the best vitamin and mineral intake of any family in that social class. Here was proof in the proverbial pudding that this type of program can work.

I urge the government to subsidize farmers markets and make the more readily available, with fruit and vegetables that are affordable, because you know what?

Nothing tastes as good as health, unless perhaps...it's farmer's market fruit and vegetables.