We all wish for a healthier New Year—and maybe a slimmer waist. It doesn’t help that the holiday season is typically filled with baked goods and champagne toasts.
But it’s nice to start the new year with a clean slate, especially when it comes to eating. Good news is, you don’t have to go far to find healthy and locally produced snacks and food. Not only will you be keeping up with your resolutions, but you’ll also be shopping local and helping businesses do what they love. Now that’s a happy new year!
Fresh produce
Stock up that empty produce drawer in the refrigerator, but skip the supermarket. Local farmers markets still have great, fresh produce options even throughout the winter months. Below is a list to get you started, and if you need another location, check out the full farmers market guide here.
- Easton Farmers Market (Easton) welcomes shoppers despite the winter’s cold. Vendors will still sell their fresh produce from January through April on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 am – 12 pm in historic Centre Square, downtown Easton, PA.
- Manoff Market Gardens (New Hope) is your stop for cider, apples and tasty, homemade jams and apple butter, which are better alternatives to processed jellies and jams for your favorite toast in the morning. Manoff’s is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5:15 pm.
- Quakertown Farmers Market (Quakertown) is open year round, Friday through Saturday 9 am – 9 pm and Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Pick up some produce and walk around the 225,000 square foot indoor/outdoor flea market while you are there.
- Wrightstown Winter Farmers Market (Wrightstown) has moved indoors for the winter (yay!). It’s the same great produce and prepared products, packed into the Anchor Run Church in Wrightstown on Route 413, just a few miles from the usual seasonal location.
- Indoor Yardley Farmers Market (Yardley) get more farm fresh produce from this indoor market, which begins Saturday, October 20 and continues the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month through April 20.
Health foods and juices. When we say drink your meals this year, we don’t mean milkshakes or those frappuccinos from coffee shops. Swap out the morning coffees for local and fresh-squeezed juices, and replace those fattening chips with homemade granola or hummus. Instead of Wal-Mart, try out one of these healthy shops in the area:
- Bunn’s Natural Foods (Southampton) is a local vitamin and mineral store, and it also carries gluten-free and other healthy products. Enjoy yummy vegan treats, drinks and other items to help you feeling your best.
- Doylestown Food Market (Doylestown) is a locally sourced grocery store that is just perfect for the new year. Stock up on organic, fair-trade, artisanal and locally produced snacks and dinner items, and learn how to become a co-op member here.
- Greenstraw Smoothies (Newtown) serves up Bucks County’s most awarded smoothies, quality cold-pressed juices, healthy snacks like granola, hummus and veggies, and tasty acai bowls. This new year, try out store made raw almond milk with cocoa, maca and ashwagandha— a nutritional, warm drink. Plus, it’s dense and it will keep you full.
- The Market at DelVal (Doylestown) always has fresh fruits and veggies, all grown locally. Pick up hormone-free milk, honeys and jams, and treat yourself to their toasted, sweet, and homemade granola. Perfect as a snack or with milk!
- Organnon’s Natural Market (Newtown) is a shop filled with organic choices that fit everyone’s preferences. Shoppers call this their “go-to” instead of the supermarket. It’s local, so that’s good for you and the community.
Pack the New Year with protein
If exercising is part of your New Year’s resolutions, then you’ll probably want some protein before a tough workout. For our meat-lover friends, Bucks County has plenty of markets where you can pick up locally-butchered, locally-raised beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Here are some places to get you started, and you can check out our full local meat post here.
- Zook’s BBQ Barn (Newtown Farmers Market) Poultry raised “all natural.” Fresh.
- None Such Farm Market (Buckingham). Good chicken and pork, as well as their own farm-raised beef. Full service butcher shop, too.
- Bolton’s Farm Market (Silverdale). Own turkey, chicken, beef, all grown “naturally and additive free.” Fresh.
- Hershberger Heritage Farm (Sellersville). Pastured chickens, raised organically, and eggs.
- Purely Farm’s Pastured Meats (Bedminster). Pastured pork, turkey and lamb (in season). Reach Marc and Joanna at 215.317.0889 or email at purelyfarm@gmail.com, or at the Wrightstown Farmers’ Market.
[…] How to kick-start the new year in Bucks County […]