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Chicago, you are what you eat

April 11, 2012 | Filed under: Chicago, IL,Lifestyle | Posted by: Macchiato

Good news – Chicagoans’ eating habits have much improved. We’re eating more fresh veggies, making healthier choices and eating at home more often.

But we’ve still got some work to do. Nutrition plays a key part in promoting and maintaining good health, so if you’d like to enjoy life to its fullest be a little picky about what you eat. Nothing beats chowing down a nicely prepared juicy piece of steak on a Friday evening, I know, but how do you know where to find the healthiest cuts of meat in the city?

The good news is that fresh and local fare has gained a lot of ground lately and menus are beginning to abound with all-natural, unprocessed foods. This is proof that operators have really listened to consumer wants and needs and made appropriate changes.

It should get even better once the FDA imposes its planned nutrition labeling laws – coming later this year – that will apply to restaurants and other retail food establishments. This way we’ll be able to see exactly what’s in our plates, and hopefully make the right choice when deciding what to order. If you’re like me, you may run screaming out of the restaurant after seeing the calorie counts on your favorite foods!

Then there are those of us who take the time to cook; and we all know how challenging that can be, even without having to consider where our ingredients come from. That’s actually the most important part of the process. Here are a couple of places where you can find some nice fresh produce to stock the fridge in your Chicago rental:

Stanley’s Fruit & Vegetables at 1558 N Elston Ave in Noble Square is always a good choice, even if you’re not of the neighborhood and need to drive over. The prices are very reasonable and there is a large selection of organic produce, fresh fruit and veggies, bakery, deli meats, milks and cheeses, and even Greek items and pastas. All you need for cooking a delicious meal! Make sure you save a little room for the homemade sweet potato chips, they’re just awesome.

Green City Market at 2430 N. Cannon Dr. in Lincoln Park – Sustainably grown food at excellent prices, and Green City also educates customers on how to eat and live healthily through chef demonstrations and tastings. I for one would never say no to that marvelous rhubarb tart (rhubarb is also a strong laxative and can be used as a dieting aid). For a detailed calendar of upcoming events, click here.