As promised, I am publishing an article on good belly dancer nutrition, although this is good advice for everyone! Please keep in mind that I am by no means a nutrition expert, I am merely advising from my own personal experience, research, discussion with people who actually DO know what they are talking about, and the one semester of a nutrition based biology class I took in college. Please make sure you consult with an expert before you start any kind of diet or eating plans.
That being said, one of the most important things to consider when eating is where your food is coming from. In the great abbyss of the super market, usually there is no way to tell and if you have ever seen Food Inc you can only have nightmares about it.
So whats one alternative? Shop at your local Farmers Markets. In Chicago we are really lucky to have so many to choose from and the summer market season is upon us. Here is a day by day guide to Chicago Farmers Markets:
SUNDAYS
7 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Beverly Farmers Market, 95thStreet and Longwood Drive (southeast corner of parking lot)
Debuts May 16
8 a.m.-1 p.m.: Erie Street Farmers Market, 500 W. Erie St.
Debuts June 6
New this year: Crepes! Also available at Daley Plaza (May 20 and later), Division Street and Lincoln Square Markets
8 a.m.-2 p.m.: Wicker Park & Bucktown Farmers Market, Wicker Park and Damen Avenues (Wicker Park)
Debuts June 6
New this year: Handmade English-style bangers from Spencer’s Jolly Posh British & Irish Foods, available raw (frozen) or cooked for on-site snacking. Also available at Lincoln Park market.
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Independence Park Farmers Market, Independence Park (3945 N. Springfield Ave.)
Debuts June 13. Bi-weekly market: June 27; July 11, 25; Aug. 8, 22; Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10.
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Glenwood Sunday Market, Glenwood and Morse Avenues
Debuts June 6
Live music and entertainment at every market, including Renaissance faire reenactments and medieval food demos from the Empire of Chivalry and Steel on five separate dates.
9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Pilsen Community Market, 1800 S. Halsted St. (Chicago Community Bank Parking Lot)
Debuts June 13
Home of Yvolina’s Tamales, giant tamales stuffed with everything from tofu (vegan) to green mole and chicken. Warning: They sell out fast!
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Logan Square Farmers Market, southeast corner of Logan Boulevard and Milwaukee Avenue
Debuts June 6
TUESDAYS
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lincoln Square Farmers Market, Lincoln/Leland/Western Avenues (parking lot next to Western Brown Line “L” station)
Debuts June 8
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Federal Plaza Farmers Market, Adams and Dearborn Streets
Debuts May 17
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Prudential Plaza Farmers Market, Lake Street and Beaubien Court
Debuts June 8
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Museum of Contemporary Art/Streeterville Farmers Market, Chicago Avenue and Mies van der Rohe Way (MCA Plaza)
Debuts June 8
WEDNESDAYS
7 a.m.-noon: Pullman Farmers Market, 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue (Arcade Park)
Debuts June 23
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Green City Market, 1795 N. Clark St. (southwest corner of Lincoln Park)
Debuts May 12
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: South Shore Farmers Market, 70thStreet and Jeffery Boulevard (ShoreBank Parking Lot)
Debuts June 9
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Seaway Bank Farmers Market, 87th Street and Langley Avenue (National Bank parking lot)
Debuts July 14
3-6 p.m.: Avondale Farmers Market at Concordia Place, 3300 N. Whipple St.
Debuts May 26. Monthly market: June 23, July 21, August 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17
3-7 p.m.: Lawndale Farmers Market, Green City Youth Farm (3555 W. Ogden Ave.)
Debuts July 7
3-8 p.m.: Andersonville Farmers Market, Berwyn Avenue and Clark Street
Debuts June 23
THURSDAYS
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Hyde Park Farmers Market, 52nd Place and Harper Avenue
Debuts June 3
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Eli’s Wright College Farmers Market, 6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive (Eli’s Cheesecake Co. parking lot)
Debuts June 17
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn Streets
Debuts May 13
Don’t miss the annual Chef Challenge (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 5), where local chefs compete to create a winning dish using market ingredients.
7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Willis Tower Plaza, 233 S. Wacker Drive
Debuts June 17
8 a.m.-1 p.m.: Uptown Farmers Market, 4646 N. Marine Drive (Weiss Memorial Hospital)
Debuts June 24
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Englewood Farmers Market, 63rd St. and Lowe Avenue
Debuts June 24
4-8 p.m.: Lincoln Square Evening Farmers Market, Lincoln and Leland Avenues
Debuts June 17
Coincides with the Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series (6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, Giddings Plaza, 4731 N Lincoln Ave.) Series begins June 17 with Sons of the Never Wrong.
SATURDAYS
7 a.m.-noon: Austin Farmers Market, Madison Street and Central Avenue (Emmet Math, Science & Technology Academy parking lot)
Debuts July 10
7 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Green City Market, 1795 N. Clark St. (southwest corner of Lincoln Park)
Debuts May 15
Host of the Green City Market Chef’s BBQ (6-8 p.m. July 15, $100).
7 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Bridgeport Farmers Market, 35th and Wallace Streets (parking lot)
Debuts June 12
The only new City of Chicago market for 2010, launching full-force after a successful 2009 pilot season.
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Division Street Farmers Market, Division and Dearborn Streets
Debuts May 15
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lincoln Park Farmers Market, Armitage Avenue and Orchard Street (Lincoln Park High School Parking Lot)
Debuts May 15
7 a.m.-1 p.m. North Center Farmers Market, Belle Plaine/Damen/Lincoln Avenues (North Center Town Square)
Debuts June 19
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Printers Row Park Farmers Market, Dearborn and Polk Streets (Printers Row Park)
Debuts June 19
7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Southport Green Market, 1420 W. Grace St. (Blaine School)
Debuts June 12
8 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bronzeville Community Market, 4500 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Debuts June 5
New this year: Sweet corn and cut flowers from Twin Garden Farms!
8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Rowan Trees Farmers Market, 501 W. Englewood Ave.
Already in progress
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Avondale Farmers Market at Carl Von Linne School, 3221 N. Sacramento Ave.
Debuts June 26. Monthly market: July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: 61st Street Farmers Market, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. (The Experimental Station)
Debuts May 15
Whats in Season at Chicago Farmers Markets?
May: Asparagus – Cabbage – Cherries – Greens – Leeks – Lettuce – Onions – Peas – Radishes – Rhubarb – Spinach – Sprouts – Squash
June: Apples – Asparagus – Beans – Berries – Cabbage – Carrots – Cherries – Eggplant – Garlic – Horseradish – Leeks – Lettuce – Melons – Nectarines – Okra – Squash
July: Apples – Artichokes – Beans – Bell peppers – Berries – Cabbage – Carrots – Cherries – Corn – Eggplant – Garlic – Grapes – Horseradish – Leeks – Melons – Nectarines – Okra – Onions – Peaches – Pears – Peas – Plums – Potatoes – Radishes – Rhubarb – Squash – Tomatoes – Turnips
August: Apples – Artichokes – Beans – Bell peppers – Berries – Carrots – Cauliflower – Corn – Cucumbers – Eggplant – Garlic – Grapes – Herbs – Horseradish – Leeks – Lettuce – Melons – Nectarines – Okra – Onions – Peaches – Pears – Peas – Plums – Potatoes – Pumpkins – Radishes – Rhubarb – Squash – Sweet potatoes – Tomatoes – Turnips
September: Apples – Bell peppers – Berries – Cabbage – Carrots – Cauliflower – Corn – Cucumbers – Eggplant – Garlic – Grapes – Greens – Herbs – Horseradish – Lettuce – Melons – Nectarines – Okra – Onions – Peaches – Pears – Peas – Plums – Potatoes – Pumpkins – Radishes – Rhubarb – Spinach – Squash – Sweet potatoes – Tomatoes – Turnips
October: Apples – Bell peppers – Cabbage – Cauliflower – Corn – Cucumbers – Eggplant – Garlic – Grapes – Greens – Herbs – Horseradish – Lettuce – Melons – Okra – Onions – Pears – Peas – Plums – Potatoes – Pumpkins – Radishes – Rhubarb – Spinach – Squash – Sweet potatoes – Tomatoes – Turnips
As far as I know, the Green City Market is the only regularly occurring year round market in Chicago. There are however sporadic one time farmers markets that may take place in local Churches or Community Centers all winter long. Keep Googling for information!
There are also tons of little grocery stores that sell local and organic foods, but that’s for another article on another day. Enjoy Summer Farmers Market Season 2010!!!
Thanks to Kathleen Pratt of MetroMix Chicago for compliling this list of markets.
