Philly Food Lovers' New Year's Resolutions

Depending on whom you ask,  80-92% of New Year's Resolutions fail by Valentine's Day.  The why is complicated and far beyond the scope of our expertise.  Rather than dwell on these dismal figures, we decided to create a list of achievable  resolutions.   Naturally, they focus on food......Here they are; our 2011 New Year's Resolutions.  We welcome further suggestions from you!

 1.  Eat less chocolate - but improve the quality of the chocolate you eat. (See, we said it would be attainable.  We're not going cold turkey for heaven's sake; a foodie's gotta live!)   Studies show that the higher the percent of cocoa in the chocolate you eat, the more satisfying it is.  So stop by the Pennsylvania General Store to buy fine quality choccies--we love the dark chocolate Wilber Buds, pictured here.  These make a great Valentine gift..along with tickets to Valentine to the Market, of course.

2.  Eat More Fish--We've discussed the health benefits of fish before.  With the plethora of options available at the Market, eating fish once a week is infinitely doable.  So let's do it! 

3.  Experiment--try a new ingredient, a new preparation, a new recipe.  Personally, I can't wait to try Chef Jon Jividen of 12th St. Cantina's Salmon with Beurre Rouge--he shatters the taboo on red wine with fish.  Look for recipe here soon!

 4.  Eat Locally--Ok, we admit that January is not an ideal month for those residing in the northern hemisphere to embark on a campaign to consume locally grown fresh produce.  You won't find the variety that Archimboldo used to create the vegetable-man pictured here.  But the Fair Food Farmstand is a great source for locally grown and produced items--some vegetables and fruits are still available, and of course, meats, eggs, milk and cheeses, all from local farms, are plentiful.

5.  Eat more fresh produce, in season if possible--squash, potatoes, mushrooms, cranberries, and apples are still available from local growers.  A wider array from farther afield is, of course, on offer by the Market's merchants. 

6.  Try new types of cuisine.    The Market is an international smorgasbord; restaurants feature cuisines from Japan to New Orleans and everything in between,  so be adventurous!   With the $7.00 meal deal, there's no excuse to stick with the same old, same old.  We know that Gov. Ed Rendell, Honorary Chair of the Valentine to the Market, has availed himself of the generous lunch offerings.   Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, you can't disagree with Ed on that!

7.  Go vegetarian once a week.  Ok, we love our short ribs and  fried chicken, too, but abstaining from meat once a week is good for you and good for the environment.  Not conversant in the ways of vegetarian cookery?  Go for takeout at the Basic 4 Vegetarian Snack Bar.

8.  Exercise more.  Walk to the Market--yes, even in the cold weather.  Make that especially in the cold weather--the body burns calories keeping warm, so you may get more out of that walk than just red cheeks!     Better yet, dance the night away at Valentine to Market--dancing burns approx 330 cal/hr so kick up your heels!   Whether it will land you on Dancing With the Stars is anyone's guess; given the recent entrants, well.....maybe we'll let the video do the talking.

9.   Remember to bring your own shopping bags--do we really need to quote figures on landfill contents and the fact that those plastic bags last for 500 years?  Spend $50 at market and get an insulated one free.




10.   Help those less fortunate.  Reading Terminal Market is the largest redeemer of SNAP vouchers (food stamps) in PA.  SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) helps low-income families purchase healthy foods.  By supporting the Market, we are helping ensure that everyone in our community has access to fresh, nutritious food.