Live well....eat well: UC Irvine Area Farmers Market

Like most things, there is endless debate about how much healthy eating makes positive contributions to your health. For every article you read about the benefits of drinking organic juices, for example, there is another article that says not to drink juice at all. But, as an officially seriously ill person, my personal opinion is that when I eat well, I feel better. That does not preclude the occasional treat, but eating and drinking fresh, homemade, organic products definitely seem to me to be a good choice.

On Saturday mornings (8am-Noon) Irvine hosts what is arguably the best farmers market in Orange County. Formerly housed in a shopping center parking lot at UC Irvine, the market has recently moved down the road into the Mariners Church parking lot at 5001 Newport Coast Dr. The produce at this market is so insanely popular that you will spot not only a wide range of general patrons, but a number of professional chefs who show up each Saturday morning to stock up on awesome foodstuffs for the following week.

Since we were pretty well stocked already, this weeks haul focused largely on juice. We bought both organic orange juice and organic blood orange juice for only $4 a bottle, as well as individual serving size bottles of apple-cherry organic cider, and apple-pomegranate juice. There was also an awesome stand that sells small batch salsas, both green and red, that are fresh, flavorful and all around amazing. We also picked up a dozen organic, free range eggs for under $5. The 'occasional treat' for this week was an amazing cinnamon roll covered in maple frosting, from the donut stand that makes amazingly fresh, gourmet quality donuts.

This farmers market is not only a great source of good food, but a great excuse to make a short excursion out of the house without too much strain and effort for those of us currently disabled by drastic illness. Since chemo will be starting soon, I may not make it out much for a few months, so all of you need to go check it out and support this market in my absence.