How to Use Fruits & Veggies to Get More Exercise

It’s no secret: Fresh fruits and veggies are great for you! We’ve been talking a lot recently about seasonal produce and about how choosing fresh, local produce as often as you can is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep your healthy eating options interesting. 

But did you know fruits and veggies can actually help you MOVE more too?

I’m not talking about the steps you get walking from the parking lot to the farmers’ market (although those steps certainly count, too!). I’m talking about the magic of Pick-Your-Own Farms.

Why You Should Visit a Pick-Your-Own Farm

Do you have Pick-Your-Own Farms where you live? My guess is that you almost certainly do. In case you haven’t been to one though, A Pick-Your-Own Farm is just a farm that grows a certain type (or sometimes a few types) of produce and allows the public to come in and pick their own produce. You generally pay for your fruits and veggies based on weight or volume, and since you’re doing the labor of picking, this can be a great way to save a little money on fresh produce.

In addition to saving a few bucks though, Pick-Your-Own Farms are ALSO a great way to get in a super fun, unique workout. Turns out, a lot of bending, stretching, squatting, and walking goes into picking fruits and veggies! Even if you only need a small quantity of whatever you’re picking, the farms are usually sprawling, lovely properties where you can easily get in a long, pleasant stroll and take in some new scenery. Plus, many feature play areas for your kiddos. It doesn’t get much better than that!

I know this advice is simple and straightforward, but that’s what makes it great. After all: Living a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be complicated! When you can find lighthearted, fun ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into your everyday life, you make keeping up a healthy lifestyle that much easier for yourself and your family.

If you have any tips about the best Pick-Your-Own Farms in your area—or even better, pictures of your family enjoying a day out picking fruits and veggies!—I’d love to see them. Drop yours in the comments section below.

I hope summer’s treating you well and that you find ample opportunity to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather in the next week. My wish for you is that you live a life you love without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass of wine with dinner. Happy picking!