Eating Healthier, Eating At Home

After years of more people dining out, studies show an increase in the number of people cooking and eating at home. Along with that, farmers' markets that sell local produce are also becoming more popular.

The fresh vegetables and other goodies were out at the Sioux Empire Farmers' market in the K-Mart parking lot on West 12th Street.

"More and more people are looking for local produce," Linda Krsnak said.

Linda Krsnak has been selling at farmers' markets for a decade.

"Attendance has gone up significantly. In the last couple years our foot traffic has dramatically increased, especially at our Saturday morning market," Krsnak said.

In fact, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture says vendors sold more than one point three million dollars in products last year.

"I think the best thing is buying from the local producer. You know your grower," Sanford Registered Dietitian Ellen Grimlie said.

Grimlie says you have a chance to ask growers if they used any pesticides or fertilizers. You also most likely won't find processed foods at farmers' markets.

"The American Cancer Society tells us that it's the most important thing to limit processed foods, and I think we are going to hear more about health benefits with heart disease and just overall good health," Grimlie said.

Not only can it be beneficial to buy local produce, but it can also be very helpful to your health to cook at home.

"Then you know what's going in your food. There's no preservatives in there. You are cooking whole foods. The best foods are the foods without labels," Grimlie said.

Foods that Krsnak says have made a big difference in some of her customers' health.

"They have lost weight. Their blood pressure has gone down. Their cholesterol levels have gone down," Krsnak said.

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