The Good Earth

Beautiful fall squash at the Wicker Park farmer's market. I mean, come on. Why wouldn't you eat anything that looks this good?

4. Assists: I don't really enjoy basketball outside of March Madness. 1/4

5. Farmer's Markets: 2/5

6. Organic Food: 3/6

I have a couple of theories, so hear me out, will ya?

Ever since I started coming home to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family, I begun to notice a very pleasant trend. I eat a shitload and do my due diligence as a Chinese person celebrating a 15-day festival. I don't work out as regularly. Each year when I get back to Chicago, I take a deep breath and barely open my eyes when I get on the scale. And each year, I pleasantly discover that I haven't put on any weight despite almost three weeks of debauchery and bacchanalia. Why? It's not like what we eat in Singapore is any healthier. But, a very significant portion of the fresh produce and meat here is exactly that -- fresh. There are little preservatives or chemicals prevalent in what Singaporeans buy at the market and grocery store, so it translates into pretty high quality dishes and pastries and desserts and fried shit. So it takes a lot to put on the pounds, which is not entirely possible, but more challenging, unless you constantly eat out of a package or can.

Secondly, I'm not a health freak but I did use to be a teenager hypochondriac and I like to be smart about what I put into my body. I also believe in supporting independent businesses who take the time to be proud of selling products and services they believe in and nurture. I'm happy to say I haven't eaten chain fast-food (except for Chipotle, but that shit's fresh and organic) regularly in five years -- the last time I had McDonald's was nine months ago and I can't remember when I had any other (oops, maybe A&W by the I-94 in June 2006 when Jiggy and I drove up to Milwaukee to see Him and the Seeger Sessions Band, but cheese curds were in order). If cancer is caused by mutated cells, then why pump into your body unnatural catalysts that could turn the Loch Ness Monster into the Abominable Snowman?

Now, for the fun part. As a result, I 95 percent-exclusively shop at Trader Joe's in Chicago where you can buy organic and free-range for cheap on independent labels. It's like paying $8.99 for the new Albert Hammond, Jr. record (which is fantastic, please buy it) instead of $18.99 for whatever new Paul McCartney monstrosity sold at Starbucks. For my produce, I like to visit local farmer's markets or Whole Foods when I need something specific. How nice to stroll through the Wicker Park, Logan Square, Blaine School, Nettlehorst and Green City markets, and let whatever strikes your fancy dictate your menu for the week. Last summer, I made meals of a lovely chicken mole salad with fresh mango salsa, ostrich burgers with sweet potato fries and primevera pasta with the greenest baby bak choy ever, among other things. All this stuff just feels good sitting in my stomach, and although my grocery bill is usually 40 to 50 bucks a week, which is probably a lot for a person living alone, it's worth it. I do my part to live offa the fatta the land, and ya know what? I fall sick just about once a year, and it's usually just a mild cold I can run through and still be up and about without sniffling much. This isn't bullshit or yuppified consumerism. I don't own a large dog or push a massive Bugaboo stroller, so if I only had one reason for conscious shopping, it's to make organic ice cream to go with a slice of blissful blueberry-peach crumble pie from Lula Cafe (where the menu is also based on what's great at the market any given day).

As John Steinbeck would say, these are the pastures of heaven, my friends.