CHICAGO, Ill. — With recent studies showing the increase in obesity, the healthy trend for weight loss success and good nutrition is to reduce processed food intake and search out fresh fruit and vegetable alternatives.

Dr. David Steward, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, said, “Obesity is like an epidemic. It acts like an infection spreading through the population; people are susceptible. Fat is sort of an organ that makes a lot of difference in general health.”

Some of the steps for good heath, he said, are simple: avoiding processed foods and eating fresh fruits and vegetables that are filling and rich in fiber. Planning meals and using food in season can help with cost and offer better fare. “Food journaling may also help you keep track,” Steward added.

While it is easier for those living in rural communities to have their own gardens and grow fresh fruit, what about those in urban settings? In Chicago, there are several farmers’ markets where residents can purchase healthy, locally grown food and help meet the nutritional requirements of their families.

Until the end of October, the Federal Plaza Farmers’ Market, located at the corner of Adams & Dearborn, is open every Tuesday. One vendor, Misericordia’s Bakery, offers a sweet option that is also a helping choice. This bakery offers children and adults with developmental disabilities programs, one of which is working in the bakery. Jobs vary from scooping chocolate chip cookie dough to preparing orders for shipping. Check out its website at www.misericordia.com

The Federal Plaza Market is just one of the markets that bring more than 70 vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers to neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago. To learn about more locations of these markets, log onto www.explorechicago.org and type “farmers markets” into the Search box at the top right corner.