If you’re looking for healthy eating in Gainesville, you won’t have to dig deep. The town offers a range of food stores and local supermarkets offering organic products that won’t empty your bank account. The trick is to explore the areas of Gainesville that you’ve never visited in order to get the best bang out of your buck. Places like Lucky’s Market and Ward’s are not immediately recognized by students, but once you’ve lived here for more than a year, you’ll come to realize that the best hidden secrets offer the best deals.
1. Ward’s Supermarket
Ward’s offers a variety of locally grown foods at affordable prices. Are you interested in the Paleo diet but aren’t sure if Wal-Mart or Publix offers organic chicken? Ward’s is probably the right place for you. Ward’s has been around since 1951 and is a family-owned business offering weekly deals that are also available on their website, so you know what’s on sale ahead of time.Location: 515 Northwest 23rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609
2. Lucky’s Market
Lucky’s Market is relatively new to Gainesville and is the only Lucky’s in the state. Like Ward’s, they offer fresh local greens and organic options for healthy living. The store also offers products in bulk for roommates who want to split the groceries. Great deals like large sweet potatoes for 99 cents a pound or two organic kiwis for $1 will not only keep your bank account in check, but also keep your life healthy and vibrant. Make sure to go early in the day if you plan to go because this place gets packed!Location: 1459 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL
3. Trader Joe’s
As one of the better known supermarkets in town, Trader Joe’s has a prime location on Archer Road. The store offers a wide range of organic, kosher and vegan options. Also, if you’re looking for snacks, look no further than their nuts and seeds aisle, which takes up an entire row at the Archer location. Trader Joe’s also offers recipes online, which help college students with tips on what ingredients to buy and what to do with them!
Location: 3724 Southwest Archer Road, Gainesville, FL
4. Union Street Farmers’ Market
The farmers’ market by Bo Diddley Community Plaza is a hub for farm-grown fruits and vegetables. Every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., anyone can enjoy the fresh produce offered by local Gainesville farmers. Prices are affordable for college students with the added benefit of being extra nutritious. Eat healthy and help out local farmers at the same time! Many of the stands also prepare fresh food on the spot, from Asian noodles to empanadas and everything in between.
Location: Union Street in downtown Gainesville
Eating well doesn’t have to be expensive; in fact, with a little research and a lot of dedication, eating nutritious meals at an affordable price is something anyone can do. Visit local places further into the suburbs of Gainesville and you’ll find that eating organic or eating at a cheap price is one of the easiest things you can do. Here’s to healthy living!
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