Finding the time to fix healthy meals, feeding your family healthy food on a budget, getting your kids interested in eating fresh, non-processed foods – all of it can be a challenge. Check out these local resources for kid-friendly, affordable options. Many of these options will allow your kids to get closer to where their food actually comes from.
Lakewood Earth and Food Community (LEAF)
Lakewood’s Community Supported Agriculture program offers fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce from June through October. Produce pick-up is every Wednesday evening at the Lakewood Public Library on Detroit Avenue, where a festival atmosphere reigns with live music, art shows and guest vendors. Don’t know what to do with that eggplant? Recipes are provided, specific to the seasonal items that are part of the share each week. At the end of the season, they host an autumn harvest festival with lots of fun family activities. LEAF also organizes 150 community garden plots, which can be reserved for a small fee. Families can enjoy the process of growing and tending their own food while building a sense of community with fellow gardeners. For more information about everything LEAF offers, visit their website at www.leafcommunity.org.
Farmer's Markets
• Downtown Farmers' Market
Constantino's Market, 1278 W. 9th St.
Call 216/373-9461
• Tremont Farmers' Market
Corner of Starkweather & Professor
Call 216/575-0920 or visit www.tremontfarmersmarket.com
• Ward 17 Farmers' Market
West 65th St. and West Clinton St.
Call 216/233-8300
• Lakewood Market
North Union Farmers' Market
North of Detroit on Arthur Avenue
Call 216/751-7656 or visit www.northunionfarmersmarket.org
• Crocker Park Market
North Union Farmers' Market
Crocker Park, Westlake, near Trader Joe's
Call 216/751-7656 or visit www.northunionfarmersmarket.org
Nature's Bin
Nature's Bin, at 18120 Sloane Ave., is Lakewood’s natural food store. They offer organic food; vegan and vegetarian grocery items; wellness products; a large selection of bulk items; and gluten free foods. In addition, Nature's Bin is more than just a natural foods store. This comfortable place is really a rehabilitation training facility in disguise. It is operated by Cornucopia, Inc. whose mission is to "help people with disabilities develop their skills, confidence, and workplace potential." Find out more at www.cornucopia-inc.org or call 216/521.4600.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
There are quite a few CSAs within driving distance. Some of them even invite you to work hands-on at the farm as part of your membership. Most identify local drop off points in their members’ communities. Your membership provides the initial seed money for the season, then you reap the benefits all growing season long. Check out www.localfoodcleveland.org/csas for a list of Cleveland area CSAs and get growing!
You-Pick Farms
Here is a list of you-pick farms within a short drive from Lakewood. You can’t beat fresh Ohio berries, corn, peaches, and apples, and it’s valuable for kids to see where their food comes from. Picking (and eating) is a great family activity.
Patterson's Apple Farm has pick-your-own strawberries, apples and pumpkins in Chesterland. For more information call 440/729-1964 or visit www.pattersonfarm.com.
Rosby Berry Farm offers U-Pick red raspberries from mid-August until Halloween, pre-picked produce, restrooms, a play area with a tire swing and a picnic area. Visit www.rosbycompanies.com or call 216/661-6102, ext. 2.
Greenfield Berry Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown farm that features pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries and offers a wide variety of small fruits and vegetables. In addition to strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, elderberries, garlic, fingerling potatoes, sweet potatoes, heirloom pumpkins, and sunflowers for cutting, the farm also offers field trips and educational tours. Visit www.greenfieldberryfarm.com or call 330/657-2924.
Education
The Cedar Center Whole Foods Market at 13998 Cedar Rd. in University Heights offers an Allergy-Friendly Tour for people who cook for someone with special dietary needs. Designed to address general meal planning and daily routines, the tour covers a variety of special diets, including nut, soy, dairy, gluten and vegetarian. Able to be customized based on specific attendees, the tour includes an overview of the entire store and the allergy-friendly options they provide, from meals and beverages to body care products. Attendees are invited to sample select products and leave with useful information and treats. Tours are free, but space is limited; visit customer service or call 216/932-3918 to reserve your spot. See www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cleveland/storecalendar.php for tour dates.
Local foodwriter Marilou Suszko offers a well-designed, informative website with a list of small farms where you can pick up local produce, as well as seasonal recipes and tips for using all those great fruits and vegetables. Visit mariloususzko.com.
Parenting and Food: Eat Your Peas. Or Don't. Whatever. This New York Times article explores the eternal conflict of getting kids to eat healthy without causing anxiety about food. Visit
www.nytimes.com/
UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Food Challenge Clinic offers food allergy testing in a controlled and safe environment. See
www.uhhospitals.org/rainbowchildren/ for more information.
The New York Times' Well Guide offers small steps and simple strategies to improve a child’s well-being in four areas — nutrition, development, playtime and safety. There’s advice on how to raise a healthy, active youngster: tips on diet and behavior, help for problems like insomnia, and the latest thinking on day care, discipline and other topics. Visit www.nytimes.com.
Women Infants Children (WIC)
WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC helps income-eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to five years of age who are at health risk due to inadequate nutrition. They provide nutrition education; breastfeeding education and support; supplemental, highly nutritious foods such as milk, eggs, cheese, juice, cereal, beans, peanut butter and iron-fortified infant formula; referral to prenatal and pediatric health care; and other maternal and child health and human service programs (examples: Head Start, Medicaid and Food Stamps). For more information about Lakewood’s WIC office, call 216/228-2180.
Fast (But Not Bad) Food
There are evenings or weekends in every household when no one has the time or the energy to fix dinner, but you don’t have to resort to fast food chains for a quick and inexpensive solution. Here are a few area hotspots where you can run in and run out with fast, healthy, affordable alternatives to the high-in-sugar, high-in-salt hamburger or taco drive-through.
Heinen's Fine Foods on Detroit Avenue in Rocky River
Sure they have groceries, but they’ve also got delicious, pre-made dinner choices (main and side dishes, plus single servings of dessert) ready to go. They even have a create-your-own stir fry bar, pre-made sandwiches and sushi. There is a bright, spacious indoor eating area on the second floor, and a few tables located on an outdoor patio. Heinen’s is located at 19219 Detroit Road. Call 440/331-3830 or check out www.heinens.com/cnt/DeptPreparedFoods.html for their prepared food menu online.
Giant Eagle on 117th on the border between Lakewood and West Cleveland
If you're on the run, there is no need to sacrifice your appetite. Check out their fresh-made sandwiches, a salad bar with nearly 100 selections, salads to go, wraps, hoagies and paninis. This Giant Eagle is located at 3050 W. 117th Street. Call 216/941-5012 or check out www.gianteagle.com/Article.aspx?cntid=177058 for their prepared food menu online.
Nature’s Bin on Sloane Avenue in Lakewood
Enjoy the taste of homemade food without the work or the waste. The deli at Nature's Bin is filled with a wide selection of freshly prepared foods with an international flair. Vegans and vegetarians will find at least half of their dishes meet their needs. They have at least 10 varieties of homemade soup every day. Their deserts are amazing and some are prepared specially for vegans or those on a gluten-free diet. Nature’s Bin is located at 18120 Sloane Avenue. Call 216/521-4600 or visit www.cornucopia-inc.org.
Souper Market on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood
Voted Best Soup in the City six years in a row, these folks make 12 different all natural (no additives or preservatives) soups daily. They also strive to use chemical and hormone free meats and organic vegetables whenever they can. The Souper Market is located at 14809 Detroit Avenue. Call 216/712-7292 or visit www.thesoupermarket.com for more information.
Liquid Planet on Clifton Avenue, just west of the Lakewood border
“Eat Right, Feel Right!” is the motto at Liquid Planet, 11002 Clifton Blvd. in Cleveland. Menu items include stuffed pitas, salads, rice bowls, soups, smoothies, and fresh-squeezed juices. For additional information call 216/631-2266 or visit www.liquid-planet.com.
Chipotle Mexican Grill on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood
Hungry for Mexican? Instead of “running for the bell” head to Chipotle where you can choose from humungous burritos, burrito bowls, fajita burritos, crispy tacos, soft tacos, or salads, all bursting with fresh, tasty ingredients. Both their pork and their chicken meat is raised naturally and vegetarians won’t be disappointed by the hearty meat-free options available. Top it off at the register with a beer or two for the parents and the lime-drizzled, salty tortilla chips with guacamole, made fresh every day. Chipotle is located at 14881 Detroit Avenue. For more information visit www.chipotle.com or call 216/221-9100
Do you have a great family-related resource, event or tidbit of information that you want to tell us about?
Submissions for the Lakewood Public Library Parent Pages can be emailed to akloss@lkwdpl.org
