A Fresh Approach to Living

New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. But if you live in Acadiana and vowed to go fresh this year, your goals could be easier to reach than you may think. True, the region is known for its heavier cuisines and throwing a good party, but with an array of fabulous farmers markets, delicious local produce and stunning natural beauty, Acadiana is a great place to eat fresh, get outside and have fun doing it.

EMBRACE THE WATER
Lafayette native Joe Miceli firmly believes the best way to make the most out of Acadiana life is to turn to the countless waterways that define the region’s landscape. Miceli is an avid boater and longtime employee of Lafayette’s beloved Pack & Paddle store, which he recently bought with his business partner Sophe Probst.

Originally founded in 1974 as a backyard canoe retailer by Joan and Doc Williams, Pack & Paddle has been a community hub for all things outdoors for many years. Today, the store is the go-to destination for rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, fishing and more. But as they’ve grown over the years, Miceli said the store has remained firmly connected to their paddling roots.

“We offer daily kayak tours, which are two-hour paddle trips on Lake Martin, and include a guide, a kayak, paddle and life preserver,” Miceli said. “Our guides are outdoorsmen to the maximum. They grew up outdoors, they’ve been outdoors their whole lives. One of our guides is a birder. One works with Wildlife and Fisheries. So the experience is really fantastic. They know the entire area like the back of their hands, and they’re incredible resources for learning about safely navigating this natural space.”

Miceli said signing up for one of their tours or a “Kayaking 101” class is a fantastic way for beginners to get acclimated to the hobby. For more experienced boaters looking to connect with new people, Pack & Paddle offers monthly community paddles, which he said are a fantastic way to make kayaking and canoeing a more social activity.

“The outdoors are definitely a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of life, and to reconnect with yourself and nature. In that way, it can be a pretty solitary hobby. Having a community to kind of lean on and share a common interest with is huge,” he said. “It definitely makes the experience a lot more worthwhile, and a lot more fun.”

Pack & Paddle is also home base for the Lafayette Paddle Club, which Miceli said organizes activities, boating trips, and more.

For anyone who’s been curious about getting out on the water but doesn’t know where to start, Miceli said that just coming into the store to talk to his staff is a great first step.

“For anyone that is interested in getting outdoors, I would recommend you to come and give it a try. Come give us a call. Come into the store. Talk to us. Be willing to share a new experience, and I’m willing to bet you’ll have a great time,” Miceli said.

For kayakers looking for new places to paddle, Micei said his favorite spots are in Bayou Teche and Lake Martin. Bayou Vermilion, Lake Charlo, Palmetto Island State Park, Atchafalaya Basin and Indian Bayou are all stand-out options as well.

JOIN A FITNESS GROUP
If getting in shape is your driving force, joining a fitness group can be a great option. Aidan Mesche started the Tour de Lafayette running group this year and said the community element has been a huge motivator to keep up with her goals and truly enjoy working out.

Growing up, Mesche lived an active lifestyle but fell out of the habit when she stopped playing sports in college. When her husband, Connor (a life-long cross country runner) suggested she sign up for the Zydeco Marathon, she “thought it was a sick joke.”

“But we kept talking about it, and I did want to get back in shape and thought that having a goal would be helpful to keep me on track,” Mesche said.

Giving herself a 30-day deadline to decide, Mesche started to run, documenting her progress on Instagram along the way.

“I was finding it so lonely to run by myself and I was like ‘I can’t be the only one who feels this way,’” she recalled.

So, Mesche took things into her own hands and started the Tour De Lafayette group on Facebook and Instagram. Less than a year later, the running group has over 40 members, many of whom have either run or are training for their first marathon – including Mesche.

Mesche said their group is open to people of all skill levels, especially beginners.

“Running is really intimidating, and it’s so important to me that Tour de Lafayette is a safe and welcoming place. Our goals are to forge community and to get outside to make a connection with ourselves and our neighbors. It doesn’t matter how fast you are or how thin you are, you won’t get left behind,” she said.

If running isn’t your thing, Mesche still recommends seeking a group setting for whatever your activity of choice is.

“I think that today, more than ever, we have a loneliness epidemic in our country and it’s so important for people to get outside, and connect with people and to find their community,” she said. “I’m really big on positivity and connecting with people and I think that’s something that’s meant a lot to members of this group, myself included. It’s changed my life in the most incredible way possible, because I just have such a newfound appreciation for Lafayette and all the amazing things that this community has to offer.”

Want to join a fitness group but don’t know how? Social media is a great tool. Try searching Facebook for pages related to your interests or check out r/Acadiana on Reddit.

EAT FRESH
Despite being known for its boudin and cracklins, Cajun country is also overflowing with delicious local produce year-round. Yvette Quantz is a Lafayette-based registered dietician with over 20 years of experience in the field of nutrition and wellness. One way she suggests eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is to do at least some of your weekly shopping at a farmer’s market.

“Whatever’s in season is going to be what tastes the best and is the most affordable at any given time,” Quantz said. “By going to the farmer’s market, you’ll see what really is in season in your area. We have some incredible local farmers in the region and that’s one of the best ways to support them, too.”

Quantz’s personal favorite is the Lafayette Farmers Market in Moncus Park on Saturday mornings, but said there are many options around the region to suit your schedule and your location. If your community has a co-op grocery store or a locally-sourced produce box you can subscribe to, Quantz said that’s another wonderful way to support local agriculture and add fresh foods to your diet.

If you have the space and time, Quantz also recommends starting a garden to increase your access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Even if you add just a few edible plants to your yard or garden, that can really make a huge impact,” she said. “Fruiting trees are a great option because they tend to be hardy and produce an abundant crop, as long as you’re choosing the right plant for your environment.”

Gardening is an excellent form of exercise, and Quantz said it can be a fun family activity, especially for picky eaters.

“If you struggle to get your kids to eat their fruits and vegetables, growing them in your garden together can be a really awesome and fun way to encourage healthy eating habits,” she said.

A trip to the farmer’s market together can have a similar effect, Quantz said, even if you don’t have kids.

“There’s something more pleasant about shopping at the farmer’s market, I think,” Quantz said. “It can feel less like a chore and more like a fun activity or a form of self-care.”

If you’re interested in cultivating an edible garden but don’t know where to start, stop by the Lafayette Public Library, which has a free seed library and tons of information about growing your own food. The program launched in April 2023 in partnership with Healthy Acadiana to “reconnect our community to the traditions of growing healthy, delicious food.”

FARMERS MARKETS

Towns and parishes across Acadiana host dozens of farmers markets every week including:

Teche Area Farmers Market Bouligny Plaza
Tuesday, 2­ – 6 pm
Saturday, 7­ – 11 am

Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market Bayou Carlin Cove
First Saturday, 9 am­ – 1 pm

Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market Moncus Park
Every Saturday 8 am – 12 pm

Hub City Farmers Market The Oil Center
Every Saturday, 8 am – 12 pm

Abbeville Farmers & Artisans Market Magdalen Square
Third Saturday, 8 am – 1 pm