Are those fit Bethesda moms starting a trend? Recently, living a healthy lifestyle and working out has become very popular in our local community. Fast, casual restaurants, including Sweet Green and Chop’t, have become the habitual dining spots of Stone Ridge girls. Loren Giulieri, ’17, goes to Chop’t “at least once a week.” Chop’t is also a typical place Stone Ridge athletes go to for a healthy snack after sports practices.
Aside from food, Stone Ridge girls often make plans to hike the Billy Goat trail with their friends. Caroline Barry, ’19, enjoys “walking on the canal with her friends and family” and does so regularly.
Farmers’ markets have also taken a turn in past years; more than half of the student body goes to a farmers’ market at least once a month. Though they tend to be expensive, knowing exactly what your food is and where your ingredients come from is doubtlessly worth the often costly price. Found all over the DMV, each farmers’ market sells fresh produce and baked goods from local farmers. In Kensington, local farmers can be found selling their produce every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Dupont Circle Farmers’ Market, open Sundays from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., has become a major trend within the younger crowd. Inés Andrés, ’18, has been “going to the Dupont Circle Farmers’ Market since [she] was born and [keeps] going at least twice a month with friends.” Dupont Circle is easily accessible via the metro, so take some friends next Sunday and travel from Medical Center to Dupont.
Although healthy living sounds good, is it equally healthy for your wallet? Andrés agrees that the produce is a bit expensive, but also “very satisfactory, [knowing] exactly what you are buying and where it comes from.” Chop’t salads cost around 10 dollars each, whereas a meal at McDonald’s may cost less than 5. Even in terms of fitness, a spinning class at Soul Cycle costs 30 dollars, whereas personal exercise is both free and rewarding. There are many alternative manners in which to live a lifestyle that is healthy for both your body and your wallet; those alternatives don’t include spending money on overpriced salads and spinning studio classes.
Instead of paying 30 dollars for a 45-minute intensive workout on an indoor bike, take a walk along the Great Falls canal! Fifteen miles of hiking trails and beautiful scenery lie along the canal. Kayaking and wall climbing are also fun conditioning workouts. Next time you feel that you need a break from writing those FHODs or DBQs, take time to bond with nature on the canal and release those endorphins. The exercise will even help with those history papers; you’ll return to writing feeling rejuvenated and motivated.
In addition, upperclassmen can travel by foot instead of by car in order to improve their health. Upperclassmen can relinquish those lanyards and, if not too far, walk as transportation.
If walking isn’t your cup of tea, Gym 2 at Stone Ridge, the newly renovated fitness room, is a very popular workout place for students during free periods or students who want to exercise after school.
Remember, those delicious Sweet Green salads are not the only healthy options in the DMV. Next time you’re planning a lunch date with some friends to Chop’t, go to a Farmers’ Market and make your own salad with fresh, reliable lettuces and locally grown produce. The Dupont Circle Farmers’ Market is easily accessible via the metro, the C&O Canal is only a 20-minute car ride away, and the weight room is just a couple hundred steps away.
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