You often hear talk about the latest miracle diet that will help you lose all that weight you swore around New Year's Eve you would lose.

You may not find that miracle diet but if you're looking to trim your waistline, jog over to these stores—you probably won't have to go far.

Starting with Towson markets, Trader Joe's has organic produce, meats and dairy, almond and soy milk and organic cereals as well as alternative choices in pet food, soaps and all-natural cleaning products.

It’s also the only place I know of that carries Dr. Praeger’s All Natural Veggie Burgers, made from a medley of vegetables. They are meat, dairy, and gluten-free. Each “burger” contains 110 calories, 5 grams of fat, 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.

The one thing Trader Joe's lacks that I eat daily are chia seeds. Fortunately, The Health Concern, three blocks away on West Susquehanna Avenue carries them.

Chia contains more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon and holds up to 10 times its weight in water, making it a staple for many athletes. For more information and recipes visit The Natural Remi Teas website (http://www.naturalremi-teas.com/ChiaSeeds.htm).

Fresh Market is also moving into the neighborhood, replacing the old Super Fresh across from Towson Town Center.

Towson’s farmers market runs from June through mid-November on Allegheny Avenue between York Road and Washington Avenue, 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m, every Thursday.

Raw food is also becoming more mainstream as people become more aware of longevity diets and foods that cause disease. Zia’s Café has an extensive raw food menu, which means foods are only processed in temperatures below 115 degrees, in order to preserve the vitamins and minerals in the food.

I hear the new live bagel is out of this world. It's gluten and dairy-free and made from flax seeds, zucchini, olive oil and seasonings. The mixture is dehydrated in an industrial dehydrator for 24 to 48 hours, and as is the case with all the Zia’s live or raw foods, is prepared on-site in the basement.

Zia's also ships its food to other area stores, including MOM's Organic Market in Timonium and Wegmans in Hunt Valley.

“People make a choice three times a day about what they put in their bodies, and health problems are really related to the foods people eat,” says Zia’s manager Luke Forand.  “We want to provide conscious options for everyone.” Even meat-eaters will find items to fit their palette as well: smoked salmon, chicken salad and organic roast beef are all popular items.

Next week, we’ll explore the health benefits of adding local honey to your daily diet, and hear from local beekeeper Bill McAllen.