Looking for a little guidance through this month of oh-so-many expectations? Try these 9 easy tweaks and enjoy better-for-you-food without overhauling your life.
1. House Rule: Always eat a green salad when you eat pizza.

Looking for a little guidance through this month of oh-so-many expectations? Try these 9 easy tweaks and enjoy better-for-you-food without overhauling your life.
1. House Rule: Always eat a green salad when you eat pizza.
Hope you planned ahead and are not dashing through the snow trying to hang the stockings with care at the last minute on this Christmas Eve!
Our stores are full of Christmas spirit and can be a fun place to catch the holiday bug if it hasn't bitten you yet.
Learn how to create sexy, smokey eyes—without putting suspicious ingredients on your sensitive lids.
I love New Year’s Eve because I love old-school glam. A velvet cape inherited from grandma? Perfect! A silver lamé frock from a thrift store? Uh-huh! Rhinestone earrings? Feather boa? Sequined evening bag? Yes, yes, yes! Everything is permitted on New Year’s, as long as it’s glittery and elegant and fun.
If you’re reading this, the good news is that we’re still here and the Mayans just ran out of space on their calendar. Moving on to more important things like Christmas and 2013...
Gathering together and sharing food is a big part of the holidays, and it can be easy to overindulge on all the tasty treats that are available. Luckily, if you’re looking for alternatives to the standard fare, we’ve got options.
Our Health Starts Here® recipes celebrate naturally flavorful whole foods, and even in wintertime there are plenty of delicious options for the holiday table. Try adding a few of these dishes to your festive feast.
Sure, you’ve probably already cruised by the cookie jar more than a few times this week, but have you thought about what to serve as your dessert centerpiece for your Christmas celebration?
Whether your taste buds are longing for something decadent or something light (or you just want another excuse for pie), we’ve got the recipes for you. Set your dessert table with a few of these options:
Christmas Eve means a lot of things to different people, but to those of us who celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci), it’s always meant fresh, delicious seafood (and maybe an early present or two). The Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition of serving seven courses (or more!) of fish and seafood on Christmas Eve.
The holiday entertaining season is in full swing! I love getting together with friends to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s – not only because I get to see people I love, but because there’s always plenty of nibbles.
Parties featuring small bites instead of full meals make for a relaxed atmosphere and allow for a wide variety of foods. There’s always something to make every palate happy, and the small portions make it easy to visit with friends instead of being stuck at a table for a five-course dinner.
This year is our first Christmas at home, and we’re excited to start our own family traditions with our three-year old... and he’s excited about cookies for Santa!
Sure, there are baking sheets full of cookie recipes for you to tackle. But if you enjoy eating cookies more than you enjoy baking them, this store-bought solution will still please Santa (and all his little helpers): 365 Everyday Value ® Holiday Cookies in festive once-a-year flavors.
Shopping for my family during the holidays is a cinch, but when it comes to my furry family members, gift-giving becomes one big guessing game.
The two words “Christmas dinner” evoke memories of happy meals around a large table, with family members not seen all year long. Piles of warm rolls, tender green beans, potatoes dripping with gravy, and the centerpiece ham – my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Navigating holiday foods doesn’t have to be difficult for those with special dietary needs. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a spectacular meal suitable for many food preferences.
We’ve gathered some of our favorite holiday gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.
Gluten-Free Recipes
From the traditional latke to tender brisket, the comforting flavors of Hanukkah are an important part of the season. Whether you’re setting your table for a large gathering or just a small meal, here are our suggestions for a delicious Hanukkah.
Think outside of the box when it comes to gifts. Instead, fill jars to the brim with homemade delights or the ingredients for a favorite recipe.
Simply stock up on glass jars (make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize them) and set aside an afternoon to assemble several gifts at once.
They’re so pretty you don’t even have to wrap them. Just seal the jars, add a scrap of festive fabric on top, if you want, then secure with string or ribbon and add a gift tag. Most of our “gifts from the kitchen” recipes include a printable gift tag.
A generous sprinkle of salt and pepper and a brush of butter are delicious and may be all you desire on your turkey. Many of us like to take it a step further to ensure a memorable flavor. Brining is an easy way to do just that. .
Brine
When it comes to Thanksgiving, my family’s creed is “The more the merrier!” We’re not just talking about guests here – we mean the food! Turkey Day leftovers, from a classic turkey sandwich to mashed potato fritters, are a big part of our holiday enjoyment.
Do you love reliving the Thanksgiving meal just as much as we do? Or are you dreading the stacks of reusable containers filling your fridge on Thursday night? Either way, there are plenty of ways to enjoy those leftovers without making your plate look like another pass at the buffet table.
Turkey
The turkey might get all the attention for Thanksgiving, but I’d much rather fill my plate with a variety of amazing sides. After all, isn’t part of the point of a Thanksgiving banquet to taste as many dishes as possible, from Grandma Ruth’s cherished sweet potatoes to your foodie cousin’s new twist on stuffing?
If you’re looking for some stunning sides to round out your holiday table, we’ve got lots of options. Here’s a few of my favorites:
Picture the perfect holiday, surrounded by your most cherished family members in cozy homes filled with joy, celebration and good tidings as adults laugh, children play and treasured memories are created.
This holiday season, don’t get caught off guard with guests who have food allergies, sensitivities or any number of special dietary needs that are so prevalent these days.
Welcome to Whole Story, the official blog of Whole Foods Market. Don't know us? In a nutshell, we are the world’s leading natural and organic grocer and we’re passionate about healthy food and a healthy planet. Learn more about us.
We’re lucky to have a whole bunch of smart, passionate people doing incredible things in areas like organics, supporting local growers, green practices, fair trade, micro-lending and all kinds of food related stuff. We’ll use this blog to share some of the cool things going on around here.
Of course what makes this blog really exciting is YOU — so join the conversation!