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Choosing Your Turkey
by aventura, November 13, 2009 | Permalink
Choosing a turkey used to be pretty simple. Figure out how many people were coming to dinner and get the biggest bird possible to feed the crowd. Now it can be pretty daunting. Here’s some advice to help you decide what’s the right turkey choice for you.
The biggest difference for almost any turkey you choose at Whole Foods Market is that they are fresh. Our birds are harvested close to the time of being sold. You may not realize that the FDA allows birds to be harvested in February, kept at 27°F for months and then sold as fresh in November. That’s not what we sell here, but people who are buying our fresh birds for the first time aren’t used to getting turkeys that are really fresh.
Now, you may see ice on our fresh birds because we chill them below 30°F to keep them safe and fresh, but they aren’t frozen. That said, we do offer some value options of frozen turkey, and they are from this year’s harvest, not holdovers from last year like some frozen turkeys sold elsewhere.
So, your first choice is frozen turkey or fresh turkey. Well, actually, your first choice is if you buy your bird from us at all. It’s important to know that all of our turkeys are raised according to our strict quality standards requiring no antibiotics ever, an all-vegetarian diet, no added solutions or injections, and complete traceability to the farm. We think this makes our turkeys a better choice.
Now, what about all those other options: Kosher, Organic, Heritage, Pre-brined, etc? We put together this handy chart to help you figure out what is important to you:
It just makes sense that the more care and time that goes into raising the turkeys, the more they will cost. We bring you a range of options so you can choose a turkey that matches your values and budget.
Oh yeah, one more critically important note! Now that you’ve chosen your turkey, please remember that fresh turkeys cook faster than older ones. You need to plan your feast so the turkey is ready at the same time as the mashed potatoes and dressing!
Enjoy your special dinner!
Students get a fresh taste of Whole Foods Market and Chef Allen’s Restaurant!
by aventura, October 29, 2009 | Permalink
Recently we hosted 35 fourth and fifth grade accelerated students from Crestview Elementary School as part of the American Institute of Food & Wine “Days of Taste” program. The AIWF “Days of Taste” program is a discovery-based program for children to learn about food and how it weaves its way through daily life from the farm to the table.
The children discussed how cheese is made and the many different types we offer!
The children began their day with a tour of Whole Foods Market Aventura led by myself and our own local celebrity, Chef Allen. We discussed topics such as organic farming, the importance of buying local and healthy lunchbox options.
The children listen as Chef Allen explains the role our senses play in our enjoyment of food.
Then the children paired up into teams and shopped for fresh produce and grocery staples which we donated. They then took these items back to Chef Allen’s restaurant where they discusses the five senses involved with foods and assisted Chef Allen in preparing the lunch.
THANK YOU Whole Foods Market!
Thanks to Dan & Phyllis at AIWF for their coordination efforts and to Chef Allen for his enthusiasm and wonderful lunch for the children. They all enjoyed being ‘chef’s for a day’ and are looking forward to another visit soon!
Whole Foods Market Aventura Scores a Hole-in-One for KIDS IN DISTRESS!
by aventura, October 27, 2009 | Permalink
On October 9th, Whole Foods Market Aventura proudly sponsored the Hallandale Beach Golf Tournament at the Diplomat Golf Course, which raised $13,000 to benefit Kids In Distress; a local community-supported agency providing services for the prevention and treatment of child abuse in South Florida.
Although temperatures were well over 90 degrees, players from throughout the community came out to support the cause; including four of our own team members!
We were happy to provide players with lunches, beverages and fresh fruit to keep them hydrated throughout the daylong tournament. One player was so appreciative, they sent an email: “Keep it simple and fun - you achieved that. The boxed lunches were great … they tasted good and were socially responsible. Whole Foods - way to go! I loved that!”
We had a great time participating and our team members are already looking forward to next year’s event!
Kids In Distress is a community-supported agency providing services for the prevention and treatment of child abuse in South Florida. KID’s programs offer a continuum of care and essential services to child victims and children and families at risk for abuse and neglect. KID’s is a local agency open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help children and families in crisis with emergency shelters, and counseling. Services include crisis intervention, foster care and adoption, therapeutic preschool, complete behavioral health services, intensive in-home family preservation services, parent education, domestic violence services, substance abuse treatment, kinship support, supervised visitation, access to medical care and rehabilitative therapies. For additional information, visit: http://www.kidsindistress.org/
Oktoberfest: It was the best of times, it was the ‘wurst’ of times!
by aventura, October 1, 2009 | Permalink
Oktoberfest has been held every year in Munich, Germany for almost 200 years. The first fest was not really a festival, but a celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Luitpold I and Princess Theressa of Bavaria on October17, 1810. Like many modern-day events, the highlight was beer and food—in this case wurst (sausages). These days, an astonishing ten million pints of beer and more than ¾ million sausages are consumed annually at this festival.
Stop by this month and check out our great Oktoberfest selections. From authentic German sausages to new and unique varieties, plus traditional sauerkraut and a very fine lineup of German beers. We’ve got the “best wurst” in town to celebrate the flavors of Oktoberfest!
“The Original Brat Hans” Authentic German Sausages
From Bratwurst to Weisswurst, Knackwurst to Wieners, this is indeed a line of truly authentic German sausages. Created by lifetime sausage maker—butcher Hans from Germany—they are made in small batches to assure the highest quality and consistency.
Hans came from Germany to the U.S. in 1987 and his first job was as a meat cutter at Whole Foods Market. A few years later, he left to start his own business creating sausages. We were sad to see him go, but excited about offering his all-natural sausages in our stores. Then, in 2007 he began crafting a line of authentic German sausages exclusively for Whole Foods Market.
These sausages contain no added nitrates or nitrites, MSG, sugar, fillers or artificial colors or flavors. Just all-natural, quality ingredients with the pure flavors you expect at Whole Foods Market. In fact, they are made exclusively for us from pigs raised on vegetarian feed without antibiotics…you can’t find them anywhere else! Ready, set, toss ‘em on the grill, or try in our Oktoberfest recipes.
A Guide to the Sausages of Oktoberfest
Bratwurst is considered the original German sausage. It has a smooth texture and mild flavor which makes it perfect with Sauerkraut.
Weisswurst (literally: White Sausage) is the official sausage of the Oktoberfest in Munich. Enjoy with Bavarian Pretzel and sweet German Mustard.
Named after the German settling town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This sausage has a coarse texture and a mild flavor. Great with Kraut!
Around 1800, a butcher from Frankfurt moved to Vienna making this sausage, the Frankfurter, with a snappy, crunchy bite!
Knockwurst sausages are traditionally sautéed in vegetable oil until crispy. When you cut into it, you will hear a sound that resembles a “knock.”
International Coastal Clean-Up Day!
by aventura, September 23, 2009 | Permalink
Each year on the third Saturday in September, hundreds of thousands of volunteers comb lakes, rivers and beaches around the world for litter. Last year nearly 400,000 people from 100 countries and 42 US States removed 6.8 million pounds of trash from our waterways.
To honor International Coastal Clean-Up Day, on Saturday October 19th about 30 volunteers; including Team Members from Whole Foods Market Aventura and students from St Thomas Aquinas University, participated in our own community beach clean-up at Hallandale Beach Boulevard & A1A.
International Coastal Clean-Up Volunteers
At our initial glance, the beach seemed to be very clean with no visible litter…
Hallandale Beach - looks pretty clean, but is it?
We broke up into teams of 3-4 people and were given sheets to tally everything we picked up. Did I mention we had to count and tally everything? As we began walking the beach we found that the sand was not as clean as we originally had judged. Actually, in a matter of 3 hours the collective teams picked up over 10K cigarette butts alone. Scary when you consider we were covering a 1.5 mile stretch, a minute fraction of our states coastline.
Many smokers think cigarette butts are small and will break down, but used butts are actually quite toxic. They take up to 15 years to breakdown - but that doesn’t mean they actually biodegrade. Instead, they become tiny filter particles, which clog up ecosystems with even more plastics and man-made junk. Of course, before they break down, butts can also pose risk to animals who mistake them for food.
An estimated 1.7 billion pounds of cigarette butts gum up the world’s waterways a year, delivering nicotine, heavy metals, benzene and other carcinogens, along with plastic fibers. All that nasty stuff in those filters can also enter our drinking water supplies, where it can be tricky to remove (think of second-hand pollution).
A sea-creature crusted lighter pushed in by the tide.
The second item of we consistently found was small bits of plastic. With each wave the tide pushed in endless streams of small plastic bits and Styrofoam. For many Whole Foods Market Team Members who had recently viewed a news clip about the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch‘, the sight was numbing. As Floridians, we are quite proud of our beaches; and many of us were shocked and saddened to see the extent of plastic pollution in our local waterways.
Bits of plastic & Styrofoam flow in with the tide.
These bits of plastic are actually toxic killers. When plastic bottles and trash slowly degrade, they turn into increasingly smaller bits of plastic. Seabirds, fish and turtles mistake these bits for for food which they ingest. As the larger animals and marine life eat the smaller animals, this plastic eventually ends up in the human food supply, too.
Within each incoming wave we found endless bits of plastic entangled with seaweed.
We found many bits of plastic entangled within all of the seaweed we came across.
The data which we collected and recorded was submitted to the Ocean Conservancy. Each year they compile a comprehensive report which details how many pounds of trash were picked up around the world, and what types and sources of litter are impacting our waterways. The results of the dedicated work of volunteers around the globe inspires recycling efforts, and shapes policy decisions from the local to the international level.
Check back here in upcoming months when we post the results of this phenomenal global effort!
Looking for Kosher Poultry?
by aventura, September 18, 2009 | Permalink
We got it! That’s right, just in time for the Jewish High Holy Days, we now offer a new line of certified kosher chicken and turkey.
These new products are provided by Kosher Valley™, a new certified kosher brand from Hain Celestial Group (Hain Pure Protein), and are certified by Rabbi Yechiel Babad and the Orthodox Union. Kosher Valley’s antibiotic-free kosher line is one of the first of its kind in the United States.
According to Kosher Valley, many steps in kosher poultry processing are still performed by hand. Specially trained rabbinical inspectors check each bird ensuring that it is of the highest quality and processed in accordance with the kosher standards of cleanliness, purity and wholesomeness. All Kosher Valley poultry is hand-salted, inside and out, to remove blood since meat with blood in it is considered non-kosher. After salting, each bird is soaked three times in icy water to thoroughly cleanse the bird and remove the salt.
Like all poultry sold at our stores, the new Kosher Valley products must also meet our strict standards requiring that the birds are raised on a vegetarian diet with no antibiotics. Looks for kosher poultry in our stores now, including fresh and frozen whole young turkeys, ground turkey, fresh and frozen chicken, and tray packs of both turkey and chicken.
Don’t be an egghead; take a crack at reducing the cost of a satisfying meal.
by aventura, September 17, 2009 | Permalink
Don’t be an egghead; take a crack at reducing the cost of a satisfying meal. In the newest Whole Story Blog post, The Value Guru Cracks the Egg.
The Value Guru Cracks the Egg
by Susannah Simone, September 16th, 2009 | Permalink | Email this
I’m not one of those people who love breakfast, but I do truly appreciate the power of the humble egg. With the exception perhaps of bananas, eggs are presented in the most perfect package nature provides. They cook quickly. They are versatile. They have just enough flavor to stand on their own, yet combine with other flavors wonderfully. Best of all, the egg is one of the most affordable sources of high-quality protein. Here are some of my favorite ways to take advantage of the nutritional and financial benefits of eggs. Most are probably obvious, but maybe you’ll pick up a new idea or be inspired to save some money by making a meal around eggs more often.
Breakfast Tacos are a staple food item in my opinion. For two soft tacos, it only takes one scrambled egg when you combine it with other ingredients to make a nutritious and portable breakfast. Again, I use what I have on hand and quickly microwave or sauté as needed: spinach, zucchini slices, bell pepper, tomato, potato, onion, black beans, cheese, rice, bacon, sausage. I’ve even pulled a few frozen French fries from the bag! You don’t need much of any one ingredient. Just roll ‘em all up in warmed tortillas with salsa or a sprinkle of hot sauce.
Scrambled Eggs and Omelets are perfect for using up small bits of leftover cheese, vegetables and meats or smoked fish. One of my favorite omelets uses broccoli-I simply thaw a few frozen florets in the microwave or in a bowl of warm water, and then chop it up-along with onion and cheese. 
Dress up the cooked omelet by drizzling with a little sour cream mixed with lemon juice. I also love scrambled eggs with a bit of neufchâtel cheese and flakes of smoked salmon. (In most of our stores you can buy just a small amount of smoked salmon from the full-service seafood case.)
Fried Rice is another one of those catch-all, use-up-the-leftovers meal. But somehow it seems more like a special dish than a cop out. Learn to make it well with the desirable texture and seasoning. It usually starts by cooking a thin crepe-type layer of beaten egg that is removed from the wok or pan, rolled up and sliced into strips that you will toss back into the dish just before serving. Yum.
An Egg Sandwich can be as simple as a fried egg between toast, as mainstream as a homemade version of the fast food muffin sandwich or as sophisticated as the open-faced, fork-and-knife Eggs Benedict. Recently, I made a sandwich of sliced hard-boiled egg with tomato and basil from my garden and a little mayo on toast. And don’t forget egg salad, especially with a few leaves of flavorful arugula or crisp lettuce.
Pasta dishes can use eggs in a variety of ways. There’s pasta salad with hard-cooked egg, raw eggs cooked into Pasta Carbonara and egg yolk used to thicken some other pasta sauces. I’m partial to finely chopped hard-cooked egg as a condiment for pasta with pesto. Offer other self-serve condiments, too, such as chopped olives, tomatoes and nuts. A really fun, filling and budget-friendly meal, even for company!
Quiche and Deviled Eggs are true budget friends for parties and potlucks. People love them so much they would never even think about how little money you spent on your contribution to the gathering. And you can come up with some really delish additions to these that will make them seem even more special. For example, I really enjoy the pleasant surprise on people’s faces when they discover I use a dash of pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika) on my deviled eggs instead of the usual plain paprika that seems to only add color. Get creative!
Salad is made more filling when hard-cooked egg is chopped and tossed in or left in halves for a nice presentation. Caesar salad dressing mashes boiled egg or whisks in raw egg to “cook” in the lemony dressing. We make a meal of Caesar Salad in my house with some pita toasted with olive oil and Parmesan on the side instead of croutons in the salad.
Got any egg-cellent ideas of your own? I’m sure you do. Let’s hear ‘em!
Healthy Tip: Sleep Well
by aventura, September 14, 2009 | Permalink
Originally posted by Alana Sugar, September 7th, 2009 | Permalink | Email this
Do you ever wake up feeling less than refreshed after what should have been a good night’s sleep? If so, move over! Falling asleep and staying asleep is a widespread problem. Stay tuned, though, there may be a few natural and relaxing strategies you can employ to help set the mood for a good night’s snooze.
When I first began researching this blog post, I wanted a scientific explanation as to why we need to sleep in the first place. I went digging around for the answer and learned something surprising: Scientists can tell us exactly why we need to eat, drink and move around, but they don’t know exactly why sleep is so critical to our survival.
The good news is that how you live your day can affect how you sleep at night. For example, your dietary habits, level of exercise, daily stress levels and caffeine or alcohol intake, as well as medications, hormone changes and illness can all affect the quality of your sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, most adults need between seven and eight hours sleep each night. During deep sleep, our bodies restore themselves. Scientists believe during that time, our bodies regenerate and help the healing process such as repairing tissues and releasing hormones.
Here are some simple strategies to help you get a good night’s sleep.
- Keep regular hours. Over time, this trains your body to sleep and wake close to the same times daily.
- Get regular exercise. It may be best to exercise early in the day since evening exercising may be too energizing for some people.
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening as this can affect sound sleep. (Check back next week for my post all about caffeine.)
- Avoid going to bed on a full stomach; this can cause digestive distress and keep you up at night.
- But don’t go to bed really hungry either! Have a light snack if needed: a small glass of warm milk, a little piece of fruit, or a few whole grain crackers.
- Don’t drink too much water or other liquids before bed-time as this often requires middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom.
- Keep your diet as healthy as possible with a focus on whole foods – fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, proteins and healthy fats. Avoid junk foods, heavy fried foods, sugary sweets and desserts as these can tax the digestive system.
- Create a natural winding-down period by keeping to quiet activities for a couple of hours before bedtime.
- A small cup of chamomile tea after dinner may help you begin the relaxing process.
- Read a book or listen to soft music.
- Try some gentle yoga stretches.
- Enjoy a warm bath at night. Often, warm water helps relax the muscles from a stressful day.
- Try some comforting and relaxing essential oils, such as lavender and chamomile. A few drops on an eye pillow or cotton ball at night may help you relax into a peaceful sleep.
- You also may enjoy a soothing foot massage with a little lavender oil.
- Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature. For many people, it’s easier to sleep in a cooler temperature. Try using a fan.
- Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable – not too firm or too soft.
- Be sure to keep your bedroom quiet and dark when sleeping.
- Try a natural, safe homeopathic remedy for calming and sleeping. Check with our Whole Body Team Members for recommendations.
Remember that lots of people have periodic nights when sleep seems to elude them. If you have trouble on an ongoing basis, though, it may be worth consulting a qualified health care practitioner for further advice.
Got a good tip for a good night’s sleep? I’d love to hear.
Recycled Phones Saving Seniors at Whole Foods Market
by aventura, July 15, 2009 | Permalink
All across the country, seniors that take the AARP driver refresher course are in for a treat. At the end of the class, they’re now being asked if they have a cell phone.
If the answer is no - SECURE THE CALL is providing a free phone that they can keep in their car and use in case of an emergency. And just where is SECURE THE CALL getting the extra 1,000 plus phones a month that they give away? - from over 210 Whole Foods Market stores that are now hosting cell phone collection barrels.
Bring in your used cell phones any day of the week and drop them in our collection barrel near our exit door. Not only are you recycling, but you may be saving a life!
Kids Club - Save the Sea Turtles!
by aventura, July 11, 2009 | Permalink
Today we had a very welcome addition to our regularly scheduled Kids Club. Live reptiles from The Museum of Discovery & Science in Ft. Lauderdale!
As part of our summer long support of their Sea Turtle Hatchling program, Matt Fruitman came out and shared some amazing facts with us about Sea Turtles and other reptiles.
We learned about the diet and lifespan of Sea Turtles. Did you know that a favorite food of Sea Turtles is Jellyfish? Or that some species may live to be 80 years old?
We also learned about some of the dangers which threaten Sea Turtles. Some of which include environmental pollution, such as plastic bags. Many sea turtles die when they eat things like plastic bags, which when floating in the ocean, probably look like jellyfish to them.
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Sea Turtle shells, eggs and a skull from the Museum of Discover & Science
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Baby alligator, saved from poachers
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"Tracks" a Box Turtle makes new friends!
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Matt & "Teddy", a Ball Python
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Painting Ocean Sun-Catchers at Whole Foods Market Aventura!
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Isaac and his amazing Sea Turtle sun-catcher!
In addition to amazing Sea Turtle shells and eggs, Matt brought along a few friends. “Tracks” the Box Turtle and “Teddy” the Ball Python. However, the star of the day was a baby alligator who was rescued from poachers. After being handled by humans, he was unable to be returned to the wild. The Museum of Discovery & Science currently houses him and as he grows he will be sent to a local alligator sanctuary.
After Matt’s presentation we created ocean animal sun-catchers, and of course, the day’s favorite choice was the Sea Turtle!
If you missed this event, stop by the store next Saturday, July 18th. Matt and his scaly friends will be here from 9am - 5pm and you are welcome to come by, take pictures and find out what you can do to save our oceans and the beautiful animals in them.
Visit our FACEBOOK page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aventura-FL/Whole-Foods-Market-Aventura/104243442428#/pages/Aventura-FL/Whole-Foods-Market-Aventura/104243442428 to view the entire album, and to be notified of other upcoming Kids Events at Whole Foods Market!
