IS YOUR PANTRY READY FOR THE “H” WORD?

by duluth, September 29, 2009 | Permalink

Oh, get your mind out of the gutter. The “H” word in question is one that starts to show up more frequently on people’s lips about this time every year. It is a word that harried moms dread and sales-hungry marketers love.  

It’s “holidays.”

Yes, there they are, winking at us from around the corner of the calendar as we turn into October.  It’s time for party planning—Halloween or harvest parties for the little ones, Thanksgiving for the family, Passover and Christmas and New Year’s for the neighbors and long-distance friends and everyone else that wanders through your door. With all the goings-on it’s easy to fall into the trap of convenient food echoing with empty calories and no nutrition.  And if you’ve been working hard on eating healthier this year it’s easy to get discouraged, especially if you’ve done a pantry makeover and invested in fresh foods and wholesome staples.

Never fear! Whole Foods Market Johns Creek is the place where you can stay on track with your healthy eating resolutions, make everyone’s belly happy and save money.  Where to start? Your pantry!  I’ve listed some ideas below to get you started.  Print and tear out this list, then bring it to the store the next time you shop. You’ll have a head start on “H”-word planning!

PANTRY “TWEAKS” FOR THE HOLIDAYS

·         Substitute low sodium chicken or beef broth and canned beans for canned soups: canned soup can be loaded with sodium. Keep low-sodium broth and beans on hand and you control more of the sodium content plus the rest of the soup or stew ingredients.

·         Substitute low sodium canned peeled tomatoes for barbeque sauces: again, you’ll save sodium, plus you can put your own spin on sauces for grilled meats or pasta sauces.

·         Take out one box of sugared cereal and replace it with a box of whole oats:  instead of two sugared cereals, mix your morning breakfast with half a bowl of cereal and half a bowl of whole oats, then add a low-fat milk.  The kids will get their favorite flavors with a fibrous boost that’ll power them all through the school days and into sports, school plays and concerts.

·         Cook, puree and freeze your favorite squash: That way you can stir it into macaroni and cheese. You get an extra vegetable serving that doesn’t throw off the appealing color of the orange-y delicious mac and cheese.

·         Substitute whole wheat breadcrumbs for plain: and you’ll get the extra fiber and whole grain goodness. Use them as coating for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut into planks, then bake them in the oven. They’re great for feeding hungry kids or the crowd in front of the game on TV.

·         Look for our 365 Everyday Value™ Organic Brand:  trade out your high-priced organics for our private label line when you’re baking. We’ve got great values in organic flour, cane sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and pumpkin puree.

·         Easy as (365 Everyday Value™ Organic Brand) pie: Did you know we’ve got a private label frozen whole wheat pie crust? It’s perfect for easy desserts. And if you’re craving a fruit pie, we’ve got organic frozen fruit for the filling. Pick your favorites and fill your freezer. They’re ideal for smoothies in a hurry, too.

One Response to “IS YOUR PANTRY READY FOR THE “H” WORD?”

1. RB Says:
   September 30th, 2009 at 7:54 am

   WOW! It only takes a few little tweaks to make a huge difference! Great job as usual, Nancy!

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