October on the Horizon

by oakville, September 25, 2009 | Permalink

After a cold and rainy summer, September brought some relief with glorious sunny and warm weather.  One could almost forget that Fall was just around the corner but sure enough here we are about to embark on the last weeked in September and at the store we are gearing up for Thanksgiving.   Fall themed product has been arriving daily and nowhere more visually spectacular than in Produce.  I love the Fall gourds and look forward to them each season.   If the start of October has you thinking about Thanksgiving, stop in our store for the Thanksgiving Menu, order instore or online before October 9th.

Easy Everyday Jobs for Kids

by oakville, September 23, 2009 | Permalink

Well, took my own advice from yesterday and gave my kids some jobs to do.  I should have added a paragraph about parental patience and perhaps my inner Martha was in full mode but not exactly what I was looking for.  I won’t give up and will give it another go, I know in the long run we will all benefit.

Get Your Kids Helping In The Kitchen, it’s Easier Than You Think

by oakville, September 22, 2009 | Permalink

Don’t wait for a special project to get children involved in cooking.   Here is a list of easy, everyday jobs to get them started.

• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Twirling a salad spinner, young kids love this one
• Peeling carrots
• Making salad, tearing lettuce, removing stems from tomatoes, sprinkling cheese
• Shelling peas, a perfect task for all ages

For more ideas and suggestions pick up the Sept./Oct. issue of Whole Foods Market magazine free instore.

SPICE up your life

by oakville, September 21, 2009 | Permalink

Tony the “spice guy” offers his take on the top 5 spices to have in your cupboard. 

1. Black pepper:  Forget the flavourless pepper dust sold in cans, make sure you invest in a good pepper grinder and use freshly ground black peppercorns.
2. Cinnamon:  Best known in baked goods, cinnamon also offers surprising depth of flavour in entrees and vegetable dishes.  Take a sniff to make sure the flavourful oils are still pungent.  If you can’t smell it, you won’t be able to taste it.
3. Cumin:  Used in many Mexican dishes, cumin is potent enough to hold up to roasting and long simmering or try adding a pinch at the very end of cooking.
4. Herb blend:  Two of the more popular are Italian Seasoning and Herbes de Provence, look for intensely aromatic leaves.  Mix 1 part herb blend with 3 parts coarse sea salt for an all-purpose table seasoning.
5. Paprika:  Look for vibrant reddish-orange powder that smells slightly fruity.  Steer clear of the various “hot” versions as they are typically blended with nonpaprika chiles.

More ABC’s for Kids

by oakville, September 18, 2009 | Permalink

Consider introducing a trio of basic dietary supplements:

1. A high quality multi-vitamin ensures a baseline level of nutrition, which is very important when you can’t control what your children are eating during the day.
2. Probiotics found in yogurt or acidophilus tablets are natural bacteria that act as digestive aids.
3. EFAs from flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds may enhance brain function in some children.

See the Sept./Oct. issue of Whole Foods Magazine available in store for more information.

ABC Health Basics for Kids

by oakville, September 17, 2009 | Permalink

School days are here again, and with the threat of H1N1 this Fall, make sure your kids are covered when it comes to health and nutrition.

A good night’s sleep is the starting block to strengthen your child’s immunity levels.  Sleep ties into everything; mental performance, memory, stress levels, even growth and development.  School age children should get 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night.  For your teenager, 9 hours of sleep is optimal.  To help them along, try these tips:

• Limit stimulants such as caffeine and chocolate after 3pm and cut off all snacks 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Keep bedrooms dark, cool and quiet.

For more information pick up the Sept/Oct. issue of the Whole Foods Market Magazine.

Would you like an egg with your wine?

by oakville, September 15, 2009 | Permalink

Now that summer has officially arrived with less than two weeks until Fall, I took a trip to beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake to taste some summer goodness and visit some wineries.  On our list of wineries was Frog Pond Farm, a verified organic winery, whose wines we serve in the Cafe.   We arrived at Frog Pond Farm to be greeted by vines heavy with grapes ready to be picked.  Just off to the side of the tasting room, was a large area where several chickens and a couple of roosters roamed free.   After tasting some delicious riesling which is also available in our store, I couldn’t resist a little sign that read “eggs $3.00″.   I didn’t hesitate a second to buy a dozen, the last one of the day, and was slightly disappointed that we had dinner reservations and my fresh egg would have to wait until morning.   It was without a doubt delicious with a golden yellow yolk, fresh, tasty and wholesome.    At Whole Foods Market we are proud to support our local vendors and encourage you to stop by and say hello to the folks at Frog Pond Farm and if you’re there, don’t forget to ask for some eggs with your rieling.  Can’t make it out to Niagara?  Stop by our Cafe, pick up some tasty lunch or dinner and taste some delicious Niagara goodness.

Lots of Chicken Talk

by oakville, September 11, 2009 | Permalink

At our last post, I wrote about our Team Members heading down the 401 to visit the poultry farmer who supplies poultry product to both the Oakville and Yorkville stores.  Let me share highlights of their visit.  Whole Foods Market only sells poultry that is certified free range as all the chickens have access to the outside.  The farmer has invested in state of the art equipment which handles an amazing number of chickens; the goal is not to handle the birds at all to prevent cross contamination.  Each bird is inspected by a Federal Inspector and at every step in the process the equipment is cleaned.  In the words of one of our Team Members on the trip, “It was quite impressive.”

Road Trip to Montreal

by oakville, September 9, 2009 | Permalink

Today, our Store Team Leader Rick Burns and the team leaders of our Meat and Prepared Foods Departments have taken the road to visit our poultry supplier whose farm is on the outskirts of Montreal.   On the trip with Rick are Rocco and Manoj from the Yorkville store and Steve and Ron from Oakville.    Whole Foods Market is proud of the relationship we have with our vendors and farmers, visiting their farms is one way to deepen our relationship and understanding of where our food comes from.   I’ll be writing each day of their adventures on the Montreal road trip.

Restaurant Quality Food?

by oakville, September 3, 2009 | Permalink

Whole Foods Market Oakville is proud of the restaurant quality food prepared by Whole Foods Market Chefs on a daily basis and readers of the Oakville Beaver agree. Whole Foods Market received a gold award for best eat in/take out food and a diamond award for healthiest food. A popular lunch and dinner destination, customers love the wide variety of options available on the hot bar and salad bar as well as the ever popular pizzas. The added bonus of enjoying a locally produce glass of wine or brew with your meal keeps people coming back. Recently our Chefs revamped the hot bar offerings to rave reviews. Have you had a chance to try the new items? Let us know your favourites.