Health & Nutrition: Health Starts Here: Our Commitment to Your Health

28 DAY CHALLENGE
Are you ready to make 2012 your year to focus on your health? If so, join us for our 28-day Challenge starting February 1^st where we will focus on eating healthy and helping you look at food in a new way.

This will be a great opportunity to explore the four pillars of Whole Foods Market’s Health Starts Here program in a supportive, fun environment while improving your overall health. The Health Starts Here aproach means you will adopt a whole food, nutrient-dense, PlantStrong way of eating– experiencing a huge variety of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. 

All month we will have events to support you on this venture including  cooking demonstrations, how-to guides, store tours, reading materials and tons of recipes! The challenge is completely free !

February 1st  from 6:00-7:30pm. We’ll discuss the 4 pillars of healthy eating, meal planning, cleaning out your pantry, shopping on a budget, a store tour and much more.   You will also have the opportunity to be entered to win a $50 pantry makeover. 

To join in all the fun, email Ray Kau, with “Add me to the 28-Day Challenge” in the subject header. If you don’t have access to email, you may also call  Ray at 619-294-2800. 

HEALTHY EATING PRINCIPLES

Plant based

• Simply put, eat mostly plants
• No matter what type of diet you follow — including those that incorporate dairy, meat and/or seafood — eat more plants, like raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, legumes and beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains
• Eat a colorful variety of plants to ensure you’re getting the best nutrients for your body, which leads to feeling satiated

Real food

• Choose foods that are whole, fresh, natural, organic, local, seasonal and unprocessed
• Eliminate the consumption of refined, highly processed foods and foods void of nutrients, such as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats

Low fat

• Get your healthy fats from plant sources, such as nuts and avocados
• Minimize extracted oils and processed fats
• If eating a diet that includes animal products, choose leaner meats and seafood as well as low-fat dairy products

Nutrient dense

• Choose foods that are rich in nutrients when compared to their total caloric content; also known as foods with a high nutrient density
• Build your menus around plant-based foods to ensure highly nutrient-dense meals
• Choose foods with a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants
• Look for the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) scoring system to guide you on healthier choices

TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED

• Look for the “Health Starts Here” logo around the store
• Visit the Whole Foods Market “Health Starts Here” area to browse our selection of books
• Learn to use the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) scoring system throughout the store to guide you on healthier choices
• Ask a Team Member about additional healthy eating support, including:
  • Prepared Foods offerings
  • In-store Healthy Eating areas
  • “Health Starts Here” books
  • Online recipes
  • “Getting Started” program sites
  • Lifestyle support clubs (select stores)
  • Healthy Eating supper clubs (select stores)
  • And more!