This is my time to . . . take the Healthy Eating Challenge

by WFMSandy, December 31, 2010 | Permalink

This month the blog is dedicated to participants in the Engine 2 28-Day Challenge.  We’ll offer tips and suggestions along with recipes and menu plans. 

Participants – you can use this site as a forum to discuss your successes, failures and pose questions to the rest of the group.

We wish you the best on your journey towards becoming Plant Strong!

Celebrate Your Story

by WFMSandy, November 3, 2010 | Permalink

When we think about the holidays, no doubt dozens of stories come to mind.  Stories of family, friends, inside jokes, kitchen disasters, unexpected weather – the list goes on and on.  But how often do we stop to think about the story behind the food that is filling our table?

Here at Whole Foods Market, we believe that the story behind your food matters.  We go to great lengths to tell you where your food came from and exactly how it was treated each step of the way.  We want you to feel as confident and comfortable telling the story of your food as you do telling the story of how Uncle Joe dropped the apple pie in the middle of the dining room floor.

So please, take a moment to reflect on your favorite holiday memories and share the story with us by commenting.  We love to hear your stories and we look forward to telling you ours!

Every meal has a story, celebrate yours.

Fall is in the air!

by WFMSandy, October 1, 2010 | Permalink

Ahhh, Fall!  Finally the season of pumpkins, mums and . . . temps in the mid 90′s?  Good ‘ole South!  At least after a few days of much-needed rain the weather has finally started to cool down.  And we’ve got some cool deals on seasonal favorites to go along with it:

~Carving Pumpkins - 3 for $13
~8″ Garden Mums, grown locally at Coweta Greenhouses
~Apple Cider from Mercier Orchards 
~Acorn and Butternut Squash
~locally brewed Pumpkin Ale
~Pumkin Seed Rice in our Prepared Foods Department

and this list goes on and on!!!  We hope you’ll come by to see us today and experience the best of the season!

Keeping Back to School a Healthy Affair

by WFMSandy, August 2, 2010 | Permalink

Back to School – it’s on a lot of people’s minds these days!  As things get hectic and we are pulled in a dozen different directions, it can be hard to focus on keeping healthy, nutritious foods in our family’s bellies.  But, a nutritious diet is the key to learning and focusing in school, so it’s more important than ever to make sure your children are getting foods that a healthy and high in nutrients.

One of the best solutions is to pack your child a healthy lunch, including and afternoon snack.  This way, they avoid the vending machine and keep an adequate supply of nutrients in their body throughout the day.  Try buying healthy snacks in bulk, then pack a little each day.

To make sure your child drinks enough water, freeze a half-full bottle.  In the morning, fill the rest of the way with water and by lunch time your child will have a full bottle of chilled water to help them stay hydrated and healthy.

We’d love to hear any other suggestions you have!  Post your best solution for healthy lunches and snacks to share with other hard-working parents!

Mom Rules

by WFMSandy, April 27, 2010 | Permalink

It’s true, mom does rule!  Tell us why your mom rules and she’ll be entered to win a gift basket filled with all-natural goodies to pamper her in style! 

Be sure to tell me:

1. Your name
2. Mom’s name
3. An email address or phone number to contact you if you win

Expires May 30, 2010

What if $200 was all it took to change a life?

by sandysprings, February 27, 2010 | Permalink

That’s the amazing thing about the Whole Planet Foundation – $200 TRULY CAN CHANGE A LIFE! 

www.wholeplanetfoundation.org

This amazing organization is dedicated to providing microloans to mostly women entrepreneurs around the world.  What is a microloan?  It is an interest free ”mini-loan,” just enough capital to get a business started, make important upgrades or hire employees. 

The repayment rate is 99% – a statistic that is unheard of in any other lending institution!  These women receive a small loan, they make the most of it, and then they pay it back!  And in the meantime they get the boost they need to pull themselves, their family – and quite often their community – out of poverty.

This month, we are proud to host two very special events to raise funds for Whole Planet Foundation.  The first, and Oscar Party, will be held on March 5th from 6pm – 9pm.  For a low ticket price ($5) you’ll be wined and dined like a true celebrity, walk away with a “swag bag” of sustainably produced goodies, and make a difference in someone else’s life at the same time!  The second event, a Silent Auction, will be held on March 28th from 12pm – 4pm.  This is an opportunity for our Team Members to showcase thier amazing talents by auctioning of a variety of goods and services.  You get awesome stuff at a great price and we get to donate to a cause (Whole Planet Foundation) that is important to us.  All proceeds from both events will be donated to Whole Planet Foundation.

If you don’t attend an event you can donate any amount at our registers, or online at www.wholeplanetfoundation.org.  Either way, take some time this month to help us change some lives.

This is my year to . . .

by sandysprings, January 4, 2010 | Permalink

It’s no secret that January is the season for resolutions.  This is your year – what will you make of it?

Share your resolutions with us at www.facebook.com/wholefoods and you could win a prize! 

Also this January, we are supporting three great organizations with donations of $10,000 each.  Facebook users can pitch in too.  The organization that receives the most support will receive an additional donation from us!  Find out more at http://apps.facebook.com/thisismyyearto/

Holiday Food Memories

by sandysprings, December 1, 2009 | Permalink

There are so many things about the holiday season that we look forward to.  Memories and nostalgia are inevitable – and if you’re anything like me, many of those memories revolve around food.  The smells, the flavors, the colors and most of all the magical effect that food has to bring us together.  Around the table, in front of the fire, by the tree.  Whever we are we are talking, laughing, making memories and . . . eating!

One of my food favorite memories is the vegetable soup that my grandmother ALWAYS has waiting for us when we arrive.  After a long 7-hour car ride, nothing comforts your stomach or your soul like a bowl of hot vegetable soup.  Slow cooked meat, hand-cut vegetables and a heaping cup of love.

I’d love to hear your favorite food memory – share it here!

Happy Holidays and Happy Eating!

Help Georgia’s flooded farms

by sandysprings, October 27, 2009 | Permalink

Last Wednesday, October 21st Whole Foods Market, Sandy Springs, along with Whole Foods Markets and Harry’s Farmers Markets across Atlanta, held a 5% Day to raise funds for the Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund.  It was a great day, and with your help we raised $23,939!  Thanks so much to everyone who came out and shopped with us – your support of local farmers really makes a difference.

To read more, visit our national blog http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2009/10/help-flooded-georgia-farmers/

DON’T FORGET TO DONATE YOUR DIME!  For the rest of the month, you can choose to donate your $.10 bag refund to the Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund – every little bit helps!

Whole Foods Market sponsors a farmers market to help Sandy Springs residents Eat FRESH, Eat LOCAL

by sandysprings, October 2, 2009 | Permalink

Last weekend (September 26-27) we had the honor of sponsoring the Georgia Made, Georgia Grown Market at the Sandy Springs festival.  The Market was set up like a farmer’s market, inside the big top tent, and we had some of Georgia’s best local farmers and producers on hand to sample and sell their products.

We had farmers and producers of all sorts: Grass-fed beef, all-natural pork, jams, sauces, organic baby food, heirloom tomatoes, homemade pies, hand-made soaps, local apples - you name it.  It’s amazing to think what a wide range of products are either grown or made right in our own backyard.

What a joy to see so many people sharing their vision and passion with shoppers.  When you realize just how much time and love these farmers put into what they do, it’s an easy choice – buy fresh, buy LOCAL, support your neighbors!

I hope we’ll be able to sponsor more of these markets in the future.  Such a fun and rewarding way to spend a weekend, I feel guilty even calling it “work”!