Trying to "Eat Healthy?" Where to Begin!

It should be easier to figure out how to "eat healthy." There's certainly plenty of talk about nutrition and health in the media, but it's a mix of real information and over-hyped sales pitch. It's just too much for most busy people to sort out. Let's get real. Not everyone wants to make a life studyof nutrition, but everyone eats.

So consider some good news. A long-term study of thousands of American women indicated that the single dietary* factor associated with longevity was (drum-roll please) variety. Not some magical ratio of nutrients. Not a rigid, restrictive diet. Not a new food pyramid, hexagon or octagon. Just a broad variety of foods in these basic food categories: fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, dairy products and meat.

So if you want to "eat healthy," branch out a little. It's a good excuse to climb out of the rut, anyway. Here's how your co-op can help you find new foods to love.

Team Produce lives to serve! They dream of introducing you to new vegetables and cutting samples of ripe, seasonal fruit. Go ahead, ask their advice. It'll make their day.

Tasty, quick-cooking brown basmati rice or quinoa are great substitutes for white rice or potatoes. Forget the bad rap carbs get in the diet world right now. Whole grains are good for you.** Try to replace half your grain with whole grain. Eden Foods makes wonderful pastas that are 50-100% whole grain. For variety, try rice, corn-quinoa or quinoa-kamut pasta. Many of our breakfast cereals are multi-grain, adding variety without any additional effort from you!

Beans are a great addition to the diet. They make terrific and quick whole-meal salads, and can turn any vegetable soup into a meal. The Deli has many great bean salads. I especially like Eden Foods organic canned beans, as they are always cooked perfectly.

The Wedge Deli is happy to offer samples. It's a great way to try new grains and vegetables. Enjoy Quinoa Tabouli or Seasonal Bitter Greens with Gorgonzola. Don't forget about the variety of salmon fillets and chicken breasts. Want to eat more soy? Baked Tofu "steaks" are great in sandwiches. Just add lettuce and your favorite condiment or a deli spread, like Southwestern Pesto. When you're too tired to be inspired, count on the Deli for quick meals that don't sacrifice taste or quality.

Sometimes I throw questions at these folks just to test them. They care passionately about your experience with their products, and can always come up with a recommendation about how to cook a cut of meat or fish you haven't tried before. Consider bison burger next time you grill!

There are a ton of quick options for meals in the freezer cases. Patties and burgers (meat or animal-free) give you high quality, quick meals that cost the same or less than a trip to a fast food outlet, saving fuel and time, and leaving you feeling better. Delicious salmon patties cook up in 6 minutes! Frozen ravioli and tortellini allow you to enjoy a gourmet filling while the kids eat a plain one, without setting foot in expensive pasta bars. Just boil water and throw together a salad while the pasta cooks. Pizza rolls and burritos the kids don't have to know are nutritious (shhhh).

Speaking of passion, the cheese department has made a mission out of seeking out delicious artisan cheeses, many of regional origin. Palmer and his demo team sample out cheeses every week.

"What's for Supper?" recipes are fast and yummy. Palmer prepares a new recipe on the sales floor nearly every Friday afternoon. These recipes are adapted for great taste and quick preparation, and often feature the best seasonal produce. Current recipe cards are available at the Customer Service Desk.

There you have it. All sorts of ways the Wedge can help you broaden your dietary horizons and take you on a culinary adventure!