Holy Guacamole! That's a Lot of Produce for $15

It's no surprise that a good chunk of my whole foods diet comes from fresh fruits and vegetables. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out Bountiful Baskets opened a pick-up site in my neighborhood. I think I signed up within 30 seconds of the announcement.

What's this fresh produce program all about?
If you haven't heard about Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op (BBFC), they're a volunteer-run, grassroots organization working to get fresh healthy food to you! The program offers whole fruits, vegetables, artisans breads, organic produce and other surprise goodies for a modest contribution. Conventional baskets are $15, while an organic option is $25.

Want to learn more? Check out the BBFC website for more details and to learn how to sign up.

What's in the basket?
Here's the good part. Take a peek below at what I received in my first basket. Mind you, the cost was just $15 for all of this fresh goodness. (Plus a $3 first timer basket fee and $5.50 shipping fee to cover fuel expenses.)

• 7 bananas
• 6 oz. blueberries
• 1 lb. of strawberries
• 8 nectarines
• 1 bunch of celery
• 5 limes
• 10 green apples
• 7 Roma tomatoes
• 3 red bell peppers
• 8 red potatoes
• 4 long green peppers - Poblano peppers?
• 2 spaghetti squashes

I'm estimating this amount of fresh vegetables and fruits would have cost at least $40 if purchased at the grocery store. But by participating in a co-op, I'm able to get rock bottom prices on healthy food. Nice!

Have you ever participated in Bountiful Baskets or a similar food co-op program? Tell me about your experiences in the comments below.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

It Smells Like Summer in Here!

Strawberries! Photo by Angela Tague

Half awake and blurry-eyed, I took my 9-year-old puppy out for a potty break at 4:something a.m. As I waited around in the kitchen for her to finish her duties, I wasn't sure what it was, but a sweet smell filled my nostrils.

Then it hit me. I left 4 lbs. of fresh strawberries out to dry after a good thorough washing.

If you never need a natural air freshener, try leaving a bunch of strawberries out! I was lucky enough to snag them on sale for $1.28 per pound at Fareway, so I had to stock up. No, I won't eat all of these in the next few days. Most of them will be sliced and frozen for future smoothies and strawberry sauce for shortcake.

How do you like to use up extra fresh produce? Do you can, freeze or preserve it another way? Please share in the comments below. I'm always looking for smart ways to save fresh produce.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Getting Buff with Alton Brown

The hubby and I try to be a little adventuresome in the kitchen. Last week we embarked on a new journey: Alton Brown's Buff Smoothie.

Strawberries! Photo Credit: Morguefile

The infamous Food Network food guru claims he lost 50 lbs. by enjoying this berry-filled smoothie for breakfast and making healthier eating decisions.

Since I love everything about smoothies, and the hubby thinks losing a few pounds would be fun, we've been mixing up these smoothies in the old blender. So far, so good. The purple concoction is sweet, filling and a pretty shade of purple. I'm hooked. I'm still amazed these smoothies stick with me until lunchtime.

Has anyone else tried Alton Brown's Buff Smoothie? (Get the recipe HERE!) I'd love to hear if it has helped you shed a few pounds. Of course I know drinking a smoothie for breakfast isn't going to make pounds melt away. But, when combined with exercise, watching portions and making healthier eating decisions, I wonder if this smoothie really has some magical powers. It seems like a lot of (natural) sugars to me!

Thoughts?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Healthy Strawberry Shortcake Oatmeal

I eat oatmeal a lot. This morning when I realized I was out of fresh blueberries, raisins or dried fruit of any kind to "spice" up my breakfast, I got creative.
A few minutes later, my breakfast was ready, and it's so good I wanted to share!

A cellphone snapshot of breakfast! Yum!

Last week I made a batch of strawberry sauce (recipe here!) to use up a few pints of berries purchased for a birthday party I ended up not attending. Since it's fruit, I tried pouring it over oatmeal.

It's delicious!

This is so easy, I'm not even going to call it a recipe. While preparing one serving of plain oatmeal, toss in 2 tablespoons of milled flax seed. This adds 3 grams of protein to your breakfast and a healthy dose of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Those are the buggers responsible for reducing inflammation in the body and improving memory. You can get Omega 3's in higher doses from eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or trout, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. More importantly, flax seed gives the oatmeal a slightly nutty taste.

Finally, pour the oatmeal into a bowl and pour a generous amount of strawberry sauce on top. That's it! No butter or sugar needed. Serve with a tall glass of milk (soy, rice, cow or whatever you prefer!) to complete the strawberry shortcake experience.

Sure, this isn't like having dessert, but it's darn good for a healthy breakfast.

So, have you been munching on strawberries lately? They are plentiful and cheap in the midwest right now. Share your favorite strawberry related snack, recipe or creation in the comments below! I've been slicing berries and topping them with locally-raised creamed honey. Mmmmm....

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Want to browse some of my older posts? Check out:
Oatmeal Makeover! 5 Oatmeal Combinations
How to Eat Flax Seed
Is Cinnamon a Health Food?

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Strawberry Sauce in 5 Minutes

It's Saturday! As the weekend and warmer weather sets in, so do the summer desserts. Just because I prefer to eat healthy doesn't mean I skip dessert. I love topping homemade vanilla ice cream with my super easy 5 minute strawberry sauce.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

If you think that goopy red stuff they sell in the produce section next to the fresh strawberries is strawberry sauce, you've been missing out! This sauce is simple, delicious and much healthier than the high fructose corn-syrup and sugar infused goo they sell at the grocery store.

Simple Strawberry Sauce
Wash, clean and slice as many strawberries as you have on hand. Place them in a pot and put it on the stove over medium-low heat. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pot with approximately 1/4-inch of water. Let the berries slowly come to a simmer and soften.

Use a fork to lightly mash the fruit. As the strawberries soften, they will generate more liquid. When the berries are soft, use a stick blender to puree the fruit into a sauce. Taste the strawberry sauce and add a sprinkle of stevia to sweeten. Let the sauce cook down to the desired consistency.

Pour the strawberry sauce over cheesecake, ice cream, strawberry shortcake or angel food cake. Or, use the sauce as a starter for a smoothie or strawberry daiquiri! Enjoy!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Oatmeal Makeover! 5 Oatmeal Combinations

I really do enjoy oatmeal. If you're envisioning a bowl of mushy gray overcooked oats covered in sugary additives, you haven't ventured past the world of microwave quick oats packets. With whole grain steel cut oats and stove top cooked oatmeal readily available, give this heart-healthy whole food a second chance.

Enjoy oatmeal with fruits, nuts and seeds.

 

                      Photo courtesy Morguefile.com

 

 

 

 

Plain oatmeal is boring. I agree. That's why I treat this breakfast-regular like a blank slate each morning. I enjoy experimenting with various oatmeal toppings and mix-ins to create new flavors. From fruits and nuts, to seeds and sweeteners, here are five of my favorite oatmeal combinations.

1. Blueberry Pie Oatmeal
Mix fresh washed blueberries, milled flax seed and almond slivers into the oatmeal a minute before it's done. The blueberries will get warm, and the almonds will not get mushy.

2. Sweet and Salty Oatmeal
Sprinkle salted sunflower seed hearts and a drizzle of honey over a fresh hot bowl of oatmeal.

3. Apple Cobbler Oatmeal
Add a fresh apple cut into cubes to the oats while they cook. Then a minute before the oatmeal is done, stir in ground cinnamon, milled flax seed and chopped walnuts.

4. Mixed Berry Oatmeal 

Try folding raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and a sprinkle of powdered stevia into a hot bowl of oatmeal.

5. Strawberry Oatmeal
This simple oatmeal mix-in is 100 times better than the dried strawberries found oatmeal packets. Simply add sliced strawberries and a packet of stevia to the oatmeal while it bubbles and cooks.

So, what's your favorite way to eat oatmeal?
Please share in the comments below!

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living

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