Here on Tomato Talk, we have discussed rising obesity rates, the link between sugary beverages and weight gain, and obesity prevention.  In your comments, you suggested dietary changes, awareness about portion sizes, and increased physical activity as excellent solutions for obesity reduction.  But, ever consider a soda tax? 

Would increasing the cost of soda REALLY help reduce obesity and improve health? 

 This is the very question government officials are currently considering.  Here is what some states are proposing: 

• New York: proposed penny-per-ounce (of sugar) tax
• Philadelphia: proposed 2-cent-per-ounce tax
• California: penny-per-tsp tax
• Kansas: penny-per-tsp tax

If passed, these taxes would generate a lot of revenue.  For example, in New York State alone, the tax would raise $1.2 billion annually.  Officials say this money would be used to fight childhood obesity.  While revenue is part of the motive for implementing a soda tax, officials argue that the more important motive is to improve health and fight obesity. 

Opponents of the soda tax believe it is an unfair target against the beverage industry.  Others believe officials are only looking for an easy means of generating revenue during a recession.

But, how can taxes actually make people healthier?  Research has shown that taxing pizza and soda can lower U.S. adults’ caloric intake – an increase in soda prices was linked to an average of 124 fewer calories, and a weight loss of 2.34 pounds.  Taxing certainly worked with tobacco – increasing prices has dramatically decreased smoking rates. 

What do you think?  Could a soda tax really help reduce obesity?

Read More…

In the “Fast Food Budget Challenge,” Maria mentioned using Earth Fare’s awesome coupons as a way to eat healthy on a budget.  She was not just making a plug – we really love giving out great deals!  If you have not signed up to be on our email list, here is a small sampling of what you have missed:

• FREE Canvas Tote with purchase
• FREE Watermelon with any purchase
• FREE 3 lb bag of Organic Honey Crisp Apples with purchase
• FREE scoop your own 1 lb Shrimp with 1lb Shrimp purchase
• Tis the Season with FREE 6″ Poinsettia Plant with purchase
• FREE $10 Earth Fare Gift Card with purchase of $50 or more
• FREE 8 oz. pack of Natural Supreme Almonds and 2 FREE Grapefruits
• FREE 1 lb Chicken Wings with purchase of 1 lb for the Big Day
• FREE Organic Earth Fare Truffles with any Floral Purchase

Wow, that’s a lot of free stuff!  What are you waiting for?!  Get on our email list by signing up at the bottom of our homepage here.  

We love thinking of free deals, but it’s your turn to choose.  What freebie deal do you want to see next?  

We all enjoy going out to eat!  Why?  We order foods that we don’t normally get to eat at home.  BUT, you CAN get your favorite restaurant foods at home, and without all the extra costs.  So, get your salivating glands going and your budget primed, we’re going to help you make a gourmet, three-course meal at home for under $40!

Appetizer: Create your own cheese and cracker tray for less than $10!
• Kerrygold Parchment Wrapped Irish Cheeses ($3.59 ea)
• Earth Fare Assorted Entertainment Crackers (2/$5.00)

For even more palate pleasing, grab some fresh strawberries and grapes for a wonderful mix of flavors.

Main Course: Pan-Seared Sichuan Shrimp with Spaghetti

Ingredients:
• 6 ounces spaghetti (2/$5.00 this month!)
• 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined (on sale for $8.99 lb!)
• Salt and freshly ground white pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground peppercorns
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 large scallions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil (If you’ve run out, it’s on sale for $19.98!)

Directions:
1.  Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. In a large bowl, cover the spaghetti with warm water and let stand until pliable, about 5 minutes. Drain the spaghetti and cut them into 4-inch lengths. Boil the spaghetti until tender but still chewy, about 25 seconds. Drain and return the spaghetti to the pot. Rinse twice under cold water and drain; let stand in the colander.
2.  Season the shrimp with salt, white pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of the peppercorns. In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil until shimmering. Add the shrimp and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until pink on the outside and white within, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
3.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet and heat until shimmering. Stir in the scallions and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the spaghetti, soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of peppercorns and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Add the shrimp and season with salt and white pepper. Transfer to shallow bowls and serve right away.

Dessert: Pick up some Tiramisu from Earth Fare. At $2.79 each, you can’t beat this mouth-watering, indulgent dessert! 

The Oscars are here this weekend!  It’s time to enjoy Oscar Party snacks while celebrating film, watching all the Hollywood stars prance down the red carpet…and, let’s be honest…determine fashion hits/misses. 

The Academy Awards are usually about “Oscar,” the glamour, the stars, and the fashion.  But this year, FOOD takes center stage.  It may be a surprise since stars probably have not eaten all day, but it’s true.  This year, FOOD is on center stage. 

The documentary, Food, Inc., is a nominee for Best Documentary Feature!  Isn’t it awesome that the story of sustainable, healthy, and ethical food gets the spotlight (even if it’s only for 30 seconds) in this star-studded event? 

What is Food, Inc. about?  On the movie’s website, there is a banner that reads, “You’ll never look at dinner the same.”  It’s true.  If you have watched the film, you probably agree.  Believe us.  After watching the film, that Oscar Party snack won’t just be any snack.  After watching the film, you will definitely think about where the snack came from and whether it supports a healthy, sustainable food system or not. 

Trust us…that Oscar Party snack will hold deeper meaning after watching the film.  The documentary covers food issues from genetic engineering, food safety, factory farm worker conditions, farmers’ rights, the inhumane treatment of animals, to much more.  It reveals shocking truths about the industrialized food system and challenges consumers to vote for a safer, healthier and more sustainable system 3 times/day by purchasing sustainable, healthful foods.

Will you be rooting for Food, Inc. to win the Academy Award?   More importantly, how will you vote 3 times/day?

Tips for Stretching A  Dollar at Earth Fare

By Maria DiLalla, Community Relations Coordinator, Raleigh

In Part 1 of The Fast Food Budget Challenge, I showed that it IS possible to enjoy fresh, healthy meals on a budget!   How did I do it?  Below are some tips I follow for stretching a dollar at Earth Fare:

• Buy pantry staples in bulk
  • Flour, sugar, sea salt, whole grains, herbs & spices are cheap when you buy them in bulk, and you don’t have buy 25 pounds worth of product to get the price break!
• Re-use foods – get creative! 
  • Stale bread?  Use it for breading eggplant & chicken!
  • Leftover chicken or vegetables?  Throw it into pasta! 
• Use the same ingredients in multiple recipes for variety:
  • The main ingredients are the same in: Pasta & eggplant parmesan, frittata, and roasted vegetable quinoa
• Buy whole-wheat products: it keeps you full longer
• Coupons, coupons, coupons!
  • Sign up for Earth Fare’s Newsletter at the bottom of our homepage here, and receive coupons via email!
  • Download our Monthly Flyer for deals
  • Check the Healthy Savings section on Earth Fare’s website for deals. 
  • Become an Earth Fare fan on Facebook to receive notifications on our deals!
  • Follow us on Twitter to get our Tweebies!  

Earth Fare gives out awesome deals and it’s easy to build entire meals with them!  Remember the free Rotisserie Chicken with $10 purchase coupon? Buy sweet potatoes & broccoli, and then dessert for $10.00, and then you get your entrée for free! 

So, if someone says it’s not possible to eat healthy on a budget, show them these tips!  How do you stretch your dollar?

By Maria DiLalla, Community Relations Coordinator, Raleigh

Eating healthy should be possible at every price point.  But, is it true that fast food is the only affordable food?  I set out to see.

THE CHALLENGE:
Create a variety of easy, healthy and fresh meals for a family of four on a fast food budget.

I set my budget at $14.36 – the lowest possible combination of two fast food kid’s meals & two adult combo meals at a famous fast food chain.  How many fresh meals could I make for under $15.00 using ingredients from Earth Fare?  A lot more than one!  Below are three easy-to-make recipes on a budget:

(1) Frittata with Mixed Green Salad – TOTAL COST: $12.70

Ingredients:
6 eggs ($1.84)
1 c. milk ($0.87)
½ organic red pepper ($2.00)
¼ lb bulk white mushrooms($1.00)
2 green onions ($0.99)
Salt & Pepper
Mixed Greens ($3.50)
EF Salad Dressing ($2.50)
Add ins: Not restricted to red pepper, mushrooms and green onions.  Use whatever vegetables that you like or have on hand; add a piece of bacon or cheese.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Whisk together the eggs and milk; add salt & pepper to taste.
3. Cut the red pepper; slice the mushrooms & green onions.
4. Saute the vegetables with a little oil until they begin to soften (add the green onions towards the end), about 2 minutes.
5. Add the egg mixture to the skillet; put the skillet in the oven.
6. Cook for 15min-20mins.
7. Toss your mixed greens with salad dressing.

(2) Eggplant Mozzarella with Mixed Green Salad – TOTAL COST: $14.21

Ingredients:
1 Eggplant ($2.99)
Earth Fare Pasta Sauce ($1.88)
Mozzarella Cheese ($3.00)
Mixed Greens ($3.50)
EF Salad Dressing ($2.50)
Canola Oil ($0.34)
Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. Cut the eggplant into 3/4″- 1” slices; salt & pepper the slices to taste.
2. Heat 2 tbsp canola oil in a large skillet; saute the eggplant on both sides, until it softens and is lightly browned.
3. Let the eggplant drain onto paper towels for about 10 minutes (it will absorb a lot of the oil so this step will help take some of it out).
4. Put the eggplant on a cookie sheet, and top each slice with some sauce & some cheese.
5. Place the slices under the broiler until the cheese melts (this will not take long).  If you aren’t comfortable using a broiler, put the slices in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
6. Toss your mixed greens with salad dressing.

(3) Pepper Dog Salsa with steamed green beans -  TOTAL COST: $14.14
Recipe courtesy of Pepper Dog Salsa

Ingredients:
1 jar pepper dog salsa ($4.99)
1 lb ground beef ($5.17)
1 can of EF beans (kidney or black) ($1.49)
1.25 lbs of green beans ($2.49)

Directions:

1. Brown the meat & drain.
2. Add the salsa & beans.
3. Heat through.
4. Serve with steamed green beans.

Challenge Accomplished. It IS possible to enjoy fresh, healthy meals on a budget!  How did I do it?  Check back tomorrow to learn some tips.  For now though, are YOU up for the challenge?

Success on the Health Journey

Janet’s Story (in her own words):

Four years ago, I became very sick with what can best be described as “severe gastrointestinal distress”!

For six months, I researched symptoms and finally figured out that my problem was Celiac Disease — the digestive system’s inabilty to absorb the gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye. My self-diagnosis was confirmed with a blood test and I did not have to have an endoscopy as I considered this too invasive.

Since that time, I have learned that even just a little bit of gluten brings on symptoms, so the incentive to stay gluten-free goes without saying! Add a dairy allergy to the mix and I’ve become quite the compulsive label reader!

Earth Fare offers a wide variety of gluten-free products; both prepared and ingredients for recipes. Without Earth Fare, I would have had to order some of the products online where shipping and handling costs can be prohibitive.

Thanks, Earth Fare, for the selection of products that you offer for those of us with multiple allergies and conditions!

The Refer a Friend Contest is over, and we wanted to give a big SHOUT OUT to all who entered.  We had 29 of our friends win a $25.00 gift card for referring 10 of their friends to us.  Here is a list of our winners (in no particular order)!

1.    Daniel Billings
2.    Heather Riecken
3.    Christine Riggs
4.    Marie Alcorn
5.    Rebekah Jarrett
6.    Lindy Harris
7.    Jenny Melton
8.    Emily Hamilton
9.    Erin Widner
10.  Tara Hogan
11.  April Wallace
12.  Christina Antone
13.  Natalie Doherty
14.  Dana Dyer
15.  LaMurl Morris
16.  DJ Sawyer
17.  Karen Wissman
18.  Jaim’e Sneed
19.  Kim Doremus
20.  Bill Doremus
21.  Patricia Young
22.  Ashley Peterson
23.  Ashley Broadrick
24.  Mariah Pate
25.  Justine Liebana
26.  Kimberly Morris
27.  Laura Kathryn Marsh
28.  Melissa Zayas
29.  Donna Van Eerden

Thanks again to everyone who entered.  And, happy shopping to our winners! 

Missed this contest?  No worries!  Check out our My Decade – My Health – My Journey Contest to win BIG prizes!

Is it necessary to buy everything organic?  Definitely not.  There are many reasons organic is good for you and the earth, but it is definitely okay to choose conventional or local for some produce items, especially when price is a factor.  The Environmental Working Group (EWG)* has been producing the reliable “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides” since 1995.  The produce listed below is based on their research. 

MUST buy ORGANIC:

Produce:
The following produce items are the “dirty dozen” because they have the most pesticide residues.  Buy these organic and reduce pesticide consumption by 80%!  

1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (Imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

Meat:
Buy all-natural or organic meat to avoid antibiotics and hormones.  All-natural and organic also means the animal feed is free of pesticides.

Dairy:
Organic dairy means antibiotic and hormone free.  Organic is a must, especially for kids. 

OKAY to buy CONVENTIONAL:

Produce
The produce below has the lowest pesticide residue.  It is okay to buy these conventional: 

1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

Whatever you decide works for you and your family, it is most important to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables per day!  How do you and your family make sure to get enough fruits & vegetables?    

Read More…

Ever wonder, “why choose organic?”  In Part 1 of our Guide to Organics, we defined organic.  Now, we offer 7 reasons — one for every day of the week — to choose organic:

1.  Health! Organic food is grown without any harmful chemicals.  Choosing organic helps keep toxins out of your body.  Organic farming also keeps the air, water, and soil healthy!  So, you can feel good about improving the environment’s health while you improve yours!

 2.  Taste!  Some say organic has a truer taste than conventional produce.

 3.  Healthy Waters!  Organic farming reduces pesticide runoff into our waterways.  Synthetic fertilizers have high levels of nitrogen and this is unhealthy for our waterways.

 4.  Soil!  Organic farming is not dependent on chemical fertilizers.  This is beneficial to our soil because heavy use of chemical fertilizers can deplete the soil of its nutrients.  Healthy soil from organic farming practices means a healthier crop! 

 5.  Biodiversity!  Since organic farms work with nature, all forms of life, including insects, and animals can flourish.  Also, many organic farmers collect and save seeds so that more varieties of crops can be grown in the future. 

 6.  Local!  The number of organic farms is still small compared to the total number of farms.  And, many are family farms.  It is important to support these local growers so they can compete with larger farms. 

 7.  Sustainability! Conventional farming practices are heavily dependent on petroleum.  On top of that, energy is used to produce fertilizers.  Organic farms have a smaller footprint.