This Week's Sweepstakes Winner!

Congratulations to Allison!!!

She won the Super Fruits Giveaway!!!

Make sure to check back on Monday for the next great giveaway!!!

Health & Beauty Friday!

Manuka? Melaleuca? What is the difference between these two wonder healers? Never fear! That is what we are here to help you with!

Melaleuca is most commonly known as tea tree. It is derived from steam distillation of melaleuca alternifolia leaves (found in Australia). In the past, the leaves had been used as a replacement for tea leaves (hence the name), but the oil has been known to be a kind of "wonder oil" medicinally for the past several centuries. It is commonly used for cuts, burns, and infections. Melaleuca can now be found in shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreen/post-sunburn lotions, soaps, and others, in addition to the essential oil.

An added advantage is that, unlike many natural remedies, there have been studies proving the effectiveness of tea tree oil in helping to cure athlete's foot, fungal infections in toenails, dandruff and acne. Melaleuca is an anti-fungal and is great for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from periodontal disease to boils to vaginitis to thrush. Tea tree oil is safe to apply directly on the skin.

While most people are okay to use melaleuca, there is a potential to be allergic to it. Tea tree may alter hormone levels, therefore anyone suffering from a hormone-sensitive cancer, pregnant or nursing should avoid using tea tree. Do not take internally! Commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes are considered okay because they are not swallowed and the levels of melaleuca are well regulated- do not use a homemade tea tree mouthwash!

Manuka (Leptospermum Scoparium) is native to New Zealand. Similar to melaleuca, it is a wonderful antibacterial. Historically, the bark, leaves, sap and seeds all had medicinal value. The leaves were commonly used as a tea (Captain Cook used the leaves in this manner to fight off scurvy) and have now become most popular as an essential oil (which has been added into sprays, lotions, soaps and perfumes). Manuka is significantly more potent than tea tree oil.

Manuka is used to treat fungal and bacterial infections, inflammation from a sunburn, insect bites, joint pain, eczema and psoriasis. It has an advantage over tea tree oil in that fewer people seem to have an allergic reaction of any sort to it.

Like melaleuca, do not use when pregnant! Manuka must be blended in order to use on skin. Manuka honey (available at Food for Thought) is a wonderful salve for applying topically to burns and wounds. It is now commonly recommended for post-operation sinus surgery patients.

New Printable Mambo Sprout Coupons!

Whooo hooo!  Check out these new Mambo Sprout coupons available to print out on-line!  This should make for super deals when combined with  sales!  Don't forget to pick up the latest Mambo Sprout coupon book the next time you are in the store for more savings!

Coupons available include:

$1/1 Scharffen Berger Chocolate Bar

$1/1 Barbara's product 5.5 oz or larger 

       (Select Barbara's Puffins and Wild Puffs are on sale for $3.29. 
        Final cost $2.29!)

$1/1 Dagoba Chocolate Bar

$1/1 Organic Valley Drinkable Yogurt

$1/1 Ian's product

        (Ian's Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets, GF Fish Sticks &
         GF Popcorn Dogs are on sale for $3.99.  Final cost $2.99!

$1/1 Glutino Pretzel
         (Glutino Family Size Pretzels are on sale for $4.99.  Final cost $3.99!)
$1/1 Annie Chun's product
$1/2 Lifeway products
$1/1 Country Choice Product

Vegan Wednesday!

Daiya Vegan Cheese is NOW at Food For Thought!!

Daiya Vegan cheese is easily the best tasting and most versatile non-dairy cheese out there. And until recently it was mostly only available to order online (at least for those of us here in the midwest!). After ordering it online a few times and using it in pasta sauces, pizzas, etc. I was definitely a believer in Daiya's promises. If you look at any reviews of vegan cheeses online, you'll find that Daiya is often proclaimed the best. And with good reason! It melts better than most vegan cheeses, and it doesn't have that pungent smell that most vegan cheeses tend to have.

Daiya has been a hit for vegan restaraunts over the last few years and is now also being used in Tofurky's new frozen vegan pizzas (coming soon!). Daiya was a huge success at last years Natural Foods Expo, and the company could barely keep up with the demand! VegNews magazine also gave Daiya the Best Of Show award in 2009.

Stop in today at Food For Thought and give Daiya Vegan Cheese a try!

Printable gluten free coupon matchups for May!

We have lots of gluten free items on sale this month.  Print out these coupons and save even more!  Remember, many of this have limited availability..so be sure to print ASAP before they are gone!

$1/1 Boulder Canyon Potato Chip sent via email when you sign up here.  Select flavors of Bolder Canyon chips on sale for $1.49.  Final cost only 49 cents!!!

$1/1 French Meadow Gluten Free product here. Select Gluten Free Breads & Gluten Tortilla on sale for $3.49. Final cost $2.49!

$1/1 Applegate Farms product here Antibiotic Free Beef Hotdogs on sale for $3.29. Final cost $2.29!

$1/1 Ian's product here.   Ian’s Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets; GF Fish Sticks; GF Popcorn Dogs are on sale for $3.99.  Final cost $2.99!

50 cents off one Blue Diamond product here.  Nut Thins are on sale for $2.29.  Final cost $1.79!  Almond Breeze on sale for $2.19.  Final cost $1.69!

Food for Thought Giveaway: Super Fruits

Congratulations Allison!!!

While all fruits are great for your body and overall health, a select few are very high in antioxidants, nutrient richness, and overall good-for-you compounds. These are known as superfruits. This week's giveaway is a variety of yummy superfruit-rich foods, drinks and powders, including:

• Himalania cacao dusted dark chocolate Goji Berries
• Terr Amazon cacao powder with maca
• Terr Amazon sacha inchi tamari
• Coconut Secret raw coconut nectar
• Nutiva hemp protein
• Zola acai (with pineapple) juice
• GojiAnia goji & pomegranate juice blend

Sound super (I had to go there!)??? Enter your name and email address in the blog's comment section! The winner will be drawn on Saturday, May 15! Good luck!

Manic Monday Recipe: Crockpot Mexican Roast

The weekend is over and it's back to reality! Each Monday we will post an easy recipe, either for the crockpot, make-ahead or five ingredient or less recipe. Here's to eating healthy, simply!

Crockpot Mexican Roast

Ingredients:
• 1-1/2 lbs. grass-fed Arm roast
• 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
• 16 oz. jar Maria Rae's Salsa
• 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Preparation:
Cut beef into 6 serving-size pieces and trim excess fat. Place in a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and pour over beef. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours until beef is tender.