Vegan News!

Tofurky Vegan Frozen Pizzas are finally here!!!

Available in Vegan Cheese, Pepperoni, and Sausage and Fire Roasted Veggies.

On Sale right now for just $7.19!!

Stop by and pick one up today!

Vegan Wednesday!

Gimme Gummy! One thing I've always missed as a vegan is gummy snacks. Sometimes I just want something chewy and sweet, but preferably without that pesky gelatin! Thankfully Tasty Brand has come out with these delicious organic, gluten free, fat free, and VEGAN gummies. They contain NO artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They're made from REAL fruit juice and are a great source of vitamin C. Tasty Brand gummies are a great snack for you or your kid's healthy school lunch. Stop by Food For Thought today and pick some up!

Buy One Get One Free Barabara's Cereal Coupon

If you head over here to facebook and "like" Barbara's Bakery, you can print off a coupon for Buy One Cereal Get One Free!  We have select flavors of Puffins on sale this month (including corn, fruit and cocoa!) for $3.29.  Final cost would be $1.65 each!  (Head's up:  You have to be patient.  I was sent to Barbara's website and then had to "sign in to facebook" to obtain my coupons! I was able to print two!)

Free Sample of Green Genius Trash Bags!

Head over here to Green Genius's website and sign-up to become a "treehead."  Check the box at the bottom of the form to score a free sample of their trash bags!  We've been using them at our house and are impressed!  Despite the fact they break down as quickly as a year in a landfill, they hold up nicely in our home!

10 Common Produce Misunderstandings

Below are some interesting tips about produce- keep these in mind the next time you come in to pick up your delicious organic fruits and veggies!

- Tomatoes should not be refrigerated! Tomatoes being stored at room temperature is key to proper ripening!

- Despite what you may have learned, tapping or shaking a melon is not the most accurate way to pick a ripe melon. A ripe watermelon has an underside that should be starting to turn cream-colored and a dull surface. Color and aroma are also important for all melons.

- "Stone fruits" (apricots, plums, avocados, peaches and nectarines) ripeness is not best indicated by color, but should instead feel soft under gentle pressure.

- To keep berries the longest, do not wash them before storing. Instead, arrangle them on a dish or shallow pan that has been lined with paper towels, cover with plastic wrap, then place them in the fridge!

- Mushrooms should be wrapped in paper towels and placed in the refrigerator before being rinsed. The best way to wash them is to wipe with a damp cloth or mushroom brush so they don't become water logged!

- Fresh herbs should be stored refrigerated with the stems in water.

- A pineapple will not continue to ripen after being picked! Refrigerate it as soon as you buy it!

- Pears are best ripened in a brown bag at room temperature.

- Vegetables like cucumbers, peppers and soft-skinned squashes need to be placed in plastic bags in the crisper drawer of the fridge to prevent shriveling!

And, a final tip to keep in mind when you don't see your favorite produces year-round:

- The flavor and texture of fruits and veggies is best close to their natural harvest time! For apples, this mean the fall and peaches and melons will be best in the late spring. Produces won't taste as good when they have to be shipped from all over the world!

Dazzle On!

Summer season is drawing to a close and the new school year is looming on the horizon. For many, this means school pictures and the opportunity to shine for your peers. And the best way to make a great first impression; making sure those pearly whites are just that, pearly and white! And why whiten with harmful bleaches when you could use a safer, healthier solution? Here are several products that are healthier and work just as effectively as bleach!

"Dr. Ken's All Natural Maximum Care" toothpaste is flouride, gluten, soy, and sugar free! With powerful green tea extract, it fights bad breath while whitening your teeth simultaneously. "Xyliwhite" whitening toothpaste is made with vegan ingredients and reduces plaque with a baking soda based formula! Flouride-free "Jason's Powersmile" is another wonderful alternative to un-healthy whitening methods.

Another great solution to harmful bleaching techniques, "Eco-Dent" natural toothpowder! This powerful product is made with naturally effervescent baking soda to be less abrasive while neutralizing mouth acids. For 2-3 weeks, use the "ExtraBrite" treatment twice daily. Then maintain your dazzling new smile with "Eco-Dent Daily Care".

For those who are going through the teeth-whitening blues, have no fear! These natural solutions are available to help ensure your pearly whites are happy and healthy!

Vegan Wednesday!

GoRaw!

GoRaw Products are vegan and delicious! Their "Spicy Flax Snax" are a new favorite of mine. All of GoRaw's products are vegan and raw and make for a quick and healthy snack.

GoRaw uses the highest quality, raw, organic ingredients they can find.

I try to eat raw some of the time (though it's been a challenge for me to go completely raw) & these are such an easy option for someone who doesn't have the time or patience to make their own.

And NEW at Food For Thought: Gardein Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n and Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers. Stop by today and check out Gardein's new varieties of vegan goodies.