I'm just getting started with providing healthy food options for my family, but with so many choices, I'm not sure where to begin. I'm worried my kids or husband will give me a hard time about the taste. What do you suggest?
All of us here at the GPDB have gone through a similar transition process at some time or another. We encourage you to poke around our site ? all the brands and products we offer have gone through a rigorous selection process. We only sell the highest quality natural health foods and products. We understand that initially you might be looking for what we call “upgrades.” For example, you may want to upgrade that cream filled sandwich cookie in your pantry but maybe your crew just isn't ready for a big change. Well, Late July is a wonderful company that has provided an “upgraded” version of that kind of cookie. They use superior ingredients including whole grain flours and natural sugars ? by taste and appearance your family will hardly notice the difference.
A lot of the “healthy” snacks I'm finding can be expensive when they contain raw, sprouted or soaked ingredients. Is it really worth the extra money, I'm not even sure what “raw” means?
Our raw food enthusiasts would give a resounding “YES!” Why? Because raw or sprouted foods contain nutrients otherwise destroyed when heavily processed. The methods used to produce raw or sprouted foods can be labor intensive, but the value associated with producing these highly nutritive foods is well worth it. The convenience of healthy snack choices that can be easily kept in a travel bag, purse or briefcase is especially important at times when good eating choices are simply not available. Blue Mountain Organics offers delicious and convenient raw snacks under 3 different brand names: Better Than Roasted, Love Raw Food and The Raw Bakery.
I love coffee but I understand there might be some health compromises to my habit. Are there healthier choices?
You've come to the right place! GPDB has searched for the finest healthy foods and coffee is no exception. We have some delightful organic coffees that taste delicious and carry a wonderful aroma. You can enjoy your favorite comfort beverage with fewer health compromises. Check out Cafe Altura's certified Fair Trade and organic coffees. And if you're ready to try an alternative to coffee ? we suggest you check out Stash Tea Company, they offer a wide variety of premium and organic teas.
I've got lots of problems with wheat, what can I eat instead?
The selection and choices for people with wheat or gluten allergies have come a long way. Usually, the wheat problem is caused by one of two things: either you are troubled by gluten in the wheat or just the wheat altogether. If it's the former, there is a myriad of gluten-free choices including Aunt Gussies and Barbara's Bakery (for sweets) and Annie's and Amy's (for meals). If it's wheat altogether, GPDB has wonderful alternative grain products to choose from. Consider products made with oats, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth and spelt as great options. Check out our list of gluten-free products by visiting the “gluten-free” category in our Shop area.
My kids love mac & cheese and ranch dressing but they react poorly to food dye and MSG in regular products. Besides that, I want to offer them a healthier food selection. What are my options?
We all have our favorite comfort foods, but they're not always the healthiest choices for us. Luckily there are a ton of great companies that make all our favorite foods without the yucky artificial additives. Frontier Simply Organic has the perfect solution for home cooked meals. They have a superior line of seasonings and several ready made mixes you can use to make up anything from ranch dressing to chili and gravy without those nasty chemicals. Your kids will also love Annie's Homegrown foods ? they have a bunch of all-natural pasta meals and snacks that are simply delicious.
I've read that many Americans are eating as much as 70% of their diet in cold cereal. My kids and husband love to have a bowl of cereal as a snack but I'm concerned it's not healthy. What do you suggest?
Great question! At my house, I've decided not to serve cold cereal for breakfast except on those mornings when there's no time or energy for anything else. However, it does make for a quick healthy snack after school or dinner, if done right. We've got some terrific choices here at GPDB that are made from natural ingredients and don't contain artificial additives. While I'd really rather my kids were always munching on fruits and veggies ? they're so active and have fast metabolisms and are often looking for carbs to refuel their energy. When I can find a healthy cereal that is made from natural ingredients, is high in fiber, low in sugar and contain whole grains, they get their needs met ? I call that a win-win. Try Barbara's Bakery's delicious Puffins cereal for those once-in-a-while cold cereal moments.
When purchasing nut butters there are so many choices - roasted, raw, sprouted, organic - it's hard to keep track. Which one is the healthiest?
With so many delicious nut butters on the market, we agree with you, it's hard to make a choice. The real answer is organic sprouted nut butters are the very best choice. Follow this list when making a decision about which nut butter is best for you: Organic sprouted nut butters (the healthiest choice) Raw organic nut butters Raw nut butters Organic roasted nut butters Plain roasted nut butters The way we came up with this list is simple. The process in which the nut butters are made determines the amount of nutrients left in the final product. When you soak and sprout a nut, you remove the phytates from its outer covering, increasing the bioavailability of the nutrients. It also activates enzymes naturally contained in the food, assisting in better digestion. A raw or roasted nut has not been through this process. Additionally, roasting a nut alters the fats contained in the nut; which is considered a compromise to achieve a desired taste. Of course, anytime you can make something organic it's always an upgrade. Discover some delicious nut butters made by Once Again Nut Butters.
