Meet Your Mealtime Mentors

A registered dietitian is an expert in nearly everything related to diet and nutrition. While dietitians work in a variety of settings, the dietitian team at Festival Foods is here to serve as your nutrition resource for your specialized nutrition needs. Whether it's help with locating specific products, nutrition information, developing better-for-you recipes for you and your family, or providing education on complex nutrition concepts, we are dedicated to providing quality services and education to the communities we serve.

Here are some low sodium options:

• Hummus and veggie wrap
• Yogurt topped with fruit, unsalted nuts, seeds and granola
• Fruit with peanut butter
• Baked sweet potato stuffed with no salt added black beans, salsa and avocado
• Burrito bowl with brown rice, no salt added black beans, lettuce, tomato, salsa and avocado
• Lower sodium canned tuna (rinsed and drained) with lower sodium whole grain crackers
• Grilled or baked chicken breast with steamed vegetable blend and brown rice
• Lettuce salad with grilled chicken and olive oil + balsamic vinegar (for the dressing)

Ready-to-Drink Options:

• 1915 Organic Cold Pressed Juice (refrigerated organic section of the Produce Department)
• Telula Cold Pressed Juices (Natural and Organic Department by other shelf-stable juices and beverages)

Recipes:

• These make 12 oz. juice (1 serving) – find printable recipes here
• • Green Goddess: 3 stalks celery, ½ cucumber, 1 apple (seeds removed), 1 pear (seeds removed)
  • Ginger Zinger: 2 apples (seeds removed), 4 carrots, ½ inch fresh ginger, ¼ lemon (peel & seeds removed)
  • Cucumber Cooler: ¼ ripe cantaloupe (cut into chunks), 2 celery stalks, ½ cucumber
  • Tropi-Kale Juice: 1 cup pineapple, 4 kale leaves, 1 ripe banana
• More juice recipes found here.
• Juicers often come with a recipe booklet. If you’re juicer came with recipes, try them. They’re designed specifically for your juicer.

Equipment:

• We recommend starting with the juicer you have.
• If you find you like juicing and want to get the most nutrients/fiber from your fruits and veggies, then we’d recommend a masticating juicer.

First and foremost, we believe that all foods have a place and can fit into a healthy, balanced diet. In general, we recommend eating a balance of fruits, vegetables, lean protein foods, nonfat or low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, the majority of the time. While the journey to weight loss is complex and different for each individual, a great place for information on general healthy eating recommendations is ChooseMyPlate.gov. MyPlate, a visual meal-planning tool offered through ChooseMyPlate.gov, helps ensure you are getting a proper balance of these nutritious foods.

Finally, a diet rich in plant-based foods has proven effective for individuals who are trying to lose weight. Please remember there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" diet. We are here to help you find healthful options.

Parents can play a very important role in helping children build healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. One of the best ways to instill good eating habits in your children is to be a good role model by eating well yourself. That being said, you may find the following tips helpful as well:

• Buy and serve more fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned, dried or 100% juice. All forms of fruits and veggies matter, and contribute to better health!
• Go lean with protein! Lean protein choices are lower in saturated fat and calories. Try substituting ground chicken or ground turkey breast for ground beef in recipes, or look for a leaner ground beef. Other lean protein food choices include nuts, seeds, seafood, beans, peas, eggs and soy products.
• Make at least half your grains whole. Whole grains are rich in fiber, iron and many B vitamins. They also tend to have more protein than refined grains. If you are choosing breads, look for the word "whole" on the package to ensure the product is 100% whole grain versus made with whole grains. For example, choose whole wheat bread instead of wheat bread. Other whole grain food choices include brown rice, oatmeal, rolled oats, popcorn, quinoa and corn meal.
• Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products, which contain less saturated fat and calories than full fat dairy products. Dairy foods are often rich in protein, calcium and vitamin D, which are very important for overall health. Low-fat or nonfat milk, yogurt, and cheese are all great options.
• Eat with your children. Ideally, parents should eat what their children are eating, when they are eating it. Short-order cooking, preparing different meals and having different mealtimes for the family makes monitoring healthy eating habits difficult. If it is impossible to eat together as a family, keep the kids company at the table during their mealtimes by snacking on a salad, fruit or crudités, which is a great way to model desired behaviors.
• Focus on the little things. Offering children small bites, little pieces and easy-to-eat "trials" of fruits and vegetables can make tasting foods less overwhelming. When kids ask for more or finish what was given, they feel successful, which will help them repeat the behavior.
• Have fruits and vegetables ready to eat — already washed, sliced and at eye level in the refrigerator, packed in backpacks and ready for eating in the car after school. Known as the original fast food, fruits and vegetables are portable and convenient, if you are prepared.
• Make eating an enjoyable time. Children are more likely to try new foods if the atmosphere is relaxed and without pressure. Power struggles, bribes, threats, negotiations and ultimatums make fruits and vegetables less appealing.
• Encourage and praise children for tasting and trying fruits and vegetables to build their confidence.

Although it is never too late to get a child on track with eating fruits and vegetables, the earlier you start to implement the above points, the more successful the outcome. Eating behaviors that begin in childhood last forever.

Our team of registered dietitians, the Mealtime Mentors, are passionate about good food and are constantly working on developing, testing and tasting new recipes for our Recipe Center. There you will find everything from quick and easy meals ready in 20 minutes to kid-friendly dinners.

Absolutely! While many allergen-friendly options are found in our Natural and Organic Department, we also offer a wide range of products throughout the entire store that are gluten free or allergen-friendly. If you are new to a gluten free lifestyle, you may be eligible to receive a Gluten Free Care Package from your local Festival Foods store — submit a request to find out.

• We are NOT an allergen-free facility.
• We cannot/will not claim an entire Festival Foods Signature Item to be "gluten free" even if it is certified gluten free.
• We do not label entire products that are certified gluten free as "gluten free" because we cannot account for cross contact within our own allergen containing facility.
• Find our gluten free resources here.

Our Bakery Department is not certified gluten free or allergen-free, as products are produced and ingredients may be manufactured in a facility that also processes gluten-containing products. Due to this, the products produced by our Bakery Department are not certified gluten free.

However, our Natural and Organic Department does carry many pre-made gluten free bakery-type items including breads, buns, cookies, pies, cheesecakes and baking mixes to easily prepare your own gluten free baked goods at home. We also offer a wide variety of gluten free recipes developed by our Mealtime Mentors.

We have created lists of products that are made with no gluten-containing ingredients in our Deli and Meat Departments. These lists are available online and at each Deli and Meat Department counter in our stores.

Although we prepare many Deli and Meat Department items without gluten-containing ingredients and take care to avoid cross contamination, we acknowledge the fact that we are not a certified gluten free facility.

Unlike conventionally raised cattle, grass-fed cattle have never been fed grain products. They have eaten nothing but grass and forage from weaning to harvest, have not been raised in confinement, and have never been fed antibiotics or growth hormones. Conventionally raised cattle are typically fed primarily grains, like corn and soy. Furthermore, on a gram-for-gram basis, grass-fed beef has been found to contain higher levels of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. However, the amount of heart healthy fats found in grass-fed beef has not been shown to have any significant impact on the overall health of the consumer to date.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference. We encourage the consumption of either wholesome option. Festival Foods is proud to offer high quality grass-fed beef options in our Meat Department.

None of our Dad's Chicken Breast varieties have added hormones or steroids. In fact, federal regulations do not allow the use of hormones or steroids in chicken. In addition, our Dad's Chicken Breasts have no fillers, extenders, animal by-products, added water or salt — just pure, natural chicken.

Our Mealtime Mentors have curated many great tips for seasoning without salt. Check out our blog for tips on adding flavor without adding salt. We also have a wide variety of sodium smart recipes.

Sea salt has increased in popularity for its crunchy texture and stronger flavor. In addition, sea salt is generally less processed than table salt, and therefore may retain trace levels of minerals like magnesium, calcium and potassium. It is important to note that these minute amounts of trace minerals found in sea salt are easily obtained from other healthy foods.

Table salt, on the other hand, has iodine added, which is important for preventing iodine deficiency. However, there is little difference in sodium content between table salt and sea salt. One of the keys to maintaining a heart healthy diet is to control your sodium intake, whether you prefer sea salt or table salt. Ultimately, it's a matter of letting your taste buds decide, but keep in mind that both usually contain the same amount of sodium.