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Hit the Health Food Store With These Earth-Friendly Tips

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:59:48 PDT

Buying groceries from the local Whole Foods or other health food store (like January Jones did last weekend) often means you're doing your body good. Once you're there, the choices you make may also do good for the planet. Follow these earth-friendly tips on your next grocery shopping trip.

Choose an eco-friendly mode of transportation: Reduce smog-causing pollutants by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking a bus to the store. Getting there by foot or two wheels is also good exercise, so it's a double bonus.
Shop with reusable bags: Just think about all the waste created from using disposable grocery bags. Do your part by bringing reusable bags for groceries and produce. Not only are you doing good for Mother Earth, canvas bags have sturdy handles, which make them easier to carry, and their durability makes them less likely to burst open, which means no wasted food. If you forget your bags, always choose paper bags over plastic.

Keep reading for more eco-friendly ways to hit up your health food store.

Announcing the Winner of Our Thanksgiving Giveaway!

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:06:05 PST

Congratulations to Nanette from Utah for winning our Thanksgiving giveaway! She voted for her favorite Thanksgiving dishes and wound up winning a $1,000 gift card to Whole Foods. Thanks for playing, everyone!

Your Top-Choice Picks For This Thanksgiving

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:29:41 PST

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving a bit early with a special promotion: we asked you to vote for your favorite Thanksgiving side dish, main entrée, and dessert recipes from Whole Foods Market, with each vote going toward a donation to the Whole Kids Foundation. See our reader-chosen top picks for the Thanksgiving table when you keep clicking.

What's Your Go-To Thanksgiving Dessert? Vote to Donate and For a Chance to Win $1,000 From Whole Foods Market

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:55:54 PST

This Thanksgiving, we're not only giving thanks, but we're also giving back with a special Whole Foods Market Thanksgiving giveaway. To enter to win a $1,000 gift card to Whole Foods Market, check out our six favorite desserts from Whole Foods Market's recipe collection by clicking through the slideshow. Then, vote for your favorite; for every vote cast, YumSugar will donate 25 cents to the Whole Kids Foundation (up to $5,000). After you've cast your vote, check out the last slide for details on how to enter to win.

Help us donate more by voting for your favorite side dish and main dish. Don't forget to check out Whole Foods Market's Thanksgiving Shop for everything you need for your holiday meal. Now, click through to pick your favorite dessert, and we'll donate to the Whole Kids Foundation!

What'll Be Your Main Dish For Thanksgiving? Vote to Donate and For a Chance to Win $1,000 From Whole Foods Market

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:51:37 PST

This Thanksgiving, we're not only giving thanks, but we're also giving back with a special Whole Foods Market Thanksgiving giveaway. To enter to win a $1,000 gift card to Whole Foods Market, check out our five favorite main dishes from Whole Foods Market's recipe collection by clicking through the slideshow. Then, vote for your favorite; for every vote cast, YumSugar will donate 25 cents to the Whole Kids Foundation (up to $5,000). After you've cast your vote, check out the last slide for details on how to enter to win.

Help us donate more by voting for your favorite side dish, and stay tuned for more recipes in the coming week. Until then, click through to pick your favorite main dish and we'll donate to the Whole Kids Foundation! Don't forget to check out Whole Foods Market's Thanksgiving Shop for everything you need for your Holiday meal.

Enter to Win $1,000 at Whole Foods Market and Vote to Donate to the Whole Kids Foundation

YumSugar — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:00:52 PDT

This Thanksgiving, we're not only giving thanks, but we're also giving back. Introducing our special Whole Foods Market Thanksgiving giveaway! To enter to win a $1,000 gift card to Whole Foods Market, check out our eight favorite Thanksgiving entrées from Whole Foods Market's recipe collection by clicking through the slideshow. Then, vote for your favorite side dish; for every vote cast, YumSugar will donate 25 cents to the Whole Kids Foundation (up to $5,000). After you've cast your vote, check out the last slide for details on how to enter to win.

Tune in over the next two weeks for more Thanksgiving recipes and more chances to win. Now, click through to pick your favorite side dish and donate to the Whole Kids Foundation.

Insider Info: 18 Tips to Saving Big Bucks in Whole Foods

Emily Co — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:03:38 PDT

You can be savvy with Whole Foods grocery shopping if you know the tricks of the trade. People are loving organic food, especially with documentaries such as Food Inc. shedding light on unhealthy farming practices. But going organic can be more expensive, so I turned to Ashley Hawkins, spokesperson of the supermarket chain, for some tips on how to save. She says:

Follow the guide: Pick up the Whole Deal value guide that highlights deals, contains coupons, budget-friendly recipes under $4, and money-saving tips. It's also available online!
Be a tourist: Take a value tour. There are in-store value gurus lead tours to show shoppers how to find the best deals and enjoy savings.
Save with social media: Most stores or metro areas have their own Twitter and Facebook pages, and they definitely list deals and specials there. Additionally, many stores have deals for the "mayor" of a particular store via Foursquare check-ins.
Scoop your herbs and spices: Buy only what you need, usually for less than 15 cents per teaspoon.

For more Whole Foods secrets, read on!

Summer-Saving Tips For Whole Foods Fans

Emily Co — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:05:14 PDT

There's nothing like good weather that gets me in the mood for cooking in my kitchen, which inevitably leads to more trips to the grocery store. Although some may think supermarkets that focus on natural and organic foods are too expensive, there are plenty of ways to cut costs on your grocery bill. I talked to Lindsay Lehfeld from the Whole Foods team who shared with me 10 ways they can help you save.

Happy Hour: 2009 Chateau Le Touzinard Bordeaux Rouge

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:21:42 PDT

Say "Bordeaux" and you'll scare away many everyday wine drinkers who associate it with $2,000 bottles of Lafite. But not all wine from the region is expensive, precious, or rare; in fact, much of it is impressively affordable (as Bordeaux is the largest wine-producing region in France) and not half bad.

The key, I've discovered, is finding quality Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superior AOC offerings, basic-level wines that still embody the character of the region. I found a recent steal, 2009 Chateau Le Touzinard Bordeaux, on sale at Whole Foods for a paltry $10, as part of a promotion they'd launched offering an early taste of the 2009 vintage. It's one of their outstanding selections that comes from a "petit château," a small, family-owned property.

The shocker about this wine was the fact that it was smooth, medium-bodied, and structured, yet still easy to drink on its own. I attribute that to its incredibly fruity nose, which evoked images of ripe, jammy plums, tart cherries, and cigar box spice, and its pleasant level of acidity. It's a great everyday wine for food, or without. What's your favorite Bordeaux wine?

Yes To Carrots Says Yes to Helping Kids Garden

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:38:43 PDT

Skin care brand Yes To and Whole Foods want to know how your garden grows, or at least how it would grow if you received a grant to create one. The companies are partnering on a new initiative to create school gardens that will teach kids about nutrition and sustainability. And from now until May 31, they're taking applications. To find out more, just keep reading.