Five Seasonal Sensations for On-the-Go Lifestyles
Visiting a large whole-foods supermarket is akin to a child's sojourn at the nearest toy store: You love to cook. You carefully scout premium foods and ingredients. You read labels and are willing to expand your palate by trying new things.
Get out your shopping list, because we've found five items-some new and a few oldies-but-goodies-worthy of your attention.
Fabulous Fast Food
Even those of us who eat organically lead extremely hectic lives, so there's no reason to feel guilty about buying frozen or refrigerated meals-as long as they meet your stringent criteria.
Check out Moosewood Soups and Entrees-both developed from recipes from the world-renowned Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, New York, a leader in vegetarian cuisine since 1973.
Moosewood's refrigerated soups are slow-simmered in small batches, according to authentic restaurant recipes, with hand-cut vegetables and only the finest certified organic ingredients. Six flavors are available in 18-ounce, dual-serving containers: Texas Two Bean Chili, Creamy Broccoli & Cheese, Creamy Potato & Corn Chowder, Hearty Mushroom Barley, Mediterranean Tomato & Rice, and Tuscan White Bean & Vegetable.
Moosewood also offers seven certified organic, vegetarian, frozen gourmet entrees (10-ounce servings), meticulously prepared in small batches: Moroccan Stew, Pasta e Fagioli, Southwest Cornbread & Red Beans, Broccoli & Pasta Parmesan, Farfalle & Spinach Pesto Sauce, Macaroni & Three Cheeses, and Spicy Penne Puttanesca. The pastas are made from durum wheat, and their shapes were selected based on their ability to hold the sauces with which they're paired.
"Because we are food professionals, it is hard to admit that, at the end of a day, we may be searching the frozen-food aisles for a fast and easy dinner," Wynnie Stein, co-owner of Moosewood Restaurant, tells OrganicAuthority.com. "To us, it seems ironic to be working on cookbook recipes all day and then be too tired to cook dinner for ourselves or our loved ones.
"We felt guilty until we started talking to our friends and fellow cooks. Everyone was having the same problem-not much time in the work week to cook a healthful, good-tasting meal! The organic food industry has greatly enhanced the quality of convenience foods and made it easier for the consumer to feel assured that they are buying and offering their families healthy alternatives to a home-cooked meal."
Holiday Cheer
As the holiday season approaches, nothing beats a tall mug of chilled eggnog to capture the Christmas spirit-and add some "spirits" to New Year's Eve celebrations.
Horizon Organic Lowfat Eggnog is produced without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, artificial colors or flavors, or dangerous pesticides. Rich and creamy, the ultra-pasteurized eggnog (which allows for a longer shelf life) is sold in quarts-but only once a year, beginning in early November.
"Horizon Organic is the No. 1 brand of organic eggnog," Caragh McLaughlin, the company's milk brand manager, tells OrganicAuthority.com. "It sells 2½ times faster than the No. 2 brand."
First introduced in 2000, sales of Horizon's eggnog have steadily grown over the last few years, and the company produces 9% more product each year to meet consumer demand.
"While the holiday season may be a time to indulge, consumers still appreciate food choices they can feel good about," McLaughlin says. "Horizon Organic Lowfat Eggnog provides the best of both worlds because it offers a rich and creamy product that happens to be low-fat."
Cheers!
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