As the cold Minnesota winter continues, adding comforting dishes to our menus adds the warmth and zest we need to keep going until spring! Please stop by Kirsten’s Fresh Foods educational demos at Valley Natural Foods every Wednesday and Sunday from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Get a taste of her latest creation, grab the recipe, cooking tips and a handy coupon. Check out her demo schedule below through January 30th:

Wednesday, January 16-Down in the Valley Buffalo Roast with Root Veggies and Spicy Blue Cheese

Enjoy the the makings of a traditional Sunday roast with a twist. The Down in the Valley buffalo roast is paired with Harmony Valley’s soup mix (root vegetables) and St. Peter’s blue cheese. The vegetables nicely complement the dish and the spicy blue cheese brings it all together!

Sunday, January 20-Down in the Valley Meatloaf with Creamy Rutabaga Puree

When you eat meatloaf you want a great mashed vegetable to scoop up with each bite. With this dish we’ve added a creamy rutabaga puree which holds its own in flavor and health benefits like Vitamin C to help fight the winter colds from the inside out.

Wednesday, January 23-Bhutanese Chicken and Red Rice Soup

Jazz up your everyday soup with some color and wonderful flavor with this heirloom red rice. The kohlrabi, the leeks and the Down in the Valley bacon in the this dish round out the flavors while the rotisserie chicken helps you get in and out of the kitchen quickly.

Sunday, January 27-Turkey and Sweet Potato Saute with Spicy Mango Black Rice

This simple yet flavorful sauteed Down in the Valley turkey tenderloin is paired with Oriental sweet potatoes which are full of antioxidants and beta-carotene. Add the spicy mango black forbidden rice and you’ve got a party on your plate!

Wednesday, January 30-Mediterranean Beef Rolls with Lemon Scented Asparagus

Your “game day gathering” will be a hit when you bring out these party plates for your guests to nosh on. The olive feta filling in the beef rolls screams “touchdown” whice the asparagus gives them something to grab and go while watching the game.

Cooking from scratch with fresh foods is something we all aspire to do. But who has the time and where do you get the inspiration? Let our new Fresh Foods Educator, Kirsten inspire you to add original, fresh recipes to your family’s weekday meals! These recipes will save time and make dinner more exciting. Discover inspiration at Kirsten’s educational fresh food demonstrations every Wednesday and Sunday from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods’ demo kiosk.  These demonstrations will start Wednesday, January 9th; see below for details.

Stop by anytime during this period to gather tips and recipes for making delicious, hearty dishes using fresh, unique products from our meat, produce and deli departments. Kirsten will share substitution ideas and different ways to add zest and variety to each dish too. Visit her every Wednesday and Sunday to get a taste of something new, to learn a trick or two and to grab a recipe that will inspire you week to week.

Theme for January: Comfort Foods

Wednesday, January 9, 2013    

Gluten-Free Peruvian Pork Stew

Sunday, January 13, 2013           

Hearty Sausage & Kale Soup

Wednesday, January 16, 2013  

Buffalo Roast with Root Veggies & Spicy Blue Cheese

The holidays are over and hopefully now you have a little more time to focus on YOU!

For 2013, we want our classes at Valley Natural Foods to focus  more on what YOU want! 

We encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas by taking our Class Survey! Everybody who fills out the survey will be placed in a drawing to receive one FREE registration to the Valley Natural Foods class of their choice.

Do check out our January class schedule for some great ideas for making focusing on YOU a little easier.  Coming up next week, our Good Health Begins in the Gut class on January 9th will help you understand gastrointestinal health as it related to a myriad of different health conditions with instructor, Michael Larsen’s help. Michael recovered his daughter from autism through a focus on gastrointestinal health.  Both our GAPS Informational Class on Monday, January 14th and our GAPS 4-Week Course on Thursdays starting January 24th take a more intensive look at gastrointestinal health through a diet designed to heal the digestive tract. Also don’t miss out on other healthy eating classes such as Start Your Day in the Kitchen with Seven Sundays on Sunday, January 13 to learn more about easy breakfast meal ideas and our Leaning into Smarter Snacking and Optimum Weight class on Tuesday, January 15th to discover how to clean your kitchen of the junk food clutter and add healthier, organic snacks to your diet.

Sign up for all classes online, in-store or by calling 952-891-1212 ext. 221. Save $3.00 off any class registration by entering discount code “5130″ online or by printing the coupon for use in-store.

Taking steps to get healthier is a great New Year’s resolution.  It is easy to make that resolution but sticking to it all year long can be difficult. This January we have some excellent class opportunities at Valley Natural Foods that will provide you with the tools, resources, motivation and inspiration needed to make those resolutions a staple of your everyday life.

What better way to ring in the New Year than to get the opportunity to be motivated to eat healthier by an actual  celebrity! Yes, Bonnie Matthews, who has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show talking about her amazing weight loss journey and who is now a blogger for Dr. Oz’s website, will be teaching at Valley Natural Foods this January. Take her Let’s Freekeh for Dinner: Discovering Health through Freekeh class on Tuesday, January 29th to learn how to cook a variety of healthy dishes using this ancient roasted grain, freekeh.  Come hungry as you will get  to sample many colorful vegetarian dishes along with getting the recipes! Also get inspired through Bonnie’s personal weight loss story. Bonnie is the owner of  the Minneapolis-based, Freekeh Foods.

Another wonderful stepping stone to healthier snacking is our “Leaning into Smarter Snacking and Optimum Weight” class on Tuesday, January 15th with Health Coach Loris Sofia Gregory. The class will teach you how to commit to a healthier, smarter you in 2013 by clearing your kitchen of the sweet and salty junk food.  Learn about the best organic snack foods, those with a 100 calories or less and how to incorporate more plant-based snacks in your diet.

Our healthy classes don’t end there! Join owner of the Minneapolis-based Seven Sundays Muesli, Hannah Barnstable, on Sunday, January 13th for her “It’s Time for Breakfast with Seven Sundays” class. She will teach you how starting your day in your kitchen making breakfast will help you lose weight, boost your energy and save money too!

If you are looking for a diet that will heal, detoxify and nourish your digestive tract, perhaps the GAPS diet is something you should look into. Learn the basics on Monday, January 14th with GAPS practitioner, Kris Gustafson. For those that are serious about the diet and ready to commit, Gustafson will be teaching a 4-week intensive GAPS course on Thursday evenings starting January 24th.

Look for many other healthy classes online. Class listings are also available in-store.  All classes must reach a “minimum” number of attendees to be held and all attendees must register at least 36 hours in advance.  Save $3.00 off any class registration by entering  discount code “5130″ online or by printing off our online class coupon for use in-store.

The holiday season can be very chaotic when it comes to entertaining and finding the right gifts. It’s also important to take some time for yourself this season, discovering new ways to re-vamp holiday traditions and find unique gifts for yourself and others!

If this sounds like you, do check out our holiday classes in November and December.  Discover, explore and taste fresh, local and global holiday food traditions with new healthy twists in our FRESH, Local and Global Holiday Flavors class on Tuesday, November 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Take home healthy recipes and be inspired to add a new dish to your tradition! Be prepared for lots of tasting and learn what holiday foods have “superfood”  properties, offering lots of extra nutrients.

Getting your kids in the kitchen during the holidays may seem like more work than it is worth. However, in our Kids in the Kitchen: Holiday Cooking Creations class on Sunday, December 9th from 1:00-3:00 p.m., instructor, Kelli Schulte will show specific ways to get your kids to help you without losing your sanity. She will also help your kids understand the negative health effects that sugar can have on our diet while introducing them to how to create a naturally-sweetened holiday cookie. The kids will actually get to make and taste their own naturally-sweetened cookie in this class.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR OTHER HOLIDAY CLASSES

By: Loris Sofia Gregory, Healthy Kitchen Coach, Apple Valley, MN

Most of us look forward to traditional comfort foods this special time of year, usually anticipating the pleasurable sights, smells and tastes of our family holidays. What dishes are on your “must serve” holiday list? Does everyone in your family agree or do you stress yourself out trying to satisfy everyone’s favorite food memories? What about potential rising numbers on the bathroom scale during the next few months?  Just thinking about holiday cooking and eating does not have to raise your blood pressure. Holiday feasts and treats can include superfoods, offering more nutrition per calorie without straining your waistline or wallet. Click to read more about the fresh, local and global rainbow of holiday superfoods and spices to consider. These fresh foods offer power-packed energy and strong immunity for happier healthier holidays.

READ MORE ABOUT SUPERFOODS

Are you ready for more inspiring coaching, tasty samples, recipes and support for super healthy happy holidays? I look forward to meeting you at my November class:

FRESH, LOCAL AND GLOBAL HOLIDAY FLAVORS, Tues, Nov 20, 6:30-8:30 pm. Register by Friday Noon, November 16 at customer service, by calling 952-891-1212 ext. 221 or online. Use coupon code #5130 for $3 off online registration.

Discover, explore and taste fresh, local and global holiday food traditions with new healthy twists. Health Coach Loris Sofia Gregory will demo and share ample samples, recipes and serving ideas for festive appetizers, snacks and meal ideas using fresh plant-based, gluten-free ingredients (and local when possible). Learn what traditional holiday foods and spices have “superfood” qualities, offering peak nutrients with minimal calories, expense and hours in the kitchen. Be inspired by special holiday products and local foods for standout entertaining and appreciative family meals. Take home fresh ideas and healthy recipes for eating well throughout the holidays and beyond. Bring your own favorite healthy holiday recipes to share!

Are you passionate about food? Do you love telling people about the fun, innovative recipes you’ve come up with in your own kitchen? If so, we have a dynamic new job, entitled Fresh Foods Educator, at Valley Natural Foods that might perk your interest. We encourage you to apply!

The Fresh Foods Educator position is a perfect job for that creative, enthusiastic, extroverted person that wants to showcase his or her culinary expertise.  The Fresh Foods Educator will work directly with our deli, meat and produce departments to come up with seasonal, exciting recipes or preparation techniques to demonstrate directly at our demo kiosk.  If anybody has called you a “foodie” who enjoys keeping up on popular food trends and products, you definitely will enjoy this position.  Your primary goal will be to engage, educate and draw our customers in to learn as much as they can about the techniques, products or recipes you are demonstrating and of course purchase the food items too!

The most unique part of this position is that you might get to be on T.V.!  Yes, you will be our Valley Natural Foods celebrity on local Minneapolis/St. Paul television stations’ cooking shows, demonstrating the recipes that you’ve created in-store. For example, you get to meet directly with the local news anchors and interact with them–how fun! This is not the main part of the Fresh Foods Educator’s job, but he or she will need to have the public speaking skills to do this as needed (perhaps once a quarter).

This is a part-time position that allows you to work up to 15 hours a week. You must be available to work Tuesdays 11a-3p, Wednesdays 2p-6:30p, Sundays 2p-6:30. Apply today!

Valley Natural Foods is participating in National Bulk Foods Week from October 14-20! Look for lots of sales on bulk food items throughout October to celebrate the Bulk is Green Council’s (BIG) effort to raise awareness of the many benefits of buying organic and natural foods in bulk. Hundreds of retailers across the country are participating in this campaign.

Buying in bulk has great economic and environmental benefits. Portland State University’s Food Industry Leadership Center reports that on average, organic bulk food items are 89% less expensive than their organic packaged counterparts. Manufacturers also save on average 54% on bulk foods materials and delivery costs, helping reduce the amount of product packaging going into landfills.

During the month of October bulk items are even more less expensive! These bulk items are on sale through October 16: Frontier tea, Golden Temple Granola, Grandy Oats Granola, sunflower seeds, steel cut oats, Equal Exchange Coffee, Alakef French Roast Coffee, Peace Coffee’s Mexican Roast, raw almonds,  yogurt covered almonds and raisins, chocolate covered ginger and wild harvest ginger mix. Starting October 17-30, the same coffees are on sale along with kidney beans, raw pecans, pumpkin seeds, yogurt covered almonds and raisins, raw almonds and Grandy Oats Granola.

Need some help traversing our bulk trail? Save $1.00 on our Discovering Bulk Foods: A Cooperative Guidebook by printing our online coupon.  This guidebook, found in our bulk trail, will be a $1.99 with the coupon. Discover lots of bulk recipes, cooking instructions and a listing of most of the items you will find.

Imagine the earthy jewel tones and delectable tastes of autumn harvest on your dinner plate. Even after our first frosts, nutrient-dense, calorie-sparse root vegetables deliver a bounty of body-warming energy for the months ahead. Many of the super-healthy hearty fall “greens”  such as chard, the kales and cabbages, Brussels sprouts and beet, collard and mustard greens  taste even better when they are kissed by frost. Cooler temperatures stimulate plant sugar production leading to a touch of sweetness. In addition, October is the month to stock up on sweet or tart FRESH & LOCAL apples. Consider building optimal health while supporting local farmers and growers with October’s plentiful produce.

For cooking demos and ample samples of “Black Bean Smothered Sweet Potatoes” and “Tangy Cranberry Salsa with Pumpkin Seeds” plus more seasonal recipes and healthy coaching for easy whole-foods meals, sign up for my “FRESH & LOCAL FLAVORS OF THANKSGIVING”  class, coming up on Tuesday, Oct 16th. (Register by Friday Noon, October 12: $27 members/$30 non-members. Use coupon code #5130 for $3 off online registration.)

READ MORE

With 4.5 million family farms lost in the U.S. since 1935, farming may seem like a thing of the past. However, a veggie oil-sippin’ school bus packed with young farmers will reveal to Twin Cities south metro residents that the next generation of organic dairy farming is going strong. Valley Natural Foods is happy to announce that Organic Valley’s 2012 “Generation Organic” Tour will make a stop in its Burnsville parking lot on October 7th from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The general public will get a chance to not only visit with these farmers who come from across the U.S, but enjoy free delicious grilled cheese and single-serve milk samples, along with other fun, interactive kids’ games, including trying out the “Wheel of Food and Farming”.

Visit http://www.organicvalley.coop/GenerationOrganic for a complete tour schedule, and follow the tour on Twitter @GenOrganic and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GenerationOrganic.

Valley Natural Foods carries a wide variety of Organic Valley products such as organic milk, cheese, butter, spreads, creams and eggs.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE