As you take a stroll through our produce department you soon notice a large curved granite counter space at the edge of our bulk department.

This is our Education Kiosk! As you may know, our staff provides regular weekly cooking demonstrations at this kiosk in order to empower you to make healthy choices. Each week our  Education Kiosk Korner blog will prepare you for a week of fabulous demos and include lots of coupons too!

Regular Valley Natural Foods Cooking Demonstrations:

• Budget Meals, every  Monday, 3:00-6:00 p.m: We demonstrate one hearty, inexpensive  healthy meal idea that is simple to make and tastes great!
• Raw Food Day, first Thursday, 3:00-6:00 p.m.: Enjoy a  seasonal raw food recipe each month!  The health benefits of a raw food diet include weight control, increased energy, better digestion, stronger immunity, more mental clarity, improved skin, and a reduced risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases.
• Gluten-Free Day, third Thursday, 3:00-6:00 p.m.: A gluten-free diet can be tricky but with time, patience and creativity you will find that there are many foods out there that you can eat and enjoy. We will introduce you to a flavorful, easy gluten-free recipe that your whole family will like.
• Juicing Day, first Saturday, 12:00-3:00 p.m.: Fresh fruits and vegetables contain healing vitamins and minerals that help cleanse and detoxify your body. We will demonstrate a new juicing recipe each month using seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables from our produce department.

Education Kiosk Demonstrations from August 10- 16:

• Raw Food Day: Glowing  Quinoa Salad, Thursday, August 11, 3:00-6:00 p.m: Come enjoy this colorful, zesty salad jam-packed with lots of vegetables and protein! This recipe uses Tru Roots Quinoa, which is naturally gluten-free and contains all the amino acids to make a complete protein. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and phosphorous) and contains fiber, antioxidants, and valuable phytonutrients.  This unique salad is a protein powerhouse as it also contains pumpkin seeds and cashews amongst many other fresh items such as green peas, carrots and tomatoes. This fresh salad  would be a great addition to any summer cookout.
• Honey Tasting Demo: Saturday, August 13,  12:00-3:00 p.m: Do  different kinds of honey really taste different? The answer is yes! Because Minnesota’s  seasons are so different, weather favors certain plants.  Different plants combined with a wide range of soils results in a palette of flavor ranges.  During this demonstration, try several  different varieties of Minnesota honey including:  Homestead Apiaries and Ames Farm. Both are available in our bulk department. Both farms make  raw, unfiltered honey, meaning it is not exposed to heat (outside of the beehive) and that it is not heavily processed. Unlike processed honey, raw honey contains beneficial vitamins, enzymes and yeasts. What’s a fun fact about honey?  Well, in order to gather nectar for a single pound of honey, bees make 50,000-75,000 trips to the hive! That’s a lot of buzzing around!
• Budget Meal: Maya Kaimal’s Indian Simmer Sauces: Monday, August 15, 3:00-6:00 p.m. Looking for some spice? Make Maya Kaimal’s Indian Simmer Sauces, available in our refrigerated section near the dairy department, part of your next meal. Maya Kaimal is an award-winning cookbook author and a leading authority on Indian cooking. All her simmer sauces, Vindaloo, Coconut Curry, Tikka Masala, Tamarind Curry, and Classic Korma are inspirations from Maya’s family recipes from South India. Maya Kaimal’s sauces are made from wholesome, all-natural ingredients and traditional techniques like caramelizing onions and hand toasting spices to build deep, layered flavors. Combine one 15 ounce container of sauce, rice and a pound of chicken, all for under $20, and you have an inexpensive meal for the whole family!

LOOKING FOR A COUPON? Save on Tru Roots Quinoa, Maya Kaimal Indian Simmer Sauce, Ames and Homestead Apiaries Honey along with pumpkin seeds from our bulk department! All coupons good from August 10-16, 2011.

Finally! All you Kombucha fans who have been waiting for over a month will be happy to know that GT’s Kombucha is back on our shelves again. Grab one from our icy bin near the store entrance, or stock-up by purchasing a 12-pack case of any one variety at a special case-discount price for a limited time. Get ‘em while they’re here! (Cases are available in the cooler next to the fresh eggs and butter area.)