Mama Mary’s® Gourmet 100% Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

I hear a common worry and complaint when I discuss making the switch to whole grains with customers. Want to take a stab at what it is? “But, is it going to taste like cardboard?” When it comes to Mama Mary’s® Gourmet 100% Whole Wheat Pizza Crust, I can emphatically say no!

Mama Mary’s® Gourmet pizza crusts can be found in the Deli section of your local Big Y. And until next Thursday, you’ll also find them on sale at the Living Well Eating Smart display for $3.99. That’s only ~$2 per family-size crust! Why is Mama Mary’s® Gourmet a pick for Living Well Eating Smart?

Compared to traditional crusts, they’re made with whole wheat flour (yea for whole grains!), they’ll save you 80 calories and nearly 200 milligrams sodium per slice and, as Andrea says, they’re “delicious, fantastic and convenient!” What’s not to love?

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes To-Go Pack

With back to school season right around the corner, it’s time to stock up on those must-have supplies like notebooks, lunch bags and juice boxes. Be sure to include Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes To-Go Pack on your shopping list, too. Why? These powerful wipes keep surfaces clean and kill 99.9% of germs, including viruses that cause colds and flu. (Read: Helping everyone in your family stay healthy, because let’s face it, who wants to deal with sick days?)

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes To-Go Pack are perfect for carrying in your purse or your child’s backpack to remove germs from desks, door handles, computers, lockers – you name it! Simply wipe and let sit for 30 seconds to sanitize or 4 minutes to disinfect. If using on a surface which may come in contact with food, or toys that may be mouthed by children, Clorox® recommends rinsing thoroughly with water after cleaning.

Pick up Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes To-Go Pack at our Living Well Eating Smart display in your local Big Y. You’ll find them on-sale through August 18th. And for the sale price of 10 for $10, I’ll be stocking up!

Mr. Wheat’s® Crispy Wheat

There is a new crunchy, low calorie snack crisp in the market— and they are delicious! Mr. Wheat’s® Crispy Wheat baked snacks come in yummy flavors like Apple Cinnamon and Onion Garlic. There are a few things that make me like Mr. Wheat’s® as much as I do: #1- One serving is 7 crisps (and a crisp is 4 ½ inches in diameter!); #2- One serving delivers 4 grams fiber; #3- Apple Cinnamon only provides 3 grams sugar and 30 milligrams sodium per serving. Tasty, crunchy snacking with fiber but low in sugar and sodium? What’s not to love about Mr. Wheat’s®?

Don’t wait much longer to try them out, Mr. Wheat’s® participation in Living Well Eating Smart ends this Wednesday. What does this mean? They’re on sale for $1.99 a package for only three more days!

Mrs. Meyer’s® Clean Day Laundry Supplies

For the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring some of our favorite Natural & Organic products available at Big Y. You can find great items like Mrs. Meyer’s® Clean Day Laundry Supplies on sale at our Living Well Eating Smart display. Mrs. Meyer’s® earth-friendly detergent and biodegradable fabric softener sheets contain at least 97% naturally derived ingredients.

But that’s not the only reason why we love these hard-working cleaners. Mrs.® Meyer’s are aromatherapeutic cleaners, making cleaning more of a spa experience than a chore. Let garden fresh scents like Lavender fill your laundry room with their detergents and fabric softener sheets and feel the soothing atmosphere they create.

Plus, Mrs. Meyer’s® products are safe to use around children and pets. They’re made with naturally derived ingredients whenever possible so there’s never any harsh fumes or chemicals to worry about. So if you haven’t already, enjoy the therapeutic experience (and tough cleaning power) of Mrs. Meyer’s® Clean Day Laundry Supplies today!

Roma Grape Tomatoes

You’ve heard of cherry tomatoes…plum tomatoes…and compari tomatoes, now get ready for Roma grape tomatoes. Top Line Roma Grape tomatoes are a recent addition for us here at Big Y. The name explains exactly what size and type of tomato you get— not quite as small as a grape tomato but also not a large as a plum tomato (Roma tomato). What you get is large grape-sized, plum-shaped deliciousness right at your finger tips. They come packed in one-pound containers ready for enjoyment over the course of a number different meals.

For me? Fresh tomatoes are one of my favorite staple items. They’re great in salads, sautés or simply to snack on with a little bit of dressing or hummus. What takes the prize is fresh tomato with fresh basil and mozzarella cheese drizzled with balsamic vinegar (or a caprese salad!).

To add to Andrea’s last posting (below) referring to our current newsletter’s recipe Roma Grape Tomato Bruschetta, I’ll temp your taste buds even further. Try out the combination of my favorite accompanying ingredients for fresh tomatoes in the Caprese Salad recipe from issue # 11 of Living Well Eating Smart. Top Line Roma Grape tomatoes make an easy substitution and one package allows you to make multiple servings so the entire family can enjoy!

Wasa® Crispbread

Yesterday was the start of our new theme highlighting Functional Foods. So, I decided to visit a few of our Connecticut Big Y’s to see our new sale items on display. For the next two weeks we have some great items being featured. One of my favorites is Wasa® Crispbread, on sale for 2 for $5.00. What a steal!

I only recently began eating Wasa® a few months ago, when Carrie introduced me to their products. And I’m so happy she did, because when I’m in the mood for a crunchy snack, these hearty crispbreads are the perfect option. Wasa® Crispbreads are made using wholesome ingredients like whole grain rye and sesame seeds. And without added fat or sugar, my favorite Multi Grain variety provides 2 grams fiber in each crisp directly from whole grains.

Use Wasa® Crispbread as the base of the Roma Grape Tomato Bruschetta recipe featured in our latest newsletter for a refreshing summer appetizer.

Want to learn more about Functional Foods and see what other items are on sale this week? Pick up a copy of our free newsletter, by visiting our Living Well Eating Smart display at your local Big Y. Or, download it here.

Bush’s Best® Beans

This week when I was giving a presentation on Savvy Supermarket Shopping for Baystate’s “Eyes Wide Open” series, an attendee asked me if it was “okay” if they ate canned beans over dried beans they soaked themselves. Answer? Absolutely!

One thing I know about myself in the kitchen— convenience is king. I simply don’t have the patience (or time) for certain tasks— waiting for beans to soak is currently one of them. Partly because I haven’t mastered a successful soak, but also because opening a can of Bush’s Best® Beans, rinsing extremely well to remove the liquid (read: salt) and then adding the beans to my salad or recipe is much more convenient AND allows me to use a variety of beans at once with only tapping into the amount I need then and there.

One thing is for sure, you and I do NOT eat enough beans. Back in the February 2007 issue of Living Well Eating Smart, we have a chart of the recommended intake of beans for individuals at varying calorie level meal plans. Most of us are recommended to eat a ½-cup serving of whole beans like Bush’s Best® black beans six days a week (or a 1/3-cup serving of mashed beans like chick peas made into hummus!).

Are you getting enough?

With six grams fiber AND protein, but almost zero grams fat, Bush’s Best® beans cannot be beat as a rich-protein source. It’s convenient and affordable. How great is that?

Don’t know where to start with a can of Bush’s Best® beans? Check out the Black Bean Salsa with Pineapple recipe featured in our current issue of Living Well Eating Smart. Bon Appétit!

Driscoll’s® Premium Strawberries

To me, it’s just not summer without seasonal fruits and vegetables. Asparagus, summer squash, green beans, watermelon, cantaloupe and juicy strawberries are just a few of my favorites. This week, pick up Driscoll’s® Premium Strawberries (on sale at your local Big Y®) and treat yourself to unbeatable taste and nutrition.

Why strawberries? Not only are they the perfect addition to any meal, snack, dessert, smoothie… you name it, strawberries like Driscoll’s® Premium Strawberries pack an impressive nutritional punch. They provide fiber, folate, vitamin C and ellagic acid, a phytochemical (plant compound) which may reduce the risk for certain cancers.

Enjoy Driscoll’s® Strawberries in this simple, healthified Strawberry Shortcake recipe:

1. Prepare strawberries ahead of time by rinsing well, removing stems and chopping into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle with a touch of calorie-free, all-natural sweetener like PureVia™ (made from stevia plant extracts, sugar alcohol erythritol and sugar) and mix well. Cover bowl and allow strawberries to sit for at least 30 minutes so juices can form.

2. Slice one piece of angel food cake (available from our Bakery) and top with lower-fat, smooth churned ice cream. Pour prepared strawberries on top and enjoy! It’s that simple.

Sun Crystals® All-Natural Sweetener

Last year, our shelves were flooded with all natural sugar-free sweeteners containing the herb stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana).

My favorite one? Sun Crystals®.

Why? Because it tastes great— there’s no bitter taste. It’s not super, super sweet either. Its texture is that of traditional sugar versus a powdery substance— though it dissolves better than a packet of sugar (one of the primary reasons I originally opted for artificial sweeteners over sugar). Finally, each packet of Sun Crystals® has 7 grams fewer carbohydrates (ie: sugar) than traditional sugar. So, you save 27 calories and the expense of excess added sugars when using it.

What is Sun Crystals®? A blend of sugar cane and calorie-free stevia. You can sweeten up your favorite beverage or food (ie: grapefruit!) without the use of artificial sweeteners and excess added sugar. How great is that?

Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Seasoning Blends

Think cutting sodium means cutting flavor? Think again! Instead of reaching for the salt shaker to season your favorite recipes, opt for Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Seasoning Blends. Made with unique blends of herbs and spices, Mrs. Dash® adds bold flavors to chicken, fish, potatoes and more. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use their blends:

For more scrumptious recipe inspirations, visit the Mrs. Dash® website.