What will you find at the stores and markets this summer?

June: Asparagus (ends in June), beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cucumbers, green beans, greens/spinach, fresh herbs, onions, potatoes, squash, strawberries

July – August: Apples, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, fresh herbs, nectarines, peaches, peppers, potatoes (July), raspberries, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon

September- October: Apples, Asian pears, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant (ends in September), green beans, greens/spinach, fresh herbs, peppers, potatoes (October), pumpkins, raspberries, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes

Now that you have filled your basket with fresh produce, time to take it home and enjoy it! Time is ticking to eat up fresh produce before it spoils and we have all been there! Take advantage of any free time in the kitchen to prep your produce to help save time on busy weeknights. Your family will be much more likely to eat it if it’s ready to go. You can wash and prepare carrots, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, broccoli, green beans and melons; keep in the fridge to munch on for several days. Even your hearty greens like kale and collards can be washed, dried and stored for use later in the week. Wait to wash and prep fruits and vegetables that have a thin skin like strawberries, raspberries and peaches, they will need to be eaten within 24 hours for the best quality.

Try these ideas for incorporating local fruits and veggies into your family’s daily diet!

• Summer is great time for making smoothies! Try a green smoothie by adding spinach or kale. Peaches, blackberries and blueberries are delicious in smoothies.
• Bell peppers, cabbage, or even zucchini are great veggies to stuff with a mix of ground turkey or beans, quinoa or rice, other veggies, and fresh herbs like basil, oregano or cilantro.
• Wrap your favorite chicken or tuna salad in fresh lettuce leaves or stuff into a big Hanover tomato.
• Have the kids help you tear a bunch of kale into small bite size pieces to add to salads, mix into rice, quinoa or pasta dishes, or bake into kale chips.
• Use up a lot of veggies at once by roasting a large tray of peppers, onions, squash, eggplant broccoli, sweet potatoes and more! Add your favorite fresh herbs and olive oil. Roasting veggies brings out the natural sweetness in veggies to help cut the bitterness, making them more kid friendly! You can mix them into pastas, stuff into a wrap, or use as a pizza topping.
• Jazz up water or sparkling water by adding fresh berries or cucumbers or even fresh herbs like basil or mint.
• Add some natural sweetness by tossing a handful of berries or sliced peaches into cereals, yogurt, over ice cream, into salads, or top pancakes or waffles.
• Make watermelon savory by tossing with spinach, feta cheese and a vinaigrette dressing.
• Grill fruit for dessert! Grilled peaches and pineapples (OK, not local, but still great when grilled!) are delicious paired with vanilla yogurt or light ice cream.

Kids are often the pickiest eaters in the family, so take advantage of the dog days of summer to get the kids active in the kitchen! Involve them with possibly growing a garden, prepping, and cooking. Kids are much more likely to try their masterpiece if they had a hand in it! Enjoy the longer days and bounty of fresh produce this summer available to you from MARTIN’S!

Valerie Waters, RDN is MARTIN’S In- Store Nutritionist. Valerie is located in 3 Richmond area MARTIN’S stores and available to assist customers in their quest for healthy food choices! She has 13 years of experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist and has worked in the grocery setting for 7 years. As a working mom of two daughters, Valerie relates well to the challenges today’s moms face trying to establish and maintain healthy habits for a busy lifestyle. She is committed to offering practical advice based on up-to-date medical information to help families make sustainable healthy changes to their lifestyle. To get a plan tailored to you, call Valerie at 804-364-3644 to set up a one-on-one consultation.

 

MARTIN’S is a sponsor of Richmondmom.com

We got a whole new bunch of goodies to put to the test!  We’ll tell you what we think about the National vs. MARTIN’S Own Brand and then during the weeks of June 29th and  July 6th MARTIN’S will be running the promotion so you can try it out for yourself.

Laundry Detergent:

Side by Side:
Tide is primarily a white with a colored stain remover and brightener.  The MARTIN’S Own brand is all blue.
Tide “Spring Meadow” had a lilac like sent where the MARTIN’S Own brand in Fresh Scent had a slightly perfume-y fresh and soapy scent.

Performance:
I normally avoid buying colored laundry detergent because it can stain clothing, but I was pleased to find that wasn’t the case.  The clothing all came out clean and the fresh scent filled the laundry room.

Verdict:
I’ll still probably pick a scent free, clear colored choice, because I’m a boring girl at heart, but the MARTIN’S Own Brand did perform well.  If I were a scented detergent girl I’d certainly consider saving a few bucks and keep buying it.

Pretzels:

Side by Side:
I’m not picky about how my snack food looks but Snyder’s do have a darker color and rounder shape… probably better if you were doing chocolate covered pretzels or something presentational.
Serving size is about the same, Snyder’s has 200mg less sodium than MARTIN’S so if you are carefully watching your sodium intake you may want to take note.

Taste test:
Not too much difference.

Verdict:
I’d grab the MARTIN’S brand for a party snack, and certainly for a recipe like the Old Bay Seasoned Pretzels listed here.
Peanuts:

Side by Side:
Not much difference here nutritionally or visually.

Taste:
Not much difference here either.

Verdict:
No brainer, go MARTIN’S Brand.

Barbecue Sauce:

Side by Side:
Both have a nice deep color.
Both start with high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient (eek) MARTIN’S somehow ends up with 1 less gram of sugar. All of the ingredients are the same… Sweet Baby Ray’s has a “modified “smoke flavor where as MARTIN’S has “natural” smoke flavor.  I have no idea what that means.

Taste:
Sweet Baby Ray’s gives a little bit more heat, which can either be a good or a bad thing depending on your taste.

Verdict:
Like more heat? Go with Sweet Baby Ray’s,  if sweet and tangy is what you’re after, you’ll be happy with MARTIN’S Own.
Sunscreen:

Side by Side:
Well, you know, they are bottles of suntan lotion. Not too much too report. Both bottles have a lock so they aren’t spraying all over the inside of your pool/beach bag. Both are broad spectrum SPF 30.

Performance:
I sprayed half my body with one Coppertone and half with the MARTIN’S brand and I couldn’t tell the difference with how they went on.  Coppertone keeps its classic scent which is a little better than the MARTIN’S scent, although it was not offensive.  Both dried quickly and sat on top of the skin rather than soaking in.

Verdict:
I didn’t have a favorite.
We’ll probably use these cans up and then go back to our usual lotion, although I’d certainly consider the MARTIN’S brand in a  lotion. (Remember to spray on your hand before applying spray sunscreens to kids as they can inhale the sunscreen causing lung irritation.)
So there you have it! Once again MARTIN’S Stood up really well!

What are you going to do though with double the bags of pretzels, Peanuts and BBQ Sauce?

We’ve compiled a Pinterest board dedicated to putting your MARTIN’S Challenge Foods to the test! 
Peruse our collection of recipes like Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Cookie Cups,  Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken and BBQ Strombolis for a little MARTIN’S Challenge inspiration.

$25 gift card giveaway has ended… but there might be another one coming…. Stay tuned to Richmondmom.com!

All food and gift cards provided by MARTIN’S.
All opinions are my own.

MARTIN’S Buy Ours Get Theirs Free Challenge runs two consecutive weeks (June 29 – July 5, and July 6- 12, 2014) with 4 different products to test each week.

Try these nutrient rich snacks to keep you satisfied and your energy levels high:

• Parfait – Low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt provides protein and carbohydrates to help keep you full and provide energy! Berries are a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamin C and phytonutrients! Layer 6 ounces of low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt with a cup of fresh berries and top with a little granola for a great breakfast or mid-morning snack!

• Nut butter waffles or nut butter sandwich – There are so many great options of nut butters on the store shelves today and they are great sources of protein, healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, and other nutrients! The specific nutrients of each nut butter depend on which type of nut you choose – almond, cashew, macadamia, walnut or hazelnut. Not only do whole grains offer more health benefits than refined grains, they are also loaded with fiber which helps keep you full and controls your hunger! Toast a whole grain waffle and top with 1 tablespoon of your favorite nut butter. Then top with your favorite fruit such as berries or peaches! Or top a slice of whole grain bread with 1 tablespoon nut butter and ½ banana.

• Nut and fruit mix – Nuts are easy to pack and a great source of protein, fiber and healthy fats. Since they are calorie dense, moderation with your portion size is key! Combine ¼ cup of nuts with 5 dried apricots or other favorite dried fruit, pack in individual snack bags for a great on-the-go or work snack!

• Hummus and veggies – Hummus is a great high protein, vegetarian snack prepared from chickpeas. Veggies, of course, are a top notch source of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber. Be sure to include them in your snacks and meals to get in your 5 servings a day! Spread ¼ cup of hummus on the bottom of a jelly jar and top with carrot, cucumber or celery sticks for a portable snack!

More quick and nutritious snacks:

• Homemade Fruit smoothie – Blend milk or a milk alternative with fat-free yogurt and your favorite frozen fruit (no sugar necessary!)

• Homemade Trail mix made with your favorite finger snacks – Combine cereal, mini pretzels, raisins, whole grain crackers, and nuts.

• “Pretend” Hot Danish – Toast half a whole grain English muffin, spread with low-fat cottage or ricotta cheese, top with applesauce and cinnamon. Microwave to heat through.

• Baked potato and dip – Heat a half a potato and top with low-fat bean dip.

Valerie Pulley is a nutritionist with MARTIN’S Food Markets.

MARTIN’S Food Markets is a sponsor of Richmondmom.com

One thing I love about this season is how often I get to see my family and friends.  Actually, after not having been able to get together with my friends in a long time, I now have at least 5 gatherings in the next 6 weeks, half of which I’ll either be hosting or helping to host… and that does not even count Christmas.  I’ve pinned thousands of great things to do but realistically, I’m not going to have time to them all with three kids, two jobs and everything else that comes with the holiday season.

Enter: the newly expanded MARTIN’S Simply Enjoy line.  Yup, straight from the grocery store around the corner.  It’s the deus ex machina of my holiday season.  I would love to make caramelized onion and gorgonzola tartlets from scratch, but let’s get real.

I tested out a couple of goodies when I brought them to my parent’s house for Thanksgiving… there is always that awkward time several hours after an early Thanksgiving meal where nobody wants to even think about a meal but everyone is getting a little peckish, so I thought it would be the perfect solution to satisfy.

A little of the Simply Enjoy Red Pepper Jelly went perfectly on top of the brand’s water crackers which we snacked on with brie (also a part of the Simply Enjoy line) and wine.

I slid a few Raspberry Powdered Shortbread Cookies on to our dessert table to see how they would stand up among Thanksgiving favorites like pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie and was happy to see that it found it’s way onto plates and paired nicely with the Simply Enjoy Colombian Coffee.

So, will tasty treats from Simply Enjoy be at my next holiday party/ New Year’s Eve fete /baby shower? You betcha! (wouldn’t the Italian sodas look really cute with colorful paper straws?)  In fact you’ll be likely to find the coffee in my cup each morning and a few treats stashed away for myself for a “midnight” snack after my kids go to bed!

Good news! Some of the delicious treats I tasted are on sale at MARTIN’S.  So stock up on a few for next time a friend comes over for coffee, you need to indulge in a delicious treat, if you don’t want to show up to a party empty handed or if anytime you want to make things extra special.

So… what exactly does that mean?  We asked Valerie Waters, RDN, in-store nutritionist for MARTIN’S Food Stores in Richmond to help us sort it out for us.

RM: What is trans fat?

RM: Shouldn’t we avoid all fats?  What makes trans fat different?

RM: Will the FDA proposed ban on trans fats make those products healthier? 

Now you can!

More than 8,000 Boy Scouts are distributing empty bags to your doorsteps on October 26th to collect food for needy families for distribution through FeedMore. Although 260,000 households will receive a bag on October 26th, only about 15% of households will fill the bags and donate food. That’s still a lot of food for families with hungry children, adults, and the elderly.

Saturday, November 2, 2013, Scouting for Food will make it easy for everyone to help out those who need it most. They are collecting nutritious, non-perishable canned and boxed food for FeedMore (no glass please). On November 2nd, place the bag of food outside your front door no later than 9:30 am for pickup by the Boy Scouts from the Heart of Virginia Council. The Scouts will deliver your food to FeedMore’s Central Virginia Food Bank for distribution to families.

If for some reason, your bag is not picked up by 2pm on November 2, you can also drop the bag at your local Martin’s store in the purple box located outside each store or call 804.204.2642 for a pick-up.

Wondering what to donate? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Peanut butter
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruits
• Tuna fish

Last year, the Boy Scouts collected 197,000 pounds of food for FeedMore. This year they hope to collect at least 206,000 pounds off food. With the help of Richmond moms and dads, we can exceed this goal!

Get the entire family involved in this important project and fill the bag by November 2nd. If you don’t receive a bag on October 26th, you can use any bag to collect your food. It’s really that easy. See below for more information.

Think outside of the lunchbox – thanks to creative ideas contributed to Richmondmom.com by Martin’s!

Photo Source: www.slowfoodusa.org

Carlisle, PA – With summer vacation winding down, the team of nutritionists at GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S Food Markets are offering several ways for families to think outside of the lunchbox and start the new school year off on a healthier note. Soon many parents will be faced with the daily task of packing a lunch that tastes great and provides needed nutrition and energy to last through the school day.

Involve your child in planning their lunch meals from grocery shopping to meal preparation like washing fruits and vegetables, mixing ingredients together, and portioning out snacks into plastic baggies. Check out these ideas from GIANT/MARTIN’S nutritionists on ways to pack a healthy lunch that won’t be traded in the cafeteria:

• For sandwiches, choose whole grain, raisin or cinnamon bread, a mini bagel, a tortilla wrap or a pita instead of plain white sandwich bread. If you’re unsure, check the ingredient list for “whole grains.” For added fun, cut your child’s sandwiches into fun shapes with large cookie cutters.

• Select sliced lean or low-fat brands of lunch meat like turkey, chicken, lean ham or lean roast beef in place of fatty luncheon meats.

• For children who don’t like sandwiches, low-fat cheeses paired with whole grain crackers can be a healthy alternative, while still providing similar nutrition content.

• Toast whole grain waffles and spread with almond butter and fruit-spread (jam with no added sugar), cut in half and put in plastic zip top bags while warm. By lunch or snack-time, they will be a perfect texture to eat.

• Make lunches as bright and colorful as possible using plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Cut up fresh veggies and pair with low-fat ranch dressing, peanut butter or any nut butter, sunflower seed butter, veggie dip, low-fat plain Greek yogurt, or hummus. Try threading grapes, blueberries, orange segments and other fruit favorites on a plastic coffee stirrer. Make veggie kabobs with cucumber chunks, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper wedges, and other veggies.

• Have kids make their own trail mix, and limit the chocolate chips, preferably dark chocolate, to one tablespoon per baggie. Mix: whole grain cereal, dried fruits like raisins, dried cranberries, or dry mango-pieces, sunflower or pumpkin seeds (or nuts), and whole grain pretzels.

• Make your own portion-sized snacks. For a healthier snack that satisfies salty, crunchy cravings, replace potato chips with a baggie of low-fat microwave popcorn or consider corn or whole grain chips and salsa.

• Introduce a new food every week. When you and your child are grocery shopping, have them agree to pick out one new fruit or vegetable to try for that week. Think kiwis, honey crisp apples and mango slices, or butternut squash, eggplant and jicama.

• Keep your kids guessing by changing up the lunchbox routine. The same meals can get boring for kids. Try rotating the types of protein, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains you use so it keeps them interested.

Be sure to add an insulated lunch bag and ice pack to your school supply list. Packing your child’s lunch in one of these will help to keep foods cool all morning. Or place a frozen water bottle into the insulated bag in the morning and it will not only keep the food cold, but will be thawed to drink at lunchtime!

For more healthy tips visit Martin’s and be sure to check out their Healthy Ideas information.

About GIANT/MARTIN’S

Thanks to Martin’s for contributing this article to Richmondmom.com.

Celebrating its 90^th anniversary in 2013, GIANT/MARTIN’S, headquartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, operates nearly 200 grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, under the names of GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S Food Markets. GIANT/MARTIN’S employs more than 31,000 associates. Founded in 1923, GIANT and MARTIN’S have a long-standing commitment to eradicate hunger and improve the quality of life for children in addition to working with hundreds of local organizations annually.  The company was recognized for its leadership in the fight against hunger with the Golden Grocer Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, GIANT/MARTIN’S is one of the top ten fund-raisers in the country for local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. GIANT and MARTIN’S are Ahold companies. For more information visit www.GiantFoodStores.com and www.MartinsFoods.com. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/giantfoodstores and facebook.com/martinsfoods.