The more we learn about nutrition, the more we realize that food  components of foods are not our enemy. Fat and carbs, for instance,  are not the enemy.  However, the type and amount of fats and carbs you consume can either bring you closer to, or further from, healthy physical balance.  Now we realize the same  is true for that old stand-by bad guy, salt.  Your body requires salt to live, but most people consume far more than needed, which taxes the organs in their effort to excrete the additional salt from our systems, leading to bloating and cellular damage.  Table salt (mainly sodium chloride) has been linked to diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Table salt is a product that has been chemically cleansed with all beneficial  minerals and elements removed in the process.

Eliminating salt from your diet is not the answer. Exploring more natural alternatives can go a long way to helping us retain a balance.  Himalayan Salt is composed of natural elements that our bodies need for proper functioning. Salt is one of the essential elements for electrical impulses and general conductivity within the body.  Salt is not the bad guy. But changing the type of salt you consume and becoming aware of the quantity you are eating can improve health and help prevent common diseases.

Does someone you love have a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance?  Do you have a vegan Valentine?  Discover Enjoy life Boom-Choco-Boom bars! Boom-Choco-Boom bars are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, nut free and vegan.  Best of all, they taste great!   In addition to the dark chocolate bars, they also make rice “milk” chocolate bars.  Our favorite is the “milk” chocolate with crispy rice. We’re so happy a trusted company like Enjoy life took on the daunting task of making allergen-free chocolate, allowing us to be able to offer a variety of treats for special dietary needs.  Happy Valentines Day from the gang at Meadowsweet Market/juniperfoods!

There are many ways to get the best value for your health-conscious dollar.  For instance, if you have to choose which fruits and veggies to buy organic, start with those that have thin skin, apples, peaches, berries, potatoes.  Also, leafy greens are hard to wash thoroughly and  tend to be sprayed with a lot of pesticides, so go organic with those too.   This list is getting long, and since we are all encouraged to eat as much leafy greens as possible, the list is also expensive, which begs the question, is there a middle ground between organic and conventional foods? The answer is yes.   Lets take a look at some alternatives.

First, know where your foods come from.  If you have your own garden, you have the ultimate control over pesticide use.  Don’t have time/space/inclination to garden? you could join a CSA, community supported agriculture, to pick up fresh seasonal foods. This is a way to establish a direct relationship with the people who bring you your food.  However, it also takes more time and effort than going shopping at a store. Luckily,  Meadowsweet Market has been working for 12 years on our relationships with local producers in order to bring you the freshest, healthiest foods we can, with a great variety all under one roof!  Most of our producers would be considered “transitional”, which means that they are either in the process of becoming USDA certified organic, or they simply do not use pesticides.  It’s easy to forget that organic standards are synonymous with the way crops were produced long ago, without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and genetic modifications. On small farms, by families who considered themselves stewards of the land. We are proud to offer not only organic products but also a variety of local foods from producers who are taking this “back to basics” approach to farming.   Their dedication makes healthy foods economically accessible to more people!

Meadowsweet Market has been getting a lot of requests for passionflower lately because it was featured on an episode of Dr. Oz on stress and weight gain.  Passionflower is an herb that has been used since the time of the Aztecs as an antispasmodic and mild sedative.  Today it is a common ingredient in natural relaxation formulas like Traditional Medicinals’ Nighty Night tea.  Passionflower (and the many other effective herbs for relaxation) may assist the body’s management of the physiological symptoms of stress such as muscle tension, sleeplessness and increased cortisol production.  Relief from these symptoms helps set the stage for  loss of excess body weight.  It is important to remember that weight loss, like stress management, is a process that requires a holistic approach for lasting  results.  When you work toward consistently giving your body the nutrition, rest,  and exercise that it needs, herbal supplements may be a very effective way to assist your weight and stress management efforts, by helping to bring balance to body and mind.

There are many options when choosing gluten free/casein free thickeners to use in sauces, gravies, and baking.  This series of articles will discuss a variety of choices and Meadowsweet would like to invite you to join in the discussion by posting comments about what has worked in your kitchen.  We’d like to talk about arrowroot first because it is a popular product and works very well in recipes that are both gluten and casein free.  In fact, my research shows that it does NOT work well with dairy (for milk-based gravies, you’ll want to choose different thickeners which we’ll discuss in later articles).

Arrowroot is derived from the roots of a tropical plant. Since it is less gritty than rice flour, some cooks use it exclusively to  replace the flour that recipes require. Many people also prefer to use it as a thickener over cornstarch because it blends better with the flavors of recipes.  Note that when used as a cornstarch replacement, you will need to use more arrowroot.

It appears that arrowroot’s best use may be in baking when it is combined with other flours.  Add it to baked goods with gluten-free flours like buckwheat to help bind the flour. Try Arrowroot for something different today!

If you haven’t cut trans fats out of your diet yet, now”s the time!  Mainstream medicine, restaurants, and even city governments are warning to stay away from trans fats completely for a healthier diet. Trans fats are now known to boost bad cholesterol, decrease good cholesterol, gum up arteries, and set off inflammation throughout the body, which can trigger a host of problems, from stroke to diabetes (It’s not only sugar, but other poor diet issues that cause type 2 diabetes).  Simply put, eliminating trans fats from your diet now will improve your health.

To start:  check the labels of all processed (packaged) foods in your kitchen, including chips, crackers, cookies,  microwave popcorn, candy peanut butter and snack bars. If the ingreidiants include hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated oils, the product contains trans fats EVEN IF the label says 0 grams trans fats (zero can mean less than 1 gram. This is a deceitful labeling practice that is employed to get around labeling laws that require trans fats to be list on the nutrition facts of all products).

Luckily, giving up trans fats does not mean giving up your favorite snack foods.  Meadowsweet Market offers a variety of great tasting snacks that are truly free of trans fats.  And browse juniperfoods quick and easy snack items that are free of gluten and other allergens.

The staff at Meadowsweet Market/juniperfoods wish you a peaceful,  joyous holiday season!  We are celebrating 12 years in business this month and would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your business. We would not be here without our wonderful customers and look forward to serving you in the future!  Happy Holidays!

Holiday baking for multiple food allergies can be a real challenge.  In addition, people who are diagnosed with Celiac disease are often told to avoid dairy products for a period of time until the villi in their intestines heal.  But you don’t need to forgo traditional holiday treats like pies just because you are avoiding dairy,  as well as gluten.  At Meadowsweet Market, we are always on the lookout for great tasting allergy-friendly foods.  And we actually TRY as many of our products as possible to test their quality.

For instance, if you stopped into the Holiday Allergen-Free Food Fest this year you know that Patty baked pumpkin pie using the Cause You’re Special Homestyle Pie Crust Mix.  It turned out really well!  This crust had a really good texture and was moist and flavorful.  It also happens to be free of wheat, gluten, casein, egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts!  Patty said that it was easy to make, and the customers I talked to agreed that it tasted great! It is made from simple, natural ingredients and you can use egg substitute instead of egg, if you prefer.  One package makes two pie crusts so there is plenty to enjoy.

And remember, when you find products that work really well, you get a 20% discount on case orders at Meadowsweet Market or online at juniperfoods.com!  Happy holiday baking!

Meadwosweet Market and juniperfoods.com are now on Facebook.  Fan us to receive updates on special offers, new products and more!  Facebook is also a great way for YOU to let us know what products you enjoy what you would like to see on our shelves.  Give us your product reviews and suggestions!

We really enjoy keeping in touch with our customers and look forward to seeing you soon.

The Holidays are a time of entertaining friends and family. Cooking for friends and family with special dietary needs may seem like a daunting task. However, once you become educated about food allergies and celiac disease, going gluten free won’t seem so difficult.

First and foremost, demonstrate empathy. Having food allergies or celiac disease is not a choice for people, and adhering to a gluten-free diet keeps them from getting sick.  That said, someone with celiac disease may choose not to eat foods prepared in a kitchen where wheat is used, due to concerns about cross contamination. Asking ahead will save time whether you are cooking for guests with allergies or celiac disease, or buying prepackaged foods. Try asking the spouse or relatives of your guests  what you can do to accommodate your guests’ dietary needs.  They are likely to have ideas for gluten-free snack items, baking mixes, or favorite brands. This information can be helpful as you shop the unfamiliar territory of the gluten-free grocery section.  Also, be sure to enlist the help of experienced staff when picking out gluten-free items.  They may also have tips for preparing items and getting the best value.  Getting the right help will make all the difference in shopping and cooking gluten free for your holiday guests!