There’s nothing like rich, silky gravy poured over turkey and mashed potatoes to complete a holiday feast. Learn to make our foolproof four-step gravy sure to rival your family recipe.

Explore more great tips, recipes and creative ideas for taking this holiday season to a new level of taste on our All Things Good holiday pages.

Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, our produce and floral buying office hosts a holiday meal. The tradition started four years ago as an appreciation for the remarkable work we do during the holidays. The idea was also to take some time to sample some of the great product we provide to our customers.

Most of the meal we order from the prepared foods team at one of our area stores (we now have three to choose from!) but prior to placing the final order, we put a shout out to everyone in the office to contribute one of their favorite family side dishes. From this practice came a sharing of cultures and family traditions in addition to some great holiday side dishes (and interesting flavor combinations). Read the rest of this entry »

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, of getting together with family and friends and sharing the gifts of the season. This is also the most wasteful time of the year. In fact, North Americans produce 25% more waste during this time of year than any other, which equates to 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. The Whole Foods Market Green Mission Team has gathered our favorite tips to feature on this blog throughout the holidays to help us all reduce our load. We know our customers are some of the greenest folks around, so please share your tips with us too. Hopefully we’ll help each other discover new and creative ways to live lighter on the planet this holiday season.

Holiday Cards
Did you know that over 2 ½ billion (with a B!) holiday cards are sold annually in the U.S.? That’s enough to fill a 10 story building the size of a football field. And what happens to most of those cards? That’s right, into the landfill. Some ideas on what to do instead:

• Send e-cards instead of paper cards. If you feel this makes you look cheap or lazy, add a line about your efforts to curb waste. Who can argue with that?
• If you do send paper cards, make sure they’re printed on post-consumer recycled paper and choose non-metallic cards so they can be recycled (cards embossed with foil and envelopes with a foil insert are not recyclable).
• Reuse the greeting cards you receive as gift tags. You’re probably not planning to re-read every single card you receive this holiday. Grab some scissors and get crafty.
• Remove the fronts of your cards and send to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Recycled Card program.

Now, it’s your turn. How do you green your holiday cards? And if you send e-cards, how do you get Aunt Madge’s email address without having to call and talk to her for an hour?

I don’t think anyone wants to feel icky after eating Thanksgiving dinner. I know I don’t! Paying attention to the needs of your body, setting limits for yourself and relying on a food-based digestive aid toolbox may make the difference between tossing the football around after dinner and feeling super-glued to the couch.

Will Power - Yes, you do have control over what you do and what you eat, even on Thanksgiving.

• Keep moving – taking a walk after the meal can aid digestion and make you feel refreshed. Going for a walk or hike before the meal is great too-could be a fun ritual to start with your family.
• Don’t overeat – savor your food slowly and enjoy every bite. Eat to the point where you feel comfortable, done and satisfied. Bloated, stuffed and miserable are never good! Remember, leftovers are great-you don’t have to eat everything at one sitting.
• Keep up the fiber by choosing plenty of fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Raw is great, like salads.
• Reduce foods that you know cause gas and bloating for you, possibly beans, certain veggies and dairy products.
• Drink plenty of water, especially if you are drinking some alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you starting to go a bit crazy? Is the weight of the week crushing you just a bit? Instead of reaching for the Rolling Stones’ version of Mother’s Little Helpers, reach for your phone or your car keys instead. Your Whole Foods Market team members are here for you! We love this week. Really!

No time to cook? Yes, you’ve procrastinated but team members at our Holiday Tables are specially trained (if “trial by fire” counts as training!) to help even the most frazzled and disorganized dinner host. Call us or drop in to experience “holiday central” for yourself.

If you’ve waited too late to place an official order for your Thanksgiving meal, our Prepared Foods team members are cranking out the side dishes and rolls and pies – tons and tons of all things good. Just roll up your basket and fill it with goodies. Read the rest of this entry »

Carving the Thanksgiving turkey can be a daunting endeavor. Watch our easy step-by-step guide, and you’ll master the carving with confidence. And check out our Turkey Toolkit with tips on how big a bird to buy, to stuff or not to stuff, why we brine and everything else you wanted to know about roasting and serving a turkey but were afraid to ask.

Explore more great tips, recipes and creative ideas for taking this holiday season to a new level of taste on our All Things Good holiday pages.

Savannah Bee Company – Ted Dennard
Savannah, Georgia
As Ted Dennard tells the story, he got started in the beekeeping business when “an old, battered pickup truck swarming with bees rattled into my life.” He learned the craft of beekeeping from the driver, Old Ray, and has kept bees in his backyard ever since. Today Savannah Bee Company’s award-winning artisan honeys are carefully harvested by the finest beekeepers in the southeast and delivered to Whole Foods Market in the purest form possible.

For some folks, Thanksgiving is really all about the sides and not the turkey. Sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and more, every family has their own traditions.

We’ve put a healthy spin on three classic side dishes, those favorites that for many are required eating at a Thanksgiving feast.

Read the rest of this entry »

The clock is ticking…counting down to Thanksgiving Day! This is one of the most exciting times of the year in our stores. While we love the energy and excitement, we certainly don’t want our guests feeling stressed by it…or stretched in their pocketbooks! Here are some tips for getting the good stuff-and the basics-at the best prices possible. Our team members are dedicated to making sure you enjoy your shopping trip – ask them for help along your merry way!

1. Stay Calm. Maintain a cheerful, good mood and positive attitude so you don’t get stressed out and make bad decisions. (Should a little bottle of Rescue Remedy be your first stop in the store?)
2. Shop the Sales. More than 1000 items are on sale in our store right now. Look for the sale signs and save! Also, sign up for The Whole Deal e-newsletter for notification of the best specials.
3. Get Your Volume Discounts. Get discounted pricing on many items when you buy a full case or more than a certain amount at once. Details at Customer Service.
4. Go for 365 Everyday Value®. Our own brand helps you save on everyday basics and holiday needs. It’s the best and broadest selection of natural and organic products at the best prices.
5. Plan Your Menus. Create full menus and shopping lists for the meals you’ll need, especially when you’re expecting company so you don’t overshop when the time comes.
6. Don’t Underestimate Leftovers. When you plan your menus and make your shopping lists, shop for what you need to transform leftovers into another meal. Our holiday leftover guide has ideas.
7. Choose the Bird to Fit Your Budget. We offer turkeys-and beef and cheese and chocolate, etc, etc-in several varieties and we can point out the best deals for your needs.
8. Buy Some Baked Goods. Our bakery makes pumpkin pie and dinner rolls with the same wholesome ingredients you would use at home, so it might be worth buying time instead of buying all the ingredients to make these from scratch.



9. Be Well. Eat healthy, get enough sleep and exercise so you build a strong immune system and don’t waste time and money getting sick.
10. Take Advantage of Our Good Nature. Our Team Members are there for you. Don’t be shy! Let them help you make the holidays easy and affordable.

Got some favorite strategies of your own that make your holiday grocery shopping fun and affordable? Let us hear them!

Making a list and checking it twice… Santa’s not the only one doing that this year. As you plan your holiday festivities, you no doubt have a budget in mind and are crunching the numbers. You want to provide a nice spread for your guests but you have to live with yourself-and your bank account-when the party’s over. Read the rest of this entry »