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.

Corn Pudding

We took this traditional holiday treat and made it a little healthier by substituting nonfat milk for whole milk and using unbleached flour and corn meal rather than a conventional cornbread mix (which might contain artificial ingredients). We also reduced the amount of sugar – our version highlights the natural sweetness of the corn and is not as overly sweet as some traditional versions.

Green Bean Casserole

For some, this is the essential T-day side dish. In our updated version, we use fresh green beans (not canned) sauced with creamy mushroom soup (not condensed) and top them with homemade baked onion rings (not fried). The resulting casserole has less sodium than the original version. Now you don’t have to feel guilty about serving this classic!

Scalloped Potatoes

This dish is typically very rich, made with full-fat dairy products such as butter, cream and whole milk. In this lightened up version, we reduced the fat and calories by simply swapping in low-fat milk for the heavy cream. Fresh thyme and some parmesan add subtle flavor.

What are your favorite sides for the Thanksgiving table? And do you have tips for making them a little healthier? We’d love to know!

Got a recipe that needs a natural makeover? Post it in the comments section below! If we select your recipe for a makeover and publish the improved version on our website, we’ll send you a $25 Whole Foods Market gift card.

We put together some menu ideas to get you started.

Mix and match according to your tastes and favorites! Hungry for more recipes? Browse our full collection of holiday recipes.

Here are a few more ideas to kick off your menu planning:

• Print out or make copies of the recipes you’re preparing, then tape them to your cupboard for easy reference when you’re cooking.
• Make and post a timeline working out: what time dishes need to come out of the fridge, go into the oven, etc.
• Plan on offering some appetizers, especially ones that don’t require heating. This may keep folks out of the kitchen while you’re putting the final touches on everything. Pita Chips with Sweet Potato Mash and Smoked Almonds is a good choice.
  Or, enlist a helper to assemble Prosciutto, Brie and Apricot Wraps.
• Green vegetables should make several appearances on your menu. Here are a few of our favorites:
  Thanksgiving Green Salad

  Swiss Chard with Shallots

  Warm Millet Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Creamed Mushrooms and Sage

• Looking for a change from your usual mashed potatoes or candied sweet potatoes? Consider one of these variations:
  Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips

  Celery Root and Potato Gratin

  Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Macadamia Nuts

  Coconut Marshmallow Spiced Sweet Potatoes

• Fill the house with the irresistible welcoming aroma of freshly baked bread.
  Easy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

  Buttermilk Pull-Apart Rolls

  

• For the main dish, we have plenty of turkey recipes and vegetarian options, too:
  Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Tempeh
  Savory Butternut Squash Pie with Hazelnuts
  Wild Mushroom Tart
• Sweets that can be made ahead of time are the way to go for a Thanksgiving feast.
  Pumpkin Apple Pie
  Jasmine Tea Poached Pears
  Maple and Walnut Applesauce Cake
• Be sure to check out our collection of how-to videos for quick tips on roasting the turkey, carving, making perfect gravy and more.

Happy planning. Got your own secrets to success up your sleeve? Share!

Now that fall is in the air, many of us are turning to heartier dishes. Eric, one of our readers, wrote in to tell us that one of his all-time favorite comfort foods is Beef Stroganoff, strips of beef in a creamy mushroom sauce over pasta or rice. But since Eric is no longer an omnivore, he wanted to know if we could create a vegan recipe: Stroganoff without the beef.

We think our recipe for Tempeh and Mushroom Stroganoff fits the bill.

Here are a few notes about the recipe:

• We subbed tempeh (fermented soybeans) in place of beef. With hearty flavor and texture, tempeh adds protein, fiber and very little saturated fat.
• Portobello mushrooms add a deeper, more savory flavor than other varieties.
• To keep this recipe quick to assemble per Eric’s request, we relied on vegetarian gravy mix (look for this near the soups and broths). You could certainly make it from scratch.
• We suggest serving the tempeh and mushrooms over brown rice for soaking up the flavorful sauce. For ease and convenience, we used frozen brown rice in this recipe, but it would be just as delicious over noodles. Try it over udon noodles, soba noodles, brown rice noodles or whole wheat or spelt pasta.

Want to adjust some of your favorite recipes to meet a new diet? Here are a few general tips for making great vegan and vegetarian recipes:

• For creaminess, use coconut milk, nut milk or silken tofu in place of dairy products.
• Use rich vegetable stock, shallots, garlic, leeks and other aromatic vegetables to create a flavorful base. Fresh herbs are wonderful additions as well.
• Other ingredients to consider for adding robust flavor are chipotles (smoked jalapenos available canned), sun dried tomatoes, olives, caramelized onions and wild mushrooms.

Do you have some tips for vegetarian and vegan cooking to share? We’d love to hear! Please post them in the comments below.

Check out our selection of vegan recipes. We have almost 500, so there’s something for everyone!

Post your idea for a recipe makeover. If we pick your idea, we’ll send you a $25 gift card and publish it our blog and our website!

Do you have plans for the upcoming three-day weekend? It’s not hard to make some: just invite friends and neighbors over for an end-of-summer backyard bash! Make it easy on yourself by asking your guests to bring a side dish, something for the grill, or their favorite drinks. For me, a cookout is all about the sides. I love the chance to sample different side dishes and a potluck cookout means you’ll get to taste the very best everyone has to offer.

Here are some recipe ideas to get your party started:

Stellar Sides to Make or Bring

Cabbage and Carrot Slaw

Classic Baked Beans

Grilled Corn Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Orzo Salad with Broccoli and Tomatoes

Refrigerator Pickled Slaw

The Best Basic Potato Salad

Three-Bean Salad with Quinoa

Watermelon Salad with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Basil

Crowd-Pleasing Burgers

Beef and Bulgur Burgers

Gorgonzola and Sun-Dried Tomato Buffalo Burgers

Perfect Burgers

Portobello and Pineapple Veggie Burgers

Turkey Burgers

Refreshing Drinks to Keep Things Cool

Homemade Ginger Ale

Sangria

Spiced Iced Tea Punch

Watermelon Lemonade

Watermelon Agua Fresca

A Little Something Sweet

Coffee Granita

Flourless Brownies

Ice Cream Pie

Summer Berry Pie

Happy Labor Day!

Meet Hosea Rosenberg, Top Chef Season Five Winner, and find out why buying and eating local is important to him. And to us!

Our history and reputation are intimately linked to our support of local farmers. Our search for produce begins right outside our front door in every community where we do business. We are committed to buying from local producers whose fruits and vegetables meet our high quality standards, particularly those who farm organically and are themselves dedicated to environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture.

And our Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP) provides up to $10 million in low-interest loans to small, local producers. Why? Because we believe in supporting local farmers and producers. We want to make it easier for them to grow their businesses and bring more local products to market. That’s good for us and it’s good for you.

Local means miles closer, miles fresher, miles more delicious.

What are some of your favorite local products in our stores this summer?

Burgers for All

Beef and Bulgur Burgers

Gorgonzola and Sun-Dried Tomato Buffalo Burgers

Grilled Pork Burgers

Lakeside Turkey Burgers

Perfect Burgers

Portobello and Pineapple Veggie Burgers

27 More Burger Recipes

Summer on a Stick

Grilled Caprese Salad

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Tuna Kabobs with Peach and Mango Salsa

Kielbasa Apple Kabobs

Salmon Kabobs

Shrimp and Pineapple Kabobs

Veggie Kabobs

Bigger Cuts on the Grill

Cuban-Style Flat Iron Steak

Grilled Tempeh

Grilled Side of Salmon

Whole Grilled Chicken

Summery Sides

The Best Basic Potato Salad

Cabbage and Carrot Slaw

Classic Baked Beans

Grilled Corn Salad with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Refrigerator Pickled Slaw

Three-Bean Salad with Quinoa

Watermelon Salad with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Basil

Remember the Sweets

Grilled Bananas with Sweet Toppings

Ice Cream Sundae Pie

Rum Butter Glazed Grilled Peaches

Summer Berry Pie

Thirst-Quenching Quaffers

Sangria

Strawberry Watermelon Coolers

Watermelon Lemonade

Happy Grilling!

Just about everyone loves those kid-classic chewy, gooey rice treats, right? Well, one thing you may not love about them is the nutritional profile of the ingredients- margarine or butter, marshmallows and conventional white rice cereal. Jennifer, a Whole Story reader, sent us a request to make a more nutritious rice treat. With summertime upon us and kids out of school, it’s a great time to tackle a new version of this recipe.

In short, we replaced some of the usual suspects with healthier versions like almond butter, brown rice crisps and raisins. Check out our improved Crispy Rice Treats and head to the kitchen with your kids…but leave the guilt at the door!

Want to know how we did it and why? Here’s a quick rundown:

• We substituted brown rice crisps for conventional white rice cereal. Since whole grains are naturally higher in B vitamins, fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and iron than processed grains, this was a simple but very effective fix. One cup of brown rice cereal has about 2 grams more of fiber, 25 mg magnesium and 45 mg potassium when compared with a cup of the white stuff.
• We used almond butter instead of butter or margarine for added nutrition as well as great flavor. Almond butter adds protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
• We included raisins in this traditionally raisin-free recipe to add protein, fiber, phosphorus,potassium and iron. Raisins are also a great natural source of sugar.

Incorporating healthier ingredients into this recipe brings greater complexity in flavor and improved nutritional value. Get the full new recipe here.

Got a recipe that needs a natural makeover? Post it in the comments section below! If we select your recipe for a healthy makeover and publish the improved version on our website, we’ll send you a $25 Whole Foods Market gift card.

Your recipe ideas and stories led us to a few conclusions about your dads’ cooking habits:

Dads are masters of the grill.

Reilly claims her dad makes grilled steak much better than you can find in any steakhouse. His grilled chicken is also a winner, and he’s always in charge of the grilling at their July 4th picnic.

Char’s dad cooked without recipes. His secret on the grill: pour a good bottle of beer over whatever he was grilling. With this method, he produced great ribs and chicken.

If your dad loves to grill, share our Butterfly Grilled Chicken recipe with him.

Dads like sandwiches and burgers.

David makes black bean burgers from scratch for his family. Here’s our version. His next project is a black bean meatloaf.

Mary Lynn’s father was a “sandwich man,” known by friends as the creator of the “monster sandwich” (big enough for a monster to eat).

Lynn’s dad makes the best homemade Philly cheese steak around. He uses an electric skillet for cooking the steaks, mushrooms, onions and peppers to perfection.

Some dads bake up a storm.

Diane’s dad makes the “best cornbread in the South.” Buttermilk and a preheated cast-iron skillet are the secrets to his success.

Jeannette’s dad bakes an amazing cheesecake that family members request for birthday celebrations (in lieu of gifts). Whether strawberry, pumpkin or cherry cheesecake, Jeannette suspects they taste so good because her dad “loves baking them, and all that love goes right into his delicious cheesecakes.”

Sarah’s dad loves making chocolate chip cookies with three different types of dark chocolate. The smell of these cookies baking in the oven brings an immediate smile to Sarah’s face.

Dads are big fans of the pizza theme.

Darcey’s dad made pizza potatoes-baked potatoes topped with sautéed veggies, marinara sauce and cheese–still one of her favorite recipes. Serve with a green salad and you’re in business! You can try our version of Veggie Potatoes.

Melanie’s dad makes English muffin pizzas with his own homemade sauce. This quick and easy treat is now a favorite of the grandkids, too.

To read all the tasty ideas and fun stories readers submitted, scroll through the comments on the original post.

Thanks for all the delicious ideas, and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! We hope your celebration includes great food to go along with the great company. How are you celebrating this year?

Click through to our recipe for Ice Cream Sundae Pie and make sure to rate it, add comments or add it to your recipe box.

Here’s an overview of our updates to this classic.

• Our 365 Everyday Value Chocolate Sandwich Cremes contain fewer ingredients than conventional sandwich cookies. Our first ingredient is flour, not sugar. Ours contain non-hydrogenated oil: other cookies may contain up to three different oils, some of which may be partially or fully hydrogenated. Our cookies are made without corn syrup or artificial flavors.
• We added cherries, all-natural fruit spread and walnuts, which provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. The fruit spread is a low-calorie, fat-free addition and the cherries add color along with a touch of natural sweetness. The walnuts provide fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
• We used all-natural frozen whipped topping, made without artificial flavors or hydrogenated oils.
• We decreased the amount of chocolate in this dessert by using high quality dark chocolate mini chunks to enhance the flavor while saving on calories and fat.

Using high quality ingredients makes this a winner, especially to top off a backyard cookout. But remember, desserts are still desserts, even when made with great stuff!

Got a recipe that needs a natural makeover? Post it in the comments section below! If we select your recipe for a healthy makeover and publish the improved version on our website, we’ll send you a $25 Whole Foods Market gift card. Back-to-School recipe ideas are especially welcome.

Send us your idea for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Your recipe ideas and stories certainly confirmed some basic truths about mothers, such as:

Moms are creative and resourceful.

Learn to maximize your groceries by following these moms’ tips. What to do with elderly bananas and avocados? Follow the leads of Anita’s and Audrey’s mothers by making Banana Bread or Avocado Cake.

Gerald praised his mom for making great food without all the fancy gadgets and on a limited budget. She made Skillet Cabbage, combining garden items and home-canned goods.

Jackie’s mom excelled at making something absolutely wonderful out of simple ingredients. A supper of Ham, Cabbage and Potatoes is one of her favorites.

Moms take care of us.

Amy’s mom has made Chicken Soup for as long as her daughter can remember. She loves it any time and especially when she’s sick. Try homemade Chicken and Wild Rice Soup or Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup the next time you need a pick-me-up.

Rachel’s mother emphasized fresh and healthy food and planned a weekly vegetarian night to ensure her kids “remained flexible and open to new things.” Her mom’s Sesame Broccoli was a favorite dish at their family dinner table. Try our version.

Moms like to indulge.

Jayme grew up in an Italian family and loves her mom’s pasta dishes. One of her favorites is Pasta with Brie, Tomatoes and Basil – perfect when summer produce is flourishing.

Carrie’s grandmother had an apricot orchard and baked the best Fruit Cobblers in the summer, while D. Watson’s grandmother made Sugar Pie (in a homemade pie crust) on special occasions, served with fresh fruit and plenty of strong coffee for the adults.

Moms love oats!

Kathryn’s mom’s Chocolate Chip Oat Bars are a big hit, and she suggests eating them for breakfast. While we’re not sure we can endorse that, we do recommend them for a snack. Kathryn also suggests them as a quick bite when you’re in a hurry or a welcome hostess gift.

Brawlin Barista’s writes that her mom’s oatmeal cheers her up on a cold or grumpy day. She makes it with milk instead of water, topped with brown sugar, 2% milk, a huge handful of raisins and some walnuts. Try our Perfect Pot of Oatmeal for a happy way to start your day.

To read all the tasty ideas and fun stories readers submitted, scroll through the comments on the original post.

Thanks for all the delicious ideas, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

What’s on your Mother’s Day celebration menu this year?