I no longer believe I have the “best ever” guacamole recipe. Every year about this time, the search for the ultimate guacamole comes up in the office or the blogosphere and I gather another nugget that raises the bar on my personal concoction. New ingredients and theories get added or subtracted – things like the right texture (creamy or chunky) or the right balance of ingredients (simple or complicated). Even the question of if putting the pit back in the bowl of guacamole really keep the guacamole from turning brown is a subject of seemingly endless debate. For some the business of guacamole is a serious, exacting science. For others, you just mash an avocado with a fork and your work is done. I’m somewhere in the middle but my recipe evolves every year.

Rodrigo, our office avocado buyer and resident expert, is crazy busy right now. Avocadoes are very popular and demand is strong year round but in January demand really takes off. This is due in part to very strong, overlapping availability from Chile and Mexico, both of which are producing excellent fruit. But the main reason demand increases in January is football. For the week of the big game, Rodrigo will book more than double the amount of avocadoes shipped in a normal week. This year supplies are much stronger and the fruit is ripening beautifully.

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Here’s a quandary more perplexing than love itself…how do you indulge the one you love while still taking care of his or her health?  Instead of the usual approach of fatty, sugary deliciousness celebrate your sweetie by serving the best unprocessed, whole food available. Choose food that nourishes and excites the taste buds all at once… and helps keep the one you love around for a long, long time.

Here are some of my favorite dishes for a special evening with my special someone. Not only do they look beautiful by candlelight, but they will keep you and yours satisfied and glowing with health and happiness.

Fill your heart with love and your belly with nutrients with these gorgeous main dishes packed with colorful plant foods.

• Pork Stir Fry with Asparagus, Peppers, and Green Onions
• Ancient Grain Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Roasted Fish and Veggies with Quinoa and Pine Nuts
• Baked Salmon with Spinach and Strawberry Salsa
• And what’s cuter than a “rice bowl built for two”?  Cuddle up together and share a Romantic Rice Bowl

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We know that your food choices count toward your health, schedule and budget. Meat can be an easy and healthful solution for weekday dinners when served with veggies and whole grains. Plus, our butchers know the best deals (hint: look for value packs and lesser-known cuts!) and will wrap up just the amount you need for recipes and sensible, affordable portions.

You can serve meat for dinner with ease of mind, knowing that we prohibit added hormones* and demand no antibiotics, ever. The Global Animal Partnership 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating on pork, chicken and beef in our fresh meat cases allows you to know how the animals are raised for the meat you are buying.

Here are some easy ways to enjoy meat for a weeknight dinner:

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Seafood can be mystifying territory for us land dwelling creatures. Well, let’s get one thing settled right now: cooking fish at home can be very easy! One of the best things about cooking seafood is its versatility — it can be grilled, broiled, poached, baked or cooked in a pan. We’ll help you learn how to broil fish and then you can expand your horizon.

Broiled Fish with Citrus and Herbs

Get the health benefits of fish and the budget benefits of cooking at home by using these simple instructions. Feel free to substitute with other ingredients such as water and lemon juice or white wine for the orange juice, dried dill weed for the herbs, and capers or toasted crushed nuts or seeds for the olives.

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This January, we are focusing on stocking your pantry for healthier meals and a healthier budget. If you haven’t entered to Win Pantry Staples for a Year, head over to that blog post now and then come right back.

When you pick up the items on our $50 Pantry Stock Up list (see below), you’ll be ready to add a few fresh ingredients, herbs and spices to be able to cook 14 of our favorite recipes. We’ll feature all of these recipes individually in these “From Our Pantry” posts throughout this month. This time we’re talking quinoa. (You can see our earlier posts on Oats, Soup, Chili and Stew and Brown Rice.

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This Valentine’s Day, we’ve got you covered with world-changing chocolate, conscientious body care and beautifully responsible blooms like roses and Gerbera daisies that are grown and produced to meet our commitment to ethical trade, the environment and the highest quality, thanks to our Whole Trade® Guarantee.

But perhaps you’re looking for a little something extra outside the box of chocolates? This could be your year to start a new tradition perfectly suited for the two of you. Here are a few ideas for how to share your love with your sweetheart.

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Nachos, queso, chili, pizza, quesadillas, potato skins, dips…yes, please! We’ve pulled together some of our favorite foods to enjoy on game day. If you’re trying to stick to healthier options pick the Roasted Kale Chips or Green Garbanzo Guacamole and take a look at what Mary, our healthy eating guru, suggests cooking up for the big game. Remember, no matter what you serve, everyone wins when the food is delicious.

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While preparing food can be fun, there are plenty of times when you’re in a crunch and need to get something on the table fast.  For a lot of folks, that means drive-thru, take-out or dinner from a box. Unfortunately, many of these “fast” foods contain artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, preservatives and hydrogenated fats. Instead, try turning to pre-cut fruits and fresh salsas made in-house, as well as our abundant salad bar choices, to help you get meals on the table quickly without sacrificing good health.

Here are some favorite short-cuts:

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Leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses, so it’s a good idea to eat more of them — the darker in color the better! Low in calories and high in nutrients, leafy greens really give you bang for your buck. Add kale, collards, watercress, spinach, bok choy, Swiss chard, arugula, cabbage, romaine lettuce and more to your plate to give your new year a healthy kick start.

Eat a large green salad every day! Mix and match your favorite lettuce with greens like kale, spinach, arugula and watercress, adding a colorful mix of other vegetables for visual and flavorful variety.

Here are a handful of other simple ways to incorporate more leafy greens into your daily menu:

Serve your favorite soup, beans or chili (canned is fine) over a bowl of raw tender greens such as spinach, watercress, Napa cabbage or arugula. The warmth of the soup will wilt the greens and make them more tender.

• Blend fresh or frozen greens like spinach or kale with your favorite fruit and almond milk, soy milk or yogurt for a smoothie.
• Add chopped greens like bok choy, chard, kale or cabbage to a stir-fry.
• Sauté onions and garlic in a bit of broth or olive oil, add kale, chard, broccoli rabe, mustard greens or collards and cook until tender.
• Add leafy greens to sandwiches — go for tender greens like watercress, baby spinach or arugula or simply wilt heartier greens first.
• Use large, flat-leaf greens like romaine lettuce or steamed collards as you would a tortilla to create healthier wraps.
• Add sautéed greens like chard and broccoli rabe to cooked whole-grain pasta dressed with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil and a light grating of Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Chop and stir greens like spinach, kale, collards and bok choy into soups, stews and pasta sauces, cooking until tender.

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Getting ready to cheer on your pick in the Big Game? Keep your spread lean and green with some of my favorite easy eats from our Health Starts Here® recipes. All Health Starts Here recipes are made without any extracted oils or refined sugar, and they’ll help you focus on getting plenty of nutrient-dense, unprocessed whole plant foods on your plate, to keep you fueled for the whole game.

Everybody loves chili, especially on a wintry game day. Try this chunky, veggie-packed Bison Chili or this Simple Red Bean Chili. I love to make a huge batch with plenty of toppings so everyone can customize their own bowl with cilantro, onions, avocado, hot sauce, homemade Fresh Salsa or my favorite, jalapeño cashew cream.  It’s simple to make: just soak some cashews for a few hours in water, then drain and add to a blender with some fresh seeded jalapeño, lime juice, a touch of smoked sea salt and enough water to make a smooth creamy puree. It’s amazingly rich and delicious.

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