If you are looking for a store that sells only organic stuff without any preservatives or additives, then Natural Grocer is a great option. Other than natural supplements and great produce, the store is known for several other features that many people may not know. Our Natural Foods + Juice Caboose team has put together a list of essential things to look for in a Natural Grocer. This will help shoppers make the most of their all-natural and healthy shopping lists.

Deals!

One of the most attractive features shoppers should consider at a Natural Grocer is the deals they have on virtually everything. From produce to meat and cheese, the store makes sure that shoppers can buy organic stuff without breaking the bank. We recommend looking at their flyers, meal deals, current deals, and hotline sale items before your next grocery trip.

Nutritional Health Coach

Did you know that every Natural Grocer has an in-house Nutritional Health Coach available with free consultations? If you are unsure about any dietary requirements or are looking for alternate healthy supplements, we recommend meeting with the health coach on your next trip! These professionals are also a great source when planning your next diet plan.

As juicing and smoothies take center stage in today’s diet conscience era, we are overwhelmed with the number of blends and options available. Many of us choose the closest juice bar out of convenience. However, our Natural Foods + Juice Caboose team believes that a great juice bar will incorporate certain features that ensure healthy, fresh, and delicious juices. Therefore, we have put together a list to keep in mind when seeking a juice bar near you.

What’s the Menu Like?

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a juice bar is the items on its menu. Although a menu with a wide variety of smoothies is brilliant, you must pay particular attention to the ingredients used. If your chosen juice bar has a menu predominantly made up of just fruit-based smoothies, then you should reconsider. This is primarily because many juice bars opt for frozen fruits with water or fruit juice, thus incorporating a higher sugar content. A great tip is to look for a menu that has veggies, nuts, and seeds as well.

Do They Have Superfoods?

Juice bars that have superfoods on their menu are going to be much healthier than others. This is because superfoods are nutritionally more dense than others. Additionally, they have a lower sugar and calorie content. This means that superfoods are a great form of health supplements that you should have in your juice or smoothie blends. For instance, berries, almond butter, acai, and sweet potatoes are great examples of superfoods.

If you are trying to lose weight or adopt healthy eating, we recommend trying out the ketogenic or keto diet. This high fat and low carb diet have shown remarkable health benefits in both patient and non-patient populations. Research shows that Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer patients benefit a lot from this diet. Our Natural Foods + Juice Caboose team has put together a beginners' guide to help users learn more about the infamous Keto Diet.

Keto Diet 101

The Keto Diet is similar to the Atkins and other low-carb diets because of its reduced consumption of carbohydrates. By cutting back carbs and increasing fat intake, the diet helps your body enter a metabolic state of Ketosis. The Ketosis process helps burn fat to produce energy and build ketones in the liver to fuel your brain. However, keto diets can significantly impact insulin levels. Therefore, users should consult a physician or dietician before starting this diet and carefully track their blood sugar levels.

Foods to Have

Like any diet, the keto diet focuses on consuming health supplements. These are commonly available in stores selling organic stuff such as Natural Grocer. These foods should make up for most of your meals to help achieve the ketosis state:

Ever wondered why cold-pressed juices are comparatively more expensive than other juices? This is primarily because cold pressing is a time-consuming process that extracts a higher level of nutrition from raw fruits and vegetables compared to other juicing methods. To help you learn more about this process, continue reading through this blog by our team at Natural Foods + Juice Caboose.

Cold Pressing 101

Cold pressing is a way of making juices by using a hydraulic pressing machine. This machine applies a high amount of pressure to extract juices from specific fruits and veggies. Since the process does not use any heat to extract the juice, not many nutrients are lost. Unlike traditional juicing machines, cold pressing is a much healthier form of consuming vegetables and fruits. At Natural Foods + Juice Caboose, we strongly advocate for cold-pressed juices made with fresh, organic, and nutritious ingredients.

Many dieticians believe that achieving maximum results from the keto diet is based on consistency. However, following this high fat and low carb diet can be tricky, especially if you do not have any experience with it before. To reach the metabolic state of ketosis, the dieter must follow their diet plan to the T. To help dieters stay consistent and achieve results faster, our team at Natural Foods + Juice Caboose has put together a list of tips and tricks.

Don’t Skip Water

Water is an essential part of any diet. You will find that almost all dieticians advocate for increasing your water consumption, especially during a keto diet. This is because, during the keto diet, the body will be excreting a large amount of water. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the body’s natural water reserves to support your metabolic system’s transition to ketosis. Moreover, it will help prevent headaches and lethargy.

Prepare Meals Ahead

One of the best ways to stick to your keto diet is by preparing your meals ahead of time. This means that it is better to prepare meals in batches. This way, you can better track your calorie intake. You can easily find organic and nutritious items at a Natural Grocer store. Additionally, it is recommended that dieters also prepare keto-friendly snacks as healthy supplements to curb any cravings outside meal times.

A signature smoothie will be quick and easy to put together. More importantly, it will include healthy and energizing ingredients from an organic store like Natural Grocer. Finally, it will be a convenient and super portable way of having a combination of fruits and vegetables in prime time. In this blog, we at Natural Foods + Juice Caboose will cover some steps to build the perfect signature smoothie for all occasions and highlights.

What’s Your Base Liquid

Your base liquid can consist of any dairy or nut milk. You will find that nut milk is commonly used for smoothies in a juice bar. This helps smoothies achieve a silky smooth texture by using nut milk such as almond or cashew. Also, nut milk is now as commonly available in grocery stores as dairy. Therefore, making it easy for people to prepare signature smoothies at home.

Pick Your Favorite Veggies

Adding veggies to your smoothie will not only make them more flavorful but also very nutritious. We recommend picking veggies that you prefer eating in your daily life. This way, the taste will not be completely alien. If you plan on combining two or more veggies, make sure they go together with one another. Although this can be tricky at first, there are certain combinations that you can not go wrong with. For instance, mild veggies such as carrots, zucchini, and spinach can easily complement pungent veggies such as cabbage and celery.

Eating healthy and delicious food can be challenging for people that do not want to give up their unhealthy lifestyles. However, substituting some components of your meals with nutritional supplements is a great way to go forward. You will also find that buying from stores such as Natural Grocer that sell nutritious and organic stuff can motivate you to eat healthily. Here are some tips and tricks from our team at Natural Foods + Juice Caboose that will help you eat healthy and delicious food.

Shop for Whole Foods

By consciously shopping for whole foods rather than processed foods, you develop a healthy mindset to start eating healthy. For instance, rather than buying frozen pizza, you can get fresh fruit or veggies. These nutritional substitutes have high protein, fiber, vitamins, and other wholesome components. Additionally, they are also tasty and will add an extra layer to your meal.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

Did you know that consuming high amounts of sugary drinks can lead to liver damage and diabetes? If you want to start eating healthy and delicious foods, we recommend getting cold-pressed juices from your local juice bar and unsweetened beverages. Consuming sugary drinks can also lead to obesity and premature aging.

In today’s fast-paced world, many people are actively substituting their meals for smoothies. Unlike meals, smoothies are portable, without any additional messes, and can be consumed conveniently on the go. Despite the benefits, many people are skeptical about substituting a meal with a smoothie in the long run. If you have ever wondered whether a healthy smoothie can replace a meal, continue reading this blog to find out more.

Smoothies as Meals

Some dieticians believe substituting meals with smoothies is healthy if done correctly. This means that your smoothie at mealtime should look very different than it would be if consumed for a snack. For example, a smoothie as a meal should have health supplements that can combine to form a hearty blend. This means that you should add at least two different types of protein, such as nut butter and Greek yogurt. Additionally, make sure there is a fiber-boosting component such as oats and dates in your blend as well.

Smoothies as Snacks

When consuming a smoothie as a snack, your ingredients can be lighter than the ingredients used for a meal substitute. This means that adding a combination of fruits, veggies, and some base liquid should be enough. However, if you want to be fuller for prolonged periods, we recommend adding some nut butter or yogurt to the blend as well. Unlike a meal smoothie, your snack smoothie will have a smoother texture and will be easily sippable.