INTRODUCING: Good for You
You know that all of our foods taste good, but did you know that many of them are beneficial to your health? Balducci's has always been committed to enjoying life through food, so it made sense for us to seek out those foods that can help you live longer and better.
First, we combed through each and every aisle of our market to find those foods that pack a good, healthy wallop of vitamins, minerals, and the ever-popular antioxidants. Then, we tagged dozens of them with eye-catching yellow tags with fascinating facts on the nutritional benefits of some of your favorite foods. Some you might expect (how can you not feel healthier after eating the fruit-and-nut-packed Bear Naked granola), while some will downright surprise you (sunflower seeds as a cholesterol reducer).
Look for our "Good for You" shelf tag information in our grocery aisles and various departments.
Can't wait until your next shopping trip? Here's our first collection of items by department that are "Good for You":
1. Mt. Vikos Tahini
Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini contains essential fatty acids that help to maintain healthy skin.
2. Lundberg Rice cakes
Aside from being gluten-free, these cakes are made with milled brown rice that contains magnesium, a vital dietary mineral.
3. Balducci's Fruit and Nut Mixes
Nuts such as walnuts and almonds help to keep blood vessels open and elastic with their high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
4. Bee Raw Honey -- Buckwheat variety
Buckwheat honey has antimicrobial properties which can help treat coughs and sore throats even more efficiently than some of those over-the-counter medicines.
5. Gnu Bars
Provide 50% of your daily recommended serving of fiber! A high level of soluble fiber means great protection against high cholesterol and heart disease.
6. Luna Bars
Women-friendly nutrition! These bars are a good source of folic acid and protein, which can aid in the prevention of osteoporosis.
7. Canned tomatoes
Red fruits like tomatoes contain lycopene, which may aid in preventing cell damage, heart disease, even cancer. Surprisingly, cooked tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene than raw ones.
8. Sunsweet Prune Juice
We all know that plums are high in fiber, but did you know they're also high in Vitamin A? In the form of beta carotene, the vitamin A in prunes works as an antioxidant, eliminating free radicals.
9. Sunflower seeds
Contain phytosterols, steroid alcohols found in plants that have been shown to lower cholesterol.
10. DeCecco Whole Wheat Pasta
When used in moderation, pasta is a great source of necessary carbohydrates. And wheat pasta is the best choice if you're going to be serving a pasta dish, since the wheat is unprocessed and retains its fiber.
11. Long Grain & Brown Rice
Brown rice is less processed than white, leaving vital minerals such as selenium and manganese, as well as vitamins B6, B12 and B1 in place.
12. Red Mill Flax Seed
High in omega-3 fatty acids (the same acids found in fish oil) which may help to keep your heart healthy.
13. Seaweed
Contains essential minerals such as selenium, calcium and iodine, the last of which can sometimes be lacking in the vegetarian diet. Seaweed is also high in calories, so use in moderation.
14. Bear Naked Granola
With several flavors and varieties to appease different tastes, Bear Naked is all-natural and unprocessed, with a mix of heart-healthy foods like flaxseed, dried fruits, nuts, oats, and whole grains.
15. Peeled Snacks
No added sugar or preservatives allows you to enjoy the vitamin c-rich fruit and the protein-packed nuts in each bag.
16. Lucini Lentil Soup
Legumes like lentils are high in protein, vitamin B12, and minerals.
17. Vermont Bread Company Whole Wheat Bread
This organic, made-from-scratch bread is made with heart-healthy whole wheat and contains no corn syrup or preservatives.
18. Pom Wonderful Pomegranate Juice
100% Pomegranate juice means tons of antioxidants helping to eliminate free radicals that are believed to increase the risk of disease.
19. Balducci's Peanuts
Part of the legume family, peanuts are an excellent source of niacin, which aids in the functioning of the digestive system, skin, and nerves.
20. Kagome Orange Carrot Blossom
Orange vegetables such as carrots contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant and a precursor to vitamin A which promotes good vision as well as healthy teeth.
21. Santander Chocolate
Studies show that dark chocolate with high cacao content and no alkali can help to lower blood pressure. Remember: always in moderation!
22. Olive Oil
This ancient oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which can help to lower "bad" cholesterol, also known as Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), in your blood.
23. Wolff's Kasha
Kasha is actually made from roasted buckwheat grouts. Buckwheat itself is an herb high in magnesium, a vital mineral that helps your body produce energy.
24. Ancient Harvest Quinoa
This grain is so balanced in essential amino acids that it is being considered by NASA for long-duration space flights.
25. Black Turtle Beans
Like all legumes, beans can be an excellent source of protein in the vegetarian diet; however, they should be supplemented with dairy or grains to get all essential amino acids.
26. PL Hazelnuts
80% of the fat in hazelnuts is mono-unsaturated, making it a delicious treat that's good for the cardiovascular system.
27. Calimyra Figs
Figs are a good source of iron, calcium, and dietary fibers.
28. Almonds
Almonds are high in fat--monounsaturated fat, that is. It is this fat that helps to raise your levels of good cholesterol and lower your levels of bad.
29. Organic Optimum Power Cereal
In addition to being comprised of heart-healthy whole grains and rich in dietary fiber, Organic Optimum, like many cereals, is fortified with folic acid and vitamin B12.
30. Split Peas
Aside from being a generous source of fiber, split peas are also high in potassium, an electrolyte which maintains water balance in cells and may help to maintain healthy blood pressure.
31. Earth's Best Teething Biscuits
Made with barley or wheat, these biscuits are made with 100% organic products and have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
32. Fage Total 0% Yogurt
Made from skim milk, Fage has 0 grams of fat or cholesterol, and only has 80 calories per serving. Pair with raw honey or fresh fruit to sweeten naturally.
33. Silk Soymilk
You can enjoy vitamin-enriched, lactose-free soy milk the same way as cow's milk without the cholesterol and little saturated fat.
34. Stonyfield Farm Lowfat Yogurt
Not only is this yogurt organic, it's packed with calcium, vitamins B12 and A, and has less than 2 grams of saturated fat.
35. Amy's Indian Meals
These convenient meals styled after Indian cuisine have mixes of rice, beans, and peas that are high in fiber (cardio and digestive benefits), protein (a healthier alternative to meat), and vitamin C (support for the immune system).
36. Bonduelle Frozen Peas
Peas have lutein, a carotenoid with a track record of helping to slow macular degeneration and cataracts.
37. Oysters
Oysters provide the highest amount of zinc per serving than any other food. Zinc, aside from being touted as a cold remedy, is vital for wound healing and maintaining your sense of taste and smell.
38. Salmon
This well-loved seawater and freshwater fish is a rich source of vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption and strong, healthy bones.
39. Artic Char
Char is high in omega-3 fatty acids, and amongst the many benefits is the breakdown of fibrins which create scars and clots. This can therefore be helpful in preventing strokes and heart attacks.
40. Atlantic Mackerel
Mackerel has a rich content of omega-3 fatty acids, which research suggests can help reduce inflammation.
41. Rainbow Trout
Trout is a highly palatable source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to raise your HDL levels, also known as High Density Lipoproteins or "good" cholesterol.
42. Chicken Breast
When cooked, a chicken breast contains 25% of your daily requirement of the vitamin B6, which is needed for protein and red blood cell metabolism.
43. Bilinski Chicken sausages
These sausages are made from chicken meat that’s all natural, with no antibiotics and no artificial ingredients or preservatives. It is, however, high in protein, which is ideal for building muscle. Plenty of unique flavors to choose from!
44. Pork Tenderloin
Pork is much leaner now than 15 years ago! In fact, it rivals chicken for leanness. It still packs in the nutrients, however; pork is a good source of essential vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and B12.
45. Avocados
One half cup of peeled and sliced avocado provides 10% of your daily requirement of folate, a B vitamin important during periods of rapid cell growth and division, such as pregnancy.
46. Artichokes
This complex thistle plant is a fantastic source of dietary fiber, protein, and vitamin C.
47. Grapefruit
We all know that this citrus fruit is high in vitamin C, but the pink and red varieties of grapefruit also contain lycopene, which can have anti-tumor properties.
48. Red Grapes
Dark skinned grapes contain resveratrol, a compound found in the seeds and skin that may prevent clotting and could lower "bad" cholesterol.
49. Pears
Aside from being a good source of dietary fiber, pears are a hypoallergenic food often recommended to infants as a safe way to begin eating.
50. The Republic of Tea Green Tea
Green tea is high in polyphenols, chemicals with antioxidant properties that eliminate excesses of free radicals which prematurely age the body.