Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market
At the beginning of the 21st century, food production multiplied more than several times in comparison with the beginning of the 20th century. It’s no big secret that this production growth is connected to advancement in the food industry, namely, the inventions and use of many chemicals which improve the number and size of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairies and every other imaginable food. However, we couldn’t help but wonder: what about quality? Are additives, pesticides, all those mysterious e-signs on food labels good for your health? Unfortunately, as you can suppose, the answer is negative. This is why initiatives and powerful ideas like the ones behind the Whole Foods Market concept are so valuable in modern society.
Whole Foods Market is a unique health food store that opened in the 1980s. Today, Whole Foods Market is one of the biggest USA supermarket chains with more than 90,000 employees and 400 stores. What makes Whole Foods Market distinguishable among other health food stores is the fact that this is the first certified organic food grocery. This means that all of the products you can find on Whole Foods Market shelves possess organic integrity throughout the entire process, from production until shop placement and selling. Whole Foods products meet all the standards required by the USA National Organic Program.
Whole Foods Nutrition
There is no dispute about it: If you want to be healthy, you have to eat healthy foods. When it comes to nutritional benefits of eating whole foods, lots of things can be said. Eating whole foods means eating more uncooked, fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, because this way all beneficial nutrients, fiber and phytochemicals remain inside the food. The importance of having a sufficient amount of fiber, phytochemicals and nutrients in your diet plan is enormous. Fiber is responsible for regulating your bowel movements and eliminating all necessary toxins from the body. In addition, it fights obesity by making you eat less, and it protects your heart.
Phytochemicals, known also as phytonutrients, are modern heroes of health protection. These plant-food components got famous only recently after a number of researchers published results about their importance for having a balanced diet. There are many options, but the most prominent include lycopene (found in tomatoes), anthocyanin (found in berries) and pterostilbene (found in blueberries). They are all powerful antioxidants, and their usage has shown long-term health benefits.
Under the category of nutrients, vitamins and minerals are found. Eating a diet full of nutrients helps us lower a risk of getting major diseases such as heart and blood pressure problems, diabetes and various types of cancer.
Whole Foods Mission Statement
Whole Foods Market’s motto is simple: Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet. Yet, the true richness of ideas and values pose an integral part of their business concept. This company claims that their mission statement goes beyond providing good foods and encompasses greater good.
They achieve this goal through following 8 core values:
- Providing the top quality natural and organic products
- Keeping customers satisfied
- Keeping team members satisfied
- Taking care of stakeholders’ investments
- Serving and supporting local and global communities
- Behaving ecology responsible
- Firming the bonds with small suppliers
- Providing the Healthy Eating Education
Whole Foods Market only considers products natural and organic if they don’t contain any of prohibited ingredients in their Unacceptable ingredients for food list, which is available online. This list makes it possible to sell only minimally processed foods with no traces of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenised fats, additives and many others. Also, on their shelves, you won’t find meat or products from cloned animals or cosmetics and personal care products tested on animals.
"Delight and satisfaction, both customers’ and team members’, is our primary concern," claims Whole Foods Market. "It’s all about progress – advancing customer experience by constantlyimproving quality, and nourishing excellence by awarding efforts that our employees made. Happiness here is considered to be a chain: there is no happy customer without a happy employee, and vice versa."
As it can be seen from the Whole Planet part of the motto, Whole Foods Market pays special attention to all ecology-related matters. This is the reason why, in their stores, you can’t find products that aren’t environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible. Also, by encouraging natural and organic food production and consumption, they are contributing to the decrement of pollution in general.
In many Whole Foods Market stores, now you can talk with Healthy Eating Specialists. Educating about healthy eating is another value that this supermarket chain cherishes. The role of Healthy Eating Specialists is comprised of answering customers’ healthy eating questions and assisting them in choosing the most nutrient-dense ingredients, sharing ideas for healthy recipes, and creating a meal plan to help them reach their health goals.
Whole Foods Catering
Lots of people know a great deal about the benefits of healthy food choices, but their working schedule doesn’t allow them to follow the principles. With junk food stores available at every corner, it is hard to keep the discipline and eat clean. As a result, we end up obese and suffering from multiple diseases.
Luckily, Whole Foods Market offers an excellent alternative. Not only that you can buy quality products in their stores, you have a possibility of buying full hot and servable meals and drinks that follow healthy whole foods philosophy in entirety. To make the commodity even greater, you can choose and order your meals online, and pick them up in your preferred store. The menu is colorful: side dishes, appetizers, salads, full meals and various drinks. All you have to do is make a choice: make a choice to live better by eating whole foods, and choose your favorite and delicious meals!
Whole Foods Pizza Dough
Some say that pizza is the world’s favorite food. While others would disagree, the number of people who would say "no" to a delicious slice of pizza is rather small. The trouble with pizza is the fact that it is usually made mostly of unhealthy ingredients, making this a poor dietary choice. Pizzas, however, don’t have to be bad. If you make them with the right ingredients, they will become one of the best components of your weekly menu. To help you with making a healthier pizza, Whole Foods Market has developed a fantastic solution: premade frozen pizza dough.
Whole Foods Market’s frozen pizza dough is a proud follower of their natural and organic philosophy. Made with a few precious ingredients, including organic flour, it’s available in a variety of wheat choices. It has decent storage time; it can stay safely frozen in your freezer for up to three months. According to customer reviews, the quality of dough ranks with homemade dough, and it bakes up super-fast, in less than 15 minutes.
Whole Foods Smoothie
With smoothies, the diversity in making healthy food choices reaches a new dimension. The choice of healthy ingredients is endless, and the resulting taste is fantastic. A smoothie has quickly become one of the world's favorite foods/drinks, because it offers nutritional benefits and at the same time the preparation process is fast and simple. It can be hard sometimes to reach the daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, but smoothies make achieving this minimum goal a piece of cake. Just take necessary fruit and vegetable servings, add some milk or water, and voila! All your minerals and vitamins are waiting for you in your blender.
In Whole Foods franchises, you can buy freshly made smoothies, in many variations. They include fruits and protein combinations, such as a chocolate/strawberry banana protein smoothie, and they also have fruit or vegetables-only mixes. Also, on their website, there is a convenient tool, the smoothie builder, to help you create a smoothie with your personal preferences. In case you want to try out standard versions, there are many smoothie recipes available.
Whole Foods Salad Bar
In certain locations, there are different Prepared Food departments and one of them is the Salad Bar. When it comes to the importance of eating fresh salads, enough is said. What is exciting is that Whole Foods Market Salad Bars are somewhat different. Why? Because every single ingredient they serve and offer at their salad bar is natural and organic. While even salads can be unhealthy if you don't use the right ingredients, a Whole Foods salad has no risk of including unhealthy salad ingredients.
Whole Foods Breakfast
You have probably heard a million times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but do you know why? Because your body needs energy after sleep, and your body's nutritional absorption reaches its highest levels in the morning. At the Whole Foods Market, you can find many healthy food choices to start your day properly. The Breakfast bar opens early, giving you the chance to enjoy oatmeal, sandwiches, smoothies, eggs, pancakes and much more. And what would morning be without a cup of coffee? Don’t worry, a cup of freshly made organic coffee waits for you at the Breakfast bar.
Whole Foods Locations
Whole Foods Market originated in Austin, Texas. Today, there are more than 400 stores in the USA, Canada, and the UK. Stores can be found in all major cities, varying in size from small grocery stores to big supermarkets. However, the largest Whole Foods store in the USA is located in New York City on Houston Street. This store features a modern and elegant interior design and extensive Prepared Food sections and bars. You can purchase all the fresh ingredients you need, order food to-stay or to-go. Eco-friendly, vegan options, gluten-free products – name it and you can find it here. New York’s Whole Foods on Houston Street is more than just a store; it’s a place to enjoy and we can guarantee that you will if you ever visit.
