If you’ve been on the internet five minutes today, you’ve likely seen at least one moderately hilarious meme about the weight we’re all going to gain during this time at home. And with all the extra time to bake sourdough bread and neighbors dropping off porch presents in the form of baked goods every other day, the memes have a pretty good chance of getting it right. But all joking aside, what if you still want to fit into your clothes when the time comes to put some on and go out into the world? We, at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce, believe that by making a few healthier choices in this season, you can come out of it looking and feeling like your best self. You may not be able to hit the gym, but we’ve compiled a list of tips for eating well while staying home. 

Healthy Weight And Eating Well

Eating well is the key not only to staying a healthy weight, but it can also give you the energy you need to stay present and boost your mood. Who couldn’t use a mood boost these days? More and more research is pointing to diet as one of the major factors involved in mental health. In a time when anxiety threatens to creep in, a great way you can support your brain’s healthy function is by giving it healthy food. 

Besides maintaining a reasonable weight and supporting your mental health, eating well during this time at home can help your immune system to function better. Increased immune function can help keep you from getting sick or decrease the severity of symptoms if you do. One of the best ways to support your immune system is by increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. Packing your diet with produce gives your body the vitamins and antioxidants it needs to fight disease. 

With all these great reasons to eat healthy, why not get started today? At Tacoma Boys and H&L produce, we care about your health and that of your family. We’re here to support you in your efforts. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas for eating well while staying home.

6 Simple Tips For Healthy Eating at Home

1. Start Your Day With A Fruit

It’s easy to feel out of sorts with many of our usual rhythms interrupted. Now’s a great time to give yourself some new healthier habits right off the bat. It’s a message we hear from the time we’re kids: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But if preparing a full meal feels like a lot first thing in the morning, simply grabbing a fruit to eat while you drink your coffee is a great compromise. This week at Tacoma Boy’s and H&L Produce, we’re featuring our delicious Honeycrisp apples and super sweet juicy oranges. Or opt for a delicious pineapple! Just cut it up and store it in chunks in the refrigerator for an easy addition to breakfast.  

2. Eat a Breakfast Packed with Protein and Good Fat

Protein and fat (the good kind found in eggs and avocados), keep you fuller longer than a breakfast packed with empty carbs. If you find yourself with more time and less hustle in the morning, it could be a great chance to focus some attention on a home cooked breakfast, like some Spicy Pulled Pork Fried Eggs. This recipe calls for slow cooker pulled pork, so you’ll want to swing by our butcher for one of our premium pork shoulders. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you begin your day by eating well!

3. Make Your Sandwich a Wrap

Replacing your bread with leafy vegetables like chard or romaine lettuce is a great way to get an extra serving of veggies. It also helps cut down on carbs and adds a nice crunch to your lunch. Check out our fresh produce section for a great selection of leafy green and red lettuce. Top with our deli-sliced turkey breast and black forest ham, and dice some roma tomatoes for additional color and flavor! Your taste buds and waistline will be so delighted, you’ll want to make every sandwich a wrap.

4. Snack on Veggies

If you find yourself reaching for a mid-afternoon snack, avoid foods like chips that are high in calories but nutrient-deficient. Instead, give your body foods it truly craves, like our buttery-rich Hass avocados. Cut one in half, sprinkle with sea salt, and enjoy with a spoon right out of the skin. Or enjoy the millennial-famed avocado toast. It’s famous for a reason! If avocado isn’t your speed, try making caprese with our juicy red cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella selected from our wide variety of gourmet cheeses. Replacing junk food with healthy alternatives like the above is a great way to keep eating well while staying home. 

5. Have Fish Once a Week

The health benefits to eating fish regularly are numerous. Consuming fish can help heart health, brain health, and energy levels, just to name a few. And fish can be one of the simplest meals to prepare! This week at Tacoma Boys and H&L produce, we’re featuring our Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillets and Fresh Wild Red Rock Snapper Fillets. Stop by our fish counter and experience the best quality fish around! 

6. Start Your Own Garden

A great way to get your greens is growing your own! Forgot to plant this spring? No problem! Tacoma Boys and H&L produce is your one-stop shop for vegetable starts this year! Avoid the crowds at the supermarket by growing your own veggies at home. Nothing beats the taste of produce grown in your own backyard. Need planting advice? Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can point you in the right direction. 

Our Commitment to Helping You Stay Healthy 

At Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce, we’re experts in the meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables you need to stay healthy. Much of our produce is locally farmed, so shopping with us is a great way to support your local farming industry while you and your family stay healthy. Our expert staff are knowledgeable and ready to help you find what you need to eat well while staying home this season. 

Eating the recommended 1-3 cups of vegetables a day can be a daunting and sometimes unappetizing prospect, especially if your taste buds aren’t on board.  Luckily, there are many simple and delicious ways to trick yourself into getting all you need. Check out these seven ways veggies made great can help you sneak them in, and maybe even enjoy them!

If the idea of snacking on a head of raw broccoli doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, you may be like the 90% of Americans who aren’t eating enough vegetables.  If you think of vegetables as nothing more than an unpleasant obligation, maybe it’s time to try some of the many ways veggies made great can revolutionize your eating habits. From breakfast to dinner and every snack in between, Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce have everything you need to get all the veggies you need in a day.

Tricking Your Tastebuds

1. Start your morning with a smoothie

If starting your day with a mouth full of raw spinach seems like a rough way to begin, try easing yourself into your morning with a smoothie you’ll actually enjoy, and likely start to crave. Start with a cup or two of raw spinach or kale in your blender. You’d be surprised at how much you can pack into a single serving! Add one banana (or some of our fresh berries), a half cup of vanilla yogurt, one frozen banana, and half a cup of milk or almond milk. Blend and add more milk or yogurt to your desired consistency. Now you’ve already had one serving of vegetables and one serving of fruit, and you’re just getting started!

2. Saute some vegetables into a breakfast scramble

Maybe you prefer to start your day with something savory rather than sweet. A great way to get your morning started with veggies made great is by adding them to an egg scramble. Start by sauteing chopped onions and garlic in olive oil. Add chopped spinach, mushrooms, peppers, oven roasted tomatoes and cheese. So many veggies in one delicious meal! Who says breakfast can’t be fancy?

3. Snack on crunchy Kale Chips

If you crave the salty crunch of chips, you’ll find yourself reaching for these Baked Kale Chips as a regular mid-afternoon snack. Why settle for bagged potato chips when you can delight your taste buds and tummy with something that’s actually good for you? Start by trimming the leaves from the stem of your kale. Discard the stem and chop the leaves into 1-inch pieces. Toss in enough vegetable oil to coat. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with sea salt. Bake at 350℉ for 10-15 minutes, until the edges are brown, but not burnt. Snack away!

4. Dip your veggies in a healthier alternative to ranch

Love ranch but hate the calories? Here at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce, we carry a great selection of Walden Farms salad dressings. These calorie-free, fat-free, gluten-free dressings will have you dipping and snacking on baby carrots, juicy grape tomatoes, and red peppers to your heart’s content without adding to your waistline.

5. Have a side of sweet potato fries

Why should you choose sweet potato fries over regular fries? Sweet potatoes have more health benefits than white potatoes, including more vitamin A and fewer calories. Make your own sweet potato fries with this recipe from The New York Times, or pick up a bag from our frozen section here at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce. Add sweet potato fries to the menu next time you make burgers or sliders and see how veggies made great can elevate your dinner experience.

6. Create gourmet pizzas at home with cauliflower pizza dough

What’s better than homemade pizza? Homemade pizza that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. You can find cauliflower pizza dough at Tacoma Boys and H&L produce. You’ll love this gluten-free, tasty alternative to traditional pizza dough. Top it with whatever you’d like, and enjoy guilt free! If you’re feeling ambitious, try the Chicken Pesto Pizza recipe from our blog.

7. Try cauliflower rice as a substitute for white rice

This delicious alternative to plain rice adds sophistication to any dinner. While white rice can serve as a bit of a bland placeholder, cauliflower rice is a flavorful side you’ll want to make again and again. Much lower in calories and carbs than its white rice counterpart, you can load up on cauliflower rice and get all the fiber and Vitamin B this vegetable has to offer. Pick up a head of cauliflower from our produce section at Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce and try this recipe from Minimalist Baker, or grab a bag of frozen cauliflower rice from our frozen section. For even more veggies made great, saute stir-fry veggies in olive oil, top with teriyaki sauce, and enjoy over a bowl of cauliflower rice.

Where to find great produce locally?

Adding vegetables to your diet every day has numerous benefits, from boosting your immune system, energy level, and mood to improving your skin and eye health. So where can you find the best produce for your family? Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce buys produce directly from the source, and it’s often grown locally, so you can feel great about the quality of the vegetables you’re eating. Your breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners are sure to impress with the flavor, color, and nutrition you get from veggies made great.  So why not give one or two of these ideas a try? For the best selection of produce, there’s no better place to shop locally than Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce. Come in and speak to our knowledgeable staff for help selecting the best vegetables from our produce section today!

Ketogenics is so popular in the culinary and dietary world, and for good reason. Aside from the science of ketosis, this eating plan challenges you to eat more fat, and cut carbs. So, in essence, you lost the pasta and bread, but you get the bacon and avocados! But there’s more to be enjoyed with keto than a simple two-item menu, and Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce have everything you need.

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