Groceries

While it’s fun and exciting to enjoy the summer weather, it’s important to consume hydrating foods along the way. This year’s summer in the Pacific Northwest is already a hot one! So while you’re spending time outdoors, there’s plenty of hydrating foods and things to do to stay cool. Start by planning ahead and always having water with you— grab a reusable water bottle if you don’t have one. The key to staying hydrated is of course drinking lots of water. But it’s also helpful to keep hydrated with snacks and food throughout the day.

Stay Stocked With Hydrating Foods

There are several ways to eat hydrating foods during the summer and everyday. Generally, any fruit is a great hydrating snack! And if you have these foods on hand, you can stay cool and enjoy the summer. In general, fruit is a great go-to hydrating food. Many fruits are mostly water and are cool and refreshing when you take a bite. For a guide on preparing snacks for warm weather activities, check out our blog all about it. And consider these foods to keep you cool this summer:

1. Fruits and vegetables like melons, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers. Almost any fruit you choose is likely to be full of water! And smoothies, like Columbia Gorge Organic Juices and Smoothies are an easy way to eat fruit.
2. Classic salads are a hydrating food because they’re full of lettuce and vegetables. They’re also light and refreshing on hot days! Try this Tossed Salad by Spend With Pennies with iceberg lettuce
3. Cottage cheese and yogurt: Munch on a cup of Smith Brothers Farms Cottage Cheese and chopped cucumbers.
4. Cold noodles: Think pasta salad, zucchini noodles, or cool sesame noodles. We like this recipe for Cold Sesame Noodle Salad by Life’s Ambrosia.
5. Some pasta sauces, like marinara sauce, are surprisingly hydrating! Throw together a batch of spaghetti with Victoria Marinara Sauce.

Cooling Down in Hot Weather

While it’s helpful to enjoy hydrating food, you may be looking for other cooling down tips and activities. If you want to get outdoors to enjoy the summer, go prepared! Pack those hydrating foods and snacks in addition to water and other drinks. You could even use a cooler with ice to keep things chilled while you’re at the beach, lake, or picnicking at the park. Cooling down includes using hats, umbrellas, and seeking shade often. Especially keep an eye on small children and older adults in the hot weather and encourage shade and hydration.

If you don’t have air conditioning (like many people here in the Pacific Northwest), there are other ways to stay cool indoors. If there’s a breeze, open those windows! Avoid using the stove or oven and instead opt for chilled foods. And definitely sip on water and tasty drinks.

Don’t Forget These Hydrating Drinks

Throughout the snacking, it’s always good to have a thirst-quenching beverage on hand. While water is an easy choice, it’s fun to mix it up with other hydrating drinks. Tacoma Boys offers a variety of beverages that you can easily grab and keep handy. They’re perfect for summer activities out and about in the sun!

Iced Tea and Kombucha

Try Joyroot Herbal Tea in Lemon Tulsi and Orange Hibiscus. Or make your own iced tea, like this Herbed Arnold Palmer! And kombucha is another version of tea —fermented tea. Búcha Grapefruit Sage Live Kombucha is available at Tacoma Boys in addition to several other varieties of kombucha.

Lemonade

Me & the Bees Lemonade with Mint and Calypso Lemonade are perfect summer drinks to refresh you. Lemonade does contain a good amount of sugar, however, so be sure to drink plenty of water too.

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water or seltzer is a simple alternative to water if you’d like a bit more pizazz. Local Seattle Soda Co., Original New York Seltzer, and Poppi sparkling waters are available in the refrigerated section.

Summer Heat Safety Tips

Every summer, it’s helpful to go over heat safety tips as a reminder to stay safe. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there’s just a few months of hot sun and warm weather. But it’s important to know heat safety tips as well as the signs of heat stroke. You can read up on the warning signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion here. To avoid heat sickness, be sure to:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Seek air conditioned spaces often.
• Avoid the direct sun.
• Wear loose fitting clothing.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine which may dehydrate you.
• Go slow if working outside.
• Never leave pets or children unattended in a car.

Whenever you’re ready to grab hydrating foods and drinks to keep you cool, swing by Tacoma Boys! With a selection of fresh fruit, drinks, and specialty foods, you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing summer. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Grains are a large part of many diets and are present in meals all throughout the nation. We all know and generally consume grains, but what are they? The edible dry seeds are either considered cereals or legumes. You’re likely to consume grains in several foods you enjoy, like in crackers, pasta, tortillas, and more. You probably know about the likes of wheat and oats, which are used to make other foods. But have you ever prepared millet, buckwheat, or barley? There is a whole world of grains to explore and enjoy in your diet!

All About Grains

Grains are a part of many diets for their nutrients and health benefits. Protein and fiber are especially a couple big reasons to eat them. Whole grains specifically provide these nutrients, which help maintain digestion and keep you full. While it’s recommended to consume multiple servings daily, it’s not always easy to make that happen. Check out this guide by the USDA and Dietary Guidelines for Americans to better understand how much grains you should eat everyday.

Grains at Tacoma Boys

Tacoma Boys offers a wide selection of different grains in addition to all of the other vital ingredients for a healthy and complete meal. Next time you’re grocery shopping, consider picking up one of these to incorporate into your diet:

• RiceSelect CousCous 
• Ancient Harvest Traditional Quinoa
• Lundberg White Arborio Rice or Wild Rice
• Lotus Foods Basmati Rice
• Albers Enriched Hominy Quick Grits
• Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Rolled Oats

Bob’s Red Mill is an Oregon producer of grains, seeds, flours, and more: Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of Bob’s Red Mill whole grains and other products to meet your needs. This includes Bob’s Red Mill Red Bulgur, Sorghum, Pearl Barley, Organic Farro, and much more.

What are Gluten Free Grains?

It’s not hard to enjoy gluten free grains because most whole grains are naturally without gluten. This means quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, sorghum, oats, corn, and more are all okay to eat if you’re avoiding gluten. These grains are easy to cook and naturally gluten free. Wheat, including wheat berries, spelt, bulgur, and farro do contain gluten as they all come from the wheat species. While many people avoid gluten because of celiacs disease or other reasons, there are still many gluten free grains to enjoy! 

For example, try Pow! Red Lentil Linguine in this recipe for pasta primavera by the Modern Proper. Tacoma Boys also offers Annie’s Quinoa Rice Pasta & White Cheddar and Ancient Harvest Quinoa Supergrain gluten free mac and cheese mixes. These boxed mac and cheese mixes are produced with a gluten free pasta that’s used as an alternative to traditional pasta that is made with wheat, and therefore gluten. 

Whole Grain Recipes

You probably often prepare and eat whole grain recipes: They’re quick to make, easy to digest, and versatile as ever. From rice, to bread, to pasta, oats, and more, there are so many different ways to enjoy whole grains! And you’ve quite likely heard all the talk surrounding whole grains. They’re good for you because they’re full of nutrients, protein, and fiber. For a well-rounded diet, most people should consume whole grains alongside protein and plenty of fruits and vegetables. When making whole grain recipes, you’ll want to make sure you have these elements within the dish. It can be simple and easy when starting with your grain base and working from there! Read on for a few examples of delicious and filling whole grain recipes. 

• Oatmeal is simple to make and widely customizable. Try adding in a mix of dried cranberries, nuts, seeds, yogurt, fresh fruit, or Field Day Organics Peanut Butter. 
• Whip up a big batch of hearty soup fit with vegetables, beans like Farmer Direct Organic Split Green Peas, and whole grains like quinoa. Then, enjoy the prepared meal as lunch throughout the week. For a guide on all the ins and outs of making soup with Tacoma Boys, check out our blog here.
• For a quick and easy recipe, grab a pack of Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa & Brown Rice. Heat it up alongside some Eden Organic Black Beans, steamed vegetables, and Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce for a complete meal packed with flavor and protein.
• Pasta night can be made simple with Delallo Organic Whole Wheat Elbow Pasta, a large head of roasted broccoli, and Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce, or for a white sauce, Newman’s Own Alfredo.
• Dave’s Killer Bread is a prime base to any sandwich: Try this Greek Avocado Sandwich by Cookie and Kate for a filling summer lunch.

Swing By Tacoma Boys

Come over to Tacoma Boys to get your hands on some grains and to get cookin.’ Whether you’re looking for gluten free grains, whole grains, or more, Tacoma Boys is stocked with a large selection. This is in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, and specialty food products to make your meals delicious. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!