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It's All Connected for Me at the Co-op!by Loretta Gillen We all wear
many hats. Mine include wife, mother, Godmother, daughter, aunt, civil
servant,
yogini and friend. I am also affiliated with various organizations and
groups which
all connect to my spirituality, creativity and strife for fun,
happiness and wellness.
The Honest Weight Food Co-Op has been a thread that binds a lot of my
lifestyle
choices and personal interests and goals. Its wonderful products
definitely quench
my hunger as a “foodie” attempting to provide healthy meals for myself
and for
my family, and the opportunities for both socialization and educational
experiences at the Co-op are many. We all know
that eating a healthy diet contributes to overall good health and
wellbeing. The
Co-op has fulfilled my quest as a frugal chef always on the lookout for
new cooking
and baking methods and ideas and has enabled me to purchase products to
prepare
food healthfully, tastefully and economically. The wide array of
quality,
organic and local products is truly amazing, and I don’t think there is
anywhere else in the area that beats the selection and prices. It’s fun
to chat
with the customers about what they plan on preparing with their
assortment of
food treasures at the checkout while I get more ideas on what to look
for and
“concoct” as well. I frequent
the bulk aisle which contains an abundance of ingredients for cooking
and baking,
and it’s nice to be able to buy as much or little as you need when
shopping in bulk.
Recently, I became interested in macrobiotic cooking and have found all
of the products
I have been looking for at the Co-op. I must add that staff are always
helpful
and willing to take time out of their busy days to assist with finding
or
ordering products. The Co-op
has not only satisfied my dietary needs but some of my social and
educational needs.
The workshops that I have attended have all been wonderful and
connected to my
interests. In particular, I have enjoyed some of the food preparation
classes.
The one that comes to my mind that was unique is the one on home lactic
acid fermentation
of vegetables presented by Louise Frazier of the Nutrition and
Education committee.
It was a hands-on session that led us through the step-by-step
preparation of a
dish made with carrots, onions and cabbage. We even shopped for the
ingredients
before the class and were given an opportunity to purchase an
instructional
guide for a nominal fee. (The class was free of charge.) The
benefits of eating fermented vegetables was also discussed. Preparing
your own
vegetables in this manner is yet another way to eat healthfully and
economically while making large portions for long-term enjoyment. There
is
always an abundance of information available at the store and in the
monthly newsletter
on a wide range of activities going on at the Co-op and in the
community. The
bulletin board also posts activities, signup sheets for events, job
postings,
etc. I look forward to reading the Coop Scoop, as it contains
information
and articles on products, health-related topics and numerous events and
services provided in the community. It also keeps us updated on
happenings at
the Co-op on an organizational level. |
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