Sprouts Farmers Market, my favorite items!

April 19, 2016

Sprouts Farmers Market

a better grocery!

In honor of Earth Day, I'd like to highlight one of my favorite household & food supply stores - Sprouts Farmers Market. This chain, with multiple locations in many states, carries some of my favorite eco products, offers lots of organic fresh produce and food items as well as a large selection of vegan & vegetarian everything.

They are a responsible retailer from sourcing and operations to building.

On top of that, the store is affordable and totally unpretentious.

But wait, there's more! At the end of each day, Sprouts donates all unsold and edible (but not marketable) groceries to Feeding America and their local affiliate hunger relief agencies as part of Sprouts's local Food Rescue Program. Also, some produce is set aside for relief agencies directly from their distribution centers. Sprouts donated more than 14 million pounds of food in 2015, equating to more than 12 million meals across all stores.

So, yah, this is a company to get behind. Below are some of their offerings I regularly buy at the store as well as ways I use them!

Organic and plant-based items from Sprouts

MY BASICS

These are items I pretty much always have on hand.

Healthy staples.

1. ORGANIC BERRIES

2. NUT MILK

I switch around brands and flavors but am partial to almond & coconut. Califia Farms is so creamy. Sprouts carries many nut milk varities from several brands.

3. ORGANIC APPLES & BANANAS

Apples and bananas can hang around a while. I try to always have them in the house!!

4. PLANT-BASED PROTEIN ITEMS

Sprouts has loads of choices in this department. From their own brand of tofu to a full selection of frozen Gardein items to a variety of Field Roast products. I love picking up cool things to try like the pictured baked teriyaki tofu.

5. JUST MAYO

Addicted to this Hampton Creek magic sauce!!! 😎🌿 I use it to make dips and spreads. See some of my sandwich creations on the lunches page.

6. LOOSE NUTS from the BULK BINS

There is a huge section of bulk items at Sprouts. I appreciate the option to buy a very small amount or a huge pile, as needed. This is a preferable, less-wasteful system than pre-packaged quantities!

7. SHEEP MILK YOGURT

I don't eat much dairy but when I do, I prefer non-cow. Bellwether Farms yogurt is a favorite. A little tart, creamy without being super thick. I like the unsweetened plain for breakfast - calcium without carbs.

TADA!

A bunch of the items combined for a pretty breakfast.

All the fruit with the sheep milk yogurt, pecans and some edible floral from my garden!

Flowers are borage and nasturtium.

They offer a light, delicate, slightly-sweet flavor.

Plus...gorgeous color.

🌷

Let's move on to household...

If you've been following Real Fine Food for a minute, you know I'm HUGE on eco.

I clean my house with a vinegar/water combo and use baking soda as a scrub. Most of my household and wardrobe is recycled.

And when I purchase household soaps, cleaners and personal products I like them to be made of simple ingredients and free of harsh chemicals and poisons.

Eco Household Items from Sprouts Farmers Market

HOUSEHOLD BASICS

Sprouts carries larger clean & eco brands we are all familiar with such as Tom's, Mrs. Meyers, Dr. Bonners and Kiss My Face but also so so so much more.

I am always finding neat smaller-production products I love there.

Let me highlight a few in this basket:

1. ZUM CLEAN LAUNDRY DETERGENT

The scent that seduced me is Frankincense & Myrrh. It's heavenly. This concentrated, natural-ingredient cleaner's scents come from essential oils and lingers through the dryer cycle and beyond. Killer aroma therapy.

2. NUBIAN HERITAGE DEODERANT

Several creative scents / ingredient variations all with descriptions about why they chose certain ingredients. African Black Soap scent, above, is made with palm ash, tamarind extract and plantain peel which "has been used in Africa for centuries to minimize the appearance of skin blemishes and other skin ailments."

The company started as just-out-of-college graduates selling their stuff as street vendors in Harlem. Healing traditions, cultural wisdom and indigineous ingredients. Love. 💘 Read more about the company here.

3. EARTHWORM DRAIN CLEANER

What happens to all the poison we pour into our pipes to clear blocked drains?! I don't know but I feel better putting something non-toxic into the system!

4. PAPER SNACK AND SANDWICH BAGS

This one is self-explanatory. We use too much plastic. Every piece of plastic that has ever been created is still somewhere on the planet. Any time we can minimize, it's a good thing. Sprouts Farmer's Market has so many alteratives on their shelves. Corn-based "plasticware" that will biodegrade, recycled paper plates, napkins and toilet paper, plant-based picnic cups. Good to do our part, when we can!

If you catch this post in time for Earth Day 2016 celebration - there is a $50 Sprouts Gift Card giveaway happening April 19-21st on the Real Fine Food Facebook and Instagram. Enter for a chance to win!

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2016!

Remember - every purchase choice and decision you make that curbs waste, pollution and the addition of toxins into our enviroment counts. Let's make every day earth day!

🌎🌱

-Stephanie