Farm Fresh Friday for February 23rd - Daikon Radish Sprouts

Howdy! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we are bringing daikon radish sprouts from Satur Farms to our salad bars! Used frequently in Asian cuisine, these sprouts are tangy with a light peppery finish. Daikon radish sprouts are also packed with vitamins and minerals. Make sure to stop in on Friday and add this exciting sprout to your salad! Enjoy! 

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - February 22nd

Hi Fresh & Co. Fans!  I hope you are taking the necessary steps to reach your 2012 goals as suggested in my previous blog.  It is a great feeling when you enter Fresh & Co., and you are greeted with friendly faces and share the hope of great food to energize you with other customers.  

We all share the goal of eating right and feeling good about ourselves.  When I go in to teach a group exercise or small group training class, it is the same thing.  People show up day after day to get a good sweat, socialize, feel strong, and be empowered.   There is a feeling of camaraderie in each spin room.  We build off of each other’s energy to push through the day’s challenges. 

A recent study found that we mimic the habits of our closest acquaintances.   If this is true, whom do you encounter on a daily basis? Ask yourself, how does each person affect your chances of maintaining a healthy life?  Excellent social connections could make or break your health habits.  Make your goals clear to family and friends.  I suggest joining a group, team, or training class to keep you motivated and share your health goals.  Feel good knowing that the Fresh & Co. team will support you by providing healthy meal options.  If you need a snack, there is pre-made hummus and veggies or fruit and yogurt.  From the salad and pasta bars to the sandwich options, Fresh & Co. will always help you reach your goals.  As I reflect on who I dine with, my truest friends support my healthy decisions and understand why I would rather walk than take a cab, for example – without teasing or singling me out.  Teamwork and camaraderie are amazing things that create positive growth and change.  As February comes to an end, think about how your environment will impact your life.  

If you have any questions on health & wellness, or you are interested in training with me, please feel free to email me: michelegfit@gmail.com; follow me on Twitter @michelegfit and check out my blog; makeitwithmich.blogspot.com

New coffee in our stores: ¡Tierra! blend from Lavazza; delicious and sustainable

 Hey Fresh Faces,

Continuing our commitment to the environment and helping the community, we are so excited to roll out a new coffee blend in all of our stores. Since last week, we have been serving the ¡Tierra! blend from Lavazza. ¡Tierra! is the sustainable development project undertaken by Lavazza to support three communities of small coffee growers in Latin America with the ambition to combine product quality with improved living conditions for coffee growers.

¡Tierra! comes from farms certified by the Rainforest Alliance, the international non-governmental organization active in promoting sustainable coffee. The product is an excellent blend of 100% washed Arabica coffees. ¡Tierra! is highly aromatic, with a light fruit acidity, and delicate but sweet notes.

Have you tried our new coffee yet? Make sure to grab a cup this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Farm Fresh Friday for January 20th - Carnival Cauliflower

For our first Farm Fresh Friday of 2012, we brought back an old favorite! Carnival cauliflower was featured in our salad bars back in early November from Satur Farms. This veggie was such a HUGE hit, so we wanted to bring it again in case you missed it last time. Carnival cauliflower will be an awesome addition to your salad with its beautiful bright colors, and of course, since it is full of vitamins and minerals. Make sure you give carnival cauliflower a try this week, and let us know what you think!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - January 11th

Hello Fresh Faces! It’s a New Year and many of us are taking steps to achieve our health goals.  After just one week, I notice how hard it is for people to stick with their resolutions.  You have all year to reach your 2012 goals, so slow down and plan what necessary action steps you will take to reach them.

 Staying on track to meet your goals is challenging, and every day can be a battle.  Fresh & Co. and I have teamed up to help you have a “fresh” focus on the New Year and the healthier, New YOU!  Focus on what you CAN do this year, rather than what you cannot do.  Educate yourself with the information I have blogged about with fitness & nutrition tips, stay motivated by continuously reminding yourself of your progress, and hold yourself accountable by signing up for a small group training program, group exercise class, a personal training session, or a nutrition consultation.  We are going to face setbacks and obstacles this year, but prove that you are strong enough to overcome the challenges to reaching your nutrition and fitness goals.

 Here are some of my tips for sticking with your 2012 nutrition and fitness goals:

 1.  Create a PLAN OF ACTION.  For example, do not just say you want to lose 20 lbs by December.  Figure out what you must do on a shorter basis to achieve this goal.  Personally, I set goals for myself on a weekly basis and what must be done to accomplish them.  I have my clients, class participants, friends and co-workers do the same.

2.     BE REAL!  Don’t say you’re going to the gym every day this week and you are not having any candy or processed food ever again – live a little!  If you were only going to the gym once a week in 2011, start by going two, maybe three, times per week now.  Each week or month, build up your usage or intensity a little bit more.   You could also burnout or injure yourself if you do not take these gradual steps.  The same goes for eating healthier.  Record what you eat, seek professional guidance, and determine what you need to do to reach your fit goals.  If you eat a bag of chips every day at lunch, cut back by having the bag three or four times per week, and slowly decrease that number each week or month.  Replace it with fruit or a healthier meal that includes hummus or whole wheat crackers if you want that crunchy taste.

3.     PREPARE yourself for what you are about to endure.  Every day, or at least the beginning of the New YOU, will be a challenge.  There are going to be times of high stress when you feel that eating healthy food or exercising is just not an option.  Some days, you may not make it to your gym class or be able to go grocery shopping – but there are always options.  Pick a day where you prepare all of your meals and snacks for the week. This makes decision making much easier!  Always keep a snack handy in your bag, desk, or car.  If you wait too long to eat between meals, you may get low-blood sugar, feel fatigued, and then overeat at your next meal.  Have a trainer write out some “at-home” exercises for you to do or purchase a DVD so you can do something in the convenience of your own home.  It’s better to be prepared than sorry!

4.     BE PROUD of every step you are making to become the STRONGER, FITTER, and HEALTHER YOU!

Remember, Fresh & Co. has a variety of healthy food items to help you kick off the New Year on a healthier foot!  If you have any further questions or want to work out with me, feel free to e-mail at michelegfit@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter @MicheleGFIT or on my blog makeitwithmich.blogspot.com. 

January Sandwich of the Month and Breakfast Flat Bread!

Happy New Year, Fresh Faces! With the new month brings some new menu additions, so let's get started. First, we have the latest Sandwich of the Month; smoked turkey ham with white cheddar, grain mustard and mayo on 7 grain bread. Yum!

Next, we have a new Breakfast Flat Bread Sandwich; the Anaheim! Eggs, chicken and apple sausage, and white cheddar on a delicious flat bread will definitely help get you going in the morning to face the day. Give these new items a try and as always, let us know what you think! 

Thank You for supporting The Dine Out for Share Our Strength!

Hey Fresh Faces, we hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We wanted to take this moment to thank everyone for their efforts with the in-store fundraising we did back in September, for Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Along with thousands of other restaurants, the promo lasted from September 19^th-23^rd in our stores, and we were able to send Share Our Strength a fantastic contribution! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who donated in our stores!  We were able to take the in-store amounts from our customers and match them to double our efforts.

Just one dollar can connect a child to 10 meals, not just for today, but also the long term. Thank you again for your assistance during Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry! We hope to see everyone again next year, as we strive to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. 

Week of December 12th: At register promotion for City Harvest

Happy December, Fresh Faces! As many of you know, we have been donating our excess food every Friday to City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, and the only one here in New York City. Each week, City Harvest helps over 300,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal. 

To take our efforts a step further, we will run an at register promotion in all four Manhattan stores from December 12^th – 18^th, 2011 to benefit City Harvest. On top of that, all customer donations will be matched at the end of the promotion to help double the fundraising!

We understand that the holiday season can be difficult for everyone, but for the hungry of New York City, it hits even harder. Help us continue to help City Harvest feed the city’s hungry men, women and children every day, as they have been for the past 25 years.

Farm Fresh Friday for December 9th - Micro Greens

Happy Friday! Our Farm Fresh item this week are micro greens from Satur Farms. Micro greens are a tiny form of edible greens produced from the seeds of vegetables, herbs or other plants. They range in size from one to two inches long, including the stem and leaves, and can have surprisingly intense flavors considering their small size, though not as strong as mature greens and herbs. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - December 7th

It was that time of day again where almost every guest in Fresh & Co. needed an escape. If you work in an office, you know how difficult it is to be active during the day. This week I dashed out of my 3 hour meeting to head to “Fresh” for a salad, and I found myself joined by like-minded NYC workers hoping to get a nutritious lunch. I looked around and it was great to see smiling faces, but many were just staring down at their smartphones, and not seeing the opportunity to help their fitness goals and move. When it comes to reaching certain fitness levels, daily physical activity is key. Between waiting on lines at Fresh & Co. try doing some exercises while you wait so you can easily squeeze exercise into your life.

Here are some of my tips for waiting in line or walking around a store:

·      If you hold a bag or briefcase, try 12 reps of bicep curls in each arm. We are constantly picking this up and putting them down, so it is important to strengthen our arm muscles.

·      Perform squats in place. This may seem silly, but if you position yourself in the right place, it will come across as normal. Check out the pre-packaged food, not by leaning over, but rather by squatting so you engage your lower body and core muscles. If you leave your bag on the floor, squat in place as you gather your things. 

·      While you stand, go into a wide stance, press your heels to the ground and squeeze your gluteal muscles to work your rear and thighs. You can also simply perform heel raises in place to strengthen your legs. 

·      If you are feeling ambitious, do knee-lifts in place and balance on one leg to exercise those core and leg muscles.

·      My two top tips are to practice good posture and walk as much as possible. We hunch and sit all day, from commuting, working at the desk, or texting on our cell phones. It helps while we stand on line practice to good form and posture, which will help make you stronger. Inhale through the nose and get oxygen flowing through your body for a dose of energy. Relax and retract your shoulders, keep your core tight, chest lifted, and show the world how confident you are when you walk or stand upright. Also, walk up and down the stairs to and from work or to your desired lunch place. I purposely skip the subway every morning to get my body and mind running. Staying fit and healthy is easy if you adapt simple ways to bring wellness to your day.

 The next time you are out and about, practice good posture and see if you feel better or if more people notice this new powerful aura. Try adding more movement or exercises throughout your day. As always, ask me any questions for your personal fitness and wellness goals.  Please feel free to contact me at michelegfit@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter @MicheleGFIT, or read my blog at makeitwithmich.blogspot.com. Staying fit, strong, and healthy is easy when you stop at to Fresh & Co. for a nutritious meal or snack, and stay active!

December Sandwich of the Month, Side Salad and new gift card promo!

Welcome to the new month! For December our latest Panini is one that will explore a new culinary palette. Our latest Panini, is mozzarella melted over grilled chicken, roasted red onions, and topped with a delicious chimichurri sauce.

Our new side salad for the month is Brazilian style three bean and rice in a chimichurri vinaigrette. Similar to our Panini of the month, this new side salad will give you a new and different taste to try. Enjoy these two new additions to our menu for December, and as always, let us know what you think!  

Also, don't forget about our new gift card promo for the holidays:

Farm Fresh Friday for December 2nd - Yellow French Beans

Hey all and Happy Friday! Today for our Farm Fresh item we are having yellow French beans from Satur Farms in our salad bars. Yellow French beans are similar to green beans, with a thinner skin and are slightly sweet and crunchy. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

Don't be a turkey, give a turkey!

Hey Fresh Faces,

To keep the spirit of giving alive, we are asking for your help to donate whatever you can to help families in need put a holiday meal on their tables. Our Director of Marketing, Ty, wrote a blog post to spotlight a great cause. Click to read on.

Here's a short video about the cause and their results from years back!

See you all tomorrow for Farm Fresh Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We just wanted to take a moment to say “thank you” to all of you who come through our doors and love our food. We also wanted to use this moment to discuss giving back; especially for a particular cause we give so much to… childhood hunger

No Kid Hungry has been an effort that we have been proud to support. For the past five years, they have been working tirelessly to help end childhood hunger, and have a goal to do so by 2015. However, with the holiday season upon us, they need our help more than ever! Please commit to the cause take the pledge below:

If you can, also please donate, no matter how small. Just $1 connects a child to 10 healthy meals! This holiday season, though the generosity of No Kid Hungry partners, ALL gifts will be matched to double the fundraising. Help every child in America get the nutritious food they need to learn, grow and thrive.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Fresh Faces! May it be filled with good food, family, friends and love. 

Farm Fresh Friday for November 18th - Watermelon Radish

Happy Friday! This week we are featuring watermelon radishes for Farm Fresh Friday in our salad bars. Our good friends at Satur Farms are bringing these to us. Watermelon radishes are excellent raw and in a salad, but also roasted or pickled. They are also milder and sweeter than a regular radish, and of course, have a gorgeous bright pink color. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

New Choice for Bottled Water in our stores!

Howdy! We at Fresh & Co. are thrilled to bring to you a new beverage choice within our stores. We are now offering bottled water from NYCH2O, one of the most environmentally friendly companies we have found.  NYCH2O bottles are BPA-free, recyclable and the ONLY water bottles currently on the market made with EcoPure, a fully biodegradable plastic that naturally breaks down. It is also sourced, bottled and sold locally for minimal carbon footprint.

NYCH2O is NOT New York City tap water; instead it is from a cold, fresh, 10,000 year old spring in the Catskill Mountains. The goal is to eliminate imported water to New York City and provide clean New York State spring water for all. Check out NYCH2O water today! 

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - November 9th

It’s that time of year again! The season is changing, people are sneezing or coughing, and my clients, friends, and family are saying, “I think I’m getting sick.” Spending time in NYC during the colder months makes it easy for us to catch a cold; germs are EVERYWHERE.  However, with my knowledge, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset of a cold, decrease the severity of symptoms, or shorten a cold’s length of time. 

There is no doubt that exercise is key, but nutrition is the determining factor on how sick you will be.  Consuming foods rich in antioxidants, iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, will help your body fight free radicals, be nourished with oxygen and vital nutrients, maintain a strong immune system, and feel energized.  Here is a general rule to go by when choosing produce; the more colors – the more antioxidants.  Try fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, guava, and mango. Or stock up on veggies such as carrots, bell peppers, sweet potato, pumpkin, spinach, beets or kale.  Try adding tuna, legumes, anchovies, salmon, flax, walnuts, almonds, or soybeans to your diet as well. 

Eating foods with high antioxidative properties will make you feel good! Dining at Fresh & Co. is great for your nutrition.  At the salad bar, ask for mixed greens or spinach and toss in as many colorful veggies and fruits as you can.  Fresh’s to go section offers yogurt blends with fruit and quinoa, edamame and fruit salads, and sandwiches made with a variety of vegetables. From feeling energized to fighting off a cold, choose foods that help your body grow and heal.  Luckily, Fresh & Co. makes it easy for us to do so!

If you ever need a tip on what to eat at the restaurant or around your workouts, advice on exercise, or you are interested in taking a class with me, find me on Twitter @MicheleGFit, read my blog: makeitwithmich.blogpost.com, or send me an e-mail directly at michelegfit@gmail.com. 

Farm Fresh Friday for November 4th - Carnival Cauliflower

Its the end of the week, so Fresh Faces know what that means! Check out carnival cauliflower in our salad bars this week from Satur Farms. Carnival cauliflower is the best of both worlds. Full of good for you vitamins and minerals, with added visual excitement from their bright colors. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think! :)

November Sandwich of the Month and Side Salad

Happy November, Fresh Faces! A new month means new changes to our menu. Our Sandwich of the Month for November will be a welcome sight for vegetarians! Edamame, hummus, tomato, arugula, cucumbers and sprouts on 7 grain bread make up this delightful and delicious sandwich.

Our new Side Salad for the month features sweet potatoes, jalapeno, and candied ginger in an agave vinaigrette. ALL Fresh & Co. locations will be offering side salad sampling on Wednesday, November 2 from 12-2 p.m., or while supplies last. Stop by and give the newest side salad a try.

Enjoy these two terrific addition to our menu this month! 

Farm Fresh Friday for October 28th - Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Howdy, Fresh Faces! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we are excited to have roasted Brussels Sprouts from Satur Farms in our salad bars. You've probably had Brussels sprouts pan fried or sauteed, but when roasted, their flavor is enhanced! They are also jam packed with vitamins C and K, potassium, and calcium. Give this super food a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!