As an ingredient, caffeine is found naturally in coffee, tea, mate and chocolate and is added to caffeinated sodas, some “energy” waters, coffee-flavored foods like ice cream and meal replacement bars, as well as candy, gum and non-prescription medications that have added caffeine. 

In the post-holiday frenzy we hear a lot about making resolutions regarding our health and fitness. Many of us start with good intentions, but our aspirations fall flat after just a few weeks because we never figured out a plan to execute our resolutions. 

This time of year there seems to be a lot of talk about eliminating foods. How about if instead we let talk about ADDING more food from plants to our meals - this is actually the recommendation of the US Dietary Guidelines and My Plate!

Calcium carbonate comes from limestone. You may know it in over-the-counter medication to relieve heartburn or for indigestion (antacid) or as a calcium supplement in tablets or in various beverages like plant-based beverages that have no naturally occurring calcium. 

I noticed “soy lecithin” on a I noticed “soy lecithin” on a list of ingredients. What is it?

What are your thoughts about kids having chocolate milk? Doesn’t it have too much sugar?

My husband has high blood pressure so I need to find a diet for him to follow that I can also eat, and since we are on a fixed income it can’t be expensive.

Small Business Saturday is November 30th. This is a good day and week to support local Western NC businesses including those that supply Ingles Markets. Buy products for your holiday meals, for gifts for family and friends, or just stock up for yourself!

Some things about olive oil you may not know:

• When storing olive oil, keep it away from major heat sources like your stove or oven as well as away from windows and fluorescent lighting. That means you shouldn’t keep your olive oil on a shelf over your oven or in a window.

Extra Virgin olive oil and “olive oil” are not the same thing?

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) – is produced bycrushing olives without heat or chemicals.It can have different flavors and different colors depending on where the olives are grown. Smoke point 350 deg-410 deg F.
• Olive Oil – is produced bycrushing and then refining the olives and is a blend of refinedolive oil and extra virgin/virgin olive oil.Olive oil has a higher smoke point (390 deg-468 deg F) than EVOO
• Once opened, you should planon usingolive oil within a few months.

Source: North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA)

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian

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800-334-4936

If you’re trying to cut down on added sugar, you may be looking for some lower calorie on non-caloric sweetening options. Here are different options you should spot at your Ingles Market: