Milk is definitely in the news these days, specifically whole milk.  At your local Ingles Market, you can find a variety of cow’s milk options as well as non-dairy alternatives.   All of the milk sold at Ingles Markets is pasteurized.  Pasteurizing milk is a food safety measure.  Pasteurized milk is still a good source of protein, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals.  Our store brand of milk is Laura Lynn milk which is primarily sourced from local dairy farmers within about 150 miles of Asheville, NC. 

I got a question this week on LinkedIn (yes, you can find me there!) about chia seeds so let’s take a look:

What are they?: They are small black seeds from the chia plant which is native to Mexico and Guatemala.   They look a little like poppy seeds but are larger.

What’s the benefit of eating/using or cooking with them?
Chia seeds are a source of fiber, omega 3-fatty acids, and protein.  

The one micronutrient that most all would do well to increase is fiber.

“Fibermaxxing” has had a moment on TikTok with people conducting fiber challenges to see how much they could consume.

Most Americans don’t come close to getting sufficient fiber in their daily diet.

Two of the trends/fads that you can expect to see reflected in products on the shelves at your local Ingles Markets are callouts for protein amounts and callouts for fiber amounts.  

Both protein and fiber are macronutrients. 

Most people think about protein coming from meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy products and fiber coming from fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  

What are omega 3-fatty acids? They are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s) that can be found in various foods.

What are the health benefits? There have been a variety of claims about the benefits of omega 3-fatty acids from heart health, eye health and reducing inflammation to reducing risk of certain cancers, however, most of this is not conclusive and is based on observational data. 

One thing I’ve been noticing lately on social media is a reference to “struggle meals”. These are easy, economical meals to make when money (and time) is tight. Often these meals start out with staple foods with protein like beans, cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter and eggs and then add in or have with starches and vegetables.

Here are some ideas of typical “struggle meals:” 

Hello from the Cantina Laredo in Terminal T of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It’s Sunday, 8:29 p.m. I’ve just consumed two overpriced Michelob Ultra drafts and one giant chicken quesadilla (hadn’t eaten all day). In this moment, I decided to use my layover time to write this here column for you readers (yes, you).  

Protein is a satisfying macronutrient and can be found in both animal-based and plant-based foods. Included in this list are some that are plant-based that are also a good source of fiber. 

What started off as a clever idea to address recidivism has grown into something more — a community-driven response to concerning and costly social ills like homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse disorder. 

In the face of rising prices for school lunches, the Macon County Board of Education is set to request funding from the county commission that would ensure all students in Macon County receive free lunch for the coming school year.