Honey & Bees… Why all the Buzz?

Honey… How sweet it is!

When you need to add a dash of sweetness, swap sugar for honey instead. A little honey goes a long way because the sweetness is so concentrated — you only need a drop or a drizzle for big flavor.

• Unlike other sweeteners, honey is packed with antioxidants that can benefit gastrointestinal health through their probiotic effect (which means it helps beneficial bacteria flourish in the intestines).
• Honey has been shown to prevent the browning of cut fruit; keep this in mind when creating fruit salads!
• Antioxidants in honey can extend the freshness of baked goods, so it’s also choice for recipes.

“Bee” aware

• Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we humans eat — yet their habitat is shrinking and many species are in danger. Whole Foods Market is passionate about restoring wildflower habitat, protecting pollinators and mobilizing our communities to make a difference.
• Demand for honey supports the bee population, which is good for our environment and our farmers. So that’s another reason to use honey instead of sugar!
• Whole Foods Market is proud to introduce our 365 Everyday Value® Pollinator Friendly Almonds and Almond Butter. They’re sourced from an orchard that works with conservationists at The Xerces Society to create a welcoming environment for pollinators.

Honey bees are vital to our supply of healthy foods

We can’t eat a rainbow of healthy fruits and vegetables without them! Honey bees are pollinators, which means they travel from plant to plant to collect and deposit pollen, a substance that makes it possible for many flowers, fruits and vegetables to reproduce.

Here are just a few of the foods that we would lose if all the honey bees disappear:

Apples, Almonds, Mangoes, Kiwi, Peaches, Pears, Strawberries, Onions, Avocados, Green Beans, Celery, Coffee, Lemons, Limes, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cocoa, Tomatoes, Grapes

A buzz-worthy treat

Serves 2

• 1 ½ Tablespoons honey
• 1 cup Plain Greek yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt)
• 1 Tablespoon Orange juice
• ¼ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 1 Ripe Pear
• 2 Tablespoons Fresh lemon juice (juice of ½ a lemon)
• ¼ cup Granola
• Extra honey for drizzling

Directions

1. Mix yogurt, orange juice, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
2. Dice pear into ½ inch cubes then toss with fresh lemon juice to keep from browning.
3. In two serving bowls, build parfait by first layering spiced yogurt on the bottom, then diced pear, then granola. Finish with a drizzle of honey. Enjoy! For more healthy tips and recipes follow our healthy eating blog!

Cincinnati Moms Blog offers a special thank you to today’s Sponsored Blogger:

Kathleen Wood, leads the Healthy Eating Program at Whole Foods Market, for the Mid-Atlantic region. She graduated from Dickinson College and then did a Master’s degree in Public Health at Boston University where she focused on nutrition and theories of health behavior change. She also completed a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University. She’s happy to offer you advice on food, recipes and nutrition. Please feel free to contact her at [email protected].