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
- Mix yogurt, orange juice, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- Dice pear into ½ inch cubes then toss with fresh lemon juice to keep from browning.
- 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].