Natural Grocers to promote organic produce in 21-day health program

Natural Grocers and its team of nutritional health coaches are kicking off the new year with "21 Days to a Healthier You," a free three-class series, Jan. 22 to Feb. 11, focused on eating like a regenivore.

The program seeks to offer training and tools to help customers reach their health goals, says the Lakewood, Colo.-based grocer. Organic produce is poised to play a key role in the series.

“Each of the classes will mention the key benefits of incorporating 100% USDA-certified organic produce into our lives — both for the health of humans and our planet,” says Katie Macarelli, Natural Grocers director of public relations.

The three classes are:

1. Eat for your health and the planet's health or "Eat Like a Regenivore."

2. Kick sugar cravings.

3. Detoxify your life.

In the first class, "Eat Like a Regenivore," Natural Grocers says its nutritional health coaches will unpack what healthy eating means and provide the foundation for building balanced and delicious meals that regenerate the world.

Selected as the 2023 "Word of the Year" by The New York Times, a "regenivore" is a conscious consumer aware of the connection between how food is grown and the environment. Natural Grocers describes a regenivore as a person who eats in a way that supports a shift from degrading, stripping and crippling to regenerating and sustaining — planet, health and economies.

Regenivores know that the food on their plates and the farmers, ranchers and grocers that are supported are directly connected to the biodiversity of our food web, the integrity of the soil, the health of the planet, our own health, and the health of our families and friends, says Natural Grocers.

As part of "Eat Like a Regenivore," customers can discover how to read food labels and use supplements to propel vibrant health and then take a seven-day challenge of eating to the Natural Grocers’ "Regenivore Meal Wheel."

Natural Grocers’ meal wheel is comprised of seven components:

1. Aim for meals where half of the plate is filled with low-to-moderate carbohydrate organic vegetables and include lower sugar organic fruit as desired. Vegetables and lower-sugar fruits are nutrient-dense sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber that support health and well-being. Studies show that eating veggies and fruit even supports happiness, says Natural Grocers.

2. Include a palm-size portion of humanely raised and/or sustainable protein.

3. Add healthy fats from organic and/or humanely raised and/or grassfed sources.

4. Experiment with moderation foods — these foods can be part of a healthy diet but should be organic and consumed in moderation (or excluded for some) due to their higher carbohydrate content, and/or lower nutrient density, and/or anti-nutrient content. How much, if any, of these foods consumers include will be based on energy needs, individual food tolerances and health goals.

5. Maximize flavor and supercharge health by adding high-quality, unrefined salt and organic herbs, spices and extracts.

6. Fill nutritional gaps and optimize health with supplements.

7. Opt for sensible indulgences on occasion. This includes high-quality treats made with whole-food and nutrient-dense ingredients that contain natural sugars and/or less sugar and may also include high-quality alcoholic beverages.

Also new this year, Natural Grocers is offering video streamed classes in Spanish.  

Learn more about this free series and participating locations by visiting naturalgrocers.com/21-days.