Athlete's Corner - Mana Foods Buyer Cycles to the Sun

On June 29th, 144 able-bodied athletes lined up with their bicycles at the start of the bypass road in Paia, awaiting the pop of the start gun; their goal, the 10,023 foot summit of Haleakala. Among the crowd was Mana Foods buyer, Lisa Stein. Lisa is a tri-athlete who recently completed the Honu Half Ironman on the Big Island and plans to compete in a full Ironman next year. Lisa had been training on Crater Road for the past several months but had not ridden the last 1000 feet of the climb until race day. But even without that final push in her training she powered through the ride to the crown of the crater, placing 2nd in her division! Lisa loves Vega products on her training and competition menu. If you need advice on how to fuel for your next event stop by the vitamin room and ask Lisa to show you the amazing options Mana offers.

Donut Peaches!

Now at Mana Foods! Donut Peaches are also called Saturn peaches and in China, they are called pan tao (pan means flat and tao means peach).

Lychee: Hawaiian Gold!

Lychee are now available at Mana Foods! Lychee were first imported to the Hawaiian Islands in 1873 from China.

Apricot

If you eat 3 fresh apricots, you will be getting nearly half the vitamin A you need for the day!

Breba, the bonus fig crop

Breba (from the Spanish word Breva) is the fig produced on previous year’s wood.
Meaning, that the tree was still fruiting when it went dormant for winter. Ryan says these are super tasty figs and because they overwinter on the tree, the outer skin is tenderized and less acidic. It's hard to explain, but they are magic!

Stone Fruit: Cherries

Stone fruit season is officially here! We have organic cherries.

Did you know?

The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.

Did you know?

Watermelon is a vegetable! It is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.

Did you know?

Okra is also known as "lady finger"

Did you know?

Peaches were once known as Persian apples.

Did you know?

A large peach has fewer than 70 calories and contains 3 grams of fiber. It’s also a good source of vitamins A and C.

Did you know?

The fuzzy peach is actually a member of the rose family and originated in China.

May is Celiac Awareness Month

For more information about Celiac Disease here are some websites you can visit which are helpful:
www.celiac.org
www.celiac.com
www.celiaccentral.org

May is Celiac Awareness Month

"Celiac Disease is not an allergy, it is an autoimmune disease in which people who have the DQ2 and/or DQ8 Celiac gene markers cannot handle gluten proteins from Wheat, Barely, Rye & some Oats. It’s commonly defined as an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean? Essentially the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten." Annie Nelson

Overheard at Mana Foods

"Your aura is so sparkly!"

Custom Cake from Mana Foods

Check out this custom cake made by Dave, our baker extraordinaire. It was made to reveal the gender of  the new baby.

Happy Mother's Day!

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."Henry Ward Beecher

On Mothers . . .

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

Special Gifts for Mom

We have tons of gifts to pamper Mom this Mother's day, like these aromatherapy eye pillows and Lavender Essential oil from Mana Foods

On Mothers . . .

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. Abraham Lincoln

Did you know?

The flower for the month of May is the sweet smelling, delicate lily of the valley. The meaning for this flower is humility, chastity, sweetness and purity.

Show your Mama the love!

Mana Foods has tons of gifts to pamper Mom this Mother's day. Check out these offerings:  Pikake Rose from Manoi of Maui, Plumeria Passion Maui Organics lotion, Weleda Rose gift set, Honey Girl body creme and Lavender Body Butter from Ali'i Kula Lavender.

Did you know?

The month 'may' have been named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Gluten Freedom: Tropical Salad

Tropical Salad 4 Starfruit, sliced.      1 banana, chopped.      1 white nectarine, chopped.     1 apple, cored and diced.      Seeds from 1/2 pomegranate.     Squirt of lime juice.      1/4 Cup of Ginger People ginger chips. Mix and enjoy! Recipe courtesy of www.gingerpeople.com

Gluten Freedom: Zucchini Bread

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread:   2 C Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix,     2 tsp cinnamon,    1 tsp salt,   1/4 tsp nutmeg,      2 C grated zucchini,   Optional: 2 tsp grated lemon zest,    1/4 C oil,     2 eggs,   1/2 C brown sugar, packed,      1/2 C white sugar,     1 tsp vanilla,   Optional: 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped.
Whisk together Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, oil, and sugar for one minute on medium. Stir in vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients to form a batter. Fold in grated zucchini (along with optional lemon zest and chopped nuts)
NOTE: Baked zucchini loaf will be moist. You can lessen moisture by squeezing grated zucchini in paper towels to absorb some of the water before mixing into the batter. Turn into greased loaf pan and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let loaf cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack. Variation: For muffins, fill greased or paper-lined muffin tins 2/3 full and bake in 350° oven for 30 to 35 Minutes. Recipe courtesy of www.pamelasproducts.com

Gluten Freedom: Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

Gluten Free Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich 2 Slices of Udi’s Gluten Free Bread,    1 or 2 cage free/organic eggs,    Applegate Bacon or ham,   Swiss cheese,      Gluten free mayo (like Vegenaise) Olive oil.
Warm up skillet to medium and heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Saute both sides of 2 pieces of Udi’s bread 1 to 2 minutes on each side, adding more oil if it starts to smoke. Set aside. Don’t worry, olive oil is good for you. Fry two eggs (any way you like). When almost done, add a layer of Swiss Cheese over the eggs to melt. Brush mayo on bread and layer eggs on top. Add the meat and Voila! The ultimate breakfast sandwich. Recipe courtesy of www.udisglutenfree.com 
 

Gluten Freedom: Bagels

Gluten Free Bagels 1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela’s Bread Mix and Flour Blend,    2-1/4 tsp (1 yeast packet enclosed in 19 oz bread mix bag only),    1-1/3 C warm water,      1/4 C oil.    Use a HEAVY DUTY STAND MIXER with whisk attachment.  
Combine dry mix, yeast, oil and water (eggs are not used).
Mix on medium for 3 minutes.
Use 1/2 C of dough for each bagel.
Place on greased baking sheet.
Use oil on fingers to form round bagel shape.
Let dough rest for one hour then poke large hole in center of each bagel.
Preheat oven to 400º. In boiling water, boil bagels for 25 seconds, remove with slotted spoon and place on greased baking sheet.
Bagels do not have to be boiled before baking but it is suggested. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Whole

Variations:
Wheat Style Bagels: add 2 tablespoons Black Strap Molasses.
Three Seed Bagels: add 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds.
Cheese Bagels: add 2 cups finely shredded cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter (optional add 1/4 cup chopped green onions or jalapeno peppers).
Herb Bagels: add 2 teaspoons Italian herbs and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
Cinnamon Bagels: add 2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar. Recipe courtesy of www.pamelasproducts.com

Serve with: Echo Falls smoked salmon (the package does not say GF, but I verified it with the manufacturer) Veggies like tomato, red onion, spouts, cucumber. Cream cheese/ Neufchatel: Nancy’s and Organic Valley. You can add honey, roasted red peppers, herbs an s spices top make different varieties of spreads.

Paia in the Huffington Post

"Mana Foods for everything from avocados as big as grapefruits to half a dozen types of exotic organic mushrooms." Mana Foods and their produce department got a nice shout out in the Huffington Post travel article about the Paia Inn.

Link to article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-r-vaucher/the-paia-inn-on-mauis-nor_b_2965159.html

Natural Beauty: doTERRA essential oils

Now at Mana Foods! On Guard® Protective Essential Oil Blend from doTERRA. On Guard is formulated to support healthy immune function. Wild orange essential oil, combined with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary offer a fragrant, natural and effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support. For aromatic, topical, or dietary use.

Mahalo Mana Foods ohana!

Thank you! During the month of March, you raised $344.80 for Kula School by donating your bag credit at the register.

Earth Action: bring your own produce bag

On average a plastic bag is used for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades (500-1,000 years).

Earth Action: bring a refillable coffee mug

Bring a refillable coffee mug. Typical paper coffee cups aren’t made from recycled paper. Instead, most cups are manufactured using 100% bleached virgin paperboard. According to the paper industry, Americans will consume an estimated 23 billion paper coffee cups in 2010. That's a lot of trees! If you want to learn more, check out www.sustainabilityissexy.com

Happy Earth Day!

Make every day Earth Day!
Love, Mana Foods

Earth Action: use reef safe sunscreen

Did you know that 5,000 tons of sunscreen wash off people in oceans annually? And that up to 10 percent of the world's coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching? Italian marine biologists have linked four UV-blocking chemicals (butyl paraben, octyl methoxy cinnamate (octinoxate), benzophenone-3 and methyl benzylidene camphor) in sunscreens to coral bleaching because they cause viral infections in the symbiotic algae that live inside reef-building coral. other common sunscreen ingredients Octocrylene, octyl salicylate (octisalate) and avobenzone were shown no bleaching effect on corals.

At Mana Foods, we carry tons of reef safe suncreens that do not contain the offending ingredients. Look for brands like Maui made Native Maui and Maui Naturals, and Aqua Sport, MyChelle, SunClear, Burn Out, Goddess Garden, Aubrey Organics, Jason mineral and Badger.
Mostly, these formulas are made with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide

Today! Come to the Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival

Today, Saturday, April 20th, bring the whole family to the 20th Annual Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival. Chef Anne and the Mana Foods crew will be serving Thai Beef Salad with sticky rice and Thai Tofu Satay with peanut sauce and brown rice. For information about the Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival, check out their website www.haikuhoolaulea.org

Earth Action: bring a reusable water bottle

Bring a reusable water bottle! Americans use four million plastic bottles every hour, yet only one out of four is recycled. Millions of gallons of fuel are wasted daily transporting filtered tap water across America and around the world. It requires 3 times as much water to make the bottle as it does to fill it.

Mana Foods to vend at the Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival

On Saturday, April 20th, at the 20th Annual Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival, Chef Anne and the Mana Foods crew will be serving Thai Beef Salad with sticky rice and Thai Tofu Satay with peanut sauce and brown rice. For information about the Haiku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival, check out their website www.haikuhoolaulea.org

Donate your bag credit to benefit Haiku School

For the month of April, Mana Foods will donate your bag credit to the Haiku School. It's really easy, whenever you bring your own bag to use at Mana Foods, you receive a bag credit of $.05. You can donate this or take it off your bill.

What the heck is a locavore?

The word "locavore" was the word of the year for 2007 in the Oxford American Dictionary. This word was the creation of Jessica Prentice of the San Francisco Bay Area at the time of World Environment Day, 2005. Those who are interested in eating food that is locally produced, not moved long distances to market, are called "locavores." Some people consider food grown within a 100-mile radius of their location local, while others have other definitions.

 This concept is especially important to the Hawaiian islands. On the mainland, food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to market. This figure is far higher, considering the distance between Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii is 2551 miles. As of this writing Mana Foods has an average of 50% locally grown produce and over 400 local vendors

Earth Action: Bring a reuseable shopping bag.

Bring a reuseable shopping bag. On average a plastic bag is used for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades (500-1,000 years).

Paia has been plastic bag free since 2007, Maui County passed an ordinance in August of 2008, and the law took effect January 11, 2011.

Why eat locally?

“If every U. S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by 1.1 million barrels of oil every week.” Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Natural Beauty: doTERRA essential oils

Now at Mana Foods! Breathe Respiratory Blend from doTERRA.  Breathe is a remarkable blend of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils which combine to help you breathe easier. A proprietary blend including laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon and ravensara cleanses and soothes the airways, and can easily be applied topically to the chest, back, or bottom of feet. Its pleasant aroma is calming to the senses and perfect for night time diffusion allowing for restful sleep. For aromatic or topical use.

Did you know?

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a TV for three hours - it's equivalent to half a gallon of gasoline. More than 20,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That's closed loop recycling at its finest! Because so many of them are recycled, aluminum cans account for less than 1% of the total U.S. waste stream, according to EPA estimates. An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now! There is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can be recycled. We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year.

Natural Beauty: doTERRA essential oils

Now at Mana Foods! dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade
essential oils are 100% pure natural aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants. They do not contain fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualities. Proper extraction and quality control methods also ensure that dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are free of any contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues

Did you know?

By 1990, Earth Day was celebrated across the globe by 10 times as many people — 200 million.

100% Pure Honey & Coconut haircare

It's back after a long hiatus  Honey and Virgin Coconut Restorative Shampoo! Hydrating coconut deeply moisturizes while gently cleansing. Restorative shampoo formula intensely nourishes for stronger, healthier, glossier locks. Restorative conditioner deeply moisturizes, repairs, softens and detangles dry, damaged hair. Gentle enough for color treated and all hair types. All natural formula does not contain synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, chemical preservatives, sulfates, detergents or any other harsh ingredients.

Moringa Leaf from Maui Medicinal Herbs

Moringa is a natural superfood. High in Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and minerals.

Pamela's gluten free tasting!

Join us on Tuesday, April 9th at Mana Foods, 49 Baldwin Avenue, Paia.

From 11am - 2pm, we will be sampling some delicious gluten free foods at the Bamboo demo bar inside Mana Foods.
From 12- 1pm, founder and CEO of Pamela's Products, Pamela Giusto-Sorrells will be at Mana Foods. Come by and say hi!

 About Pamela’s Products A third-generation baker who is committed to making delicious foods for gluten-free dieters and more, Pamela’s Products Founder, Pamela Giusto-Sorrells, has been baking gluten-free foods since 1988. To this day, she personally develops each of the products that bear her name, often basing them on customers’ desires and needs. Celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary, Giusto-Sorrells has created some of the best-selling gluten-free products on the market including her iconic, top-selling Baking Mixes, Cookies, Biscotti and Snack Bars. Pamela’s Products can be found in natural food and grocery stores throughout North America, as well as online. For additional information about Pamela’s Products, including recipes, baking and allergy information, visit PamelasProducts.com

Suntegrity Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum Spf 30

Suntegrity’s SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen for the body offers broad-spectrum protection and is free of harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic dyes, sulfates, nanoparticles and chemical UV absorbers.
It's non-greasy and contains 20% non-nano, uncoated zinc-oxide for therapeutic broad-spectrum protection against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. This sunscreen formula is easy to apply, loaded with antioxidants for healthy protection all year round and has a light uplifting citrus scent. TSA Friendly. Made in the USA.
• UV Chemical-Free Sunscreen
• Broad Spectrum Protection
• Paraben, Phthalate and Mineral Oil Free
• Cruelty Free and Vegan
• Non Greasy for Smooth Application
• Contains Organic Ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Cucumber Extract, and Pomegranate Seed Oil for added protection.

Sunfood: Marine phytoplankton

Now at Mana Foods! Live superfood offering energy, essential vitamins and minerals This unique super-nutrient from the ocean provides the body with naturally produced vitamins & minerals. Through extensive research, only four species of Marine Phytoplankton were found to be beneficial for human consumption. Based on nutritional profiles, one species was super beneficial and was chosen for production: the Nannochloropsis gaditana strain.

The Sunfood Difference Sunfood Marine Phytoplankton is carefully grown inside a highly-regulated, simulated oceanic environment. This is to ensure the purity of the phytoplankton and prevent contamination from chemicals and contaminants such as heavy metals, bacteria, solvents, nuclear fallout, and other toxins, which are, unfortunately, increasingly found in our oceans. To create the unique liquid nutrient combination, the live marine phytoplankton bio-mass is transferred from a centrifuge and immediately blended into an ocean derived concentrated ionic trace mineral solution. This concentrated solution is highly beneficial to human health as it contains more than 90 ionic and trace minerals and is produced using a natural evaporation process employing the sun and the wind, which eliminates 93% of sodium.

Did you know?

Earth Day first began on April 22, 1970, when 20 million people across the United States participated in rallies celebrating nature and decrying activities that put it at risk.

Gluten Freedom: Meet Pamela Giusto-Sorrells

Join us on Tuesday, April 9th at Mana Foods, 49 Baldwin Avenue, Paia.

     From 11am - 2pm, we will be sampling some delicious gluten free foods at the Bamboo demo bar inside Mana Foods.
     From 12- 1pm, founder and CEO of Pamela's Products, Pamela Giusto-Sorrells will be at Mana Foods. Come by and say hi!

 About Pamela’s Products A third-generation baker who is committed to making delicious foods for gluten-free dieters and more, Pamela’s Products Founder, Pamela Giusto-Sorrells, has been baking gluten-free foods since 1988. To this day, she personally develops each of the products that bear her name, often basing them on customers’ desires and needs. Celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary, Giusto-Sorrells has created some of the best-selling gluten-free products on the market including her iconic, top-selling Baking Mixes, Cookies, Biscotti and Snack Bars. Pamela’s Products can be found in natural food and grocery stores throughout North America, as well as online. For additional information about Pamela’s Products, including recipes, baking and allergy information, visit PamelasProducts.com

Gluten Freedom: Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake 1 C Pamela's Artisan Flour Blend,    3/4 C powdered sugar,     1 tsp salt,  1-3/4 cup fresh egg whites- room temp. (approximately 18 large eggs),     1/4 C warm water,   1-1/2 tsp cream of Tartar,     1 tsp vanilla,      1/4 tsp. orange essence or extract,   3/4 C + 2 Tbsp sugar.

Preheat oven to 350°.Sift together powdered sugar, flour and salt. Do this 4 or 5 times. (This is an important step.) In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment beat: egg whites, warm water, cream of Tartar, vanilla & orange essence on med/high, while gradually adding the granulated sugar in 3 or 4 batches. Soft peaks will form. This takes 2 or 3 minutes. Turn to high and beat until stiff and glossy another 2 minutes, 5 minutes total. Transfer to a large wide bowl. In 4 batches, add flour mixture, folding in gently with a rubber spatula. Be gentle & quick, as not to deflate the meringue. Put in a 10” un-greased tube pan. Run knife around batter to remove any air bubbles. Smooth top w/ spatula & put in center of pre-heated oven. The pan will be very full. Bake 45 to 55 minutes in the middle of oven, until golden brown. Cake should spring back when touched & not be sticky. Invert on a bottle to cool at least one hour. Using a long knife, cut around sides & center post of cake to loosen cake from pan. Turn upside down & remove cake from pan. Using a knife, run it around the bottom of the pan to loosen cake. Then turn upside down & remove cake. Let finish cooling on a rack in the open air. This will help to dry out the sides. Recipe courtesy of www.pamelasproducts.com

Gluten Freedom: Apple Filled Chicken Breast

Apple Filled Chicken Breast:  4 slices Udi’s Gluten Free bread,    1/2 tsp salt,       1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes,    1/2 tsp ground black pepper,     1/2 tsp garlic powder,      1/4 tsp onion powder,    1/4 tsp dried oregano,      1/4 tsp dried basil,      2 skinless, boneless chicken breast,   2 slices provolone cheese, halved,    1 Apple – peeled, cored, thinly sliced,    1 shallot, sliced,    1 C GF mayonnaise,      3 egg yolks,       1/3 C sugar,    1/4 C white wine,  1/2 tsp vanilla extract,      1/4 C finely chopped pecans.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking pan. Toast the 4 slices of Udi’s Gluten Free bread and cut off the crust. Crush toasted bread by placing it in a sealed plastic bag and rolling a glass or rolling pin over the bread to create crumbs. Add salt, parsley flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and basil. Shake well to mix. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a large pocket in each chicken breast. Cutting close to the smooth side of the breast ensures no holes in the chicken. Place 1 half-slice of provolone inside each chicken, followed by half of the apple slices, and a small amount of shallot. Top with the remaining half slice of provolone. Pull the chicken back together. Coat with a small amount of mayonnaise and then coat with the Udi’s Gluten Free breadcrumbs. Place stuffed breasts on baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until no longer pink, and juices run clear. While the chicken bakes, you may start your sauce. In a double boiler over lightly simmering water, combine the egg yolks and sugar. Beat until the yolk lightens and froth forms. Slowly add the wine, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla. The sauce looks nice served under the chicken with a small amount drizzled over it. Recipe courtesy of www.udisglutenfree.com