Athlete's Corner by Marie DeJournette

Back in the Saddle


Today I am officially done with my injury. I’m so over it. I’m still hyper aware of my ribs and they didn’t like surfing but they held up during yoga class last night so I figure I’m good to go. As I begin my training for a half Ironman in June I try to focus on proper nutrition that will keep my muscles strong for the duration. I’m so lucky to have Mana Foods at my fingertips. Here is a sample day of my training meals. Everything on the list can be found in Mana’s aisles.

Breakfast – Acai bowl

Sambazon acai packet (freezer), sliced banana (produce), salted cashews (bulk), Mana’s Grand Granola (bulk), coconut flakes (bulk)

Lunch – Salad with tuna

Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, celery, carrot, beet, jicama, radish, red onion (all from produce), with Season brand albacore tuna thrown on top. This tuna is super convenient, comes in a pouch drained and ready to eat. It’s great for backpacking too.

Dinner – Gnocchi and veggies

Rising Moon Garlic and Basil Gnocchi (freezer) cooks up in 5 minutes. Roasted Brussels sprouts. I cut them in half, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt and roast in my toaster oven until slightly browned.

For snacks during the day I’ll munch on carrot and celery sticks, olives, almonds or an apple. Occasionally I can’t resist one of the delicious cookies from Mana’s bakery but I try to steer clear of sugar as much as possible. I try to drink two liters of water during my work day. As my event gets closer and I ramp up training I will be eating MUCH larger meals with more protein powders and bars added in but that's for another post.

Happy New Year, and happy training to all you athletes out there, whether serious or just weekend warriors. It’s great to get outside and get moving on a comfortably full and happy belly!

New Year's Hours

We will be open regular hours on New Year's Eve (8am - 8:30pm).
Our hours will be shorter on New Year's Day (10am - 6pm)

Did you know?

Cherimoya's name originates from the Quechua word chirimuya, which means "cold seeds," because the plant grows at high altitudes and the seeds will germinate at higher altitudes.

Cherimoya!

We have an abundant local source of cherimoya. Come and get them while they are plentiful!

Merry Christmas!

Mana Foods is closed today, Christmas Day, Tuesday, 12/25. We hope you are having a wonderful celebration with your ohana.

Last minute gifts & feast items

Mana Foods will be open normal hours today, 12/24, from 8am - 8:30. We will be closed on Christmas Day, Tuesday, 12/25.

Visit Paia for Paia Gives

Discover the magic of Paia on this Saturday, Dec 22nd. during the 7th annual Paia Gives. Mana Foods will have a Food Drive for the Maui Food bank, where you can donate non perishable food items. The most needed items are: Canned meats & Tuna, Cereals, Canned Soups, Meals with Protein, Canned Fruits, Rice, Canned Vegetables.

For the entire month of December, Mana Foods is collecting bag credit donations for the Maui Foods Bank. When you check out at the register, instead of taking your $.05 reward for bringing your own shipping bag, you can choose to donate it to the Maui Food Bank. You can also donate $1.00 to the Maui Foods Bank at the register.

Happy Solstice

Today is the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. Yes, even in Hawaii!

Local Gifting: Blue Bottle Love

These cool reusable blue glass water bottles from Blue Bottle Love are hand etched on Maui with positive, inspiring messages.

Holiday Hours

Mana Foods will be open normal hours from 8am - 8:30 on Christmas Eve, Monday, 12/24. We will be closed on Christmas Day, Tuesday, 12/25.

Local Gifting: Malie Kai chocolates

Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao can grow. At the Waialua, Oahu plantation where Malie Kai gets their cacao, only about 18,000 lbs of cacao are produced each year. This makes their single-estate chocolate one of the rarest in the world!

Local Gifting: Filthy Farmgirl soaps

These playfully naughty soaps are handmade with attitude on the Big Island. 100% natural, No Yucky Stuff! They make great stocking stuffers.

Gift Sets at Mana Foods

We have lots of gift sets available in the Vitamin room, including these lovely sets from Pacifica and Burt's Bees.

Local Giftfing: Island Essence

Island Essence products are made on the beautiful island of Maui. These pure and natural body care and hair care products are free of animal ingredients and are not tested on animals.

Local Gifting: Coffee

Another great gift idea, 100% Maui grown and roasted coffee with a reusable travel mug

Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients: 4 crisp apples, 3/4 C water, 1/4 C sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Turn on burner to medium heat. In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork.

Mahalo Mana Foods customers!

During the month of November, you raised $406.90 for Roots by donating your bag credit at the register. ROOTS is a community-based alternative to conventional education for students from kindergarten to eighth grade.

For the month of December, Mana Foods will donate your bag credit to the Maui Foods Bank. 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.

Benched!

About 8 weeks ago I rode my mountain bike off a short bridge in an obstacle course. OUCH! I ended up with four broken ribs and a torn shoulder ligament. Unfortunately there is not much you can do for broken ribs but wait, rest, hold as still as possible and try not to sneeze. But I did find some things to help with the healing and inflammation; all of them found at Mana Foods.


Curamin: Great for reducing inflammation. I take this even when I’m not injured because it reduces soreness after tough workouts.

Doctor’s Best Proteolytic Enzymes: good for inflammation, sports injuries and trauma.

Comfrey: Comfrey contains allantoin, a chemical that helps encourage the growth of muscle, cartilage and bone. (I got the root form in the vitamin room and made a poultice and applied it to my ribs; it's not meant for internal use.)


I've just gotten the OK to slowly start training again thanks to a little help from some great products. Thank goodness because I've been going crazy sitting still.
Marie at Mana, signing off.

Holiday in Paradise

Paia Celebrates Small Business Saturday! On Saturday, November 24, 2012 from 12-7 pm, Paia is celebrating Small Business Saturday, providing you the opportunity to support your local businesses and have some fun too! Some Paia stores are offering super specials and deals, entertainment, music and more. This is the anti-Black Friday, extending to you an invitation to shop in a relaxed, entertaining environment while scoring some great deals! A Holiday in Paradise never looked so good.

Shop local!

If the people of an average American city were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the community’s economy.
(Click to enlarge)

Source: eLocal.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~Thornton Wilder

Did you know?

The cranberry was originally called crane berry. It derived its name from its pink blossoms and drooping head, which reminded the Pilgrims of a crane.

Did you know?

Now a Thanksgiving dinner staple, cranberries were actually used by Native Americans to treat arrow wounds and to dye clothes

Horn of plenty

The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat's horn filled to brim with fruits and grains. Nowadays, the horn shaped cornucopia is usually made of wicker and is filled with abundance of the Earth's harvest. It is also known as the 'horn of plenty’.

Did you know?

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.

Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

1 C sugar,   1 C water,   4 C fresh cranberries,   Zest of one orange. 
  In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries pop. Add orange zest and remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

The Mother of Thanksgiving

Considered the "Mother of Thanksgiving," Sara Hale (1788-1879) was an influential editor and writer who urged President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of thanksgiving.  She selected the last Thursday in November because, as she said, harvests were done, elections were over, and summer travelers were home. 

Gluten Freedom: Rosemary Yams

3lbs yams, cut into ½ inch rounds,   1/4 C olive oil,   1 Tbs fresh rosemary, minced,   3 cloves garlic, minced,   ¼ tsp. cayenne powder (optional),  salt and  pepper to taste.
 Preheat oven to 450. In a large bowl, toss potatoes, olive oil, fresh rosemary, garlic, optional cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Spread potatoes in a single layer onto a lightly oiled baking sheet. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until tender and crusty, stirring once or twice.

$428.85 to Makawao School

Mahalo Mana Foods customers! During the month of October, you donated $428.85 to Makawao School. Every month. Mana Foods offers a 5 cent bag credit every time you bring your own bag for groceries.

Gluten Freedom: Green Bean Cassarole

Filling: 1 12oz box Pacific Foods Organic condensed cream of mushroom soup, 4 C cooked green beans, 1/8 tsp black pepper, 1/2 C milk Topping: 1 1/3 C Erewhon or other unsweetened corn flakes, 3 Tbsp Butter, 1 tsp Spice Garden Granular Onion (or other GF onion powder/salt) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, measure out the cork flakes. Over low heat, melt butter and granular onion. Remove from heat, once cooled, pour butter over the corn flakes & toss. In a 1 ½ quart casserole dish, whisk soup, milk and pepper. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup of the cork flake mix. Bake for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Top with the remaining 2/3 cup fried onions and bake about 5 more minutes, until cork flake mix is toasty and lightly browned. Serves 6.

Gluten Freedom: Garlic Onion breadsticks

1 box of Chebe Gluten free Garlic Onion Breadstick mix,   2 Tbsp. Olive Oil,   1 C shredded cheese,   2 large eggs,   ¼ C milk.
 Preheat oven to 375° F.  Blend dry mix with 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 C shredded cheese* (optional; sharp or hard cheeses work best) and 2 large eggs.  Slowly blend in exactly 1/4 cup milk.  Knead dough with hands until it is smooth.  Divide dough into 12 equal pieces, rolling each into 7" sticks.  Place 1-2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet (line with parchment if available).  Bake 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm and enjoy.

Tonight! Keiki trick or treating!

On Wednesday, October 31st, HALLOWEEN, Bring your keiki to Paia from 4-7pm on -for trick-or-treating at your favorite stores!

Getting ready for Halloween!

Halloween 2011

Scaring up some Halloween fun at Mana Foods

Don't be afraid to ask the Mana staff for help!

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2010

Mana peeps rockin' it for Halloween

Halloween 2009

Halloween Keiki Trick or Treat!

On Wednesday, October 31st, HALLOWEEN, Bring your keiki to Paia from 4-7pm on -for trick-or-treating at your favorite stores!

Think Local: Sol Flower Botanicals

Sol Flower Botanicals is a Maui based botanical company inspired by the bounty of nature. They gather natural ingredients from high quality sources and are committed to upholding natural and organic standards. Their patron saint is Laka, the Hawaiian goddess of the forest, herbs, sunshine, nature, hula and celebration.

Wall of Chocolate: Jo's candies

This company was started by Gandma Jo in 1946. My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Grahams, but the S'mores, available in both Milk and Dark chocolate, are lovey too. I like that they are individually packaged, so that I am not tempted to eat more than one at a time!

Think Local: Maui Bee Well

Maui Bee Well medicinals are all hand made on Maui using only 100% organic herbs & oils. The Bee products are from Kula Maui and are purchased from the beekeepers directly. These products are made with the purest bees wax and the most delicious honey that is 100% raw!

Wall of Chocolate:Antidote Chocolate

Wild flavors like Mango + Juniper in a 84% cacao chocolate or the Banana + Cayenne in a 77% cacao chocolate aren't all that make this delightful company unique. Anitdote is sustainably made bean to bar in Ecuador with a 50/50 blend or raw and roasted cacao beans.  Try one today!

Maui: Da Local Banana

Available at Mana Foods: local frozen bananas, dipped in handmade dairy free chocolate and put into biodegradable packaging.

Pumpkin facts

Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini.

Pumpkin lore

Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

Green Garbanzo Appetizer

1 bag Cadia frozen green garbanzo beans,  1/2 C tahini,  1/4 C lemon juice,  1/4 C olive oil,  1 clove garlic.
Thaw green garbanzos for 2 hours. In a food processor, combine tahini, lemon juice and olive oil with a clove of minced garlic. Add garbanzo beans and pulse until smooth. Add water as needed to thin.

Did you know?

The flower for the month of October is the calendula.

Help Makawao School

Mana Foods offers a 5 cent bag credit every time you bring your own bag for groceries. For the month of October, Mana Foods is donating your bag credit to Makawao School.

Vog Remedies

The worst of the vog is over for this week, but if you are still being affected or want more tools to support your wellness for the next time the vog rolls in, here are some ideas. Maui Homeopathy's VOG OFF! is a spray homeopathic vog remedy. Vog Buster tea from Maui's own Healing Dragons offers clearing and soothing Hawaiian comfort.

Did you know?

Pumpkins were a staple in Native American diets and they used the pumpkins and seeds for both food and medicinal purposes.

Local Delicata Squash

I am so excited that Maui grown delicata squash is now available! Delicata squash is my favorite winter squash and one of the reasons is the skin is edible, so you don't have to peel it. I am love the portions, as they are perfect for 1 or 2 people. Check out this delicious Kale and Sausage Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe from Mountain Mama Cooks

Gluten Freedom: Roasted pumpkin

For a quick and easy side dish, roast peeled, cubed pumpkin with green beans, shallots, sage and olive oil.

Mahalo Mana Foods customers!

You raised $498.15 for Hospice Maui by donating your bag credit at the register.
For the month of September, Mana Foods donated your bag credit to Hospice Maui. For over 30 years, Hospice Maui has provided quality, comfort and care to terminally ill patients and their families on Maui

Celiac Awareness Month

October is Celiac awareness month. Mana Foods has an archive of Gluten Free recipes on our website here and tons of Gluten Free products in the store.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month

Did you know?

The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum "seeded".

Today! Meet author Denise La Barre

Today, Saturday, September 29th, from 3-5pm, Denise La Barre will be signing copies of her book "Issues in Your Tissues: Heal Body and Emotion from the Inside Out" at Mana Foods, 49 Baldwin Avenue, Paia.

Please visit her website to learn more about herself and the book,  www.healingcatalyst.com