I doesn’t matter if I’m carting around a major haul to stock the fridge, or just lightly perusing the aisles looking for something to strike my fancy. I genuinely enjoy the sights, sounds, feel, and smells of shopping for food.
Needless to say, I was pretty excited to attend the Sprouts Farmers Market plant-based eating tour at their new Morningside location as a member of the Atlanta Food Bloggers Society. As if venturing to a new market wasn’t exciting enough, I was looking forward to learning some new dietary tips from a purely plant-based perspective.
Marisa Moore, an Atlanta-based dietitian who focuses on plant-based nutrition, was our guide through the market. She shared her dietary insights with us as we moved through each section of the store.
Plants aren’t the first thing that come to mind when you first mention the word the Paleo. Many people perceive the diet as little more than a meat fest. In actuality, staying true to Paleo form means eating a lot more plants than anything else. As others have elegantly stated, the diet involves “eating more vegetables than a vegetarian.”
It was my first time ever in a Sprouts; I really enjoyed my experience. No matter what your diet, here are 7 reasons I discovered why you should shop at Sprouts.
1. Sprouted Grains
Sprouting grains before consuming them makes them easier to digest and increases their nutritional value, especially when it comes to protein. While I prefer to get my protein mainly from animal sources, I appreciate the value that sprouted grains can add to someone’s diet. Sprout’s had an entire section devoted to them.
2. Prepared Foods
Sprout’s had a nice sized deli and prepared food section which included a lot of grab-and-go vegan and vegetarian options. I also noticed some pretty clean rotisserie chickens for $6.99.
3. Good Produce at Good Prices
While I wasn’t completely blown away by the produce section, it was well-stocked with a large selection of organics. It also included some harder to find items like sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) and daikon root. I was happy to learn that Sprouts partners with local farmers for seasonal produce, and they are working to expand their program further in the Southeast.
4. Fermented Probiotics
No matter what your diet, fermented probiotics pay a vital role in gut health by helping to balance bacteria in your digestive system. Sprouts had a wide range of various fermentables, from sauerkraut to kimchi to kombucha.
5. Bulk Items
The store had an awesome selection of bulk items. Nuts, beans, lentils, they seemed to sell everything in bulk–including spices. You can literally purchase just a teaspoon of a spice instead of an entire bottle that you’ll never use again.
6. Coffee
Coffee comes from a plant, right? I was mesmerized with the selection of coffee beans, which included a lot of organic blends. I tried not to spend too much time in this aisle for fear of never returning.
7. Supplements
Our last stop was Sprouts’ expansive supplement section. Marisa explained the importance of supplements when following a strictly plant-based. The store had a good selection with reasonable prices on essentials like B12 and omega-3’s. I picked up a bottle of Coconut MCT oil.
To find the Sprouts Farmers Market nearest you, go to sprouts.com. For more information on plant-based living (as well as some great recipes), be sure to check out Marisa Moore’s blog at marisamoore.com.
*I received a Sprouts gift card in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
