Health & Nutrition
Ingredients
We go to great lengths to select the perfect ingredients for Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals. What makes the perfect ingredient?
- ORGANIC - No additives, chemicals, preservatives, GMO's or engineering - with positive impact on the environment.
- FLAVORFUL AND COLORFUL with the right crunch. How our ingredients look and feel matter to us.
- NUTRIENT DENSE - Our chefs are very picky, but our nutritionists are downright tyrants. Nothing goes in that doesn't add nutritional value.
- FLASH FROZEN to lock in these qualities through our kitchens and into your freezer. The latest flash-freezing technology allows us to deliver nutritional freshness as if it were only days out of the farmer's field.
Organic Quinoa (pronounced: ken' wä)
The "mother grain" of Incan culture, quinoa is related to amaranth - a gluten-free grain. It contributes the right balance of carbohydrates and protein, a nice crunchy bite and a great nutty flavor. One cup of quinoa has more calcium and protein than a quart of milk. Ounce for ounce, it has as much protein as meat, contains all of the essential amino acids, and has high amounts of iron and calcium.
Organic Brown Rice
In addition to being more flavorful, brown rice is much more healthy than white rice. Brown rice’s whole grain structure is an excellent source of healthy carbohydrates that our bodies need every day. Brown rice is processed less than white rice, leaving more of the natural nutritional value of rice with the grain. Brown rice has 3 times the vitamin B3, 5 times the vitamin B1 and 10 times the vitamin B6 than white rice. It has twice the manganese, phosphorous and iron of white rice. And natural brown rice retains all of its dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.
Organic Edamame
We use edamame (shelled soy beans) for its great flavor, color, texture and important soy protein. In East Asia, soy beans have been used for over 2000 years as a major source of protein. Loaded with fiber, these beans are also rich in heart healthy Omega 3 fats. Some experts call edamame a super vegetable because it is the only vegetable that contains all nine essential amino acids. This makes edamame as complete a protein source as meat or eggs.
Organic Green Beans
Green Beans are among the most popular of the green vegetables today. Known for their great taste and texture, they are also low in calories. Green Beans are an excellent source of vitamin K (1 cup=122% of Daily Value [DV]), vitamin C and manganese. They are a good source of vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, iron and folate. We select haricot vert beans for their fiber content, color and snap.
Organic Spinach
A leafy green vegetable containing lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, all antioxidants that support cardiovascular and eye health. Additionally, greens like spinach provide calcium, magnesium, folic acid and fiber.
Organic Cranberries
Cranberries are in the berry family and are particularly rich in a flavonoid antioxidant called proanthocyanidin that helps reduce free radicals in the body. Recent studies have shown that proanthocyanidin works by helping prevent bacteria from adhering to tissues inside our bodies. This antiadhesion quality helps keep bacteria from sticking inside the urinary tract in particular, and may benefit other critical body systems as well by helping to reduce infections. Cranberries are also rich in iron, fiber and potassium, and contain moderate amounts of calcium and magnesium.
Organic Snow Peas
Snow peas, like all peas, are a type of legume. Legumes are a valuable source of necessary carbohydrates and protein. They also contain high amounts of soluble fiber which can help slow the rate that glucose (blood sugar) enters your bloodstream. In addition to tasting great, snow peas are an excellent source of vitamin C and iron.
Organic Carrots
In addition to the crunchy texture and great flavor that carrots add to our meals, they are extremely rich in vitamins A and K, and high in vitamin C and dietary fiber as well. A one cup serving of carrots delivers over 600% of the DV of vitamin A and 22% of the DV for vitamin K. That same cup delivers nearly 20% of the DV for vitamin C and 15% of the DV for dietary fiber.
Organic Broccoli
Because of its exceptional nutritional value, broccoli is one of the favorite vegetables of health conscious Americans. A one cup serving of broccoli delivers over 200% of the DV for vitamin C, 45% of the DV for vitamin A and over 20% of the DV for dietary fiber. With its different parts, broccoli provides an array of tastes and textures, from soft and delicate (the floret) to firm and crunchy (the stem and stalk). Our broccoli is flash frozen within hours of being picked and maintains its nutrients and crunch until you eat it.
Organic Shiitake Mushrooms
The Shiitake mushroom is an eastern Asian mushroom known for its aromatic, fleshy, golden or dark brown cap. It is also known as the Oriental black mushroom or the Emporor's mushroom. Shiitake mushrooms have been used medicinally by the Chinese for centuries. More recently, their rich, full flavor has made them popular in America as well. Recent studies suggest that the shiitake mushroom’s health benefits can be traced to an active compound contained in them called lentinan. Lentinan is believed to work through energizing the immune system, helping the body’s natural ability to fight infection and disease.
Organic Extra-virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers believe has excellent health benefits. Just one ounce of extra virgin olive oil delivers 86% of the DV for monounsaturated fat, and 17% of the DV for vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects these healthy fats so our bodies can get the most benefit from them.
Organic Nuts
Nuts are satisfying, nutrient rich and contribute savory flavor to our meals. We add walnuts and almonds for fiber, protein and essential Omega 3 fats. Just a quarter-cup of walnuts provides over 90% of the DV for Omega 3 fats and that same quarter-cup of almonds delivers nearly 20% of the DV for dietary fiber. Scientific evidence suggests that 1 1/2 ounces of nuts each day, as part of a diet low in fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Organic Sundried Tomatoes
Tomatoes are naturally rich in lycopene, a carotenoid shown to help protect against breast, pancriatic, prostate and intestinal cancer, and to reduce the risk of heart attack. Tomatoes are a very good source of vitamins C, K and folic acid.
Additional Smart Organic Ingredients
We integrate subtle but important ingredients into our Whole Life Meals. Ingredients that are often referred to as superfoods because of their ability to multiply the nutritional value of meals. Among these ingredients included in our Whole Life Meals are:
- Ground Flax Meal is rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat and plant lignans. Lignans are fiber compounds that interfere with cancer promoting hormones. Flaxseeds are also a good source of magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber.
- Matcha Green Tea (from the plant Camellia sinensis - not herbal teas) Matcha green tea is the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green tea, ground into a fine powder. It has been part of the Zen Buddhist culture for centuries and contains thousands of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. Prominently beneficial is the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which may halt cellular damage by neutralizing free radicals. Matcha green tea also contains high amounts of theanines, a unique set of amino acids found almost exclusively in green tea. In conjunction with the tea stimulant, theophyline, the two naturally occurring ingredients are thought to work together to help provide mental clarity and energy.
- Garlic is a member of the lily or Allium family, which also includes onions. It is rich in a variety of powerful sulfur-containing compounds including thiosulfinates, sulfoxides, and dithiins. These compounds are responsible for garlic's characteristically pungent odor and are also the source of many of its health-promoting effects. Garlic is an excellent source of manganese, and a very good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
- Ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. More recent research confirms that ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant effects.
These superfoods are delicious ingredients, making Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals nutritionally dense, healthy and tasty.