AUSTIN, TX (September 11, 2008) — From weeknight dinners to entertaining at home, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI), the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, serves up tips and recommendations on how to get the most quality, flavor and value from its meat department.
“Shopping for value meat cuts, buying family packs and consulting Whole Foods Market’s in-house butchers are easy, wallet-smart strategies to keep meat on the menu, despite the nation’s rising food costs,” says Theo Weening, global meat coordinator for Whole Foods Market.
“There is no reason to give up meat or skimp on quality,” Weening says. “Talk to our butchers who will share their recommendations on full-flavored affordable cuts that also meet our stringent quality standards which guarantee the best tasting meat from animals that were raised on a vegetarian diet and given no antibiotics or added hormones.”
A recent Whole Foods Market survey* found that nearly 80 percent of Americans don’t want to trade quality for price and that many adults are now preparing more meals at home (43 percent) or going out of their way to look for lower-cost items (37 percent) as a result of higher food costs.
Weening, called “The Meat Guy” at Whole Foods Market, provides fresh ideas perfectly suited for shoppers “eating in” with a new online informational video. He encourages shoppers to try value cuts that are affordable and full of flavor such as
flap steak, chuck roast
and
whole chickens
– all options for creating delicious meals on a budget without sacrificing quality.
Discover Value Cuts of Meat
Flap Steak
Flap steak is similar to skirt, hangar or flank cuts in that it is a versatile value cut that lends itself to marinades, grilling and other easy cooking methods. Great for fajitas and steak tacos or simply marinated and grilled, flap steak also presents well at special dinners for friends or family when using Whole Foods Market recipes (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) such as Wine Poached Flank Steak with Haricots Verts, Swiss Chard-Stuffed Flank Steak, and Korean-Style Grilled Steak.
Chuck
Chuck roast usually arrives at the dinner table with carrots and potatoes as a comforting pot roast. However, Whole Foods Market’s chuck roast is extremely versatile and makes a great budget choice for kabobs, stews, chili and soups such as Beer-Braised Beef Stew with Brussels Sprouts, Barley Soup with Beef and Mushrooms and, for special occasions, try Asado Negro, Venezuelan Roast Beef. After an overnight marinade and slow roasting, this traditional dish is extra tender with ample amounts of tangy caramel-wine sauce served with rice or fried plantains.
Chicken
Buying a whole chicken can save money while providing hearty main dishes for a crowd or ensuring leftovers for a second meal. And just because you purchase a chicken whole doesn’t mean you have to prepare it that way. Whole chickens are easily cut up into several parts for a variety of dollar-stretching meal solutions. Just ask your Whole Foods Market butcher to cut up your whole chicken any way you like at no additional charge. Perfect recipes to maximize flavor and savings include Grilled Tuscan Style Chicken Under a Brick, Sesame Chicken, Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings, and Chili-Lime Grilled Chicken.
Buy More for Less
Another great way to save on your food budget and still enjoy protein-packed entrees is to buy family value packs. Purchasing larger-packaged quantities results in lower prices for poultry, beef and pork.
“The value packs are a great deal,” said Russell Stockstill, a Whole Foods Market butcher in Austin, Texas, who also teaches culinary classes on shopping on a budget. “Buy extra to cook more now and have enough protein for several meals or freeze what you don’t want to cook immediately. Then, you have meat on hand and ready to cook without making an extra shopping trip.”
Talk to the Butchers
One of the best strategies to get the best value for your money is to talk to Whole Foods Market butchers. Reminiscent of old-fashioned butcher shops, Whole Foods Market’s knowledgeable and experienced meat teams are ready to assist customers on a one-on-one basis.
“We are excited to satisfy and delight shoppers with menu ideas, cooking instructions and recommendations. Our professional butchers love a challenge and can help shoppers find the right meat and poultry options at the right price,” added Weening.
For more ideas on shopping on a budget, Whole Foods Market has plenty of resources including: · “The Whole Deal™” value guide, which promotes low-priced items, money-saving coupons and tips, and recipes that are pocketbook friendly and are available in every Whole Foods Market store.
· Value tours: In-store “Value Gurus” lead value tours to show customers how to find the best deals and enjoy savings · Promotional deals on value packs and weekly sales · “The Whole Deal” online message board with shopper tips and advice on stretching your food dollar found at: https://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/wholedeal.
# # # * The Food and the Economy survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whole Foods Market, Inc. between August 6 and August 8, 2008 among 2,209 adults ages 18+. Data were weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population.
