I love Whole Foods! Luckily in my downtown NYC neighborhood I have many options for grocery shopping but I can’t find any better looking or tasting produce than at Whole Foods – except maybe the Union Sq. Famers Market!

On a weekly basis I find myself buying similar staples for the week but I usually try to add in something I haven’t ever tried before. This week I bought Maca – in the powdered form – to add to my smoothies and oatmeal for breakfast. Maca is an Incan superfood that is known to increase stamina, boost libido and combat fatigue. There are also tons of nutrients; vitamins, minerals and amino acids packed in here too. So while I know this is something I should be having, I cannot stand the smell at all! I am going to give it another shot but this may be a wasted purchase for me…one I am disappointed in because I want those nutrients!!

The good news is, I have lots of other great things from this week’s grocery store trip that I have been loving. Some all time favorites are avocados (the good kind of fat…yes, there is a good kind!), fresh peanut butter (more good fat and my favorite snack by the spoonful), white beans, black beans, red kale and radishes (aids in digestion and keeps you hydrated), as well as my very favorite: mushrooms! Mushrooms have an enormous amount of health benefits that I could (and probably will) write an entire blog post about. Mushrooms decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. While I find myself buying and cooking with crimini the most, the mushrooms that are currently considered the “best” for your health would be shiitake and miatake because they’re considered anti-cancer agents and currently be researched for more information.

Until next week…happy shopping!