Articles

Local, Fresh, Organic & Natural: Four Guiding Principles for Healthy Food

At Down to Earth, our first priority is to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of our customers and our environment.

Eating Right, Your Way, Every Day

Photo: Sauteing Vegetables

March is National Nutrition Month and this year the focus is on “eating right, every day, your way.” Often, when we make a resolution to be healthier, we mostly think about eating differently. However, changing our habits is hard and avoiding the foods we like is usually a failing strategy. This year, instead of focusing on all the things you need to stop eating, try getting creative with the dishes you already love. Taking baby steps towards a health plan that acknowledges your unique lifestyle and heritage is the best way to ensure you keep eating right, your way, every day.

Lower Heart Disease Risk with Simple Changes

Photo: Fruit and Vegetables in the Shape of a Heart

Welcome to American Heart Month this February! With the holiday feasts behind us, and perhaps a resolution or two underway, now is the perfect time to focus on heart health. As the novelty of a new year fades, and the rainy season sets in, many of us need a little added encouragement to stay healthy and well. Focusing on the health of our hearts is a great way to keep our other health goals on track, since cardiovascular health is supported by so many other factors, including regular exercise and a low-fat, plant-based diet.

Want to Lose Weight this New Year? Make a Plan, Not Just a Resolution

Photo: Red Ribbon and Bow tied around a Woman's Stomach

With Christmas right around the corner and the New Year quickly approaching, it's a good time to plan ahead and start thinking about your healthy New Year's resolution. If you already know your New Year’s resolution will involve losing weight, you’re not alone. A recent study found that losing weight is the #1 New Year’s resolution in America.1

Holiday Cooking Just Got Easier

Photo: Plate with Stuffing, Salad, Squash and Cranberry Sauce

The holiday season is here! The time has come for sumptuous dinners, decadent desserts and the comfort of family to share it all with. Whether you are hosting this year or bringing a dish to a potluck, just searching out the right recipes can take up a lot of time and energy. If you are adjusting traditional dishes to fit a special diet, it can be even more of a headache.

Back to School With Healthy Eating

Photo: Kids Smiling

With summer behind us and the new school year underway, many of us return to the drudge of early morning commutes and late night study sessions. We do this because we value education, for ourselves or our children. As our days get busier, however, it’s easy to forget the value of eating healthy. This is particularly important for children. A low-fat, plant-based diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes as well as dairy products is a healthy option for growing children.

Help Prevent Cancer With a Plant-Based Diet

Photo: Fruits and Vegetables

Our understanding of cancer has evolved significantly over the past decade. Research indicates that diet and lifestyle play a much larger role in the development of cancer than previously thought. Leading health and medical experts have begun to focus more and more on prevention, with increasing focus on plant-based diets. To help prevent cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, staying physically active on a regular basis, and adopting a healthy plant-based diet.1

The Simple Tastes of Summer

Photo: Waikiki Beach

Summer is officially here, and that means one thing: vacation! Whether you’re in school, or you’ve graduated to the daily grind, summer is still synonymous with relaxing, having fun and enjoying time with family and friends. Though you might have grown up equating summer time with junk food, if you really want to stay active, have fun and feel good, don’t take a vacation from eating healthy.

Healthy, Natural Foods are Affordable

Making healthy food accessible and affordable for everyone has been a focus of Down to Earth since opening its first store at Wailuku on Maui 35 years ago. The idea was that whole, minimally processed foods often cost less than highly processed foods -- those laden with fat, sugar, additives and preservatives--because the cost to produce, package, and market them is much less.

The Greenest Act: A Plant-based Diet

Green Fruits and Vegetables in the shape of a heart

As we approach Earth Day this upcoming April 22nd, I am reminded of the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. Advocates of a plant-based diet have long been aware that what we choose to eat is one of the most significant f