Perks for Life - Natural Whole Foods Market in Clermont, New Jersey

Admit it...you've been saying to yourself that it's time to get serious about eating more healthfully. But, you're not looking forward to making a lot of sacrifices to change your entire eating habits and life-style. Then, take the advice of Debi Perks, the owner of Perks For Life Natural Whole Foods Market, in Clermont. Debi advises replacing just one item at a time, perhaps changing from one processed food a week to a whole food. For example, she recommends switching from table salt to sea salt. You won't notice any taste difference, but sea salt is natural, and contains over 50 beneficial trace minerals!

Another of Debi's recommendations is to switch from cane sugar to one of many natural substitutes, such as Agave nectar and rice nectar. Sometimes people will use honey as a sugar substitute; I like to put it in hot tea. After trying Agave nectar, however, my honey jar sits idle! Agave nectar is produced from the trunks of agave plants grown in Mexico. It is the same consistency as honey and just as sweet, but it has half the amount of carbohydrate calories, making it less disturbing to the glycemic index (better for diabetics), and doesn't have the slightly bitter taste that is present in honey. Another alternative sweetener to sugar is rice nectar, a vegan, gluten-free product also similar to honey, but it avoids the allergen problems that can be related to bee pollen in honey. Perks For Life also sells flavored rice nectar: raspberry, blueberry and strawberry.

Perks For Life is a fun store to browse. The variety of natural products is extensive: dried fruit and nuts, dates, figs, fresh organic produce, frozen pizza made with organic vegetables, frozen apple pie containing organic apples, whole wheat pasta, juices made from fruits grown with no pesticides, organic baby foods, natural pet foods with no by-products, personal care products (soap, shampoo, deodorant), nutritional supplements, and I could just keep rambling on!

My family has accused me of being the original "cookie monster," so when my eye caught a glimpse of boxes of all natural pecan shortbread cookies, I couldn't leave the store with one!