Snacking - Ingredients Matter

When it comes to snacking, we all know that the best snacks to reach for are those that have no labels. Fresh fruit and veggies make the perfect snacks. They are nutrient dense and add fiber to our diet. In addition, they contain antioxidants that help our bodies fight free radicals which have been linked to health conditions like diabetes and cancer.

But sometimes (maybe often) we are looking for REAL snacks, the kind we crave that are crunchy, sweet, and/or salty.

However, when we crave these snacks, the choices can be a bit tricky. Here’s where shopping at Choices can be helpful. We have done the homework, read all the labels, then chosen a unique set of foods that lands on our shelves.

So what makes the snacks at Choices different?

First, we have two managers - Brian and Annie - who are in charge of making sure every food on our shelves meets our standards.

Third Party Verifications: The snack options on our shelves typically are certified organic or Non-GMO Project verified. This is true for most items you’ll find throughout the store. What does it mean when you see these certifications on product labels?

Organic: When you see the organic seal, you can be confident that toxic pesticides and herbicides have not been used in production. In order for the organic seal to appear on snacks with multiple ingredients, 95% of the ingredients must be organic. The remaining 5% must be ingredients for which an organic form is not commercially available. Also, when a product is certified organic no artificial flavors, colors or additives are allowed. By definition, all certified organic products are free from GMOs.

Non-GMO Project Verified: When you see the Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly symbol, you can be confident that the product you’re consuming is free from GMOs. The Non-GMO Project evaluates every ingredient verifying that no genetically modified seeds or other inputs are present. We believe it is your right to know what is in your food and the Non-GMO Project is one way to demonstrate transparency. It should be noted here that just because a product is labeled Non-GMO does not mean that it is organic. Every year there are more genetically engineered ingredients and products making their way into our food system, so the work that the Non-GMO Project is doing becomes more important as science evolves.

In addition, Annie and Brian seek out items that meet specific dietary needs. You will notice chips prepared using avocado oil and most recently we added a tortilla chip that is baked, not fried, and contains no oil at all. We also have a wide variety of gluten-free and grain-free options. Some of our sweet treats are lower in sugar and, again, free from artificial food colors and preservatives.

You can shop with confidence at Choices knowing that we have a set of standards that our managers stand behind and use to curate our snack selection. In addition, the smaller format of our store allows you to quickly find what you’re looking for, plus we have friendly, knowledgable people who can point you in the right direction if you have questions or need help with your search. Make Choices your destination for the highest quality snacks in town.