New Smoothies Have Arrived!

Welcome to the newest members of the Co+op smoothie family! Both of these yummy treats are on sale for $1 off through April 11, so stop by any of our locations and meet the newest additions!

Blueberry Dreams ... forever!

This refreshing smoothie is full of healthful antioxidants (blueberries), the good kind of fat (avocado), and potassium (bananas). But, that is all just a bonus, because it is absolutely dreamy.

almond milk, apple juice, blueberry, banana, avocado

Golden Oasis!

Quench your thirst with an escape to a Golden Oasis of tempting flavors with the promise of brilliant sunshine and refreshment. Made with our super-popular golden milk spice blend that is chock full of spices with anti-inflammatory and immune-system boosting properties.

hemp milk, coconut milk, banana, dates, spinach, golden milk spice blend

Co-op Bakery Cafe: Beyond Great Food and Coffee

by Tasha Kerr, Retail Bakery Café manager

Baristas (from left) Tasha Kerr, Ciara Sana, and Danica Paddock invite you to try a tasty treat from the Co-op Bakery when visiting our new café on Holly Street. Our organic coffee and smoothie bar features fair trade and locally sourced ingredients.

Building Community at the Co-op Bakery Cafe

For those of you that have not yet visited our Co-op Bakery Café on Holly Street, I would like to personally invite you to visit and experience our stunning recently remodeled eatery.

This beautifully efficient building is filled with light, vibrant energy, and most importantly, our high-quality baked goods and coffee. Not to mention the popular outdoor seating on our deluxe patio with an amazing view of the heart of Bellingham.

We proudly showcase our spectacular scratch bakery that produces some of the best pastries in town ...

... freshly baked scones, sweet and savory brioche, muffins, cookies, macaroons, and the list goes on.

For those of you that depend on us for plentiful gluten free and vegan goodies, we’ve got you covered.

Our extremely popular deli supplies us with fresh house-made salads and sandwiches every day. We carry a whole case of quick grab-and-go drink options like kombucha, natural energy drinks, teas, and sodas, as well as your favorite Twin Brooks organic chocolate milk. Along with energy bars, chocolate bars, savory snacks, chips, and so much more.

Let’s not forget our delicious espresso and smoothie drinks.

At our cafe you’re not just buying a tall vanilla latte, you are buying 12 ounces of a handcrafted espresso beverage made with organic beans that have been locally roasted and fairly traded. We use Fresh Breeze organic milk delivered from Lynden. And our house-made vanilla syrup is made with love. All of our syrups and specialty drinks, such as chai and ginger lemon tea, are all made in our very own kitchen.

Dairy isn’t your thing? That’s okay! We offer five dairy-free alternatives at no additional charge.

We proudly brew up your favorite local roasters ...

... Bellingham Coffee Roasters, Tony’s Coffee, and Hammerhead Coffee Roasters—every day from 7 am to 8 pm. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should try our Toddy cold brew coffee. Cold brew takes 24 hours to make and is worth every second.

While you’re here, meet our talented, experienced, and ridiculously friendly baristas. You may recognize a few of us from across the street at our Downtown store, but there are some new faces to meet. We’ve been having a good time getting to know our member-owners and customers and we look forward to seeing even more new faces.

Your Community Food Co-op is known for providing a vibrant and healthy shopping environment for our beautiful and environmentally conscious community, and our new bakery café is no exception.

In fact, we are one of the places where those important community-building conversations happen.

Not just between our customers and our friendly staff, but between our local vendors, musicians, artists, and farmers. We absolutely love our new eatery, and we know that you will too.

cafe sign caramel hazelnut latte special

Keep an eye out for seasonal specials and recommendations from our baristas. They are always brewing up something new in the espresso and smoothie bar! Or, you can create your own smoothie!

Tips from the Nutritionist–Smoothies

dear nutritionist, lisa samuel, nutrition, registered dietitian, nutrition advice

Lisa Samuel, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

Dear Nutritionist: I’d like to start incorporating smoothies into my breakfast routine, but I want to make sure I’m doing it right. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Member,

Smoothies can be a great way to add extra fruits and vegetables to your day. But, there are a few guidelines to follow. To build a smoothie that will give your brain the fuel it needs to think, and keep you full and satisfied until the next meal, it should contain four main elements, as described below, and include foods with no added sugars. You don’t want to turn your smoothie into dessert.

PROTEIN

Choose from whole food sources of protein. If you eat dairy products, milk, plain yogurt, or cottage cheese are all good sources of protein and can provide a tasty base for a smoothie. Other sources of protein are nuts or nut butters; seeds like hemp seeds, chia seeds, or pumpkin seeds; whole oats; or tofu.

FATS

Fat is satiating—it makes us feel full and satisfied. Plus, healthy sources of fats, like monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, help us better absorb all the nutrients in a smoothie. Healthy sources of fat include avocados, nuts and nut butters, and seeds. Seeds like hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds provide protein, fiber, and a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids. For a thick and creamy smoothie, add avocados.

CARBS

Carbohydrates are like gas for an engine—they give us the fuel we need to work and play. Without carbs in our morning meal, our brain doesn’t have energy to help us think, resulting in brain fog. If you use milk or yogurt as a smoothie base, both of those are also good sources of carbohydrates. Fruits and dried fruit are also healthy sources of energy and fiber. If using a milk alternative as a smoothie base (almond, hemp, rice, or coconut milk, for example), be sure to choose an unsweetened version. Add sweetness to smoothies with fruits. Bananas and dates are both naturally sweet and add thickness to a smoothie. Frozen bananas are my favorite trick for a thick and creamy smoothie!

FIBER

Fiber keeps us full longer and keeps blood sugars nice and even, so it’s an important component of a morning meal. There are many ways to add fiber to smoothies, including fruits, dry fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Aim for at least 4 grams of fiber; it’s pretty easy to do. For example, one banana, half of an avocado, or two pitted dates all have about three grams of fiber each. Adding vegetables is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition and fiber. Vegetables like spinach, kale, cauliflower, carrots, and beets can just disappear in a smoothie. Great for picky kids, too.

Keep the handy chart (below) in your kitchen to help you build the perfect smoothie. Of course, it doesn’t contain all possible smoothie combinations, but it will help you start to build your perfect smoothie!

New Smoothies Have Arrived!

Co-op Bakery Cafe: Beyond Great Food and Coffee

by Tasha Kerr, Retail Bakery Café manager

Building Community at the Co-op Bakery Cafe

Tips from the Nutritionist–Smoothies

PROTEIN

FATS

CARBS

FIBER

Local Vendor Profile: Moon Valley Organics

Local Vendor Profile: Booda Organics

Win a Burton Snowboard and Bindings

enews-sign-up-image