Dietitian Recommends Healthy Foods Made In Michigan

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There's a new movement to encourage Michiganders to eat healthy and keep more money in "The Mitten," especially when it comes to grocery dollars.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture estimated if every family spent just $10 a week on locally grown fruits and vegetables, it would add $37 million to the state economy.

Registered dietitian Gail Posner of Health Ways Nutrition Counseling in West Bloomfield, Mich., said it's simple to work more "Michigan" into healthy meals.

Posner recommended beans and soymilk from Eden Foods.

"Most of their products and ingredients are organic," said Posner. "They're in Clinton, Michigan. They have 120 employees, and support over 300 Michigan farmers."

There's an added plus for parents concerned about the controversial chemical BPA.

"Their canning method doesn't let the BPA leach into the beans, so this is very exciting," said Posner.

Posner said many people don't realize beans are an inexpensive source of protein.

"We want to include beans in our diet three times a week. So we can eat the canned beans, mix 'em up with salsa, you could mash them up and make them into a hummus, or throw them in a chili," said Posner.

For a healthy snack, Posner suggested fresh salsa, guacamole, hummus, and chips from Garden Fresh Gourmet.

"What wonderful salsa! If you haven't tried them yet, you have to try them," said Posner. "This particular company employs 300 people in our Detroit area."

For a new take on sandwiches or pizza, Posner likes Flatout Bread made in Saline.

"Their products are 100 calories or less, and it's a piece of bread made from whole grains with significant fiber, 5 to 8 grams per serving," said Posner. "They even have a line designed for kids, the Mini Flatout Bread."

To wash it all down, Posner loved the taste of Bareman's Milk from Holland, Mich.

"This company has been around for 100 years. They employ 300 people, and their milk tastes different," said Posner. "When you separate the cream, the fat, from the regular milk, many companies use a heat process. This company does not and once you taste it, you'll know the difference."

Bareman's Milk is family-owned, and 95 percent of the milk comes from Michigan's farms.

And don't forget cherries!

"Cherries are a American super-fruit. Ninety-five percent of them come from the U.S., and in Michigan, we're more than 70 percent of the cherry industry," said Posner.

Tart cherry products in particular pack a real health punch. Posner said there are many ways to work them into your diet, including tart cherry juice, cherry wine, dried cherries, frozen cherries, and cherry nutrition bars.

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