Delicious, Healthy, and Helpful Foods

In my world, I can look around at any social gathering and see a variety of takes on  being a vegetarian, some specialized approaches on healthy eating, the unapologetic carnivores, two or three allergy considerations, a couple of "doctor's orders" and a smattering of lovable picky eaters.  Typically, I juggle these specs pretty well, barring anyone switching sides without notice, and I am happy to accommodate. Even so, I was thrilled to discover Organicville Foods -- condiments made from agave nectar, my go-to sweetener, and also gluten-free. The Herbes de Provence salad dressing had a well balanced flavor and made a quick warm green bean and potato salad. Next it was used to marinate chicken breast for broiling. The Sesame Teriyaki, with a generous amount of whole sesame seeds, worked well for stir fries, quick saucing and dipping. Though fairly low in sodium, I diluted it with a mix of citrus juice to bring down the sodium content for some folks. And the pineapple salsa went very fast -- first with chips, then it was tossed into a mixed grain salad -- bulgur, quinoa and black rice -- with minced red onion and jicama and cucumber. The pineapple salsa is tangy and mild, but the Organicville line has other salsas if you like more kick. The best part about opening the bottles and jars and tasting the Organicville treats is that is real food. There are plenty of good stories behind brands big and small, but the folks behind Organicville have been living the organic life for three generations and are committed to making it easier and less of a novelty for the rest of us. You can find their products in a variety of health food and organic shops, but look for Organicville Foods in Pathmark and Costco. Score! And as of this month, the salsas will be available at Whole Foods. If there is no store near you, the Organicville online store sells individual products and bulk. Everything Organicville is very summer-ready!

$3.99 and up AT ORGANICVILLE FOODS