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!

Perks For Life also has a whole wall of bulk herbs and spices. You can fill a bag with as little or as much of each as you need.

And, if you're hungry for a different food for lunch, Perks For Life has fresh salads, veggie sandwiches and hummus sandwiches (made with whole wheat bread, black olive hummus, baby spinach, cukes, tomatoes and broccoli raba sprouts).

So, what's all the fuss about the life-style of eating more natural foods? Many people report that eating healthier foods makes them feel better and less tired. One Perks For Life customer, Barbara Johnson of West Cape May, told The Bright Side, "I feel really good. I have a lot of energy. I love this place! It's such a great store!"

Now it's your turn to have fun browsing Perks For Life Natural Whole Foods Market! And, a great time to do that is Saturday, June 3rd from 10:00am to 7:00pm during their official grand opening celebration.

Perks For Life is located at 2038 Route 9 in Clermont, just north of the junction of Routes 9 and 83 (next to Flyertown Train Museum and Operating Toy Railroad). Phone 609-624-3301. It's time to make that life-style change. Debi Perks is extremely knowledgeable, and will gladly help you navigate through the tasty world of natural whole foods!