Thoughtful Foods in Kensington, New South Wales | Organic food shop

Thoughtful Foods

Locality: Kensington, New South Wales

Address: Blockhouse 2052 Kensington, NSW, Australia

Website: http://thoughtfulfoods.org.au

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• Non-profit organisation
• Community organisation
• Organic food shop

25.01.2022 Thoughtful Foods was featured in this year's 2020 Arc Student Cookbook We are so impressed by the quality of this year's cookbook! Congratulations to everyone who was involved! Check out the online launch here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/. You can also have access to the free online cookbook here: https://bit.ly/2ZFO9Nf.

25.01.2022 : Chicory This leafy green is a very useful plant indeed. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a woody, perennial herbaceous plant with a pretty blue flower. Different varieties of chicory are grown as salad leaves (radicchio and witlof are both types of cultivated chicory), for their roots (chicory root used as a coffee substitute), or for forage for animals. Wild leaf chicory grows on roadsides in its native Europe, and in North America and Australia, where it has be...come naturalized. The leaves are usually bitter, which is prized in some cuisines, from Catalonia, Turkey and Greece. Cooking the leaves and discarding the cooking water can reduce the bitterness, after which the leaves can be sauteed with garlic. Chicory greens are a great source of dietary fibre, Vitamins C, A, and E, Vitamin B6, and micronutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and copper. Though all leaves are edible, young ones are better for consumption (and less bitter). Raw chicory greens help to promote insulin sensitivity, due to the presence of inulin, a water-soluble, indigestible type of fibre. Chicory is therefore beneficial for pre-diabetics and diabetics. Chicory can be added to salads or cooked similarly to spinach. Because chicory is quite strongly flavoured, its best to mix with other, softer salad leaves. Chicory with shaved fennel and orange dressing is a popular salad. Sauting chicory greens with olive oil, garlic, salt and chile flakes is another delicious option.

25.01.2022 : You may not think about the environmental impact when you buy pads and tamps but the average Australian woman disposes of 10,000 to 12,000 sanitary products in their lifetime! This amounts to 800 million sanitary products each year in Australia, equating to 200 000 tonnes of waste. The worst part is most synthetic pads and tampons are made of a mix of cotton and synthetic rayon and take around 500 to 800 years to biodegrade! The good news is ...you can make your period more eco-friendly by switching from pads and tampons to one of our Lunette cups. The Lunette Menstrual Cup is a bell-shaped cup that is reusable, lasts several years and gives you a comfortable, safe and odorless period for up to 12 hours a day. Cheaper: Ditch the regular dash to the store and protect your purse strings with the best reusable choice that lasts several years. Healthier: Lunette menstrual cups collect fluids rather than absorbing them, keeping your superior interior naturally lubricated and healthy. More control: Unlike tampons, you never run out of Lunette- because its a reusable period cup! Like an invisible sidekick it runs around with you either in a handy, cute pouch or sitting comfortably inside you. Meaning you can say goodbye to the worry, the hassle, the leaks and just live your life.

23.01.2022 Our official summer opening hours starting from Tuesday the 1st of December We will be here during summer supplying you with your favourite peanut butter kitty bar and kombuchas so be sure to visit us!

23.01.2022 Are you a sustainable shopper? Want to reduce packaging waste and shop organic? Start your term 3 off right by joining an awesome community! Thoughtful Foods Mid-year Memberships are now only $10, which includes entry into a draw for a gorgeous Thoughtful Foods organic cotton T-shirt. Drawing to be held October 10th. Come to Thoughtful Foods Grocery and see our selection of everyday staples, including grains, beans, nuts, snacks, teas, and more. Order a fruit and veggie box to make your shop complete. Dont forget to bring your own packaging (jars and sacks also available for purchase in-store).

23.01.2022 We are now stocking organic kelp flakes and purple dulse powder from Austral Herbs. Try adding these items to smoothies, salads, sandwiches or soups to add nutritional value and flavour. You can also try sprinkling it over popcorn or putting it in bread before baking! Stir it into teas or as an ingredient in medicinal tinctures. Kelp Kelp flakes are a herbal medicine taken from brown algae in saltwater. It is used to assist weight loss, high blood pressure, low thyroid and a...rthritis. Kelp is a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E. As well as minerals including zinc, iodine, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper and calcium. Dulse Powder Dulse is a North Atlantic seaweed that is well known for its dark purple colour. Our Certified Organic Purple Dulse powder is sustainably hand harvested from the rugged coastlines of Ireland. It is only harvested in the correct season to provide optimum nutrition. Dulse is very high in iron and other minerals such as magnesium and potassium. It is used to relieve constipation, remove parasites and as a treatment for scurvy. Dulse is a superior source of iodine that the body needs to make the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which affect weight and metabolic rate. Dulse is characterised by its specific taste and pleasantly soft texture, which makes it perfect for consumption without modification as a snack.

23.01.2022 Well done to everyone who completed the Plastic Free July challenge! Although July is over, Eco with Em has some solid advice on how to store food without using plastic!

23.01.2022 Bee-hold our technique to get honey Avoid using the big scoops and opt for two spoons!

22.01.2022 The annual fee has now dropped to just $10 for membership through 1 February 2021. This also gets you a chance to win a fabulous organic cotton Thoughtful Foods T-shirt! Drawing to be held on October 10th. Members get 10% off our great selection of organic groceries, snacks, and toiletries, plus access to amazing fruit and veggie boxes and organic loaves of bread Have some spare time? Why not volunteer with us for a bigger discount of 30%!... First time members will also have to pay a $10 refundable share!

22.01.2022 Now Stocking BULK Dark Drinking Chocolate Loving Earths delicious dark drinking chocolate is made from the Amazonico Criollo Cacao, ethically sourced from a small community deep in Peru. This rich drinking powder contains shavings of their top-selling dark chocolate to deliver a decadent texture. The drinking chocolate is also Australian made, organic and vegan! Enjoy hot or cold. To serve hot, add two tablespoons to your favourite warmed milk.

21.01.2022 : Pecans Our pecans are unroasted and unsalted. They are also non GMO, preservative free and best of all - Australian grown! Pecans are a good source of healthy fats, fibre and protein! To preserve pecans most effectively, store them in a dry, air tight container in the fridge or cupboard. This is because pecans are very sensitive to light. They also readily absorb odours from other foods stored near them so keep this in mind too.... These loveable nuts are famous for their use in pies but are also used in salads, cakes, biscuits, cereals and ice cream. Try making vegan pecan pie: https://www.makingthymeforhealth.com/the-best-vegan-pecan-/ or caramelizing pecans:https://stripedspatula.com/stovetop-caramelized-pecans/ for a snack.

21.01.2022 Say hello to Ashraf! He is a PhD student, doing his research on the displacement of Rohingya refugees. Originally from Bangladesh, Ashraf has lived in Melbourne and has been in Sydney for 2.5 years! When asked the age old question of whether Melbourne or Sydney is better, he chose Sydney. We approve! In his spare time, Ashraf enjoys cooking. One of his favourite dishes to cook is dried fish which is a common dish of the Chittagong distric...t where he is from. ? The watermelon from the veggie box ? I love the fact that Thoughtful Foods promotes the idea that food should come to us without a lot of intervention from chemicals and people. Everything should come from a local source and from nature! You are what you eat ate...so the less chemicals, the better!

21.01.2022 This is Dom! She is doing a Bachelor of Science with a major in food science. She is also the current Producers coordinator, an Arc volunteer program that focuses on sustainability and gardening! Dom juggles so many university activities and still manages to be on top of her studies -we don't know how she does it! In terms of hobbies, she loves gardening and long walks in nature. ?... I honestly can't choose but it'll probably be chocolate based items (brownies, peanut butter bar, dark choc coverture, coconut mylk chocolate). ? Community, care for the environment and each other plus great eats!

21.01.2022 Thoughtful Foods Mid-year Memberships have been reduced to $10 !Members get 10% off our great selection of organic groceries, snacks, and toiletries, plus access to amazing fruit and veggie boxes and organic loaves of bread. Also the chance to win your own gorgeous Thoughtful Foods organic cotton T-shirt. Drawing to be held October 10th. We are an Organic, sustainable shopping community. We encourage shoppers to BYO containers for filling, but jars and sacks are always availa...ble for purchase at our store. Have some spare time? Why not volunteer with us for 30% off your shops!

21.01.2022 : This lovely leafy green is choy sum, another member of the mighty Brassica family. Choy sum is native to mainland China and is believed to have been cultivated since the 5th century. Similar to gailan, choy sum is commonly used in Chinese cuisine. Its name is a transliteration of the Cantonese name, which can be literally translated as "heart of the vegetable". Choy Sum is grown for its thick-stemmed shoots and broad, flat, green leaves and small, edible ...yellow flowers. Choy sum is juicy, tender, and crunchy with a sweet, delicate, slightly mustard-like flavour, almost like a cross between broccoli rabe and bok choy. Young stems tend to be sweeter while more mature stems bear a stronger, more pungent flavour. Aside from being delicious, choy sum is packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, protein, calcium, and iron. It also contains fibre to help increase digestion and contains folic acid and potassium. The leaves and stems will keep 3-4 days when stored loosely in a bag and kept in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Choy sum can also be blanched and stored in the freezer for 8-12 months. Choy sum can be eaten raw or cooked and is often served in salads, Asian soups or stir-fried dishes. choy sum goes well with garlic, shallots, ginger, chilies, citrus and nuts. In Hong Kong, choy sum is one of the most popular vegetables used in Cantonese cuisine, which is a style of cooking using fresh, seasonal vegetables and focussing on bringing out the natural flavours. Choy sum is lightly blanched and topped with oyster sauce, rice wine, soy sauce, or sesame oil, or it is stir-fried with garlic. To reduce waste, locals also use the blanched water from cooking choy sum to make a soup stock. By far the most popular recipes for choy sum are stir-fried with garlic and soy sauce, but if youre aftersomething different, try this Indian spiced choy sum from the Picky Eater. 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 heads choy sum, diced in 1 cm pieces 1/2 red onion, chopped 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 green chile 1/8 tsp hing or Asafoetida 1/2 tsp turmeric Salt to taste 1Heat your oil in a medium sized pan over medium-high heat. Add the spices and the green chili and stir until the mustard and cumin seeds pop. 2Once the spices are popping, throw in your onions. Cook down the onions until they are caramelized. 3Add the choy sum and cook until it has cooked down. 4Serve with rice, naan and yoghurt or coconut yoghurt.

21.01.2022 Say hello to Gonzalo! Originally from Chile, Gonzalo has been in Sydney for 4 years and shopping with us for a year and a half. He is a big surfer and also an expert at landscaping (hit him up for gardening tips ). When asked about some of the differences between Chile and Australia, Gonzalo says that there is better accessibility in Australia. For example, if you want to go on a road trip, you can find camp spots, toilets and showers etc.... ? Veggie box and brownies and the kombucha is also good too! ? I love the fact that TF promotes a zero-waste shopping experience e.g. no plastic bags and you have to bring your own containers and bags. You also can find a diversity of people and TF offers a fair price for organics

20.01.2022 This is Chris! Hes a film maker in his final year at UNSW. In his free time he likes to garden, work on his novel, and fuel his escapist farming fantasies on Stardew Valley ?... A kilo of peanut butter that he can eat with a spoon ? All the people are really lovely and it makes it easy to be ethical and low waste. ? Get things secondhand on gumtree and eat a lot of qunioa (from Thoughtful Foods) for protein.

20.01.2022 : Broad (fava) Beans Broad beans are one of the most ancient beans. Likely native to Mediterranean Africa, its cultivation history can be dated back to the Bronze Age. By around 1000 years ago, broad beans had spread throughout Europe. Broad beans are a high yield, fast growing spring vegetable. Like their leguminous cousin snow peas, broad beans are also a great soil improver, using their roots to fix nitrogen from the air. In olden-days Europe, food shortages were...Continue reading

20.01.2022 Order your organic veggie box and bread before 5 pm today!

20.01.2022 : Celery Celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) is a member of the Umbelliferae family which also includes carrot, parsley, and parsnip. Celery is believed to originate from the Mediterranean basin. The English 'celery' comes from the French 'celeri' which was derived from the Ancient Greek 'selinon'. Greek literature documents that selinon was cultivated by the ancient Greeks for medicinal purposes before 850 B.C. The oldest record of the derivative celeri is in a 9t...Continue reading

19.01.2022 Have you always wanted to be a part of a community that promotes zero-waste shopping? Thoughtful Foods Mid-year Memberships have been reduced to $10 ! Members get 10% off our great selection of organic groceries, snacks, and toiletries, plus access to amazing fruit and veggie boxes and organic loaves of bread. Also the chance to win your own gorgeous Thoughtful Foods organic cotton T-shirt. Drawing to be held October 10th.

19.01.2022 : Ginger Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the rhizome (a subterranean plant stem that sends out roots) of the flowering plant also called ginger. It comes from the same plant family as cardamom and turmeric. Ginger has been used as a spice and medicine for around 5000 years. Originating in southern China, ginger rapidly spread to India, the Spice Islands and Africa before reaching Europe in the 1st Century when the Romans traded with India. With the fall of the Roman...Continue reading

18.01.2022 : Sweet Potato Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are versatile, filling and packed with goodness. Despite the name and texture, sweet potatoes are not closely related to the normal potato. This large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuber is a member of the morning glory family. Sweet potatoes are the only major crop from the morning glory family; while there are more than 1000 species, many are poisonous. Sweet potato originated in Central America, where it has been consume...d for at least 5000 years. A strange fact of history is that the sweet potato made it to Polynesia around 1000 AD, long before Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas. Its possible that sweet potato made the voyage carried by seaweed or birds, however, evidence including linguistics suggests Polynesians travelled across the ocean in sophisticated canoes, bringing back the sweet potato and perhaps leaving chickens behind! Sweet potato is high in fibre and Vitamins A and C, which makes it a very healthy addition to your diet. The sweetness comes from natural sugars, which become delicious and caramelised when roasted. When choosing a sweet potato, make sure its firm with bright coloured skin. Store sweet potatoes loosely (not in a bag) and avoid keeping them in the fridge. Its fine to leave the skins on sweet potatoes but scrub well before cooking. Sweet potatoes are good in just about everything: think roasts, bakes, warm salads, pastas and curries. You can also use sweet potato instead of toast, slice thin and put into the toaster (it will take about twice as long as a slice of bread). Add toppings of your choice I recommend guacamole and diced tomato. Nothing beats sweet potato fries, give this recipe from BBC Good Food a try! Sweet potato fries Ingredients 1kg sweet potatoes scrubbed and cut into fries (leave the skin on) 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp smoked salt (regular salt will be ok) 4 tbsp polenta 180g Greek yogurt/coconut yoghurt 1 chile, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1small pack coriander, finely chopped (use mint if you dont like coriander) 1 lime, juiced 1 tsp ground cumin Directions 1. Heat oven to 200C. Toss the sweet potatoes with the oil, salt and polenta in a large bowl, massaging them well to coat. 2. Spread out onto two large baking trays, then roast for 45 mins until tender and crisp, turning the trays halfway so that the fries cook evenly. 3. Meanwhile, blitz all the ingredients for the dip together with some seasoning to a smooth green sauce. Serve alongside the sweet potato fries.

18.01.2022 We are now stocking dried plus from Brooke-Kelly! This fabulous stone fruit farmer is also to thank for our peaches and nectarines! These dried fruits make a great snack or lunch box item. It is best to store them in the fridge over longer periods to avoid weevil infestation Greg and Tessa Brooke-Kelly have been running their organic stone fruit orchard for 25 years. It is located northwest of Young NSW and gained organic certification with the National Association for Sus...tainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) in the late 1980s. The small scale of the orchard allows close control of all operations from pruning and thinning to harvesting, packing and marketing. Greg and Tessa believe that if children are offered naturally grown and ripened fruit with intense sweet flavours, they will choose this over highly processed sugary foods. Subsequently, the fruit is picked at full ripeness before drying and no chemicals are used during the drying process to ensure healthy and flavoursome dried produce.

18.01.2022 Raw, unrefined shea butter - made from Shea nuts harvested and processed in Ghana - is available at Thoughtful Foods. DIY recipes abound online for body butters, lip balms, hair treatments, and more. Whip up a luxurious batch of Shea-butter cream to fill some upcycled jars with for a most generous and waste-free Christmas indeed! We are open from 9 am to 7 pm on Thursday! https://www.humblebeeandme.com/super-simple-whipped-shea-b/

17.01.2022 We are now stocking mocha kitty bar and caramel kitty bar! Coffee-lovers...treat yourself to a macho mocha bar from Nice Kitty! Apart from being an absolutely delicious natural treat made from raw cacao powder, it is packed with iron, magnesium and antioxidants.... ! Didn't think it was possible to make a caramel slice using no dairy or gluten? Try Nice Kitty's Caramel Bar made from 100% natural ingredients of dates, coconut oil and natural vanilla bean!

17.01.2022 Become a member today and you will go into a draw to win a Thoughtful Foods organic t-shirt made out of bamboo Drawing will be held on the 10th of October! Our annual membership have dropped to $10 which is valid to February 2021! Come in store to join!

16.01.2022 Meet Karina! She has been volunteering at Thoughtful Foods for over a year now. It all started when she decided to reduce, not only her own plastic waste and consumption but her whole familys too. She loves gardening when she gets the opportunity and going for long walks to different parks around Sydney. Currently, she is finishing off her final year of high school at the Conservatorium High School. She is hoping to do more volunteering in... different parts of the community when she graduates. She wants to make a difference, even a small one, where she can Next year, she would like to study at UNSW but regardless, she will still be down at Thoughtful Foods on a Saturday afternoon! So pop in and say hi! ? My favourite food at the co-op is the tamari almonds ? I really like the Thoughtful Foods ethos - it is a very welcoming space and helps support me in my journey towards zero-waste lifestyle which was going well until lock-down wine consumption

16.01.2022 Thoughtful foods has partnered with the Arc Student Cookbook for their annual publication, being launched on Monday!! The Cookbook this year features recipes that are good for the planet , healthy for our bodies,and light on the wallet ! As well as catering to all kinds of dietary requirements Head to their live launch on Monday 14th at 12pm to get a FREE pdf copy of their full cookbook, and keep and eye out for our Guide to Legumes! ... RSVP to the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2752706015008246/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%7D

15.01.2022 Say hola to Alicia! Originally from Peru, Alicia has been volunteering at the coop for 2 years. She is a marinera dancer, which is a traditional dance from the coastal areas of Peru (check out Alicias dance in this 5 minute documentary: https://bit.ly/2Dob9II). How awesome right? Adding onto this fun fact, Alicia is also scared of driving despite holding a drivers license ?... Banana coins for sure! ? I like the fact that Thoughtful Foods is environmentally-friendly and community orientated.

14.01.2022 Meet Martina, our wonderful operations coordinator who has been at Thoughtful Foods since last December As an operations coordinator, she makes sure that the coop is clean and operating smoothly #functionality #covidsafe. We thank Martina for her awesome work in keeping Thoughtful Foods COVID safe In addition to being a coordinator, she is a second year Commerce and Japanese student. Her reason for studying Japanese is so that she can ...watch anime without subtitles! Her current favourite anime is Bungou Stray Dogs and recommends people to watch it! Martina is also a fellow practitioner of yoga and fun fact, her mum is a certified yoga teacher! ? I have recently converted to the inner glow bar and my guilty pleasure are the macadamia brownies!! Sooo GOOOD! ? Being able to meet a bunch of different people. The business school is quite a bubble so it is nice to break out of it with meeting not only students from different faculties but staff and members of the wider community. It is nice gaining new perspectives!

13.01.2022 Meet one of our members, Zulay! She is a Wife | Mum | Fresh creative thinker with a passion for social justice Zulay has been shopping at Thoughtful Foods for one year and a half. On top of that, she is passionate about film-making and absolutely enjoys the film, Midnight in Paris If you also love the movie and love talking about la belle poque, dont hesitate to say hi to Zulay! ?... I always get the veggie boxes! Each week is a little different and offers a wonderful array of fruits and veggies. It simply inspires us to be creative and try something different and fresh every week. We always discover new veggies that we didnt even know existed ? I love their philosophy about protecting the environment, reducing pollution, and promoting positive health. The store also gives opportunities to meet people from around the world. Everyone is so friendly!

12.01.2022 We are open early on Saturdays now from 10:30 am

12.01.2022 Inspirational quote Tuesday

12.01.2022 Have you ordered this week's veggie box?! Put your orders through by 5pm :)

12.01.2022 : Mandarins Mandarin oranges are a small, loose-skinned variety of the common orange, typically sweeter and less acidic than larger oranges. Mandarins are probably descended from wild oranges that grew in northeast India as long as 3,000 years ago. From India, mandarins made their way to China before reaching Europe and then other parts of the world. The mandarin gained its name when it was exported from China to England. Mandarin denoted the form of Chinese spoken... by public officials in China. The robes worn by public servants were deep orange and so the fruit was dubbed a mandarin. Important public servants in Australia are still colloquially referred to as Mandarins. Because mandarins are easily crossed with other varieties of citrus and can grow in a number of climates, many varieties of mandarins have been created, around 200! The most popular varieties are sweet clementines, tangerines which are less sweet and have a deeper orange/red colour, and the seedless satsuma, which originated in Japan. Mandarins were introduced into Australia in the 1820s. Mostly grown in Queensland, mandarin season stretches from April to October. Mandarins should be stored in a dark, cool place, out of direct sunlight. They will last for up to one week at room temperature or up to two weeks in the fridge. Delicious and easy to peel, mandarins are an ideal on-the-go snack. They are also great in a fruit salad, on top of breakfast cereal or added to baked goods. Today’s recipe is one of the easiest vegan cakes to make, according to chef Avant-garde Vegan. I haven’t tried it myself, so let us know how it goes if you give it a try! Mandarin Upside-Down Cake Ingredients 6-8 mandarins 2 tbs vegan margarine 1 cup plus 2 tbs caster sugar 1 cup almond milk 1 tbs apple cider vinegar 2 tsp vanilla essence 1/3 cup vegetable oil (not olive oil) 1 & 3/4 cups plain flour 2 tsp baking powder Pinch salt Marmalade melted & mixed with 2 tbs water (to serve) Method Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees C. Line a 22 cm diameter sealed springform cake tin. Make sure it definitely sealed or the juices will leak out. Grease the cake tin with margarine and sprinkle over the caster sugar evenly. Peel and cut your mandarins into 3 then lay them cut side down into the cake tin, fill any gaps with mandarin quarters or halves. Combine the almond milk, vinegar, vanilla essence and oil together. In a large mixing bowl add the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour in the wet ingredients and stir lightly. Pour the batter into the cake tin and give it a little tap on the surface to remove any air pockets. Pop the cake into the oven to bake for 25-35 minutes. Once the cake has cooked, allow it to slightly cool for 5-10 minutes before removing it from the tin. Before serving glaze the cake with melted marmalade. Just add a couple tablespoons of water to loosen it.

11.01.2022 From Term 3, we are open on Wednesdays now too!! Thanks to our amazing volunteers for keeping Thoughtful Foods up and running!

10.01.2022 Meet Laura! She is a student of Arts, majoring in Environmental Humanities at UNSW as well as the volunteer coordinator for Thoughtful Foods! As the volunteer coordinator, she organises the rosters, runs inductions and communicates with the vollies. In other words, without Lauras amazing weekly roster, the co-op wouldnt be open! So thank you Laura! In addition to that, Laura is a master of 24 hour time, which is an unusual habit in Aus...tralia Laura gives credit to the digital clock on her oven in her childhood home for picking up on this habit. She also enjoys bouldering during her spare time! ? The fudge brownie, dried nectarines and cumin! ? I like how we are a not-for-profit and 100% volunteer run! We work hard because we value the community and the services we provide, rather than making money and there is something special in that

10.01.2022 This week’s focus is on polenta, a simple yet versatile staple. It’s an ancient dish with roots tracing back to Mesopotamia and Sumeria, but the style we are familiar with today originates in Northern Italy, where it was known as the bread of the poor, an economical porridge enjoyed by farmers and peasants for centuries as a companion to any number of main courses. Polenta is medium to coarsely ground cornmeal and can be prepared very simply: by boiling it gently in salted ...water/stock/dairy or plant milk at a ratio of 1:4, then optionally adding salt, herbs, or cheese to deepen its flavour. Alternatively, the cooked polenta may be cooled overnight in the refrigerator, sliced, and then fried as polenta chips, making a tasty carrier to savoury sauces. For some basic recipes, have a look here http://www.thevegancorner.com/how-to-cook-polenta/ So if you haven’t yet, why not fill a container with a few heaping scoops of polenta next time you’re at Thoughtful Foods, and explore its many possibilities. It should also be mentioned that it’s even got clout in the world of desserts; take this recipe for Raspberry Coconut Polenta Cake, most of whose ingredients can be sourced at the coop. https://likeavegan.com.au//06/raspberry-coconut-polenta-c/ With the cold and wet weather brought by El Niña, a creamy, warm bowl of polenta is exactly what you need.

09.01.2022 This is Bolling! She will be taking over from Laura as the volunteer coordinator from term 3 and onwards We are so excited to have her onboard! Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Bolling has been in Sydney since February 2020 working as a nanny. Since most of her time is spent with a 2 and 4 year old, she is thankful for Thoughtful Foods for allowing her to interact with people that are a tad older In regards to the differences between Australia ...and the States, she says that Australian coffee and Asian food are better and that the lifestyle is way more laid back. However, the States has better Mexican food! ? The fudge brownie, yerba mate tea and peanut butter. ? I like the community and volunteer-run aspect of Thoughtful Foods. Everyone has a say and a hand in what is going on. Furthermore, I also love the fact that we can bulk order. We bulk ordered a lot of yerba mate as a coffee substitute The veggie box is also fab!

08.01.2022 My weekly go-to organic bread: olive loaf

08.01.2022 : Rain fed rice Medium Grain Brown Rice is now back in stock! Our Medium Grain Brown Rice is sustainably grown and milled on The Slater family farm - a certified Biodynamic family farm in Northern NSW. Biodynamic farming is an enhanced method of Certified Organic farming that concentrates on enhancing soil, plant, and environmental health and vitality. This brown rice is entirely rain-fed and grown without any input from flood irrigation. Until recently, all rice in Australia was grown using standard farming practices which uses up to 1550 litres of water to grow just 1 kilo of rice!

08.01.2022 We are now stocking Fireside Tea! Fireside tea is a fruity spiced tea blend consisting of apple, hibiscus, gunpowder tea, rosehip, cinnamon, safflower, lemon peel, orange peel and cloves, making the perfect beverage for a winter evening. The cherry on top is it is organic and blended in Australia!

06.01.2022 Dear Thoughtful Members and Friends Were writing with an update on our recent COVID-19 email reminding you about our ongoing safety requirements when shopping at Thoughtful Foods. Today, NSW Health has additionally recommended the use of masks when unable to practice social distancing, including when doing groceries: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-/health-advice-update-on-masks...Continue reading

06.01.2022 : Asparagus The asparagus we know and love is a bright green veggie, but asparagus also comes in white and purple varieties. The white variety of asparagus is dominant in Europe, where it is so highly prized its termed white gold. Growing conditions are responsible for differences between these cousins white asparagus grows underground whereas green asparagus grows above ground and is exposed to sunlight, producing chlorophyll. Asparagus has a bad reputation ...for causing odorous urine, which unfortunately is true. Our bodies convert asparagusic acid (found only in asparagus) into volatile sulfur-containing chemicals. Dont be put off by this temporary inconvenience, asparagus is packed with good things - vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, folate, iron, copper, calcium, protein, and fiber. Several studies have demonstrated that asparagus roots and shoots (the part we usually eat) possesses pharmacological properties including antifungal, antimutagenic, antiinflammatory, and diuretic activities. A study published in 2009 suggested that the minerals and amino acids in asparagus leaves (the part we throw away) can protect liver cells from ethanol toxicity, easing hangovers. So, if you have asparagus growing in your garden, an asparagus leaf tea could be worth a try next time you overindulge. Asparagus spears can be blanched, griddled, roasted or served raw. The early shoots, called sprue are tender all the way through. However older stalks have woody ends that need to be removed before cooking. Todays recipe is a simple one that focuses on its natural, delicious flavour. Lemon garlic asparagus Ingredients 12 medium asparagus stalks (washed with ends snapped off) 1/2 tsp olive or vegetable oil 1 medium clove garlic, minced pinch of salt pinch of pepper 2 slices of lemon, cut in half Instructions 1In a medium frying pan, heat the oil over medium high heat and add the asparagus. Toss frequently so the asparagus cooks evenly. 2Once the asparagus turns a vivid and bright green (about 3-4 minutes), add the minced garlic and toss. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, until the garlic is translucent and the stalks of the asparagus are tender. 3Season with a small sprinkle of salt and pepper. Serve alone as a side dish, toss through pasta, or add to a salad with potatoes and chickpeas.

06.01.2022 Say hello to Aileen! She is a third-year Science/Fine Arts student and has been at the co-op since the beginning of second year. She absolutely loves the fudge brownies and has more than likely bought it over a dozen times from Thoughtful Foods. She also enjoys walking and always walks from Central to Thoughtful Foods every time she visits. For those curious souls, it is an hour walk! Aileen says she has to burn off those brownie calorie...s somewhere ? The fudge brownies! ? The wide range of food items that I can get package free. it is also a like a community hub for environmentally conscious students to meet each other.

05.01.2022 Two weeks to go before our t-shirt draw for new members!It isn't too late to go into this draw to win an awesome Thoughtful Foods t-shirt made from bamboo All you have to do is become a member today in store! Our annual membership prices have dropped to $10. This gives you access to weekly organic bread and veggies boxes, 10% off grocery items and more! First time members will also have to purchase a $10 refundable share on top of the annual fee.

05.01.2022 This is Ivanna, the People Director of Thoughtful Foods! As the People Director, she liaises with the coordinators as much as she can, hoping to make sure that everyones doing alright! She is also involved with the rest of the team in recruitment, so send her a message if youre interested to get more involved! Ivanna has been involved with the co-op since before the renovation of Roundhouse and was introduced to Thoughtful Foods by a fe...w friends. She remembers being extremely keen to start volunteering after being treated to a brownie! It was her first vegan brownie in Australia and she fell deeply in love with it. From that point onwards, she was sold and has not turned back since. Now, we have a fully functioning Roundhouse right across Thoughtful Foods! ? ALL of the bars - kitty bars and the inner glow bar makes me glow inside. ? My favourite things about Thoughtful Foods are the veggie boxes and the way I could buy the exact amount of ingredients I need or want every time. I love the veggies boxes because its always a surprise! What am I going to get this week? Purple carrots? What am I supposed to do with purple cabbages? Always so exciting! Its also really awesome to walk around uni while holding and eating a huge slice of watermelon

04.01.2022 The annual fee has now dropped to just $10 for membership through 1 February 2021! By becoming a member today, you will go into the draw to win your own gorgeous Thoughtful Foods organic cotton T-shirt! Drawing to be held October 10th. We are an Organic, sustainable shopping community. We encourage shoppers to BYO containers for filling, but jars and sacks are always available for purchase at our store. ... What can you get as a member? 10% off lots of pay-by-weight yummy snacks as well as our everyday staples, like rainfed biodynamic brown rice Access to weekly boxes packed with fresh, organic fruit and veggies and even delicious organic bread through our online ordering system. Become part of the community by volunteering, which gets you up to 30% discount on most grocery items.

04.01.2022 : Strawberries Is there anything better than a good strawberry, with its delicious aroma, bright red colour, and sweet juiciness? The name strawberry likely comes from the Old English streawberige because strawberry plants send out runners that look like straw. Not actually a berry, strawberries are members of the rose family. Each seed on the outside of a strawberry is a plant ovary, with the true seed held inside Wild strawberries have been around since anci...ent times and used for ornamental and medicinal purposes as well as consumption. Native to the Americas, Native Americans used strawberries in a wide number of dishes, and strawberries were cultivated by Mapuche and Huilliche tribes of Chile. The common garden strawberry is a relatively new hybrid species, first grown in France in the 18th Century. It is a cross between two strawberry species, one from east North America and the other from Chile. The hybrid produces large fruit with the distinctive strawberry shape. While there are many strawberry cultivars, Fragaria ananassa dominates production. Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of magnesium. Like the other red fruits, strawberries contain the flavonoid anthocyanin with its antioxidant properties. Strawberries are most delicious eaten straight out of hand, or used fresh in salads, smoothies, and even wine sangria. Strawberries with cream has been a popular dessert since the early 19th Century and is still eaten in England and Mexico. Strawberries are also common in baked goods including muffins, jams, pies and sauces. If youre lucky enough to have too many strawberries, they can be frozen (wash, hull, spread out on a baking tray and freeze until solid). They will keep for up to a year. For a fancy but low-effort dessert, dip strawberries in melted chocolate and roll in crushed, unsalted nuts. For a really fancy dessert, the strawberries can be injected with liquor using a culinary syringe before dipping in chocolate. Baileys, Grand Marnier and amaretto are all good options.

03.01.2022 The most delicious focaccia from the Organic Bread Bar Be sure to order your veggie boxes and bread orders before 5 pm today! We are also open tomorrow from 1 pm - 5 pm, the first Wednesday in a while

03.01.2022 This is Chris! He's a film maker in his final year at UNSW. In his free time he likes to garden, work on his novel, and fuel his escapist farming fantasies on Stardew Valley ?... A kilo of peanut butter that he can eat with a spoon ? All the people are really lovely and it makes it easy to be ethical and low waste. ? Get things secondhand on gumtree and eat a lot of qunioa (from Thoughtful Foods) for protein.

02.01.2022 Meet Adnil! She has been volunteering at Thoughtful Foods since the beginning of lockdown. Adnil is an ESL teacher and loves teaching - hit her up for any questions on English grammar! It is one of her favourite topics to teach Besides teaching, she also enjoys exploring local walks and natural wonders of Sydney. Her recommendations include any coastal walk and La Perouse which she says has an interesting bush walk with a ship wreck! ... ? Peanut butter bar!! as well as the variety of nuts ? I like that it has a sustainable philosophy and a pretty laid back atmosphere. Also, the volunteers are really nice!

02.01.2022 Meet our most loyal customer, James. A true "James" of all trades...what does he not do?! He used to be a water polo referee and a tutor of criminal law at UNSW. Currently, James is doing his PhD research in London, England (not Canada haha) on Prevent requirements to report perceived radicalisation and its impacts on freedom of speech in relation to Israeli Occupied Palestine. Please do check out his campaign work for Freedom Flotilla... Coalition which helps to find a just future for Palestine Also an additional fun fact about James is that he once, without lawful authority, married his brothers-in-law! ? I love getting new people to become members of this co-op! ? It is a comfortable place to shop. I love that it is never the same - there is always something different happening each time you visit e.g. a new person to talk to, a new discussion to be had and a new opportunity to engage about a recipe and ingredient ? Instead of glad wrap, put a plate on top of your leftovers! An additional perk is that it is stackable as well!

02.01.2022 This is Simon! Other than calling zucchinis, courgettes and eggplants, aubergines, he is the president of Animal Voices UNSW, which is the society that organises the thought-provoking cupcake challenge on campus during O-Week! He is also involved with ARAS (Animal Rights Activism Sydney) in particular, assists with the cool and visually striking chalking social event near Hyde Park Fountain every rain-free Sunday afternoon (from 1pm). Simon... says ...that all Thoughtful Foods members are very welcome to come along and meet some pretty cool people! ? The mix-mid veggie box that I get every week...if I remember to order by 5 pm on Tuesdays ? Little chats with our awesome veggie coordinator, Yin Yin and also meeting new people

02.01.2022 : Watermelon With the warmer weather melons are coming back to the coop! Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) is part of a botanical family Curcurbitaceae or gourds that includes cucumber, squash, and pumpkin. It is 92 percent water, which is why it is so refreshing on hot days.... Watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred in Egypt around 5,000 years ago and is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics. Watermelons were often placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. Watermelons spread throughout countries along the Mediterranean Sea by way of merchant ships, and to the rest of Europe via the Moors. By the 10 th century, watermelon had reached China, which is now the world’s largest producer of watermelon. As watermelons are mostly water, their calorie count is one of the lowest of all fruits, despite their sweet taste. Watermelon is high in Vitamin A, C and beta-carotene. Watermelons are also a great source of lycopene (the carotenoid that makes vegetables red), an antioxidant that’s been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancers. Culinary uses of watermelon tend to focus on the flesh raw, added to salads, crushed and frozen in sorbet and granitas, or juiced or grilled. However, watermelon rinds are also edible, as well as full of nutrients. In China, the rinds are often stir-fried, stewed or pickled. Across the Middle East and China, watermelon seeds are dried and roasted for a snack (similar to pumpkin seeds). This week we have a quick an easy dessert that just needs a food processor. The recipe comes from the blog Oh! The Things We’ll Make! Five-minute watermelon sorbet Ingredients 2 cups watermelon Cubed 1/2 lime Juiced Honey or sugar syrup (optional) Coconut milk (optional) Directions 1. Dice watermelon and place in the freezer overnight. If the watermelon isn’t completely frozen, the sorbet will have more of a slushy texture. 2. Place frozen watermelon into the food processor and add some lime juice. Start with a little and add more to taste later on. Don’t add too much liquid at the beginning or it will tend to fly out of your food processor. 3. Continue to process your watermelon and lime juice in your food processor until you get a sorbet-like texture. You can add a little more lime juice as needed for taste and texture. 4. If you want a sweeter sorbet, you can add in a little honey or another sweetener of your choice. 5. For a creamier ice-cream-like texture exchange the lime juice for coconut milk. 6. Serve immediately

01.01.2022 : Sage Sage (Salvia officinalis), is an herb native to the Mediterranean region. Sage has a very longhistory of both medicinal and culinary uses. Its botanical name comes from the Latin word "salvere", meaning "to be saved". In ancient Rome, sage was considered to have substantial healing properties, and was used to heal ulcers, to help stop the bleeding, and to soothe a sorethroat. In China sage was used to treat colds, joint pain, typhoid fever, and kidney and liv...er issues. Sage was one of the ingredients of Four Thieves Vinegar, believed to ward off the plague. Because of sages nutritional benefits, it is an excellent herb to incorporate into everydaycooking. A tablespoon of sage has 43 percent of the daily recommended serving of vitamin K and is also an excellent source of fibre, vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Studies have also shown that sage tea can improve cognitive functioning for Alzheimers disease patients. Sage is one of the essential herbs for the kitchen, along with parsley, rosemary, and thyme. It has a unique, hearty, slightly peppery, savoury flavour that is used mostly in Italian, British, American, and Middle Eastern cuisines. In Egypt it is commonly used as a flavour for hot black tea or boiled and served as an herbal drink in its own right. Sage goes well with butter (or vegan butter), lemon, orange, pumpkin and potatoes. While often used in meat-based cooking, sage is a great addition to your veggie dishes (although a little goes a long way). Sage and brown butter sauce is a classic combination. Here is a vegan version from Pasta-Based that can be tossed through pasta or spooned over baked potatoes or steamed vegetables. Vegan sage brown butter sauce Ingredients 1/4 cup vegan butter (like Earth Balance) or olive oil is butter is hard to find 8 fresh sage leaves 1 clove fresh garlic, minced 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 cup vegetable broth 1/4 teaspoon salt Instructions Melt vegan butter in a pan on medium heat. Cook until butter starts to brown. Add sage leaves and let sizzle for a few seconds. Remove from heat and add garlic. The garlic should start to brown quickly so be sure not to burn it. Once the garlic is fragrant, add salt, lemon juice and vegetable broth. Stir to combine and heat for a minute. Serve warm

01.01.2022 Our veggie boxes consist of organic fruits and veggies from local farmers Members have to order their veggie box by Tuesday 5 pm and then pick it up on Thursday. They are packed every Thursday morning by our awesome vollies!!

01.01.2022 : Rockmelon Rockmelon is only rockmelon to Australians; other English-Speaking countries (and some Victorians) call this sweet, orange-fleshed fruit cantaloupe. The internet didnt want to tell me why Australians have chosen the more descriptive rockmelon over cantaloupe, which is derived from the Italian Cantalupo, formerly a papal county seat near Rome where the fruit was introduced from Armenia. One of lifes small mysteries Rockmelon are a member of the bota...nical family Cucurbitaceae, along with honeydew and watermelons. In Australia, they are available all year round, but peak in summer. A good rockmelon should be firm, heavy, and symmetrical, without soft spots or bruising. Rockmelons are sweet but healthy, the perfect combination! Like the other orange fruits and veggies, rockmelon is high in carotenoids. The carotenoid zeaxanthin, found in rockmelon, filters out harmful light. It is thought to play a protective role in eye health and possibly ward off damage from macular degeneration (we also discussed this in our carrot blog). Rockmelon is high in Vitamin A and C, fiber and potassium as well. You may remember a listeria outbreak last year that was traced back to rockmelon consumption. Listeria is a bacterium that is widely found in soil and water and carried by wild animals and pets. Rockmelon and other vegetables grown close to the ground are susceptible to listeria contamination because its easier for contaminated soil to attach to the fruit. Theres no need to avoid rockmelon for fear of listeria, just scrub the fruit thoroughly before eating and store in the refrigerator. Rockmelon is usually chopped and eaten raw, however it can also be added to many foods like smoothies and salsas. This rockmelon salsa recipe is perfect to top tacos or eat with corn chips - it comes from Onion Rings and Things. Rockmelon Salsa Ingredients 1 small cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and diced 4 Lebanese cucumbers, peeled and diced 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 Jalapeno chilis, seeded and minced 1 bunch coriander, stemmed and coarsely chopped 2 limes, juiced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper Instructions In a bowl, combine rockmelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, chilis, coriander, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to combine. Cover and chill in the fridge for about 7 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.