Overflowing with spring savings, this issue of The Whole Deal value guide has + in coupons online and in the in-store print guide. Plus, you can count on even more value with 12 new Sure Deals, nine fresh recipes, five simple skillet dinners and a weeklong budget meal plan for four.

Designed to make bargains easy to spot, The Whole Deal will have you saving on Spring, entertaining with eggcellence, sharing unleavened with levity and enjoying Earth Month with ease!

Coupons – Make your meals work for you, your family and your finances with over in clickable, clip-able coupons. Print the coupons you want, when you want.

Sure Deals! – From St. Patrick’s Day to Earth Month to Easter, Spring is loaded with opportunities for saving green and going green on these high-quality products where you get more of the good stuff for less than you think.

Three Under – At .99 or less, our selection of three products under is a great way to fill your pantry without emptying your pocketbook.

Weekly Meal Planner – Spring can be a busy time but with a little planning, you can easily prepare a week of budget-friendly and family-friendly meals and even have leftovers for lunch. Here’s a plan for a week of easy-to-prepare meals for four and our guide to quick and simple skillet dinners.

Budget-Friendly Recipes – Want to cook on a dime? Well, it might take a bit more than that but these budget-happy recipes will help you save quite a few nickels and prepare delicious and satisfying meals at home. Just right for Spring celebrations, try these easy to prepare, delicious and affordable recipes.

Pick up the March/April issue of The Whole Deal in-store value guide for more good “cents” ideas and budget-friendly tips that will keep a spring in your step and money in your pocket!

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Coupons – print the coupons you want, when you want

Sure Deals! – high-quality products where you get more of the good stuff for less than you think

Three Under – at .99 or less, you won’t find a better value than our selection of Three Under items

Healthy Eating Meal Planner - offers a week’s worth of menu ideas (breakfast, lunch and dinner!), recipes and a shopping list for a fresh start to health

Budget-Friendly Recipes – recipes just right for you and your wallet

As always, The Whole Deal in-store value guide is packed with tips and ideas to get 2011 off to a healthy and budget-happy start. Check out these money-saving, time-saving and health-saving tips:

Freeze peeled bananas and other ripe fruit for smoothies with no ice needed or to blend up a bowl of Banana Nice Cream.

Substitute “soda” with sparkling water—naturally flavored (no artificial additives!) or with just a splash of 100% juice. Sure Deal alert: Our Whole Foods Market™ Italian Sparkling Mineral Water gives you lots of bubbles without any calories or artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners for .69.

Keep organic chopped spinach in the freezer for sprinkling into smoothies and soups. Never had spinach in a smoothie before? Try it out in our Get Your Greens smoothie recipe.

Prep and cook on a day off for an easy healthy week: soup, beans, cut veggies, salad dressing, dips and spreads, steamed and roasted vegetables.

Make herbal teas your main-stay before meals, after meals and between meals. Discover the wide variety of flavors, some naturally sweet, and brew your own for the best value.

Learn more about our healthy eating pillars in this issue of The Whole Deal and visit our Health Starts Here™ website to learn more about how to take charge of your health. Healthy eating can be fun, delicious and affordable for everyone!

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Coupons

Celebrate the convenience of online clipping! All of the vendor partner coupons featured in The Whole Deal in-store value guide are also available online. Print the coupons you want, when you want.

Appetizing Small Bites Recipes

Take a big bite out of party costs with “small bites” that cost less than 50¢ per piece.

Money-Saving Tips

Whether you are shopping, entertaining or giving on a budget we have great tips for all three that will save you money.

Three Under

At .99 or less, you won’t find a better value than our Three Under .

Celebrate!

Visit our Holidays 2010 website for even more ways to celebrate! You’ll find holiday recipes to make your own and online ordering if you want us to make your meal; instructional videos and holiday help guides; homemade gifts with printable gift tags; and gift cards and gift boxes you can order online.

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Speaking of the new season…nothing heralds the start of Fall like the smell (and taste!) of warm-from-the-oven baked goods.  Whether you are itching to get back to baking after a long summer vacation from the oven or you want to hone your skills prior to the holiday rush, here are five money-saving baking tips that will keep your budget from getting burned.   

1. Get Quality at a Value with 365 Everyday Value natural and organic baking supplies (flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, etc). Better ingredients = better baking and “365” helps you afford them.
2. Bake in Big Batches, taking advantage of bulk or sale pricing and making the most of your time, then wrapping your baked goods tightly and storing in the freezer. Our Apple Almond Gingerbread is a good make-ahead choice.
3. Give the Goodness because homemade gifts of food are not only easy on your pocket book, they are personal and people remember wonderful aromas and tastes for years!
4. Learn to Adjust your recipe (or choose another) to take advantage of whichever nuts or dried fruits or fresh ingredients are at the best price at that time.
5. Buy Only What You Need from our bulk bins and jars so you don’t waste flour, sugar, nuts, dried fruit…even herbs and spices! (Tip: Ask to borrow a measuring cup or spoon in the store.)

Do you have any more tips for baking on a budget? We’d love to hear them!

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You know packing lunch is worth it. It saves you money vs. eating out and lets you know exactly what is going into your meal—and your body. But when is lunch worth ? When you win just for your concept of lunch!

Whether you’re packing your own lunch or packing one for someone else, no doubt you’re always looking for fresh ideas to make it both tasty and healthy. Throw your favorite lunch concept into the mix below and see what you get back. It might be great ideas from other readers. And it might be a gift card!

We’re truly looking for both tasty and healthy, so be sure your lunch idea includes a protein, a whole grain and at least one serving each of fruits and vegetables. We’ll choose 5 winners—one for each weekday—at random from all entries that meet those guidelines and are submitted by September 30, 2010.

So, tell us…what’s for lunch? We’re hungry!

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The The Whole Deal value guide is designed to make bargains easy to spot:

• Coupons – print the coupons you want, when you want
• Sure Deals! – high-quality products where you get more of the good stuff for less than you think
• Three Under – at .99 or less, you won’t find a better value than our selection of Three Under items
• Money-Saving Meal Plans – these meal plans offer a week’s worth of menu ideas and recipes for one, two or four
• Budget-Friendly Recipes – recipes that satisfy your hunger and your budget

Plus, the August/September issue of The Whole Deal in-store value guide is packed with tips and ideas to help you succeed in the budget business.  Just take these money-saving, better-eating back-to-school tips, for example:

1. Prep raw veggies ahead and portion out into sandwich bags (our 365 Everyday Value® reclosable bags are under !) or reusable containers for a week’s worth of snacks and lunches.
2. Go with graham crackers instead of cookies; top as in the Apricot Graham Snackers recipe or with nut butter and raisins or fresh fruit. The 365 Everyday Value® Organic Honey Graham Crackers are a Sure Deal!
3. Save stale bread to make toast, croutons, stuffing, bread crumbs, bread pudding or bread salad.
4. Use the freezer for leftover portions, bread crusts, stock makings…and frozen peeled bananas to make Banana Nice Cream.
5. Stretch the animal protein by filling your plate mostly with healthy whole grains and vegetables, and about 3 ounces of meat, poultry or seafood per person.

Got any more back-to-school budget tips? We’d love to hear them.

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