Over the past 7 years we have helped the Easter Seals raise almost $180,000 and we’re hoping to have our best FUNraising month ever this year – but, we’ll need your help! Each June, we donate $1 per bag of our homemade cookies sold at Souplanation and Sweet Tomatoes. For only $1.99 you can help out a great cause, have some melt-in-your-mouth cookies to take home and you’ll even receive a $2 coupon good for your next visit!

With a shared passion for caring, Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes believes strongly in the Easter Seals’ mission to give help and support to children, adults, and families that are affected by disabilities. To learn more about programs provided by the Easter Seals that will be benefited from this partnership you can visit the Easter Seals’ website and don’t forget to stop in for a bag of cookies!

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Today is National Eat Your Vegetables Day, but we’ll be celebrating colorfully throughout June since it is also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month! Color is nature’s way of telling us what nutrients are in the fruits and vegetables we eat. The natural colors in produce come from phytochemicals, which act as antioxidants and help to boost our immune systems. Eating a variety of colors, from bright citrus fruits to darker, leafy greens, ensures that you’ll get the variety of vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Our salad bar is the perfect place to pile your plate with fruits and vegetables of every color of the rainbow. So, grab a plate and let’s explore what salad toppings will give you a boost of nutrients!

Red. Foods like watermelon, tomatoes and red peppers contain lycopene, a phytochemical that has been linked to protecting the body against prostate and breast cancers. They also contain high amounts of vitamin A and C as well as manganese and fiber.

Orange. Fruits and vegetables that are orange in color contain alpha and beta carotene that help keep your bones, eyes, and immune system in order. They also contain antioxidants that destroy disease-promoting free radicals. Try adding oranges, squash, cantaloupe, carrots, or sweet potatoes to your plate on your next visit.

Yellow & Green. Many yellow and green vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene that help prevent the age-related loss of eyesight.  Drizzling a little lemon juice over a bed of lettuce makes a zesty and healthy salad dressing – top with some corn and yellow squash to boost your vitamin intake!

Dark Green. Foods that are green in color are packed with indoles and isothiocyanates that can prevent cancerous cells from forming.  Dark greens also contain folate that aids in cell reproduction and lutein which helps eyesight.  Try replacing iceberg lettuce with a bed of spinach and top your salad with some nutrient-rich California Avocados.

Deep Purple, Blue & Red. Dark purple, blue, and red fruits and veggies contain anthocyanins and proanthocyanins that are associated with helping the brain function optimally and keeping the heart healthy.  To score some of these health benefits, up your intake of strawberries, radishes and raspberries. Also, don’t forget to try our Very Berry Salad with blueberries, goat cheese, and almonds this month!

On your next visit to Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes see how many colors you can load on your plate and us know which colors are your favorites!

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The next berry on the menu for Berry Berry June is one of our favorites – the blueberry!  The star of our NEW Berry Berry Tossed Salad with Goat Cheese and Almonds, available from June 1st until the 28th, this small fruit packs a big nutritional punch.

Blueberries are one of the few fruits that are native to America and come in approximately 30 different species. The berries’ dark blue tint indicates that they are bursting with nutrients and antioxidants, which makes them a superfood. In fact, the blueberry has the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit! The antioxidants in blueberries have been linked to:

• Helping prevent deadly diseases such as cancer and heart disease
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Improving the look of skin and hair

Full of vitamin C, E, K and manganese, these power-packed berries are often said to be a fountain of youth, slowing down age-related problems such as the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, diminishing eyesight and development of wrinkles while improving coordination and balance! To experience the full benefits of blueberries, nutritionists recommend eating one to two cups of a day.

What else is there to know about this super food?

• The white powder-like substance found on a blueberry is called “bloom” and it is an indication that the berry is ripe
• Blueberries were once used to make paints and dyes
• Blueberries are one of the only foods that are naturally blue
• America’s favorite muffin is the blueberry muffin – and one of our staple menu items!

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Not sure what to get dad for Father’s Day? We have a solution for you – 4 free meal passes for the family to celebrate at Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes!

It’s easy to enter, just share your favorite memory of a father figure in the comments below. Life lessons, embarrassing interrogations of your boyfriends, sharing a meal together or just being silly– we want to hear about the moments you treasure most!

Contest ends Sunday, June 16^th at 11:59 pm PT. Winners will be selected at random from valid blog entries and notified via email provided. Only one entry per person. Odds of winning based on number of participants. No purchase necessary.

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We are obviously BERRY excited for our Berry Berry June Menu this month. Along with other wholesome menu items, we welcome back one of our most popular salads – Strawberry Fields Salad with Caramelized Walnuts!

We’ve already covered how walnuts are a superfood, so today’s post is all about strawberries. These sweet berries pack health benefits such as reducing memory loss, the risk of cancer, the effects of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. How can such a tiny fruit do so much? One serving – 8 berries – has large amounts of nutrients like:

• Vitamin C
• Fiber
• Manganese
• Anthocyanins
• Folate

What’s even more super about this superfood?

• They were voted as kids’ favorite fruit
• Strawberries are a member of the rose family
• Each berry has around 200 seeds
• You can make our Strawberry Fields Salad with Caramelized Walnuts at home with our recipe!

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Tossed Salads:

• Strawberry Fields with Caramelized Walnuts (this sweet salad is also vegan – get it fast because it’s only available 6/1- 6/14)
• Ragin’ Cajun with Chicken

Signature Deli Salads:

• Joan’s Broccoli Madness
• Dijon & Dill Potato (can’t go wrong with this option that’s also vegan)

Toppings & Dressings:

• Sweet Strawberry butter
• Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Soups:

• Deep Kettle House Chili
• Vegetable Medley (hearty and vegetarian)

Dessert:

• Sugar-free Strawberry Mousse

Need even more variety? We {almost} ALWAYS have the following gluten free items available:

• Salad bar fresh-cut produce
• Baked potato with all the toppings
• All flavored gelatin
• Dressings (Some are not available every day. Subject to change depending on location):

• Fat Free Honey Mustard
• Fat Free Ranch
• Fat Free Italian
• Ranch
• Cuban French
• French Catalina
• Blue Cheese
• Thousand Island
• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Olive Oil & Vinegar

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Tuesday, June 18th from 7-9pm

The grills are sizzling, the ovens are hot, the greens are chilling—and we’re getting ready for YOU! Join us in celebrating the Grand Re-opening of our Souplantation restaurant in Point Loma. Whether Souplantation has become a family tradition or your favorite build-your-own lunch break, we’re thrilled to invite you to fall in love—again! Come rediscover Souplantation, with all your original favorites plus a bright new interior and even more fresh, local, premium ingredients. Taste your way around the new restaurant, and join us for a culinary event everyone can enjoy!

Event details:

• Try our new Chicken and Steak Skewers—fresh off the grill
• Savor a taste of our new Premium Desserts
• Enjoy 20% off your entire check
• Groove to live music performed by Mike Myrdal
• Enter to win the ultimate Grand Prize Giveaway: FREE meals for a year!

Focused on Family, Committed to Community

During the entire day of the event, Souplantation will donate $1 per diner to the local branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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Our final destination on our American Road Trip is Hawaii! Ok, we know you can’t actually drive to Hawaii, but we still wanted to bring you an authentic Hawaiian experience with our Hawaiian Slaw. A bite of this fresh salad filled with tropical fruits and we know you’ll be ready to hula!

What to Do in Hawaii

• Visit Hawaii Volcanos National Park. Explore some of the park’s 333,000 acres and see, Kilauea, an active volcano that produces 250,000-650,000 cubic yards of lava every day!
• Attend a Lu’au. Hula dancing, singing, and fantastic food – a Lu’au is a great way to experience the culture of the island.
• Explore.  With ancient sites, tropical forests and luscious beaches there is plenty to see in Hawaii.  So, bike, hike or horseback around the island and see how much you can experience.

What to Eat in Hawaii

• Kona Coffee. With 600 coffee farms within 20 miles you’ll be sure to get your caffeine boost!
• Shaved Ice. Shaved ice stands are prevalent on the island. Make it your mission to find the best one.
• Tropical Fruit. Lychees, rambutans, pineapples, and coconuts – Hawaii is filled with sweet fruits that are thoroughly refreshing after a day of exploration. Our Hawaiian Slaw is also a refreshing treat, perfect for any summer occasion. We love this dish so much we even decided to share the recipe with you!

 

HAWAIIN SLAW

What You’ll Need

• 20 oz. can of pineapple chunks (drain pineapple juice and save for the dressing)
• 1 ¾ cup salad dressing (available at most grocery stores – try Best Foods or Hellmann) *Don’t use mayo or miracle whip
• 2 ½ tsp. white sugar
• 16 cups of green cabbage sliced into small pieces
• 2 ¼ c. shredded coconut

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the salad dressing, 1 ½ tbsp. of pineapple juice and white sugar. Thoroughly whisk to combine. Set this mixture aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the green cabbage, coconut and pineapple chunks. Pour the dressing mixture over the top and thoroughly mix until all cabbage is coated with the dressing. Allow to chill in refrigerator for the best flavor.

 

Resources:

http://www.101thingstodo.com/bigisland101/

http://www.hawaii.com

http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/

 

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We’re hitting the road again for our American Road Trip! This time, we’re transporting you and your taste buds to breezy Key Largo, Florida. Blue water, sandy beaches and refreshing cuisine – we hope our featured menu will remind you of this vacation destination.

What to Do

• Dive Spiegel Grove. Key Largo is known as the “Dive Capital of the World,” and this 510-foot ship is a great reef to explore.
• Take a Glass-Bottomed Boat. Even if you don’t know how to scuba dive, you can still experience Florida sea life! An adventure in a glass-bottomed boat is perfect for your little sprouts to learn about life under the sea.
• See Everglades National Park. Take a short trip to this famous wetland wilderness that is home to endangered species like manatees and crocodiles!
• Hit the Beach. Sit back, relax and don’t forget the sunscreen! The beaches in Key Largo are the ideal setting for digging your toes into the sand and maybe having a little picnic.

What to Eat

• Key Lime Pie. The Keys are known for their sweet, tangy and refreshing key lime desserts. Now you can get a taste of the famous flavor when you try our Key Largo Key Lime Muffins. Be sure to grab one (or many more) before they’re gone on May 29th!
• Seafood. Key Largo has a variety of fresh seafood depending on the season. If you’re a fishing fanatic, you can even go out and catch your own dinner!

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Tuesday, June 4th from 7-9pm

The grills are sizzling, the ovens are hot, the greens are chilling—and we’re getting ready for YOU! Join us in celebrating the Grand Re-opening of our Souplantation restaurant in Rancho Bernardo. Whether Souplantation has become a family tradition or your favorite build-your-own lunch break, we’re thrilled to invite you to fall in love—again! Come rediscover Souplantation, with all your original favorites plus a bright new interior and even more fresh, local, premium ingredients. Taste your way around the new restaurant, and join us for a culinary event everyone can enjoy!

Event Details:

• Try our new Chicken and Steak Skewers—fresh off the grill
• Savor a taste of our new Premium Desserts
• Enjoy 20% off your entire check
• Groove to live music performed by Casey Turner
• Enter to win the ultimate Grand Prize Giveaway: FREE meals for a year!

Focused on Family, Committed to Community

During the entire day of the event, Souplantation will donate $1 per diner to the local branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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