4 - National Taco Day
Suggest customers make the following swaps and the tacos they eat today will be much healthier:Protein: in place of ground beef, use lean ground beef, ground turkey, grilled shrimp or fish, low-sodium canned beans or high-fiber brown rice; seasoning: replace high-sodium taco seasoning with dried herbs and spices like cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, coriander, cayenne pepper, cilantro and parsley; taco shells: nix fried taco shells for baked corn or flour tortillas; toppings: incorporate romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, avocado or any other vegetable; and condiments: finish with fresh tomato salsa and low-fat sour cream.
 

13 - National M&M Day
First introduced commercially in 1941 by Forrest Mars, Sr., M&M’s were initially designed to allow for easy transport and consumption of chocolate by soldiers during war. With such a history, this popular candy deserves to be celebrated! To stay on track with good health today, encourage customers to eat only the recommended serving size. Dark chocolate M&M’s is a healthier option than the other varieties, but moderation is still key.
 

16 - National Pasta Day
A big plate of pasta is desirable to most, but its low nutritional value usually isn’t. The good news is, a variety of healthier alternatives exist, so customers can still partake, even if they are watching calories. Suggest customers swap traditional white, enriched flour pasta for either zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, soba noodles, shirataki noodles, quinoa, brown rice pasta, or whole-wheat or spelt flour pasta.

Entegra Procurement Services regularly publishes blog posts on food trends and innovations in food services. Entegra is more than a group purchasing organization (GPO): Our team of procurement specialists implement strategic sourcing to bring the most value to your business. We help our clients, in many segments ranging from the healthcare supply chain to restaurant supply, to cut costs and consolidate their portfolios.