THE SWAG BLOG

This is not your average coleslaw recipe. But The Swag is not your average company. We bring an Australian flare to everything we do and are proud to celebrate the launch of The Swag USA with one of our most flavorful, fresh and nutrient-rich 4th of July recipes! Note: For all vegetarians and vegans, this recipe can easily be adapted to include meat-free bacon options. (Our personal favourites is Lightlife Smart Bacon because it’s the only one we know that crisps up like pork bacon – and no, we are NOT being paid to say that. It’s a true recommendation)...

There are a lot of reasons to always have carrots on hand — they're a key ingredient in a lot of dishes, such as stock, they make great snacks or crudité, and are generally pretty affordable, even if you choose organic. The trouble with fresh fruit and vegetables is they speed at which they can rot. How often have you bought a bunch of carrots at the supermarket and they’ve sat in your fridge for a few days until you had an idea for dinner, only to find that they’re so weak and bendy you can tie them in a...

If I stopped you on the street and honestly asked, “How can I get healthier?” I have no doubt that I would hear a lot of the same advice: Eat better. Exercise more. Stop eating junk food. Eat more veggies, less carbs, less fat, more protein. Then I might hear something like, do more pushups. Go to the gym. Meditate. Research. Talk to your doctor. Find a healthcare coach. Yadda, yadda, yadda. I’m amazed how often people will ask this question. Most people are pretty honest and know they need (and want) to be healthier… but how to actually go...

You’ll be quite the fungi when you add mushrooms to your party platter! All jokes aside, mushrooms are a lot healthier than you might thing (the non-toxic ones of course). They are quite tasty too, if you ask me. The Heath Benefits of Mushrooms 1. Antioxidants For years, mushrooms have been used by naturalists and heath gurus for their strong antioxidant properties. Even though they’re actually fungi, mushrooms are lumped into the vegetable category – for both cooking and nutritional value.   2. Sulfur Mushrooms are also an excellent source of sulfur, which is a huge “forgotten” mineral in the...

We’ve gotten many emails and inquiries from people shopping at their local farmer’s markets and wondering how storing spinach, kale or other leafy greens directly into their Swags works. Vendors are still offering plastic bags, so can we be sure our produce will stay fresh without them? I’ve used reusable bags in the past, and they don’t help my spinach and lettuce keep any longer than plastic bags.  How is The Swag different? These are great questions from people really concerned about food waste! But here’s some good news: The Swag is not like those other organic cotton reusable bags on...

Brightly-red, delicious and full of healing power, beets are absolutely one of my favorite things to add to my morning smoothie routine. However, after recently reading a beet root cake recipe on Food.com, I instantly became excited by the idea of adding beets to my baking routine as well! If you’re not yet on the beet bandwagon, here is a great infographic from TrinitysKitchen.com that outlines just some of their amazing health benefits, including weight loss, detoxing power and liver health!These vegan chocolate beetroot muffins are something you can really root for (pardon the pun)!They have all the rich indulgence...

With the constantly rising price of fruits and veggies, not to mention everything else, it is important to get the most from what you buy. Storing your fresh produce the best way possible will mean that your fruits and veggies will last longer, and you will save money.

Crisp and delicious, apples are readily available year-round, but autumn is their peak season. Here’s your guide to storing apples and keeping them fresh all year:   1. Keep them whole As soon as you cut into an apple, the flesh starts to slowly turn brown from the oxygen in the air. A little lemon juice or vinegar will help to slow that process, and your apple will be fine so long as you eat it shortly. Or, you can keep them whole until just before you eat, use them in a recipe for the best shelf life or you...

The best and most natural way to store Potatoes and Onions

We all live for convenience especially when it comes to food and our health. Just like the myth that healthy eating is expensive, many people believe that buying in-season fruits and vegetables is just too much hassle. After all, Wal-Mart and Target don’t exactly tell you what is seasonal and what is not. So, where do you start? And how can you be sure it will even make a difference? Isn’t it good enough to just eat fruits and vegetables in the first place? The first step in eating seasonally can be as simple as going to your local farmer’s...

Did you know that fruits and vegetables are the most wasted type of food? It’s not surprising when you think about it. How many times have you purchased fruits and vegetables with great intentions to cook amazing meals and treats with them, but they end up going bad before you have a chance to use them? That’s one of the things that inspired me to invent The Swag! No one wants to waste food. We go to the supermarket, see all of this delicious, vibrant produce, and fill our carts. Fast forward a few days (or fewer in some cases),...

Food waste is a global problem, and it’s one of the main reasons I invented The Swag. Did you know that fruits and vegetables are wasted in the United States more than grain products, seafood, meat, and milk? If you’re like me, then this kind of information can be really upsetting and frustrating! You know food waste is bad, and throwing away any food is something you want to avoid. I believe that we’re all naturally food savers, not food wasters! It really only takes small changes in each of our lives to save more food. However, until more people...