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Whole Foods Market Crostini//All Photography by Amy Strauss
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Healthy eating—and cooking—are now made easy thanks to Whole Foods Market Glen Mills’ Healthy Eating Specialist Kristen Molnar. The eating-smart crusader launched a monthly supper club in February, sinking her energies into demystifying the challenge of preparing healthy meals for one’s self.
The supper club, which maxes out at 15 guests and costs diners only $10 for three plant-based courses, takes shape right in the Whole Foods’ cafe. There, Molnar mingles with attendees, educating diners through each course and illustrating how they are prepared using ingredients found in the store’s stock.
“My goals for the supper club are to provide a support group for customers, help them visualize making changes in their diets, and allow them to enjoy a healthy dinner out,” says Molnar. “I love the idea of providing a completely plant-based meal that is delicious and wholesome. Whether you’re a ‘whole foodie,’ or becoming more familiar with healthy eating, the supper club provides the opportunity for everyone to connect and inspire each other.”
Inspired by the specialist’s enthusiasm for whole foods, we grabbed a seat at March’s event to uncover the beauty of this health-conscious dining club. Molnar’s menus are inspired by her favorite food blogs and seasonality, so for our installment, we experienced a series of late winter marvels—all of which were rich in comfort and texturally impressive.
Seated around a rustic communal table, the food-focused conversations were immediately flowing as we spooned into a spicy, flavor-packed tomato soup accented with snappy chipotle chili flakes and smoked paprika. Paired with whole wheat crostini generously smeared with an olive-artichoke tapenade—perfect for dipping— and a recipe inspired by Vanilla and Bean, we were already on culinary cloud nine.
Soon, we were acquainted with perhaps the best polenta cakes of our lives, which were infused with an addictive cashew cream and piled with balsamic-drizzled mushrooms. Its side salad—crafted with pears, white beans, pine nuts and arugula and splashed with a white vinegar and dijon dressing—was equally vibrant (inspired by a similar recipe on Love and Lemons).
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Whole Foods Market Blondie
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The finale—a protein-packed blondie with banana ‘nice’ cream—illustrated the specialist’s sharpest cooking skill sets, leaving us itching to hit the kitchen and, ultimately, get healthy! The decadent blondie in question featured chickpeas as its base (a recipe adapted from Coconut Almond Recipes) and date sauce as its frosting. Imaginative and good for you, the guilt-free treat left us pulling out our calendars to book a seat at the next supper club. By the way, may we remind you that’s only $10 for a dinner and an education.
The next healthy eating supper club will take place Saturday, April 18, 6 p.m. with the theme Asian Garden. “We will be featuring spring vegetables with an Asian flair,” Molnar says. To secure your spot, visit the event’s Eventbrite or email Kristen Molnar.
Local shoppers can also catch Kristen Molnar daily at Whole Foods Market in Glen Mills, where she readily shows you how easy it is to eat healthy. As the site’s healthy eating specialist, she also offers complimentary services like guided healthy eating tours (how to shop on a budget, eat local and seasonal, shop while avoiding gluten), monthly cooking classes, recipe creation and product demos, personal consultations and menu planning and more.
Find Whole Foods Market Glen Mills in the Glen Eagle Square Shopping Center at 475 Wilmington West Chester Pike, (610) 358-1133, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/glenmills.
