I used to think agave nectar was the perfect sweetener because some raw foodists I trusted introduced me to it. Finally, it seemed like a great unrefined alternative to sugar and honey! But a year or so ago I did some research and discovered that it's not all it's cracked up to be - how disappointing! And over time, I learned that all unrefined sugars have some drawbacks - I outline the details in this article on Organic Authority.

In an effort to help people around the country find healthy foods no matter what stores are within reach and what the budget is, I've been exploring the options at national grocery markets. I started out with Kroger's Food Co, but wasn't able to find much at that discount warehouse. So my expectations were low when I ventured into a Safeway in San Francisco (16th & Bryant), but boy was I in for a surprise! This location has at least 100 vegan options, most of which are organic and many are gluten-free! Here are some of the highlights: