Food and Beverage
How to Make Higher-Quality Choices at the Grocery Store
Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Grocery shopping can be stressful when there are so many options, especially if you’re making a conscious effort to make high-quality food choices while you shop. Arming yourself with a plan and plenty of information can help you make smarter choices and feel good about the meals you prepare for your family.
According to the Food Marketing Institute’s Power of Meat Report, 62% of consumers are looking for better-for-you meat and poultry options. Consider these ways you can pick up higher-quality products on your next trip to the grocery store.
Make a list and stick to it. Going shopping without a plan is a surefire way to make the trip to the grocery store less productive. Creating a list and identifying high-quality products that fit your needs can help you avoid impulse purchases. Plus, list-making can also help save money if you plan meals that let you use ingredients across multiple recipes for minimal waste.
Pay attention to labels. Food labels contain insightful details that can help you make well-informed decisions about the foods you buy. Especially when it comes to fresh products, like protein, you can learn a lot about how the food was raised, simply from its label. For example, Perdue’s “No Antibiotics Ever” label is the gold standard when it comes to reducing antibiotic use in chicken farming, compared to the “no hormones or steroids” label, which shows adherence solely to federal regulations.
“You can feel good about purchasing our products labeled No Antibiotics Ever knowing they were raised and fed in such a way that no antibiotics were ever needed,” said Dr. Bruce Stewart-Brown, senior vice president of technical services and innovation at Perdue Farms. “In order to achieve No Antibiotics Ever raised chickens, we worked hard to change our feed and care approach over the last 20 years.”
Know how to select fresh foods. If you find yourself overwhelmed when it comes to selecting produce and fresh meat, you’re not alone. When choosing fruits and vegetables, you generally want produce with a consistent color that is firm but not hard to the touch. Many fresh fruits and veggies emit an appealing fragrance at their peak ripeness.
When it comes to meat and poultry products, you can use a similar approach. For example, if you’re shopping for chicken, press down on the chicken in the package. If it’s plump and somewhat resilient, reverting to its shape, it’s a fresher pack. Also be wary of excess liquid in the pack, which can dilute the flavor or contribute to a soggy texture. You may also wonder which cuts are best. For a formal family meal, consider cooking a whole bird, which offers white and dark meat to please all appetites and can serve as a beautiful mealtime centerpiece.
Take some shortcuts. Even if you aim to prepare fresh, home-cooked meals most nights, there are sure to be some evenings when you need to squeeze in a quick meal around work, school and extracurriculars. Having a few simple go-to recipes can help. For example, an easy stir-fry with fresh chicken and frozen veggies can shave off prep time while still providing a hot, well-balanced meal. If you’re meal prepping for the week, marinate pre-cut chicken thighs or legs in different spices and seasonings to make cooking throughout the week simpler. Or try an option like Perdue’s Short Cuts, which include a variety of ready-to-eat, roasted, perfectly seasoned chicken breast strips.
Shop the store’s perimeter last. In most stores, fresh foods are located in refrigerated sections around the perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll find produce, fresh meat, poultry and dairy, giving you most of the essential ingredients for wholesome, well-balanced meals. Saving this section of the store for your last stop can help ensure perishable items spend less time away from refrigeration before you check out.
Find chicken recipes and poultry shopping tips at perdue.com.
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Food and Beverage
Quick Teriyaki Chicken Bowl Recipe Using Foster Farms Precooked Strips
Quick 10-minute teriyaki chicken bowl using Foster Farms precooked chicken strips, store-bought teriyaki sauce, and rice. Fast, easy, and customizable weeknight meal.
Last Updated on December 13, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Grilled Chicken teriyaki rice (Adobe Sock)
When you need a fast, flavorful meal without the fuss, a teriyaki chicken bowl is one of the easiest dishes you can throw together. Using Foster Farms precooked chicken breast strips, store-bought teriyaki sauce, and ready-to-heat rice, you can have dinner on the table in about ten minutes — no chopping, marinating, or complicated prep required.
A Weeknight Staple
This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights, work-from-home lunches, or those moments when you want something warm and satisfying without relying on takeout. With precooked chicken, most of the work is already done for you. All you’re really doing is heating, mixing, and assembling.
“A complete teriyaki bowl in ten minutes — no takeout required.”
Ingredients
1–2 cups cooked rice (microwaveable rice packets work great) 1 cup Foster Farms precooked chicken breast strips ¼–½ cup teriyaki sauce, depending on how saucy you like it 1 cup of vegetables (fresh, steamed, or frozen) Optional toppings: sesame seeds, green onion, pineapple chunks, spicy mayo, red pepper flakes
Instructions
1. Prep the Base
Start with your rice. If you’re using microwave rice, it heats up in about 60–90 seconds. Leftover rice works just as well — just warm it in a bowl before assembling the dish.
2. Heat the Chicken
Foster Farms precooked chicken strips make this step incredibly simple. Just heat them in a skillet for a couple of minutes or microwave them for under a minute. Add a few tablespoons of teriyaki sauce and stir to coat the chicken evenly.
3. Add the Vegetables
This bowl works with almost any vegetable you enjoy. Frozen stir-fry mixes are quick and convenient, while steamed broccoli or carrots add color and crunch. Toss the veggies into the pan with the chicken so they absorb the teriyaki flavor.
4. Build Your Bowl
Add your rice to a serving bowl and top it with the teriyaki chicken and vegetables. If you want a richer flavor, drizzle on a little extra teriyaki sauce.
5. Customize With Toppings
Finish with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or a drizzle of spicy mayo. Pineapple adds a sweet touch that pairs perfectly with teriyaki, giving your bowl a subtle Hawaiian twist.
👉 Download the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl Recipe PDF
Why This Recipe Works
What makes this meal so appealing is its flexibility. Use whatever rice you have on hand, swap in your favorite veggies, and adjust the sauce level to your own taste. It’s fast, affordable, and customizable — ideal for anyone looking to simplify their cooking without sacrificing flavor.
Do you have your own fast weeknight recipes or kitchen shortcuts? Share them with us in the comments or tag @STM Daily News on social media. We love spotlighting great ideas from our readers!
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Beverages
Grazing and Gifting: Sweet Solutions for the Holiday Rush
Grazing and Gifting: hMake holiday entertaining and gifting easy with Florida Citrus. Discover delightful recipes—like Scallops with Grapefruit Butter and Citrus Salad with Burrata—and send sweet, healthy citrus gift baskets to loved ones for a memorable, stress-free season.
Grazing and Gifting: Sweet Solutions for the Holiday Rush
(Family Features) If you feel yourself slipping into the last-minute rush of the holiday season, still searching for dazzling recipes and abundant gifts, rest assured – you’re not alone. Light, refreshing ingredients for spectacular meals are just a click away, and they can make for the perfect presents, too.
Abundantly sweet and simple, Florida Citrus Gifts are a simple way to share holiday cheer with family, friends and loved ones. From cheerful boxes to beautiful baskets and more, they offer options in all shapes and sizes, loaded with freshly picked tangerines, grapefruits, oranges and mandarins. They’re easy to send and even easier to enjoy, providing a one-of-a-kind (and healthy) way to share holiday cheer in memorable meals like Scallops with Florida Grapefruit Butter, sure to become a household favorite for years to come. Pair it with a light and refreshing Florida Citrus Salad with Burrata featuring fresh grapefruit and oranges mingling with peppery arugula and creamy burrata to bring a bit of balance to holiday dining. No festivity is complete without libations, and this Florida Grapefruit Brandy Sour can be a staple at your beverage station. Just mix freshly squeezed Florida Grapefruit juice with brandy, simple syrup, bitters and egg white (for froth) then finish with sparkling water. Find deliciously thoughtful ways to share the sweetness of the season with loved ones by visiting PickFLA.com, which features an interactive map to find a range of gift options that fit your holiday needs. 
Florida Grapefruit Brandy Sour
Recipe courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 1- 1 3/4 ounces brandy
- 2 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed Florida Grapefruit Juice
- 1/3 ounce simple syrup, or to taste
- 2 dashes bitters
- 1 egg white
- ice cubes
- 1 ounce sparkling water
- Florida Grapefruit twist, for garnish
- In cocktail shaker, add brandy, Florida Grapefruit juice, simple syrup, bitters and egg white. Shake vigorously 15-20 seconds to create frothy texture.
- Add ice cubes to shaker and shake 15 seconds to chill drink.
- Strain into chilled coupe or rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Pour light splash of sparkling water over top to enhance effervescence.
- Garnish with grapefruit twist.
Scallops with Florida Grapefruit Butter
Recipe courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 3 minutes Servings: 4- 2 Florida Grapefruit
- 1 fennel bulb
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for searing, divided
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon, plus 1 pinch, salt, divided, to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon, plus 1 pinch, pepper, divided, to taste
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro
- 12 scallops with empty shells
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Peel and cut one Florida Grapefruit into segments. Squeeze remaining grapefruit and reserve juice.
- Wash and finely chop fennel. In bowl, mix fennel with olive oil, sherry vinegar and 1 pinch salt and pepper.
- Mix and add fresh cilantro. Keep a few leaves for garnish.
- In hot frying pan, drizzle with olive oil then sear scallops 1 minute on each side.
- Remove scallops from pan then deglaze with reserved Florida Grapefruit juice. Let it simmer slightly and add butter to make sauce. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.
- Place 1 tablespoon fennel salad in washed shell, top with three scallops and coat with grapefruit butter.
- Finish with reserved cilantro leaves and fresh grapefruit segments.
Florida Citrus Salad with Burrata
Recipe courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus Florida Citrus Vinaigrette:- 1/3 cup Florida Grapefruit Juice
- 1/3 cup Florida Orange Juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons shallots
- sea salt, to taste
- fresh pepper, to taste
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup white vinegar or cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 Florida Grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments
- 3 oranges, peeled and cut into segments
- 1 bunch radishes, sliced thin and cut into sticks
- 1/3 cup pistachios, grilled and coarsely chopped
- 1 cup arugula
- 2 tablespoons dill, chopped
- sea salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces burrata
- To make vinaigrette: In small bowl, mix Florida Grapefruit Juice, Florida Orange Juice, orange zest, cider vinegar, honey, Dijon, olive oil and shallots until dressing is emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside. Vinaigrette will keep 7 days in refrigerator.
- To make pickled onion: Place sliced onion in airtight canning jar.
- In small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Bring to boil and pour over sliced onion in jar. Add small amount of water to completely cover onion. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Pickled onions will keep 15 days in refrigerator.
- To make burrata salad: In bowl, combine Florida Grapefruit and Orange segments; add radish sticks, toasted pistachios, arugula and dill. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place salad on large plate, top with coarsely chopped burrata and drizzle generously with citrus vinaigrette and pickled onion.
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
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Last Updated on December 12, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Balance Fall Comfort Foods with a Lighter Bite
(Family Features) Before turning your attention to the comfort of filling soups and slow-cooked meals, give warmer weather one last hurrah. If you have any garden veggies leftover, this Cucumber and Tomato Salad offers a light, tasty dish that’s perfect for packing to the office. Discover more recipe ideas for any season at Culinary.net.
Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy” Servings: 4-6- 3 medium or large cucumbers
- 2-3 vine tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion (optional)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced dill
- 1 tablespoon mayo
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Peel and slice cucumbers. Deseed, if desired. Coarsely chop into bite-size pieces. Slice and chop tomatoes. Place cucumbers and tomatoes in large bowl with chopped onions, if desired.
- To make dressing: In separate bowl, mix apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, dill and mayo. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour over cucumber mixture and mix well.
- Top with shredded Parmesan cheese and serve.
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
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