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The Sweetest Niche – Part 2

April 30, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

What is your choice of indulgence? A delicious French macaron, a pastry cream-filled brioche, or maybe even something as simple as a cupcake? It is important to satisfy your cravings, especially when it is something so delectable and sweet! Local pastry and sweet shops definitely target those with a sweet tooth, so we are here to give a shout out to those we think you will CRAVE the most! This selection is from the Minneapolis area:

Sweets Bake Shop – http://www.sweetsbakeshop.com/
Offering cupcakes, brownies and French macarons made fresh daily, Sweets Bake Shop really knows who their target audience is: anyone and everyone who enjoys something SWEET! Sweets Bake Shop tries to use natural, local ingredients as much as possible, including butter from Hope Creamery located in Hope, Minnesota and organic, free-range eggs from Larry Schultz Organic Farm in Owatonna, Minnesota. Delish!

Salty Tart Bakery – http://www.saltytart.com/
Calling all pastry lovers! Nationally acclaimed pastry chef, Michelle Gayer, knows her perfect niche audience. Offering beautiful, custom-made weddings cakes and mouth-watering pastries, it is safe to say every true dessert-lover should test this one out. Salty Tart Bakery knows how to customize your bakery request to a tee. Sure gives other pastry shops a run for their money!

Chocolat Céleste – http://store.chocolatceleste.com/
Truffles, Bon-Bons, Toffee…CHOCOLATE. Need I say more? Named one of “10 Best Emerging American Artisanal Chocolatiers”, Mary Leonard definitely knows how to keep her customers satisfied. Mary uses fresh ingredients from local farms, imported European chocolate coming from the best cacao growers in the world, and (very importantly) never any preservatives. The result? One of the finest calibers of chocolate from a direct shipment from Europe. Talk about impressive!

Kari Nordvik is an intern for CRAVE.

The Sweetest Niche

April 30, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

Southern red velvet cake, strawberry shortcake, butterscotch pudding, and bite size s’mores – oh, my! They make the mouth water and the tummy growl with just a simple thought. We love baked goods that taste just like something out your grandmother’s kitchen. They bring back memories of childhood summer vacations, family barbecues, and honestly just make you feel great! So, in honor of banana pudding, sugar cookies, the bakeries, and women who’ve made these delectable goodies available, we’re extending some love to CRAVE businesses specializing in sweet treats!

Violet’s Cakes – violetscakes.com

Ingredients as fine as Bitter Sweet Callebaut, Valrhona Chocolate, and Tahitian Vanillas lend a hand in creating rich fudgy “can’t stop eating good” brownies and artful cakes covered in delicious arrays of butter cream. Congrats to owner Denise Weber – Violet Cakes is certainly a dream come true bakery in Pasadena, CA! It has a down-home vibe with interesting classic cakes.  In flavors like French toast or root beer float, it’s the elaborate flare in cake design which has brought them a lot of attention. Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it?  It very much is!

Susie Cakes – susiecakesbakery.com

Mama knows best! She know that sweets like rich pecan pie, gooey chocolate whoopie pies, or luscious lemon cake will have you wanting more. Maybe you’ve been wishing for those days when you snuck in the kitchen waiting to sneak a piece when she wasn’t looking. Don’t worry, Susie Cakes is the answer to those nostalgic cravings. Offering impeccable, retro-chic desserts that leave your tummy feeling good, your taste buds satisfied, and give you what you need, it’s a slice of heaven!

Gotta Have S’More - gottahavesmore.com

Eating warm, sticky, sweet s’mores by the fireside isn’t just for summer camp. Carmen Linder of Gotta Have S’more flipped the script on that tradition. Her online store offers her delectable, bite-size treats. They’re created with love from just the right amount of graham cracker and marshmallow goodness then combined with different assortments of flavors.  These little desserts make a great event or entertainment treat. Once you have one, you’ll need a second!

Tifany Williams is an intern for CRAVE.

Blog for Business? Identify Your Audience!

April 29, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (1)

One of the first steps of developing a new business is carving out your niche. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying a niche. The strategies that I recommend are for entreprenesses who blog for business.

Listen to Your Voice

Just because you are a lady blogger, doesn’t mean that you have to blog for ladies. Who you attract to your blog aka your target market, will depend upon your writing tone. Think about it. If you constantly address your readers as “darlings” and “dolls” then that is who you will reach.

Authenticity is key when developing your online business. Your readers will want to feel like they are having a conversation with you. Readers love familiar voices and not ones that talk at them. If your natural tendency is the doll and darling route, then embrace it and accept that your target audience will be dolls and darlings.

“I’ve listened to my voice, now what?”

Identify Competitors But Stay True To Yourself

Market research serves two purposes: (1) to make sure what you are doing hasn’t already been done; and (2) if it is being done, then it helps you determine how you can do it differently- in a way that matters. Keep a list of competitors, their subject matters, their apparent audience, and how your blog will differ. For example, you want to start a blog to connect mompreneurs, but you find that the concept is already in use. Consider making your topic location-specific; i.e. Connecting Mompreneurs in Chicago. Or, consider drilling down even further. How about making it a Resource Guide for Mompreneurs?

“Okay, I’ve got my eye on the competition. Do I stop here?”

Develop the Blueprint

Now you must do a more in-depth analysis of your target market. Key questions to consider:
What is the age range of my reader?

Which gender would be most interested in my subject matter?

What is the career stage of my potential reader?

What level of education do they have?

What is their marital or family status?

What do my readers value most?

Which, if any, special features of my blog will be most appealing?

Where do they get most of their decision-making information?

Use your answers to develop a concise target market statement. Here is the statement that I developed:
Ages 28-40 male and female, working professionals and entrepreneurs in Chicago-area who are in the mid- to upper income brackets, value quality of life, luxury living and personalized services. Graduate/professional level of education. They are internet- and tech savvy.

Your statement will give a clearer picture of who you are writing for and why, even down to determining article topics.

Prepare for Change

“The only constant in life, is change.” After all of the research, deep thought and mapping things out, know that where you start with your business will not always be where you end up. Often, our audience will show us what our true niche is, and no matter what we want it to be, we cannot fight against the grain of our natural grain and strengths.

____________

Patrice N. Perkins is the founder and editor of My Lifestyle ZEN, a Chicago-based blog for working professionals and entrepreneurs who value quality of life. You can visit Patrice’s website here: http://www.mylifestylezen.com/

My No-Fail, One-Step, Niche-Finding Exercise

April 27, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (3)

When you’re an entrepreneur, there’s something about this idea of knowing your niche that can feel out of reach but all-powerful. Like you have to be a marketer to “get it right”. But marketing, done nicely, is no more fancy or cerebral than telling people what you do. And niche marketing is telling people you like what you do. You already know everything you need to beautifully market your business – you just might not know that you know.

One-step niche-finding
In one of the workshops I lead, I start things off by helping the business owners in the room figure out their niche – except that I tell them we’re “describing our ideal clients”. Same thing, but one sounds way more fun and it is. Here is the exercise:

Close your eyes. Picture yourself sitting in your living room. There are six or so seats available on your couch or with dining room chairs pulled in. Now, one at a time, invite into your living room your ideal clients. These can be people you already know or they can be imaginary.

Now get a scrap piece of paper and set a timer for 12 minutes. Write the answers to the questions below as quickly as you can:

What are the people in your living room wearing? Where were they before arriving at your place? Where will they go next? What labels do they give themselves? What communities are they a part of? What keeps them up at night? What do you love about them? What do they ask you for? What do you want to do for them?

You already know exactly who will “get” you and what your business is all about. You already know who wants to buy from you and what they need. And you’ve just written it down. Too simplistic? Nu-uh. You know why? Women are highly intuitive, emotionally intelligent beings. We’ve already collected and stored all the necessary data. When you do a timed writing exercise like this, your judgmental side doesn’t have time to meddle, so your creative side gets free reign. It can tap into and string together relevant data more quickly. It’s the opposite of simple – in marketing consultant speak, what you’ve just written up is a psychographic target market analysis. You’re such a smarty pants.

Now how do you use this information?
Design your promotions for the six people you pictured in your living room. Put your flyers where those people hang out. When you write your website or your event invitations or your newsletters, don’t write them for some faceless mass, write them for those six people. How would they like your store or clinic to look and feel? If you saw a redhead in Hunter boots on your imaginary couch, don’t pay any mind to what her husband would like.

Be brave enough to be specific.
I know it’s scary. This week, for the first time ever, I described my own business as “specializing in elegantly written and smartly designed websites for women-owned businesses.” Yikes. But what about business cards? I heard that panicked voice saying. And what about the men? You like men, Carrie. Which is true. But in every iteration of my own website, when I have dared to get more specific, I’ve always attracted more clients and more clients I LOVE who want to do projects I love. Which makes sense, right?

What niche marketing all comes down to, for me, is this: Life is way too short – and way too long – to do anything other than what you love with people you love.

—

Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, amateur poet, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Communications, a writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs across North America. She also teaches workshops at the brand new Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs (with self-study e-workbooks coming this spring!). Visit www.pinkelephantcommunications.com to download a free copy of 6 Ways to Attract Clients with Kindness.

CRAVE Portland Businesses Carve Their Niches

April 25, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (1)

All month we’ve been talking about knowing your niche, and today we’re calling out CRAVE businesses, specifically in Portland, OR, that embody this theme! Local businesses like the ones below make a city stand out from other cities and help make Portland the unique city that it is. Each one caters to a specific need that Portlanders need filled, and the city is a better place because of them!

TanQ – http://www.tanq.us/

“Kindness is contagious.” TanQ appeals to the hipster-chic do-gooder, of which Portland has many. Owner Judy Tan designs one t-shirt each month for a different non-profit and donates 100% of the profits for the first year. TanQ is a Portland-based online store that spreads a positive message, and the t-shirts allow you to tell your friends that you contributed to a cause important to you! All the t-shirts designed are limited so once they’re gone, they’re gone! Remember to get your limited edition t-shirt and spread the word!

Kimberlee Jaynes Interior Designs, Inc. – http://www.kimberleejaynes.com/

Kimberlee Jaynes has a carved a niche for herself catering to people with discerning taste who desire gorgeous homes. An interior designer with many awards under her belt, Kimberlee has also been featured in many publications. She’s been an interior designer for the past 17 years and is an expert on helping clients discover their personal style for their homes. Kimberlee works with you to realize the vision of your home, and she specializes in color consulting, custom fine furniture and many more interior design services.

The Whole 9 Yards – http://w9yards.com/

Calling all interior design junkees and fabric freaks! Are you into design projects? Would you rather upholster a chair than get a manicure? The Whole 9 Yards is a top notch retailer for interior fabrics and is the perfect place for you. They always carry very unique selections of trim and fabrics and are more than happy to help you with your search for the perfect fabric for your project! They also offer custom furniture and sometimes hold sewing classes at the store.

These are just a few Portland businesses that know their niche oh-so-well. Stay tuned this week to learn about CRAVE businesses in other cities that have conquered their niches and are thriving because of it!

Joe Nguyen is an intern for CRAVE

Home Is Where The Heart Is

April 19, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

Brooke Davis, real estate guru, is one CRAVE entrepreness who knows her niche very well. With a savvy blog, in depth neighborhood guide coming to her site soon, and a distinguished career, she’s our go-to gal for all things real estate. Her website brookedavisrealestate.com is a fabulous resource for buyers and sellers alike. Learn more about Brooke and how she became the successful entrepreneur she is today:

What drew you to the career?
While buying my first home I became a little obsessed with the process. I loved working with our realtor and enjoyed the hunt of tracking down the perfect home to fit our needs.

After going through the home buying process I thought about being a realtor. I made lots of excuses about why I should not dive into self employment. I thought there were too many real estate agents out there, the market would maybe eventually ctrash or that I would have to save up money for too long before getting started. Finally, I got up the courage and quit my job at the time and decided I was going to be a real estate agent.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be in politics- I even doubled majored in Political Science and Communications in college. I had the idea that I always wanted to help people bring about positive change.

What is the most rewarding part?
Nothing is more rewarding than having a happy client. I feel great satisfaction when I get a referral from a past client.

There are so many different parts of home buying that through the process you really get to know a lot about a person. It is really rewarding to be able to develop a relationship with each client and then see how happy they are when they finally get the home they have been saving up for.

Where do you do most of your work?
I work most often from my laptop which follows me everywhere I go- coffee shops are one of my favorite places to settle in.

What is it like to be a woman in your industry?
Safety is always at the forefront of my mind when meeting new clients or holding an open house. As a woman I always take precautions to make sure I am protecting myself.

Tips for Reaching Your Target

April 15, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (2)

Congratulations my powerful entreprenesses- you have climbed over that 20-foot wall and defined your niche. You know who you want to work with but might be asking yourself, now what do I do?

You have the answer to the who, and now comes the “what”. What do you say to your target market to warm their buying temperature and turn prospects into clients? Ladies, it is time to climb the 10-foot wall of communicating with your target market.

Targeting all of your Communication

Now that you know your target, it becomes a lot easier to communicate with them using the features and benefits that are most important to “them”. Whether communicating verbally or in writing, you can address the issues that are most important and pressing to your target market. You want to put your business in the position of having the solutions to their issues.

Here are a few tips to ensure that your communication to your target market is speaking “to them” and “warming their buying temperature”.

Tip #1

Know the answer to this question: What are your client’s most urgent needs? (What do they want or need most?)

If you don’t know this yet, you can find it by doing online research, conducting a survey or holding a focus group. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate – people are almost always happy to share their opinion.

Here is an example of what I mean by urgent need: The urgent need that may have you reading the CRAVE blog on a regular basis is a need for information that will help you strengthen and grow your business. Or maybe your need is for business support and information from female entrepreneurs who have done it, are doing it and are doing it well.

Find out what your target market’s burning needs are and be their problem solver.

Tip#2

Know the answer to this question: What are your client’s desires?

(Where do they want to be, want do they want to do better, what do they no longer want to do, how do they want to feel?)

When you develop your communication you want to include how your service or product will help them fulfill these desires.

Analyze yourself for examples of potential desires. Your desire may be to have a thriving business that allows you to work 4 days a week or to have more financial freedom.

Tip#3

Know the answer to this question: What are the full-fledged benefits your clients will receive as a result of your services or products?

When answering this question, gloating is allowed. This is not the time to be reserved.

Use your list of benefits in your communication to your target market. Always ensure that you taking about benefits for them, not you. Also double check that each benefit is helping to fulfill their desire and/or give them the solution to their needs or wants.

With the responses from the series of questions above you, will be able to target all of your communication to your target market. Always remember when connecting with your target market that the aim is to position your business in a manner which takes away the “cold sales” like nature and allows your target market to view your business as the “go to business,” because you know their pains and can help to alleviate them.

Karen Donaldson is a Motivational Speaker, Public Speaking and Presentation skills coach and Founder of Karen Donaldson Inc and Panache Life Inc. She has helped numerous executives, entrepreneurs and sales professionals become panic free presenters, communicate with confidence and clarity, command attention whenever they speak and deliver presentations that close the sale.

Visit Karen at www.karendonaldsoninc.com for free resources, one-on-one coaching and upcoming events.

Clarify and Collaborate Vs. Compete

April 13, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (2)

With most of this month’s bloggers focusing the power of the niche on your target market, I thought I’d take a different approach and focus on you. Your voice. Your contribution.

Be Clear On Our Voices

About a year ago, five of us found each other on Twitter. We all run female friendship businesses, and significantly, we are all bloggers on the same theme. One might call us competitors. But I’d say we’re collaborators. The difference in this case? We each know our voice.

While we are all in the same industry, writing on similar subjects, and trying to be heard in the same social media streams, we know what we each have to offer:

• Dr. Irene Levine of The Friendship Blog writes Q&A advice columns and comes from a psychologists perspective.
• Dawn Bertuca & Tina Bishop of Girlfriend Celebrations are two friends who together have a unique & warm voice as they share girls night out ideas.
• Rachel Bertsche of MWFseekingBFF is a late twenty-something that blogs in first person about her personal experiences in making new friends in a new city.
• Debba Haupert of Girlfriendology does everything she can to inspire women with interviews, social media and appreciation for our friends.
• And, my Shasta’s Friendship Blog, tends to be very how-to practical, with a soulful slant that comes from my background in ministry.

You can quickly see, at a glance, how much richer cyberspace is for having all of us talking about the same theme from different perspectives, backgrounds and angles. A psychologist will bring a very different perspective than a girl in Chicago looking for friends. And both are helpful! The same woman could read both those blogs and be appreciative of the honest insight and self-deprecating wit of Rachel and learn from Dr. Levine as she helps gives suggestions to a specific woman with a question.

Be Clear on our Benefits!

Here’s how knowing my voice has enhanced my business:

1. Less worried about competition. No one else can write the way I do, with my perspective and personality. You might have the same service or product as someone else and even be trying to get it in front of the same target audience. But knowing your voice and being able to showcase it will mean no one else can offer it the same way you do.
2. More helpful to my target audience. Because I know who I am and who I’m not, I can cheerfully promote other voices to my audience knowing it will benefit them. I can’t be all things to all people so I’m thrilled to introduce them to others who can also be a part of their success.
3. Increased promotion of my peers. I don’t live with the philosophy that only one of us can succeed. I think all of us have amazing things to offer and the world is better for having each of us do it our own way. I want your success. When I know my voice and can celebrate yours—I can trust there is room for all of us. I show up in this world grateful and hopeful.
4. Clearer on how I communicate. When I know who I am and how I show up differently, then I know how to market myself to prospective clients, potential employers and other collaborators. I can describe to them exactly what they’ll get with me. I don’t have to pretend to be you or try to sell myself as something else. I know my presence as a speaker, writer or team player on a project.

So much attention is given to knowing who your audience is, but really you need to first know who you are. If you speak the voice that only you can, you will undoubtedly attract a following of people who hunger for what you offer. As you identify your niche this month, may you also grow in confidence that you are perfectly positioned to offer it in a way that is uniquely you. Bless us with you.

Written by Shasta Nelson, M.Div, CEO of the friends matching web site www.GirlFriendCircles.com, columnist for Huffington Post and weekly blogger at Shasta’s Friendship Blog.

Finding Your Niche

April 12, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (2)

If I had a dollar for every time my father told me I’d have a career in the creative industry, I’d be a millionaire by now. As a kid growing up, I didn’t think I had to ‘find my niche’. I already knew what I was destined to be, where I was going to live & what I was going to do as a profession. But life didn’t turn out that way, and boy, was I headed in a direction that didn’t at all match my ‘plans’.

What I didn’t realize when I was young, was that finding your niche really means finding your way, and finding what you were good at and succeeding at that skill, whatever it was. Life always has other plans for you but if you can learn a few pointers along the way that will help you out, then you are well on your way to finding your niche.

Here are some of my key tips on how to find your niche. These have helped me tremendously, not only find my niche, but also grow as a person and master some skills I never thought I had.

Network & Connect

This is #1 in my books. Networking and connecting with the right crowd is key no matter what type of business you are in or the type of position you hold. In fact, I wrote an article about it because I know that if you arm yourself with the right networking ammunition, you can conquer anything & anyone. Connecting and networking with business folks doesn’t have to be invasive nor does it have to seem like a sales pitch. It’s all in the art of how you approach, knowing what you want to take out of the conversation & how you remain connected with them after the initial meeting. Business people ‘get’ that networking and connecting is a natural part of any entrepreneur’s growth in the business world but when you do it right, you will see the positive changes it can truly make.

Do your own SWOT Analysis

If companies believe in making a SWOT to understand what their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats are you should do the same for your own personal brand. Consider it you making the most of your talents and opportunities. In the words of the famous French chemist, Louis Pasteur, once said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Chances are, you are most likely to succeed in life if you use your talents to their fullest extent. Similarly, you’ll suffer fewer problems if you know what your weaknesses are, and if you manage these weaknesses so that they don’t matter in the work you do. If you look at yourself using the SWOT framework, you can start to separate yourself from your peers, and further develop the specialized talents and abilities you need to advance your career.

Your Personal Brand

A personal brand is a great 2nd step after you determine your SWOT. Remember, branding is more that just your ‘visual identity’. Branding reflects your personality, your traits, the way you dress, the way you shake someone’s hand, the way you communicate with others and the list goes on. An article in Fast Company states, “Everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to learn, improve, and build up their skills. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark.”

Listen + Learn

No matter how experienced someone is at business, listening is still a challenge for most people and not everyone does it right. “Listen 90% of the time and talk 10% of the time” is a quote I heard that I believe is very true. People love to hear themselves talk, but are they really listening? Making eye contact? Both of these are very important when you are (a) networking and (b) listening to clients what their needs are. If you listen carefully, you ask the right questions and you always learn.

Don’t Be in a Rush

Growing up, if there was one thing I was always guilty of doing it was rushing everything. I was always in a rush to grow up, to get to the next step, make money, own a place, and get to the top of the food chain. You name it; I was in a rush to get there. What I have learned through my experiences: Rushing. Doesn’t. Get. You. Anywhere. Ambition on the other hand is entirely different. Having ambition, drive and tenacity are awesome traits to have because with those, you often find you get to your final destination much quicker….and you do it all without rushing, but taking the time, effort & skills to get there.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

The word ‘fail’ often scares people because it is seen as a sign of defeat and well…. failure. Everyone fails at something in his or her life. It’s what you take away and learn from that failure that makes you a stronger person & allows you to grow. Keep in mind, that what you see as a failure is not necessarily what others see in us. We are our own worst critics and we are always the hardest on ourselves, but what if we looked at ourselves as others see us? Would you consider something you did a failure or a success? If you asked me, I have failed at a lot of things in my life, but I wouldn’t consider myself a success if I didn’t look at those so-called failures, learn from them and moved onward and upward. Now, I look at them as the best things that could have happened to me.

My first company, The Smart Cookies, was founded because of what I considered a failure: I was bad at managing my money, racked up thousands of dollars of debt & considered myself a lost cause when it came to my finances. But because of my situation, I started a money group, got smart with my finances, was a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, wrote 2 best-selling books, hosted a TV show and much more…all because I took something I thought I was a failure at and turned it around into a success. It’s possible….you just have to be willing to see the positive in it and learn from them.

______________________________

Andrea Baxter is a seasoned marketing consultant based in Vancouver, B.C. with experience in all facets of branding, business strategy and marketing execution. Andrea’s experience includes work for corporate, start-up, financial services, legal, food & wine, media companies and agencies. In 2009, she started up her own firm, Bratface Marketing, which is a boutique marketing firm that thrives on creativity, culture and proven results. Although Andrea has worked with a variety of businesses, various sizes and industries, her passion and specialties are franchise organizations, start-ups and mid-sized companies.

You can follow Andrea on Twitter and Like her business on Facebook.

Craveable, Must-Eat Spring Greens

April 8, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

After quite a chilly winter, Spring is finally here and with it comes some amazing greens that you’ve simply got to get on your plate.  I know I talk a lot about greens (kale, chard, and broccoli) but Spring greens are a particular treat in that they are extremely tender, sweet, and detoxifying for our systems. Here is a quick list of some of my favorite greens that I impatiently wait for every Spring.  A few of these you know, and a few you may not.  I invite you to branch out and explore these seasonal treats as they have relatively short growing period and will soon be replaced by Summer bounty of tomatoes and peppers (which, of course, will be quite yummy too!).

Stinging Nettles- Loaded with iron, this vegetable legitimately earns its name by the small stinging hairs lining the leaves and stem.  Not to worry, all stinginess goes away once the green is cooked.  So no raw stinging nettle salads, OK?  Sauté nettles with garlic and olive oil as a side dish, cook and add them to brown rice with Dijon vinaigrette for a lovely Spring pilaf, or blanch and toss them into an easy frittata.

Asparagus- Probably the most famous spring green, asparagus is loved not only for its sweet taste but for its powerful detoxing properties.  To start, be sure to remove the woody stems.  Quickly blanch and top with chopped egg, a splash of vinaigrette, and chives, roast with a splash of balsamic vinegar, or simply chop and add them to a yummy coconut curry.

Sugar Snap Peas- Delicious cooked or raw, sugar snap peas are my favorite gift of Spring.  Slice thin and place in a salad, sauté with shallots and coconut oil and top with almonds, or simply put them in a baggie for a great on-the-go snack.

Fava Greens- We are all familiar with fava beans, but did you know you can eat the greens as well.  Amazing! Similar to spinach, fava greens cook down significantly and are fantastic simply sautéed with olive oil, onions, and a touch of red pepper flakes.  From there, toss them into your favorite pasta dish, mix with white beans and a touch of parmesan cheese, or add into a light spring soup.

So the next time you are at the farmer’s market and see these Spring greens, don’t shy away and reach for your trusted broccoli.  Pick up those vegetables and get ready for a spectacular seasonal treat.  I promise after one bite, your body and taste buds will beg for them every year!

Jamie G. Dougherty is the owner and founder of JAMIE|LIVING, Health and Lifestyle Coaching. She is an AADP certified Holistic Nutrition Coach with a private and corporate practice that offers assistance nationwide. She is passionate about deliciously healthy food and specializes in helping her clients transform their lives through the power of nutrition and self-care.

To get more great health info and recipes become a JAMIE LIVING Facebook Fan or follow her on Twitter.

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