Bargain guide, week beginning May 23rd:

From Fooducate:  POM Wonderful, the pomegranate-juice people, have been ordered by a Federal judge to stop implying their products can treat, prevent, or reduce the risk of such conditions as heart disease, prostate cancer, or erectile dysfunction – until and unless they can provide SOLID scientific evidence.  (Marion Nestle weighs in too.)  And a recipe – thanks to Snack-Girl.com – for a super-light tuna melt!  (Super-simple, too:  mix one can of thoroughly drained tuna with a tablespoon of REAL mayonnaise, 2 stalks of chopped celery, 2 chopped green onions.  Cut two red bell peppers in half and remove the seeds;  divide the tuna mixture in fourths, spread one fourth in each pepper half, top with half an ounce of cheddar cheese.  Broil for three minutes or until the cheese is melted.  PointsPlus per serving is only 4!)

WOW.  This is important:  “New research from Australia found that regular, short breaks - as little as two minutes, three times an hour - during which you move around can result in a 30 percent improvement in the body’s response to high calorie meals.”  (h/t to Andrew Weil)

This weekend marks the beginning of Grilling Season (there are only two seasons in the weight-loss calendar:  Grilling Season and Chocolate Season), and this fourth week in May is American Beer Week.  Thus the biggest promotions this week are for beer, soft drinks, beer, chips, beer, anything that can be grilled which these days includes just about everything short of soup, and beer.  There are a lot of good deals on bottled water as well, so stock up.  Did I mention beer?

This Friday is National Brown Bag It Day!  (Not to be confused with National Pack Your Lunch Day, in March, but both are good days to start establishing a healthy lunch habit.)  Sunday, the 27th, is National Grape Popsicle Day:  spin some grapes to mush in your blender, freeze the mush, and you've got (because they're made out of fruit, not juice) PointsPlus-free ice pops.  This fourth week in May is also National Frozen Yogurt Week (all hail Golden Spoon!)

May 23rd:  National Taffy Day
May 24th:  National Escargot Day
May 25th:  National Brown Bag It Day, National Wine Day (putting your wine in a brown bag is not recommended)
May 26th:  National Cherry Dessert Day, National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
May 27th:  National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28th:  National Brisket Day, National Hamburger Day
May 29th:  National Coq au Vin Day;  1919, Charles Strite applies for a patent for his new invention, the pop-up toaster
May 30th:  National Macaroon Day, National Mint Julep Day;  1909, Mel Blanc born.  His oft-cited allergy to carrots is an urban legend



Albertson's:

    Military Discount Week:  all active-duty, reserve, or retired military personnel get 10% off
    Albertson's water, 24 pk of half liter bottles, $2.27
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb, buy 1 get 2 free
    Beef t-bone OR bone-in ribeye steaks, $7.99/lb
    Beef chuck/crossrib/bottom round roast or steaks, boneless, family pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef brisket, boneless, whole in bag, $2.99/lb
    93/7 ground beef, $2.88/lb (3 lbs or more)
    Pork loin chops, boneless, $5.99/lb, buy 1 get 1 free
    Pork shoulder country style ribs, bone in, family pack, $1.99/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.88/lb
    Sanderson Farms chicken breast, bone in, $1.69/lb
    Challenge butter, 2/$5
    Sargento cheeses, 6-8 oz shingle slices, 2/$6
    Daisy sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tub, 2/$4
    Shamrock Farms cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tub, $3.49
    Deli:    Jennie-O “Honey Smoked” or “Oven Brown” turkey breast, $4.99/lb
        Margherita hard or Genoa salami OR pepperoni, $4.99/lb
        USA Gold Virginia ham, $4.99/lb
        Deli Fresh cheeses, $4.99/lb
    Libby's vegetables, 14-15 oz cans, 79¢
    Herdez salsa, 24 oz jar, $2.99
    Vlasic pickles, 16-24 oz jars, 2/$5
    Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    Peaches or apricots, $2.99/lb
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Blackberries/raspberries/blueberries, 6 oz boxes, $2.99
    Red (probably Bing) cherries, $4.99/lb
    Cut up seedless watermelon, 2 lb bowl, $3.99
    Cut up pineapple or strawberries, 20 oz bowl, $3.99
    Cut up cantaloupe, 24 oz bowl, $3.99
    Fruit tray, 60 oz, $14.99
    Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, $1.99/lb
    Sweet corn, 8/$1
    Veggie tray, 46 oz, $9.99


Bashas':

    Bashas' drinking water, 24 pk of half-liter bottles, $2.99
    Beef t-bone or top sirloin steaks, $5.67/lb
    Beef porterhouse steaks, value pack, $8.99/lb
    Beef crossrib steaks, boneless, $4.99/lb
    Ground beef chuck, fat content not listed, value pack, $1.99/lb
    Center cut pork chops, boneless, value pack, $2.99/lb
    Pork country style ribs, bone in, buy 1 get 1 free
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.79/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $8.99/lb
    True cod fillets, wild caught, $6.99/lb “weather permitting”
    Steelhead fillets, farm raised, $2.99/lb
    Bashas' sour cream, 16 oz tub, 99¢
    Shamrock Farms cottage cheese incl. Light, 24 oz tubs, $3.29
    Tillamook cheeses, 7-8 oz chunk/shreds/slices, $1.88
    Nature's Own “WhiteWheat” bread or buns, $1.99
    Bush's baked or “Grillin'” beans, 21-28 oz cans, 2/$3
    American Beauty pasta, 1 lb pkg, 99¢
    Whole cantaloupes, 2/$3
    Whole seedless watermelons, $1.99 ea
    Whole pineapples, $2.49
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Cut up watermelon bowls, $1.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, $1.99/lb
    Sweet corn, 5/$1
    Large tomatoes, 79¢/lb
    Artichokes, $1.99
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢ ea
    Brown onions, AZ grown, 2 lbs/$1
    Organic kale, green or red, $1.99/bunch
    Organic red chard, AZ grown, $1.99/bunch


Food City:

    Beef chuck steak or roast, boneless, $2.49/lb
    Beef for stew, boneless, $2.69/lb
    Pork brisket ribs, 99¢/lb
    Chicken leg quarters, bone in, 59¢/lb (10 lb bag)
    Pollock fillets, $1.99/lb
    Large tomatoes, 4 lbs/$1
    Brown onions, 4 lbs/$1
    Iceberg, 2/99¢
    Green bell peppers, 3/99¢


Fry's:

    Fry's water, 24 pk of half liter bottles, 4/$10
    Beef New York strip steak, bone in, family pack, $4.67/lb
    Beef top sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $4.67/lb
    Beef chuck steak, boneless, family pack, $3.69/lb
    Pork loin chops, boneless, family pack, $3.29/lb
    Pork loin back ribs, $2.67/lb
    Boneless skinless chicken breast, $1.67/lb
    Sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Kroger cod or tilapia fillets, 12 oz IQF bag, $3.99
    Kroger cheeses, 6-8 oz shreds or shingle slices, 3/$5
    Kroger sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, 10/$10
    Oroweat wide-pan bread, 24 oz loaves, $2.99
    Bush's baked beans, 21-28 oz cans, $1.88
    Progresso Light soups (with the PointsPlus logo), 2/$3
    Kroger vegetables, 10-12 oz bags, 10/$10
    Red (Bing?) cherries, $2.47/lb
    Whole mini watermelons, 2/$3
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 2/$5
    Blackberries/raspberries/blueberries, 6 oz box, 2/$5
    Cantaloupes, 2/$5
    Whole or cored pineapples, 2/$5
    Yellow peaches or nectarines, $2.49/lb
    Mangos, 88¢ ea
    Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, $1.98/lb
    Sweet corn, 3/99¢


Safeway:

    Refreshe water, 24 pk of half liter bottles, $2.99
    Arrowhead water, 24 pk of half liter bottles, 2/$7
    Beef petite sirloin steaks, boneless, value pack, $3.99/lb
    Beef New York strip steak, bone in, value pack, $4.67/lb
    Beef kebabs with veg, $4.99/lb
    90/10 ground beef, $2.49/lb
    Pork sirloin country style ribs, boneless, $1.69/lb
    Pork loin back ribs, bone in, $2.99/lb
    Pork top loin chops, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Pork tenderloin, boneless, whole in bag, $4.79/lb
    Chicken leg quarters, 75¢/lb (10 lb bag)
    Chicken kebabs with veg, $3.99/lb
    Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Swordfish steaks, wild caught, $9.99/lb
    Tilapia fillets, farm raised, $5.99/lb
    Ragu pasta sauces, 16-24 oz jars, $1.49
    Safeway veg, 14-15 oz cans, 89¢
    Shamrock Farms sour cream incl. Light, 16 oz tubs, $1.99
    Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt, 5.3 oz cups, 10/$10
    Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna, 89¢
    Whole seedless watermelons, $1.77 ea
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, $2.99
    Peaches OR nectarines, $2.99/lb
    Red seedless grapes, $2.49/lb
    Whole cantaloupes, AZ grown, 2/$5
    Mangos, 10/$10
    Kiwifruit, 3/$1
    Vine tomatoes, AZ grown, $1.99/lb
    Green or red bell peppers, 10/$10
    Sweet corn, 6/96¢
    Safeway Farms OR Fresh Express bag salads, 2/$5


Smart & Final:

    Crystal Geyser water, 35 half-liter bottles, 2/$8
    Beef New York steaks, boneless, $6.99/lb
    Pork shoulder country style strips, bone in, $2.49/lb
    Farmer John pork spareribs, $1.79/lb
    First Street boneless skinless chicken breast, value pack, $1.97/lb
    Blueberries, 18 oz box, $4.99 (make raisins of them)
    Whole seedless watermelons, $2.99 ea


Sprouts:

    Beef ribeye or New York steaks, boneless, $8.99/lb
    Beef chuck roast or steak, boneless, $3.99/lb
    Pork sirloin chops or roast, $2.99/lb
    Whole, split, or cut up chickens, $1.49/lb
    King salmon, wild, line-caught, $16.99/lb (someone must be buying it)
    Sprouts frozen fruit, 12 oz bags, 2/$6
    Sprouts frozen veg, 1 lb bags, $1.79
    Ethnic Gourmet frozen entrees, 2/$6
    Whole seedless watermelons, 4 lbs/$1
    Strawberries, 1 lb box, 4/$5
    Blackberries, 6 oz box, 4/$5
    Blueberries, 4.4 oz box, 4/$5
    Red (Bing?) cherries, $3.99/lb
    Cameo or Jonagold apples, 99¢/lb
    Navel oranges, 99¢/lb
    Bosc or D'Anjou pears, 99¢/lb
    Green or red seedless grapes, $1.99/lb
    Whole pineapples, 2/$4
    Organic Cameo apples, 3 lb bag, $2.99
    Organic Valencia oranges, 4 lb bag, 2/$5
    Organic red seedless grapes, $3.99/lb
    Vine tomatoes, 99¢/lb
    Leaf lettuce, green/red/Romaine, 99¢ ea
    Fresh spinach, 99¢/bunch
    Broccoli crowns OR cauliflower, 88¢/lb
    Green or red bell peppers, 3/$1
    Yellow or orange bell peppers, 88¢ ea
    Celery, 88¢ ea