Celebrate with Friends!

Galentine’s Day is the ultimate excuse to gather your besties, indulge in delicious food, and celebrate friendship. Want to be the Hostess with the mostess? Follow my perfect recipe below to make your gathering a night to remember! — Melody

Set the Scene 💕

To create the perfect Galentine’s Day ambiance, I decked out my space with pops of pink and red, heart-shaped decor, and fresh flowers. But the real centerpiece? A spread of all my Taziki’s favorites!

A Feast Fit for Your Favorite People 🍽️

Rather than spend hours cooking, I picked up a Taziki’s Family Feast—which, let’s be real, was the best decision ever. My picks? Grilled shrimp, roasted potatoes, Mediterranean salad, and plenty of Taziki sauce.

Make It Extra Special ✨

Add a few extra touches to take your Galentine’s Day gathering to the next level:

• Signature Sip – I picked up a gallon of lemonade from Taziki’s and added a splash of cranberry juice and sparkling water to make a sparkling pink lemonade mocktail 🍋

• Sweet Ending – No celebration is complete without dessert. Taziki’s white chocolate lemon cookies were the perfect way to wrap up the night on a sweet note. 🍪

• A little extra fun – Elevate the night with a DIY spa session, binge on your favorite rom-coms, or get creative with a Galentine’s themed craft. And, for the mems, have a Polaroid camera ready to snap those candid, perfect moments. 📷

This Galentine’s Day, let Taziki's take care of the feast, so you can focus on the fun.

Great food, great friends, and even better vibes - what more could you ask for?

Order your Family Feast today and get ready to celebrate friendship in the most delicious way possible!

Where Delicious Meets Nutritious

Join us on a culinary journey that not only tantalizes your taste buds, but also nourishes your body and soul. At the heart of Taziki’s culinary philosophy lies the Mediterranean diet, a renowned and celebrated approach to eating that has captured the attention of health enthusiasts and experts alike. For the 8th year in a row,

U.S. News & World Report ranked the Mediterranean Diet #1

The key principles of the Mediterranean diet are outlined in the article from U.S. News & World Report.

The Essence of the Mediterranean Diet

At Taziki’s we take pride in embracing the principles of the Mediterranean diet. Originating from the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, this diet emphasizes fresh, whole foods and a balance of macronutrients that have been linked to numerous health benefits. Components of the Mediterranean diet include:

• Lean Proteins

• Heart-Healthy Fats

• Abundance of Fruits and Vegetables

• Whole Grains

• Moderate Dairy and Red Wine

• Occasional Red Meat and Sweets

Exploring the Insights

The U.S. News & World Report article sheds light on the diet’s effectiveness and practicality. It emphasizes the diet’s recognition as one of the best overall diets, ranking high for its heart health benefits and ability to promote long-term weight loss. One key takeaway is the Mediterranean diet’s emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods, making it a sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle choice. The article also underscores the diet’s potential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, and its positive impact on cognitive function.

Taziki’s modern, Mediterranean-inspired menu aligns beautifully with the principles highlighted in the article. Our commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients ensures that every bite contributes to your overall well-being.

Start your New Year off right and embark on a journey to a healthier, more vibrant you with the Mediterranean diet at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. Let your taste buds savor the rich flavors of the Mediterranean while your body benefits from a diet rooted in centuries of tradition and proven health advantages. Indulge in a culinary experience that transcends the ordinary and nourishes your body from the inside out. Visit us today and savor the goodness of the Mediterranean diet – where delicious meets nutritious.

live the good life at taziki’s and eat the mediterranean way!

Taziki's is committed to helping our teams build financial confidence, and we invite you to join us!

Financial confidence is the intersection of building a savings habit, knowing what resources you have available to support your financial stability, and taking advantage of those resources as needed.

Join us and take the pledge!

This week we're partnering with the organization America Saves to elevate a national conversation encouraging individuals to take control of their financial future.

Today’s topic is SAVING AUTOMATICALLY!

Do you ever find yourself wondering if there is a magic formula to saving? It’s not unusual to feel unconfident about saving, no matter how much money you earn. Confidence doesn’t necessarily come with having a lot of money. Rather it comes from building healthy financial habits and using the resources you know are available to you – this is your financial confidence! 

A great place to start building your financial confidence is to set up automatic savings. When you are saving a dedicated amount of money every week, every month, or on some other regular interval, you can begin to feel a sense of control over your saving habits. Whether you are saving just $5 or $10 a month or more, it’s the fact that you’re doing it automatically that is important.   

Saving automatically is the formula for successful saving for anyone – including you. Getting started doesn’t have to be a hurdle either.

Consider one of the  two strategies below:

1. Instructing your employer to split your directly deposited paycheck into two or more accounts at your financial institution with one account being a dedicated savings account. 

2. Directing your financial institution to automatically transfer money into your savings account.  

Start saving today!

For 25 years, Taziki's has been working to live out our 3-part mission statement of "Create an environment that combines modern Mediterranean fare with meaningful human connection." The thousands of staff that show up early to prep and stay all day to serve you, our guests, are all united by a heart for hospitality and a sense of pride that comes from making real food. 

Our Mission:

Create an environment that combines modern

Mediterranean fare with meaningful human

connection.

We all know that the Mediterranean Diet was once again named the best way to eat and fuel a healthy and active lifestyle. And beyond that, the Mediterranean inspires a better way to live - active, balanced, and in community. We call it "living the good life".

Be inspired to:

Live The Good Life

But let's be real. The truth is that the last three years of the pandemic, workforce displacement, and inflation have created a lot of imbalance and interruptions to relationships. Good habits formed were eroded. Gym routines lapsed. Well, now, in the new year, it's a good time to pause, process what has been lost, set out to reclaim work-life harmony and the good life, and start to create and celebrate WOW moments that turn into lasting memories.  

Personally, I just renewed my gym membership and will continue working out three days a week with weight training. My family just sat down and mapped out our travel plan for the year so we can be intentional about taking breaks - and playing together. My wife, Kim, is an amazing cook, but this year we're all going to take turns in the kitchen. And our 15-year and running dinner club is planning our next culinary feast together!   

“At Taziki's, we are focusing on

re-humanizing and re-invigorating

the guest experience.”

At Taziki's, we are focusing on re-humanizing and re-invigorating the guest experience. We serve millions of guests each year and we want every experience to be nourishing and memorable. Whether this is your first time, or first time in a while, dining at Taziki's or you are one of our faithful regulars that we know by name, we want to deliver a WOW experience for you.

“We want to deliver a WOW experience for you.”

If however, we make a mistake or get behind in the kitchen, we are committed to engaging with empathy and honoring your time as we try to make it up to you.

If you are one of our business guests who order catering for your company, we look forward to Wow'ing you as well! And if you reach out to us via our "contact us" web portal or via social media, we look forward to engaging with you.

The new year brings a window of opportunity to reflect and refocus on what matters most.

To us, it comes back to our commitment to real food and hospitality, and in 2023:

A little extra WOW in everything we do!

On September 24th, Taziki’s had the pleasure of being a sponsor at TIRRC’s (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition) InterNASHional Night Market.

The Night Market is a time to celebrate all the beautiful cultures that make up the greater Nashville community. There were folk dancers, Aztec dancers, and so much more along with lots - and we mean LOTS - of food. We had so much fun chatting with the vendors, other sponsors, and patrons about how Taziki’s supports TIRRC and all of the hard work that they do. We are proud to working for a company that supports this type of cause.

National Immigrant’s Day is Officially Celebrated on October 28, 2022

It surprised us to see how connected and dedicated people are to their culture even after having lived years or even decades in a foreign country. To participate in an environment where people of different ethnicities and races happily shared the same space was wonderful to experience. Seeing how people take pride in their native dishes, dances, traditions, and colors was enriching and encouraged us to feel proud of where we come from and where we are today.

That night, after the festivities ended and we were wrapping up, we talked about the great pride we have in our inclusive and curious culture at Taziki’s.

Partnering with our community to bring jobs to those who may be looking for the next step in their new home country is exactly why we do what we do and why we support TIRRC and their mission!

Thank you TIRRC for allowing us the space to be supportive!

A special thanks to our Training Specialist, Reina, our Recruiting Specialist, Kelsey and our CEO, Dan and his wife, Kim for attending and representing Taziki’s.

Happy National Immigrant’s Day!

Order now!

“I’m a 42-year-old wife and mom of three kids (ages 7, 10 and 12) running a business, and running my kids to competitive dance practice every night of the week. My top priority when it comes to food is to fuel my own body (and the little ones I’m mom-ing) with high-quality food. With our on-the-go schedule, meal prep is essential to hitting our nutrition goals each week. 

While meal prep is helpful, it can feel so daunting! It’s typically seen as spending hours in the kitchen every Sunday cutting, washing, prepping and cooking food. All that work is enough for most of us to throw our hands in the air and say “NO MORE”. The struggle is real! You want to eat well and at the same time, you value your family time on the weekend. I get you! 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with meal prep, try these strategies: 

1. Plan ahead 1-2 dinner recipes for the week.

2. Double up your recipes to have leftovers DURING the week. 

3. Take ALL the guesswork out and order a Family Feast from Taziki’s for #mealprepmonday. 

When our time is precious and our life is full, Taziki’s is there for us! Order ahead of time, and swing by and pick up a Family Feast after the day’s errands. The goal with meal prep is to ensure you stick with your fitness and nutrition goals while making it easy. It’s an easy equation: Meal Prep Monday with a Taziki’s Family Feast, add a sweat sesh, and you have a winning combination to start off the week! 

With Taziki’s #mealprepmonday Fam, you simply choose a protein, salad, side, and sauce -- done in minutes online. In Franklin, we have partnered with a local Taziki’s, making it so easy to come in to rock your ride at CycleBar Franklin, and have a Family Feast waiting on you! Can you say WIN-WIN?! I love how simple this makes healthy living, and I know you will too. If you are interested in learning more about how to take your wellness to the next level order a Dinner for Four Online today and visit a CycleBar near you. 

Want to learn more about our sweet friend, Sarah? She brings 22 years of fitness and wellness expertise from a career in personal training, fitness instructing and nutrition coaching. Sarah teaches classes at CycleBar Franklin, TN, and the Franklin, TN YMCA and offers private personal training and small group sessions in Nashville. Sarah is the founder of Burn Fat and FEAST, an online comprehensive wellness program for women 30+ experiencing hormone and metabolism changes. Learn more about it here!

American Lamb is a staple at Taziki’s, and it’s a customer favorite because it’s flavorful real meat! Below we share some easy and DELICIOUS recipes to try with our Chargrilled Lamb in your own kitchen. Check it out! 

RECIPE #1: LAMB SPAGHETTI 

Take a new approach on a nostalgic favorite, spaghetti! Follow this simple recipe from Food & Wine that uses whole-wheat pasta and include your Taziki’s Chargrilled Lamb for a Greek take on one of your favorites! 

RECIPE #2: LAMB PIZZA

Pizza night is always a meal the entire family can agree on. Shake things up and top your pizza with some Taziki's Lamb! This recipe from Bon Appetit feeds a family of four and includes red onion, lamb, and parsley, YUM! 

RECIPE #3: LAMB KEBABS 

Kebabs are an easy and fun way to serve meats and vegetables and also a fun way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Whenever kiddos have the opportunity to help prepare a meal, they are always much more excited to eat! Southern Living provides 27 different ways you can serve kebabs and one of the show-stopping recipes is how to make Apricot Lamb Kebobs for your family. Is your mouth watering yet? Order some of our lamb online at tazikis.com to start getting creative and trying some of these recipes in your kitchen! Looking for more Mediterranean inspo? Follow us on Pinterest!

If you missed the great news, all Taziki’s locations now offer Family Feast meals. These healthy meals can easily feed your quarantine crew of four, six, or eight people. This is an easy, at-home tailgate solution because it is available to order online for lunch or dinner and can even be customized to your liking. Our Family Feast meals include high-quality protein, a fresh salad, and your choice of quinoa, rice, or potatoes to enjoy with family and friends. We are happy to report that we even have a filling and flavorful option for our veggie-lovers that will not disappoint. 

Other Taziki’s game day favorites are our Chicken Roll- Ups, Fresh Cut Fruit and our irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookies. It’s always a great idea to have our scratch-made dips available to snack on before, during, and even after the big game! Our favorites are our signature Taziki Dip, Hummus and Whipped Feta with honey. Grab our appetizers or sides as pints to get extra bites out of each option. These can be served with your favorite pita or vegetables to accommodate for your gluten-free friends! 

The 2020 football season will be one of the most memorable and Taziki’s is here to handle all of the cooking so you can focus on the game. Place your order online ahead of time for this weekend at tazikis.com!

 How did the Dane Family Farm begin? 

It all started with Grandma Dane, in the late 1800’s. She was just a young girl and her mother kept a good-sized farm going in Southern Michigan while her Dad and Uncle started another farm in Kansas. In those days it was the high demand for wool that drove the sheep industry. 

What has kept business going through the generations?

Perseverance and stubbornness! Donald Dane, his mom, and brothers lived through some really tough years on the farm. World War I, the Flu Pandemic, Great Depression, and World War II. Donald saw tough times and got by without much. He was very grateful and content, and today we are all still very thankful for what we have. 

What's Dane Farms main differentiator? 

Farming today is a very capital intensive industry and has a lot of fads and trends. We  are unique because we carry very low debt and we’ve stuck with sheep, which are not mainstream in the industry. 

What makes your product different from your competitors?

We pride ourselves on having healthy animals as our #1 goal which leads to better quality meat. The entire family makes the stock a top priority. We also provide high-quality nutrition with top quality homegrown pastures, hay, and grains to make the best meat. 

Any other interesting facts about the Dane Family Farm? 

• In the 1940’s it took wool from 15 sheep to outfit one US soldier for an entire year. The government deemed this so important, that if you were a sheep rancher you could not be drafted. 

• Both Marvin’s Mom and Dad’s sides of the family raised sheep. 

• After serving in World War II Donald Dane worked at a sheep ranch on the Aleutian Islands.

• The Dane Farm loves to be involved in the local community. We provide pregnant ewes for the birthing barn at our county fair so the community can witness the miracle of birth and observe the lambs. We also visit retirement communities with lambs around Easter every year to uplift spirits and bring joy to the elderly. 

Thank you, Dane Farms for sharing a little piece of your story with our Taziki’s family! Learn more about their incredible story on their website.  

This blog was sponsored by The American Lamb Board.

(Pictured below is Grandpa Dane) 

Our favorite time of the year is right around the corner, National Gyro Day! As you can imagine, our love for gyros, fresh ingredients, and Mediterranean-inspired food runs deep. To spread the love in celebration of #nationalgyroday this year we are celebrating bigger and better than ever. The week of August 31st - September 4th we’ll be giving away a LOT more than just gyros. More like a WEEK of ways to #livethegoodlife. Read below to get a sneak peek at all the fun.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS 

Monday, August 31st

To kick off the week giveaways, we’re partnering with our friends at Mountain High Outfitters to give you an exclusive discount code and an exciting giveaway. Check our Facebook page the day of for details on how to enter. 

Tuesday, September 1st 

Happy National Gyro Day to you! To celebrate, all TAZ Rewards Members who have opted in to receive emails will receive a $5 OFF code to redeem in-store at Taziki’s. If you haven’t signed up for TAZ Rewards yet, sign up here. 

Wednesday, September 2nd 

We’re partnering with our friends Three15 for a digital fitness giveaway that you don’t want to miss. Follow along on our social page for more details.  

Thursday, September 3rd 

If you haven’t tried our savory Lamb Feast yet, this is the day! Receive a free taste of our scratch-made Hummus when you order a Lamb Feast online and enjoy the perfectly paired tastes of the Mediterranean. Available at select locations.

Friday, September 4th 

To end the week, we’re partnering with South Boutique featuring a one day, exclusive code to shop until you drop! Stay tuned on our social pages for the exact details. 

To stay in the loop on our National Gyro Day ‘Week of Ways to Live The Good Life’ giveaways, enter your email in your TAZ Rewards account before August 30th and give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram. 

Are you on the hunt for the perfect wine to pair with your favorite Taziki’s meals? If you missed our Facebook Live July 15th, no sweat! We recapped our conversation with sommelier, Amy Estrada, so you can still benefit from her expert recommendations. Watch it here. Ready to learn?

THE ULTIMATE PARTY PACK

We have all been there, needing a quick and easy appetizer to take to a party or have on hand when company comes over. Taziki’s scratch-made dips are taken to the next level with Amy’s Wine Pairing Suggestions! 

Appetizer: Whipped Feta 

Suggested Wine Pairing: Pinot Grigio

“I chose this as a pairing because one, the whipped feta is incredible, but most of all it is delightful on the palette when paired with a Pinot Grigio. As a rule of thumb, Italian Pinot Grigios pair best with cheese.”  - Amy Estrada

Appetizer: Taziki’s Dip 

Suggested Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc

“There is no “one” pairing necessarily that goes with food, but the fun in doing pairings is exploring and trying new things. For the Taziki’s Dip, I highly recommend pairing a Sauvignon Blanc due to the crisp, light, refreshing taste that cuts through the dip. ” - Amy Estrada

FAMILY DINNER 

Our Dinner for Four Meals makes mealtime for the family so easy. Add a bottle of wine to your order for the parents to enjoy while the kids dig into the dip. 

Protein: Chicken Dinner for Four 

Suggested Wine Pairing: Chardonnay

“A Classic and go-to pairing is chicken and chardonnay. A typical Chardonnay flavor is full enough to taste over the incredible seasonings of the chicken and it pairs so nice with this wine.” - Amy Estrada

DATE NIGHT 

As you conquer a lot of date nights at home, you’re probably running out of creative ideas so here is one for you! Take date night to the next level with a perfectly paired wine and a takeout for two from Taziki’s!

Menu Item: Lamb Feast 

Suggested Wine Pairing: Malbec

“Taziki’s Char-Grilled Lamb is one of my personal favorite proteins at Taziki’s. Malbec is known to be the cowboy wine of Argentina. It was given this name because of the types of food it pairs best with, proteins. There is no better pairing for a cowboy wine than a fresh piece of grilled lamb! To make this date night even more enjoyable, I recommend a bonfire. Smells such as bonfire smoke, can actually add to the pairing by bringing out it’s secondary flavors.” - Amy Estrada

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY

Every Wednesday is a great excuse to Wine Down with friends. Invite a friend or two and grab some salads and wine to savor the summer season on a patio outside! 

Menu Item: Mediterranean Salad

Suggested Wine Pairing: Cabernet

“A salad paired with a Cabernet, might sound like an unusual pairing, but when you have hearty greens like the Mediterranean Salad, it can stand up and pair beautifully with a full-bodied Cabernet. I always recommend opening wine 30 minutes prior to pouring to allow it to aerate and oxidize which allows the flavors of the wine to open up. If you don’t do this, be aware that your wine may seem to taste slightly different after the first couple of sips. That is because the oxygen is now in contact with the wine and is “opening up”.” - Amy Estrada

Menu Item: Greek Salad

Suggested Wine Pairing: Sparkling Wine 

“Girl’s night wouldn’t be the same without champagne and sparkling wine! While many of us would just call sparkling wine champagne, you can only call a bottle Champagne if it’s from Champagne France. If you are ever doubting what to order to drink, order sparkling wine. It always pairs well with light food, especially seafood because it has the perfect balance of dryness, bubbles, and fruity notes to enrich any meal. ” - Amy Estada

Feelin’ like an expert yet? Our locations across the country offer a variety of wine options to pair with your favorite menu items! Take some of these tips and enhance the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean on your next Taziki’s visit. Find a location near you here. 

If you are looking for a versatile, unique kitchen staple this post is for you. Our VP of Marketing + Growth, Rachel Layton,  invites Taziki’s fans into her kitchen to share three creative ways that Whipped Feta can be used for an easy party appetizer, a quick breakfast, or a one of a kind dinner! Read below to learn what you need to get cooking and watch how simple they are to make here. 

STRAWBERRY AND FETA APPETIZER 

Ingredients Needed  

• Taziki’s Whipped Feta 

• Water Crackers 

• Jelly of your choice 

• Fruit of your choice 

BREAKFAST TOAST 

Ingredients Needed 

• Taziki’s Whipped Feta 

• Toast 

• Jam 

• Fruit

• Honey 

EASY PIZZA DINNER 

Ingredients Needed 

• Taziki’s Whipped Feta 

• Taziki’s Pita (Did you know that you could purchase this in store?) 

• Toppings of your choice 

  • Spinach 

  • Onion

  • Garlic 

  • Pepperoni

  • Tomato 

  • Honey

  • Red Pepper Flakes

Are you hungry and ready to start cooking yet? Pick up a pint of our mouth-watering Whipped Feta at a Taziki’s Location near you or order online today!

Did you know that June 29th is National Hug Day? 

While we wish we could celebrate and hug all of the incredible Healthcare Heroes who have worked tirelessly this year, our Dallas and Atlanta markets have decided to celebrate in a socially-distanced way. In place of a hug, our Atlanta and Dallas stores will donate 10% of their sales on June 29th to provide meal certificates to Heroes! 

For every $20 earned in-store in our Atlanta and Dallas stores (or donated online at tazikis.com/heroes,) a Taziki's Healthcare Hero Dinner for Four certificate will be given to a medical professional for future use. Each meal includes Grilled Chicken, Basmati Rice, Greek Salad, Taziki Dip, and Pita for four! 

If you live in the Dallas or Atlanta area, mark your calendars to dine with us for a great cause on June 29th. If you can’t make the event, you can still help out by purchasing a Healthcare Heroes Certificate at tazikis.com/heroes. Join together with us to provide a hug and a meal to make this National Hug Day one to remember!

We were recently inspired after seeing some innovative and compassionate front line workers attach photos of themselves without a mask to their scrubs to help their patients feel more at ease and comfortable. While we aren’t on the front-lines in hospitals, we do consider it an absolute honor to feed our communities across the nation in 17 states. We wanted to take a minute to salute a few of our family members across the country and show you the smiling faces behind our masks.

We hope these few snapshots shed light on the wonderful human beings that have to currently conceal their smiles due to some new safety regulations. We know one of the best things in the world is walking into one of your favorite restaurants and being able to get a little face time with the people who love having you as a regular. We hope this look behind the Taziki’s masks will lift your spirits and help us connect with you even more.

You are in a rush and don’t have time to dine anywhere for a healthy lunch. You’re a Momma with multiple hungry kiddos ready to eat, but don’t have the time (or patience) to wait in line. Or maybe you have a lunch meeting planned with a friend and would rather order from the table instead of waiting in a long line. 

More than likely we have all found ourselves in situations like this. For you (and for all of us), we are thrilled to announce our new Mobile Ordering Feature, Taziki’s Tableside. Here’s how it works in 3 simple steps! 

STEP 1: Download the Taziki’s App + Tap Order 

STEP 2: Grab a Table Number + Pick a Table 

STEP 3: Order you Taziki’s Favorites + Pay online 

Our Mobile Ordering options such as Catering, Curbside, Delivery, and Pick-Up options have been a game-changer for Taziki’s fans across the country and we are excited to offer our loyal guests another convenient ordering avenue. Are you ready to enjoy a meal that’s as easy as a vacation? Find a location near you here to try out Taziki’s Tableside (trust us, you’ll be hooked!).

At Taziki’s, our customers (and staff) are family. Recently our locations have been partnering with local businesses across the United States to help feed our healthcare heroes on the front lines. Our Atlanta Taziki’s team led the way as the first shining example of doing everything possible to keep restaurant employees gainfully employed, WHILE giving back to the community through our Healthcare Heroes program. Taziki’s Atlanta has successfully delivered individual meals to hundreds of healthcare heroes in addition to feeding 130 families.  

The local hospitals our Atlanta team has had the privilege of supporting thus far are Emory, St. Joseph’s, Northside and Grady. We wouldn’t have been able to support these healthcare heroes or families without our wonderful partners Banksouth, Mercedes Benz USA, and The Mealbridge. Thank you for allowing us to expand our family table throughout the #ATL community.

To all of the individuals who are on the frontlines helping take care of their community, Taziki’s want to  thank you. We are eternally grateful for your support and the sacrifices you have made and will continue to make in the future. 

If you are interested in helping the Healthcare Heroes program in your community learn more at tazikis.com/heroes. 

Shout out to ALL the parents who are championing multi-tasking while being hunkered down at home like a pro! Being a parent is such a gift, but as all parents know, the world tilts on a different axis once you take on the title of Mommy or Daddy. With a single breath, you become the subject matter expert at life, master snack creator, provider, and now homeschool teacher (plus your professional job title)! 

Times like these bring a set of unique challenges, but parents remain grounded in wanting to give their kiddos the best, especially when it comes to food. Taziki’s has created the perfect solution to keep their little round bellies full of quality food throughout the day -- and hopefully, your children are entertained (temporarily) in the process. 

HOW TO: Start by pulling out a muffin tin from your cupboard. Don’t forget to line it with your kiddos favorite color cupcake paper liners. 

Stock up on Taziki’s raw veggies, like carrots, and cucumbers. If you need some carbs for energy-boosting, add some soft or baked pita chips, and your little one’s favorite creamy hummus (or Taziki Dip). Don’t forget to add ‘dessert’ with some fresh fruits to balance the meal. It’s easy to grab a Taziki’s Fresh Cut Fruit bowl (or half pan) and skip cutting the fruit yourself. 

This creative take on snack time not only encourages freedom by allowing choice but is a fun activity to get your child involved in the kitchen. 

At Taziki’s, we are committed to providing fresh ingredients, responsibility sourced produce, and reliable service to allow our guests to find rest during meal times. Sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your kids fall in love with nutritious food and creating space for more quality time. Order all your snack tray needs online for curbside pickup or delivery!

As a certified health coach and yoga teacher, I teach my community that health and wellness is holistic. It’s about taking care of your body but also your mental and emotional well-being and making healthy daily choices that will contribute to a strong immune system. But, I also realize that being in quarantine and social distancing ourselves from our regular daily lives makes this a bit more challenging. We all are having to find new routines and new ways of doing things, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Here are the ways I’ve focused on maintaining healthy habits while social distancing:

1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER 

This one sounds so simple, but I always say the easiest thing to do is the easiest thing not to do. Drinking water helps to keep your body in a hydrated state and carries oxygen to the cells in the body, and that allows every system in your body to function properly. Water helps to maintain the balance of body fluids (your body is composed of about 60% water), and it helps to remove toxins from the body which benefits the immune system. Drinking water also helps to maintain body temperature and it boosts energy.

 I suggest drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day. If you don’t love the taste of water, try adding the juice of half a fresh lemon or lime to your water. If you don’t like drinking cold water, try it at room temperature and without ice, or even warm.

2. MANAGE STRESS BY IMPLEMENTING SOME SORT OF DAILY MINDFULNESS OR BREATHING PRACTICE 

 We are living in a time when our stress levels are higher than they’ve ever been. From distancing ourselves from friends and family to worrying over our own health or the health of our loved ones, to financial concerns in an essentially shut down economy, and more, the pressure feels intense for everyone. It’s important to check in on yourself daily. Take a few minutes each day to help alleviate some of the stress that you’re feeling and to help bring down stress hormones in your body. It’s not healthy for the body to stay in a fight or flight state (which is basically what we’re all in right now) all the time.

 Deep breathing is the easiest thing you can do at any given moment to help decrease the stress hormones in your body. I recommend finding a quiet place (use your earbuds and a meditation soundtrack on Spotify or YouTube, if you need to) where you can sit comfortably, close your eyes or look out the window at nature and just take 5-10 rounds of deep breaths.

 Try this: Inhale deeply through the nose on a slow 4 count, hold the breath for just a moment at the top of the inhale, then exhale through the nose on a slow 4 count, holding at the bottom of the exhale before repeating the process 5-10 more times. Deep breaths are the way for you to tell your body that you are safe in this moment, that there’s no danger, and that your body can move from a state of fight or flight into what we call rest and digest, which is when the nervous system is calm. A daily deep breathing practice, even just 5-10 breaths, can do wonders for your health and bring your body back into a calmer, more peaceful state.

3. MOVE DAILY IN A WAY THAT FEELS GOOD 

Exercise feels good physically, mentally and emotionally. Movement is a way for you to work any anxiety and stress through and out of your body, it lifts your mood and it helps you to feel more grounded. It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do, the most important thing is just to move. Walks Outside are nice right now as the weather is turning warmer and it also gives you a chance to connect with nature. Movement truly is medicine and will help to support your health across the board — cardiovascular health, digestive health, bone health, immune function, healthy mind, better mood, better sleep and more.

4. PRIORITIZE A GOOD SLEEP ROUTINE 

For many of us, sleep has taken a back seat since our normal schedules are no longer in place. But let me lovingly remind you that getting good nightly sleep is an important way to help keep your immune system strong and robust. Sleep is by no means a way to cure or prevent disease, but it is necessary for a healthy immune system. I suggest getting at least 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

 I’m a big advocate of following your body’s circadian rhythm, which is your body’s internal clock. It regulates your body’s sleep and wake cycles, and understanding your body’s circadian rhythm is the most important thing you can do for more restful, more restorative sleep. When you follow your body’s natural cues and rhythms regarding when to go to sleep and when to wake up, your circadian rhythm will stay more in balance. But a change in your schedule can disrupt your body’s internal clock.

Consider keeping your normal sleep and wake cycle as much as possible, keeping the same bedtime and wake time as you usually do to help regulate your circadian rhythm. Many sleep experts say it’s okay to vary your usual bedtime and wake time by 30 or 45 minutes, but no more than an hour. (This holds true on weekends as well.)

5. IMPLEMENT THE 80/20 RULE WITH FOOD 

The 80/20 rule means that 80% of the time you focus on choosing healthy, whole foods that provide nutrition and nourishment for your body (fruits and vegetables, lean proteins like chicken and fish, healthy fats like olives and olive oil, nuts, seeds and whole grains), and 20% of the time, you allow for treats or indulgences of some kind, choosing and savoring indulgences that you truly love. Keep in mind that it’s still important to practice mindful eating and to avoid overeating even while eating healthy and clean 80% of the time.

If you’re in a hurry to put together a healthy meal for your family or you’re taking a night off from cooking, remember to utilize healthier takeout options from your favorite restaurants. I’m a big proponent of a Mediterranean-style diet, which is why Taziki’s is one of our go-to’s when ordering a healthy meal to pick up and eat at home. 

I love that Taziki’s menu is focused on fresh, vibrantly colored vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats, with lots of Mediterranean flavor. We love the hummus and like to keep it on-hand in the fridge as a healthy snack option with veggies or pitas, and my go-to lunch or dinner item is either the Grilled Chicken or Grilled Shrimp Quinoa Bowl, the Mediterranean Salad with Grilled Salmon or a cup of the Homemade Greek Lemon Chicken Soup. And occasionally, we’ll order a few pieces of the traditional Greek Baklava to share, just to make sure we’re finding balance with that 80/20 rule! 

There are so many healthy options at Taziki’s to choose from, and they make it easy and convenient to place your order online for delivery or curbside pickup.