Love them or avoid them, this is still the time of year when New Year’s resolutions are traditionally made. And the next few weeks (or days!) often determines whether we’ll keep them or not.
So, why do we make a New Year’s resolution list?
According to History.com, the concept of resolving to keep certain promises at the start of a new year is quite old,
“The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year… During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions.”
Well, it’s a bit easier on us today. We just have to keep our promises to ourselves for the most part. But, as many of us know, keeping our New Year’s resolutions is often difficult and the butt of endless jokes.
And, while resolving to lose weight or exercise more may be common, resolutions can be quite varied and unique.
New Year’s Resolutions – Napa Valley Style 
One of the hallmarks of healthy eating is moderation. While it is common for people to resolve to start eating healthier, finding healthy foods to eat can sometimes be a challenge. And, abruptly changing your diet to exclude all the not-so-healthy things you love can be distressing.
Certainly, healthy eating includes healthy foods to eat and being much more conscientious about what we drink, but it doesn’t always rule out an occasional treat of exotic meats and exotic cheese, for example. At Cal Mart, we offer a wide variety of specialty meats and gourmet cheese to supplement an otherwise “stricter” diet.
And our wine country deli is chock full of delicious – and healthy – food options.
However, we also understand that there are some healthy eating resolutions that exclude exotic meats, specialty meats, and – quite frankly – meat of any kind.
No worries!
For those of you whose new year’s resolution list includes a more plant-based diet going into 2022, you can rest assured that there is an abundant supply of fresh produce in Napa Valley, which can be found right here at Cal Mart. From local farms, orchards, and other growers, we are proud to offer fresh produce from purveyors in and around Napa County and the wine country.
For Vegan Food, Napa Valley Provides Plenty
Does your New Year’s resolution list include “going vegan?”
The good news is that, when it comes to vegan food, Napa Valley is rich in restaurants offering vegan food options, as well as vegan food selections in certain markets like Cal Mart.
And that includes “vegan” wines.
These exist because many wineries use animal products during the winemaking process called fining, which is done to refine and clarify the wine. Winemakers use egg whites, gelatin, fish bladder, or milk proteins to make the wine clear.
However, for those who are committing to only vegan food, having a choice of pairing that with vegan wine is a win-win!
For example, a few Napa Valley wineries that offer vegan wine options include,
- Domaine Carneros – As they stated in a company email recently, “All our estate-grown wines are vegan.”
- Ballentine Vineyards – Ballentine Vineyards is completely free of animal products right down to their soil.
- Round Pond – Round Pond Estates are sustainably farmed, vegan friendly, and gluten-free.
And, at Cal Mart, we are ready to help you keep up with your vegan New Year’s resolution with our Specialty Food items ranging from dairy-free and vegan foods to organic and all-natural, high-end specialty items. Cal Mart carries a vast selection of local products from producers throughout both Napa and Sonoma Counties.
We Can Help with Your Napa Valley New Year’s Resolutions
The charming town of Calistoga, California, is a wonderful place to visit during the holiday season, and you’ll find Cal Mart conveniently located right downtown.
Cal Mart’s has been a Napa Valley shopping destination and tradition for over 50 years.
And, as a locally family-owned and independent grocery store, Cal Mart has been providing a unique and enjoyable shopping experience for more than a half a century. Our employees are proud of the large variety and wide selection our grocery store offers. Because of them, Cal Mart has always been the go-to local destination for fine Napa Valley wines, meats, cheeses, and specialty food items.
These are just some of the many reasons why we’ve become known as “Napa Valley’s Finest Grocery.”
If you’re looking to make new food and drink choices in the new year, we have a wide variety and huge selections in our grocery, Wine Country deli, and gourmet cheese department, as well as a wide variety of quality wines and craft beers that we offer.
And did we mention our unique and hard-to-find specialty foods items?
The new year is also the perfect time of year to treat yourself or someone you care about to one of our beautiful gift baskets.
So, this new year, make it a resolution to take time to come and explore all that we have to offer to help complete the items on your New Year’s resolution list.
And while you’re here, please feel free to talk with our knowledgeable staff and then treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or tea from our Coffee Bar.
At Cal Mart, you will always find something that is unexpected, unusual, and uncommon!
