After nearly two months of holiday parties, dinners, celebrations and vacations--including a two week cruise and a week in the Bahamas--my body was craving a major change. So I am kicking off the New Year with at least a month of lighter foods including fresh, organic juices, smoothies and salads with minimal oil and salt. I have a glass [...]
Do you love to shop for healthy, yummy vegan/plant-based products? Do you find new and interesting vegan foods, seasonings, supplements and other products that your friends might benefit from? Then, welcome to the MidWeek Munchies Vegan Shopping Link Up! Basically we’re inviting you to share some of your favorite vegan shopping finds and grocery hauls! Now [...]
It feels like "raspberry fest" in my kitchen this week because those juicy red organic berries are finally priced at the lower than usual price of $3.99 in my local natural foods store. For weeks, I haunted the berry section, browsing the prices of the organic raspberries. I watched them go from a high of $8.99 for a [...]
Thank goodness it's Saturday and already the fifth day of VeganMoFo 2015! I love the tangy, creamy goodness of yogurt but it was hard to find a good vegan unsweetened yogurt. So many of the vegan yogurts I found were loaded with sugar and unpleasant additives that did not appeal to me, so when I finally [...]
We all have those days when making a healthy meal at home is just too time-consuming and complicated. Or we don't feel like eating a whole meal! Yet, most of us have a genuine desire to get the right mix of nutrients and lead a healthy life-style. That's when a clean, organic, high-quality, superfood like Ambronite comes in handy! [...]
Who loves smoothies? I do--and so do millions more! Fruits and vegetables are a great source of nutrients for the body. And what better way to eat them than making smoothies? Many people who choose to eat a healthy diet add smoothies to their day because this allows them to easily get a regular serving of [...]
Who can forget that memorable--and convincing--commercial for V-8 Juice when I was growing up. The words "Wow, I could have had a V8" literally sent me to the kitchen to pour a glass of that flavorful vegetable cocktail. The compelling ad gave us the impression that this bottled vegetable beverage was the best healthy beverage we could drink. [...]
Most of you have probably heard the catchy jingle "Cha Cha Cha Chia" used to advertise those popular Chia pets. I've even received one or two as grab bag gifts which I never actally used, I must admit. Well, instead of growing your chia seeds into a pet, why not try eating them instead. They are so healthy and [...]
Drinking coconut water from a freshly picked coconut while on vacation in the Caribbean is one of my fondest memories. Fast-forward to New York City... Sadly, there are no coconut palm trees in this city, but I was delighted to have some healthy and delicious freshly-blended coconut meat and water from the young coconut I bought at my local natural food store--so that was the inspiration [...]
Almonds are this girl's best friend! From almond milk with my morning green tea to my rich and creamy almond based smoothie to that handful of almonds I grab for healthy snacks, almonds are a big part of my day. I love the fact that they are versatile, taste good--and are so good for you! Nutrient-rich More than just a rich source of dietary [...]
For me, green smoothies are so healthy, energizing and delicious, that giving or receiving a smoothie is a truly an act of love. I mean, what better way to show someone you care! On several occasions, I have gifted friends and family members with a gaily-wrapped mason jar full of smoothie goodness along with a little note and a recipe [...]
Green smoothies are often my go-to choice for a quick and healthy meal-in-a-minute. Today I decided to raid the fridge to find some goodies for a super-nutritious green smoothie to fuel my day. I lucked out with fresh mango, avocado, banana and kale! Plus, I added some healthy superfoods to kick the nutritional punch up a notch including flax seed [...]
"Wow! I feel good, like I knew I would! I feel good, like I knew I would! So good! So good! Cause I got juiced!" No, I am not channeling James Brown. I feel good because I just finished drinking a large glass of beet, kale, celery and pear juice and I am grooving on a natural high from all of [...]
Guest post by Camile Sardina America’s food system is slowly building a healthier base, and in the process, health expert, Rich Goldstein, owner of Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts, is always up to plate. After learning the power behind food, Goldstein created a “healing cuisines” experience for his students at Natural Epicurean. It improves health [...]
This morning's green smoothie came together quite easily. My avocado was now ripe so I was able to use it as the centerpiece for a nutrient- rich, creamy smoothie. Avocado provides B vitamins and vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium. They also contain phytosterols and carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. About 75% of an avocado's [...]
On most mornings I start my day with a glass of warm water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Then I have a large mug of green tea with almond or hemp milk. By this time I feel awake and ready to make my morning smoothie. This morning I rummaged through my kitchen and rounded up a few [...]
Looking for a smooth, rich, creamy easy to make nondairy milk? Brazil Nut Milk is one of my favorite dairy alternatives. During the holidays, I whipped up a batch, stored it in a mason jar, popped a bow on top and brought homemade Brazil Nut Milk to my friend's home as a hostess gift when she invited me to [...]
It's Autumn and everywhere I look I see pumpkins, glorious pumpkins! At our local farmer's market pumpkins in all colors, textures, shapes and sizes are take center stage and capture my attention--how can I resist bringing some home. It doesn't take too much convincing for me to buy pumpkins. They taste good and are so good for us--providing enormous amounts of vitamins, [...]
When I was taking raw and living foods classes, one of the most important meals I learned to prepare was Energy Soup--considered to be Ann Wigmore's most powerful natural healing remedies. According to Ann Wigmore, energy soup is the most important nourishment in the Living Foods Lifestyle. Why? Energy Soup rebuilds, cleanses and detoxifies our bodies while providing [...]
Are you always peering into your pantry, wondering if that apple you bought last week is still good? It's pretty hard to tell. Depending on the fruit, storing them in your pantry or fridge can make a huge difference in shelf life. That's why Shari's Berries created this helpful guide explaining which method will keep your [...]
Touted as the national fruit of China, but grown worldwide, I rarely see organic kiwifruit in my area, so I was delighted to find organic kiwifruit at a low price in my local health food store this week. Of course, I brought half a dozen home to try out and enjoy! Well known for its characteristic fuzzy skin and its unique, sweet [...]
Sweet, juicy, organic peaches are in abundance at my local farmer's market. And I'm over the moon about it! What a pleasure they are eat and add to all kinds of tasty treats, especially fresh and fabulous smoothie blends. Did you know that peaches and nectarines are the same species, even though they are regarded as different fruits, commercially? [...]
There's nothing more enjoyable than going to my local farmer's market and finding fresh, juicy, organic peaches and sugary-sweet, seedless grapes. That's better than candy! What a delight! Best of all, both items were relatively low-priced, so I happily bagged a couple of pounds and toted them home to my kitchen where these yummy peaches and grapes became the [...]
Whenever I crave a healthy meal that is hearty, satisfying, filling but light, I reach for mushrooms. Classified as fungi, edible mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and very low in sodium. There are so many kinds of edible mushrooms to choose from, but my favorites are shiitake, maitake, portabella and button mushrooms. Photo: [...]
