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Christina Cooks

BLOG

The Importance of Self-Care

July 28, 2022

There’s a lot of talk about self-care these days and here’s how I see it. There is only one you in this world, so make sure you take care of…

Uncategorized

Keeping It Simple

July 18, 2022

My Italian grandfather use to say that it takes your whole life to appreciate doing things simply. That’s true of so many things in our world but it’s absolutely true…

Uncategorized

It’s the Wind; Always the Wind

July 15, 2022

My family heritage is half Irish and half Southern Italian; Neapolitan to be exact; from Castellamare di Stabia to be precise. My Irish side has its…quirks, but nothing…and I mean…

Uncategorized

Why You Should Be Packing Your Bags and Traveling to Italy…with Me!

July 6, 2022

The headlines are terrifying: “Travel Nightmare!” “Flight-mare” “Summer Travel in Peril.” Yikes, right? So what are we to do? Believe the fear mongering and stay in our backyards for the…

Food, Lifestyle, Travel

Being Here

June 17, 2022

As I write this, my time in the gorgeous country of Italy is winding down. I have been here, working and playing for nearly two months. I wanted to share…

Uncategorized

Consider the Summer…

May 3, 2022

Consider the summer…from Memorial Day (the unofficial start of summer) until Labor Day, we fill our thoughts with dreams of sunny weeks and weekends unblemished by obligations. We fantasize about…

Lifestyle

Working Hard to Find Beauty

April 18, 2022

We work harder now to find beauty, pleasure and even satisfaction in food, cooking and in life in general. We are desperately long into the battle against COVID-19; Russia is…

Uncategorized

Happy 2022?

March 22, 2022

During the global pandemic, I couldn’t imagine life getting more challenging or for there to be more misery in the world. Loss of life at epic proportions with grief to…

Uncategorized

I Just Can’t…

February 16, 2022

I was reading the NY Times (as I do most mornings before I begin my work for the day) and saw a headline that made my heart skip a beat…for…

Lifestyle

The Olive Oil Debate Continues…Why?

February 4, 2022

(Christina’s Note: Like you, my head hurts from the constant debate over extra virgin olive oil. So I asked nutrition expert Anthony Dissen to break it all down for us….

Food

You and Your Stove

January 20, 2022

My stove and I have the greatest time together. When I smelled gas as I cooked one day, I thought it might be a good idea to call the gas…

Lifestyle, Opinion

You And Me

December 13, 2021

I wanted to kick off 2022 with some thoughts that I believe are on a lot of minds these days. Our inboxes and newsfeeds are filled with stuff we love,…

Lifestyle

Tis the Season of Spice

November 20, 2021

As the days continue to cool, our bodies struggle to adjust to this new weather pattern. Will you be sitting on the couch cloaked in a blanket (already?) shivering in…

Seasonal

When Will We Learn?

November 18, 2021

ProPublica published an article a couple of weeks ago that had me scratching my head in confusion. And then I got well…angry. It seems that back in May of 2018,…

Food

My Family

November 17, 2021

As the holiday season shimmers on, I am feeling sentimental this year. My family was big and loud and a bit…pazzo as we say in Italian, but they made me…

Lifestyle

Back to Italy

October 25, 2021

I am back in Italy, working in our lovely travel business, hosting gloriously fun groups of tourists from Ravello to Naples, Tuscany to Rome. We are following that fun with…

Lifestyle

Italy Now

October 1, 2021

I’m in Italy as I write this, sort of post pandemic, sort of. The streets aren’t teeming with tourists, which is great for me, but not so great for Italy’s…

Travel

What Do I Know?

July 28, 2021

This past summer has been a challenging one for me on a variety of levels. There have been tragic losses and great triumphs. But the big one? Our little family…

Lifestyle

What Are We Becoming?

June 17, 2021

I grew up in a pretty wild, outspoken household. I was considered the wallflower because I didn’t yell (still don’t). My Italian and Irish clan was politically diverse and loved…

Lifestyle

Memorial Day 2021

May 28, 2021

How are you spending the long weekend? Working? Playing? Finishing up the pandemic house projects we all seem to have started and now want done, done, done so we can…

Lifestyle

Ah, Vaccines

April 30, 2021

As light begins to glow at the end of the long, dark tunnel known as the worst pandemic in our lifetimes, I thought I would write about something that has…

Lifestyle

Remembering When and Living in the Now

April 16, 2021

It seems so long ago, those days when a friend would ring and ask if I had time to meet up for a coffee or a quick lunch. During the…

Food

Hope As We Grieve…Over and Over

March 26, 2021

I don’t know about you but I am exhausted by grief. Just a few weeks ago, I was working in Italy, hosting groups, filming for Christina Cooks. It was a…

Lifestyle

Time to Chill

March 18, 2021

I was watching Bill Maher recently and he said what I have been thinking for some time now. That doesn’t happen often, so when it does, it gets my attention….

Lifestyle

Let’s Make Pizza

February 15, 2021

For so many of us, it’s just another weekend in the same place we’ve been for months, living and working day to day; looking for work, dealing with school, struggling…

Food

Still Cooking?

February 15, 2021

I think a lot during these days. I was just talking to my oldest and closest friend about these past months and how, for the most part, I have been…

Food

Living in Love

January 20, 2021

2020 was filled with painful challenges, from losing loved ones to losing jobs to losing ourselves in the chaos that filled the year. 2021 wasn’t much better. And now? Good…

Lifestyle

One Month In…

January 20, 2021

We are one month into 2021 and the times are still challenging. Sure, there’s hope and optimism as there is with every new year. And this year, that hope feels…

Food

And Now for Something Completely Different (cooking…)

December 28, 2020

It’s been months and months of the virus and even if the news around the vaccine is good, it’s not like we’ll be partying shoulder to shoulder in our favorite…

Food

Cooking Now…Again

December 28, 2020

There are certain kitchen rhythms that I will always associate with these past months of the pandemic. Pot after pot of what we consider “comfort food”: millet soup with red…

Food

Cooking for Thanksgiving

November 23, 2020

Here we are, in the run up to Thanksgiving and whether you’re alone, cooking for your immediate household or cooking for an intrepid crowd that decided to brave the airways…

Food, Seasonal

Celebrating The Year

November 23, 2020

I don’t know about you, but I was seriously hoping that Covid-19 would be on the downswing by the time the holiday season rolled in. But with cases still surging,…

Lifestyle

Here I Go Again

October 22, 2020

I have written about this topic before and I will write about it again, I am sure. I shouldn’t write when I am angry and exhausted from social media’s seemingly…

Lifestyle

Acrylamide-Should We Worry?

October 15, 2020

Someone wrote to me on Facebook asking about acrylamides. I confess that my first response was acryl-a-who? There seems to be more and more “stuff” out there for us to…

Food

It’s Almost Over…2020 That Is

October 15, 2020

I was listening to some people at my gym talking and they referred to 2020 in the most perfect way: “a total and complete s*&t show.” Sad to say, but…

Lifestyle

Fall Cooking Now

September 25, 2020

As summer fades into our memory, we mourn its passing, especially this year. We moved through the days with mask-fogged sunglasses and awkward, socially distant gatherings, where we waved at…

Food

Our Changing Planet

September 21, 2020

I was reading the New York Times this morning, as I do every morning before I begin my work. It’s my go-to source for news and has been for most…

Lifestyle

The Days Roll On

September 15, 2020

The days became weeks; became months and here we are. The days roll into each other. We savor small changes, small freedoms as we continue to navigate this pandemic. We…

Food

My Pop

September 15, 2020

My grandfather, my mother’s father was the greatest man who ever lived. Period. Coming from Castellemare di Stabia outside of Naples, he knew poverty. He knew want. He knew hardship….

Lifestyle

How Did We Let This Happen?

September 15, 2020

I know that times are hard for so many of us. We struggle with everything from cooking three meals a day, seven days a week to juggling home school or…

Lifestyle

The Joy of Still Cooking

September 1, 2020

Ah, the pandemic. 2020 has been such a delight (she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm). As the weeks and months of COVID life drag on, I find solace where…

Food

Women, Cooking and the Vote

August 17, 2020

I know what you’re thinking. You all come to me for my thoughts on food and wellness, not politics. Well, take a deep breath. This isn’t about party or politics….

Lifestyle

The State of the World

August 14, 2020

It’s been months now of living and working at home, working unmentionably long shifts as essential workers out in the world or living at home and not working at all….

Food

Got Cooking Fatigue?

August 5, 2020

As we venture out into the post-pandemic world, we are all still cooking. We are, right? I know so many of us are so eager to get back to eating…

Food

Family Meal

July 22, 2020

I continue to cook three meals a day.  Even though life is opening in every way, which makes me so happy and grateful. I just don’t feel comfortable eating outside…

Food

The Sicker We Get, the Happier We Are?

July 20, 2020

Watching an hour of television at night makes me feel sick. There. I said it out loud. It’s not the programming so much as it’s the Big Pharma ads during…

Food

A Midsummer Night Dinner Party

July 9, 2020

As social distancing and limited exposure to people not in your nuclear circle (like people with whom you share a home) continue, I am thinking about dinner parties and other…

Food

I Am Dreaming

June 26, 2020

As I write this, I casually glance at the calendar, just to see the date since, like most of you, I’ve lost all track of time. I saw that, if…

Lifestyle

Moving Forward

June 19, 2020

After months of lockdown and stay at home orders, it looks like summer might just begin and without masks. Our new normal will dictate the rules but many of us…

Lifestyle

Be the Good…and Win

June 18, 2020

2020 has been challenging to say the very least. The pandemic, social unrest and political upheaval can send us right over the edge into the abyss. I figure we can…

Lifestyle

Making the Case Against Eating Meat- yet Again

June 11, 2020

‘Fa tutto ciuccio gazzo!’ My favorite Neopolitan slang curse word (look it up) explodes from me as I slam the book shut. I have just finished reading “We are the…

Lifestyle

Cooking Now

June 2, 2020

I don’t know about you, but I am about at my wit’s end. A weekend of fury and violence has made the pandemic feel like a premonition of what was…

Food

Managing Life in Uncertain Times

May 29, 2020

As we slowly emerge from the safe cocoons of our homes and into what can be a scary new world, how can we channel our fear and create happiness in…

Lifestyle

Black Garlic, Baby

May 18, 2020

Black Garlic You might think that garlic that has been heated to temperatures varying from 140o to 170oF for three to four weeks, turning it black and soft should be…

Food

Keep Cooking

May 18, 2020

Another month of semi-lockdown and social distancing, no hugs, no kisses. More cooking at home. We may be out of our homes more; enjoying more freedoms, but still…    I…

Lifestyle

Good Morning Weekend

May 6, 2020

If you’re like me, you’ve had enough of stress recipes, cooking for comfort and indulgence, cooking with pantry staples, cobbling together something that looks like dinner. I’m tired of crossing…

Lifestyle

Reassessing…Everything

April 24, 2020

There’s no question. This is bad. Our current struggle (even with a light at the end of this very long tunnel) is out of the realm of imagination for us….

Lifestyle

Italy, Pasta and My Heart

April 24, 2020

If life were normal, I’d be deep in the planning stages of hosting one of my glorious Italian adventures. Every cell of my body vibrates with the anticipation of jetting…

Food

What Now?

April 24, 2020

I am writing a lot these days; making a lot of cooking videos; and posting them. I love my work. I love connecting with all of you in any way…

Lifestyle

Earth Day Turns 50

April 22, 2020

It’s Earth Day. I wanted to write today about something that has been on my mind as I work, cook, clean, exercise and self-isolate with my doll of a husband…

Lifestyle

Failing in the Kitchen

April 7, 2020

Kitchen failures happen. It’s simply the reality of life when we cook. My very wise macrobiotic cooking teacher once told me that for every great dish there were 100 disasters….

Lifestyle

I Though About You

March 30, 2020

It was during my qigong practice. I was letting go of the realities of life and letting the chi flow freely through my body, softening the tightness in my back…

Lifestyle

Our New Normal…For Now

March 23, 2020

I have worked from home for a long time. Unless traveling, hosting groups; teaching classes and seminars or lecturing, I generally work from my home office (aka, my kitchen), writing…

Food

10 Tips for Taking Care of Ourselves

March 19, 2020

There’s not one thing I can say that will quiet your fears about the Corona Virus pandemic. I can tell you how to cook healthy meals now that you’re home…

Lifestyle

Some Serious Spring Cleaning

March 18, 2020

As COVID-19 continues its iron grip on our world and life as we know it continues to change, as it should, I thought I would talk about cleaning. As you…

Lifestyle

Oh Boy, The Corona Virus

March 10, 2020

The novel Corona Virus, best known to us now by its code name, COVID-19 has dug its tentacles into the very fabric of our modern society and left us scared…

Lifestyle

This Is No April Fool’s Joke

March 4, 2020

I was watching television one night when an ad came on that I simply could not believe I was seeing. Whoever advised Inspira Health that this concept was a good…

Lifestyle

Can Vegan Burger Subs Really Reduce Our Consumption of Meat?

January 21, 2020

From Christina: I saw this article online and was thrilled to see the statistics. Now all we have to work on just a little more is the compassion that goes…

Opinion

This Chef’s Life

January 16, 2020

It’s been a long time since I was in a kitchen full time. Most of my days now are spent testing recipes, writing articles, planning and teaching cooking classes, serving…

Food

We Got Featured!

January 10, 2020

We got featured on Vegan Liftz, check out the veganism on the rise article here.

Food

The Cost of Going Vegan

January 10, 2020

The UK took a look at the cost of eating a vegan diet as compared to a conventional meat and potatoes (or bangers and mash) diet and the results were…

Food

Cozy Soups and Stews

December 5, 2019

Soup making has always been a kind of ritual in my world. I can remember the aromas coming from the bubbling pots on my mom’s stove. She had a way…

Food

Healthy Holiday Side Dishes to Savor

December 5, 2019

It’s that time of year. A time to gather our loved ones around us, enjoy, share and celebrate…everything. A long, cold winter stretches before us. The holidays distract us from…

Food, Seasonal

My Life’s Mission

November 1, 2019

My reason to get out of bed every day is to make a difference.   My mother raised us with the mantra: “If you’re not serving someone or something somehow…

Lifestyle

Why Do People Hate Vegans?

October 31, 2019

(From Christina: I read this in The Guardianback in 2019 and my mind was a little more than blown. it still is and is still worth a read. This article…

Lifestyle

The Key to Wellness

August 26, 2019

My husband was reading the New York Times and sent me an opinion piece by a cardiologist from Tufts University and a former Secretary of Agriculture. The piece hit the…

Food

Ramp Up the Anti-Cancer Power of Vegetables

August 19, 2019

The “war on cancer” drags on with no end in sight with 1.7 million Americans diagnosed with cancer last year alone. I don’t know about you, but with stats looking…

Food

The New Shows Are Coming! The New Shows Are Coming!

August 19, 2019

After a six-year hiatus, I’m coming back home to national public television. Taking the time to travel, teach and write a new cookbook, I think it’s time to come back…

Lifestyle

Want World Peace? Stop Killing Animals

August 19, 2019

It’s a simple thought that came to me while I sat in a lecture at a conference. The lecturer was a mentor of mine, Bill Tara, a brilliant man who’s…

Food

What the Heck Is Fast Fashion and Why Should We Worry About It?

May 20, 2019

Those of you familiar with me know that I rarely (okay, never) talk about fashion; not trends or styles. Heck, most of my clothes consist of workout gear, kitchen clothes…

Lifestyle

My Pop

May 2, 2019

I grew up in a wild, passionate Italian and Irish family. Food was the glue that bonded us and quality of ingredients reigned supreme. My Irish father worked as a…

Lifestyle

What’s Going on with Being Vegan?

May 1, 2019

I have practiced a balanced vegan lifestyle for over 35 years. Lately, several young vegan influencers (whatever that means to you), are bailing on the lifestyle because they lost their…

Lifestyle

GMO’s Deciphered

April 16, 2019

You guys know that I have strong feelings about genetically modified organisms, better known to us as GMO’s. But sometimes I wonder if my trepidation is founded in real science….

GMO

Is Fried Food Really That Bad For Us? Really?

March 4, 2019

Yes, really. According to a study published in BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal), frequent consumption of fried foods can lead to a serious outcome: early death. Yup; you read right…early…

Food

Fending off Disease with Fiber

March 4, 2019

My husband, who I adore, loves Time magazine. Yup, good old fashioned Time magazine. I’m not such a big fan but every now and then, I see an article that…

Food

A Story of My Father

March 4, 2019

I grew up in a wild, passionate Italian and Irish family. Food was the glue that bonded us and quality of ingredients reigned supreme. My Irish father worked as a…

Lifestyle

Enjoying Eating…No, Really Enjoy It

February 12, 2019

When was the last time you sat down to a meal and really enjoyed it? Without pondering calories, carbs, protein grams. Without second-guessing your choices and their impact on your…

Food

Going Green

December 12, 2018

I am continually stunned at how out of touch so many of us are when it comes to our impact on our fragile planet. Even when we think we are…

Lifestyle

Natural Relief

December 12, 2018

Backache,headache, sore knees, whatever ails you, pain is a game-changer and we are impatient to be rid of it once it parks itself on our doorstep.   Before reaching for…

Lifestyle

Creating a Happy Life

December 11, 2018

The more I get to know myself (seems to take a lifetime), the more I recognize what works for my system and what doesn’t; and I don’t just mean food….

Lifestyle

Gua-What?

December 11, 2018

As I…mature…I am always looking for ways to keep my skin supple and vibrant, naturally. I had been hearing about this ancient skin massage called “gua sha” and decided to…

Lifestyle

Pasta, Actually

December 11, 2018

My dear friend and food writer extraordinaire, Jason loves the movie “Love, Actually” so I named this article for him. It was through him that I had the chance to…

Food

Bathroom Beauty

October 30, 2018

Every holiday season I struggle. I struggle with gift giving. Do I simply make a large donation to a worthy cause in all my loved ones’ names? Do I make…

Lifestyle

Share the Love

October 26, 2018

It’s that time of year. Our hearts warm (while the rest of us is chilled) and we begin to count our blessings. You do count your blessings, right? I try…

Lifestyle

Gratitude, Baby

October 26, 2018

It’s that time of year. Our hearts warm (while the rest of us is chilled) and we count our blessings. You do count your blessings, right? I try to count…

Lifestyle, Seasonal

Holiday Wellness

October 17, 2018

It’s that time again: Chestnuts roasting on open fires (if you’re in Italy anyway), parties, family gatherings, feasts decorating, and shopping. The pace of our lives is fast day in…

Lifestyle, Seasonal

To Soy or Not to Soy. That Is the Question

September 12, 2018

I am asked this question all the time, but I realized that I have never really dedicated an entire blog to the topic of soy and the fear that has…

Food

I Couldn’t Believe This. You Won’t Either

September 12, 2018

I was just recently described as a badass since, it seems, I speak my mind freely. As I get older, I find that I do it more and more…and more…

Lifestyle

What Does It Really Mean to Be Vegan?

September 12, 2018

It’s National Vegan Month, which got me to thinking, as these various month-long commemorations often do. Sometimes they evoke a rant from me and sometimes, I want to just ruminate….

Lifestyle

Are We Really Standing Up to Cancer? Really?

August 29, 2018

I am at it again, ranting about cancer and the fact that we continue to “wage war” on this disease but yet, what are we accomplishing?   It’s the time…

Lifestyle

Hard to Believe We’re Still Here in 2018

August 29, 2018

I am an avid listener of the NPR radio program 1A. Well, I was an avid listener, until last week.   I find the show and its host, Joshua Johnson…

Food

It’s An Italian Thing

August 20, 2018

When we think of the Mediterranean we think of azure blue seas and leisurely days. I think of robust feasts served in olive orchards on one of our many trips…

Lifestyle

What Does Cancer Prevention Really Mean?

August 20, 2018

In the past few months, I have had more phone calls from people I love asking for advice about cancer (and diabetes and heart disease) than I care to think…

Lifestyle

Is It All Downhill As We Age?

July 25, 2018

My husband is simply mad for Life Extension, using a number of their products and reading their magazine. Over the years I have fallen for this company as well, with…

Lifestyle

What’s Up with Fatigue?

July 23, 2018

I hear it all the time. It seems everyone I meet is tired. It gets me to wondering what’s up with that?   Now I get that many of us…

Lifestyle

What to Cook This Week

May 30, 2018

Have you ever stood in the kitchen without one solid idea of what to cook?  Espeicially now that we are all cooking all the time? Still? Me, too.   Have…

Food

Seriously?

May 30, 2018

My husband loves Time Magazine and I love my husband (as evident in this photo of us…and yes, I know; the 80’s called and they want their hair back…but it…

Food

Summer Salads That Satisfy

May 11, 2018

As the days heat up, we are less and less inclined to light all four burners, the oven and the grill to prepare our meals. Nor should we!   It’s…

Food

Making Vegan Yogurt

May 7, 2018

I taught a cooking class yesterday all about managing weight and one of the questions at the end of class was about making vegan yogurt, specifically about the starter part…

Food

Lighten up Your Lunch

April 17, 2018

Who doesn’t love a sandwich for lunch? But sometimes the bread and the filling can leave us feeling like we’ve been stuffed like an over-filled pita!   Let’s lighten up…

Food

Discover a Younger-Looking (and Feeling) You…in the Kitchen

April 17, 2018

In the spring, we all talk about giving our homes a ‘facelift.’ We clean closets, wash windows, de-clutter and get rid of the ‘cobwebs’ of winter.   But what if…

Lifestyle

Smokin’ Hot B-12

April 17, 2018

Wait…what? You can…vape…Vitamin B12? Like…vape?   When I first heard about this new product idea, I was…unsure, shall we say. I wondered if it was hype or smoke and mirrors…

Lifestyle

Your Kitchen Is Your Pharmacy

April 17, 2018

We live in challenging times. Our political system is in upheaval; our food supply is under assault by big business interests who care only for profit, not for quality. Our…

Lifestyle

Eating for Your Workout

March 23, 2018

Each January, we commit to getting healthy and fit. Then winter doldrums set in and we set our deeply-felt resolutions aside and curl up under a blanket on the sofa….

Lifestyle

What’s Being Vegan Got to Do with It?

February 7, 2018

I will admit that I have been on something of a long rant these days as I watch junk food being peddled to us as real food and the accompanying…

Food

Coffee for a Cause

February 6, 2018

If you’ve known me for more than three seconds, you know I love coffee, from the shape of the sexy little beans to the seductive aroma that calls me by…

Lifestyle

It’s Almost Like They Want Us to Die

February 1, 2018

If you watch television, read magazines or scan internet sites for news or any other information, you have seen the ads.   We have tacos with shells made from fried…

Food

Want More Energy?

January 30, 2018

Do you feel sluggish in the afternoons? Light-headed or suffer with brain fog and fatigue? If your health if generally good, you might be confused by this. You may just…

Lifestyle

Olive Oil and Your Heart

January 12, 2018

People who follow a Mediterranean diet have a better quality of life and a longer one. You read right: according to research, people who eat a Mediterranean type diet live…

Food

#EnoughAlready

January 9, 2018

Are you as fed up as I am?   As we start the New Year, my hope is as shiny as the tinsel on the tree. I practically vibrate with…

Lifestyle

The Pomp of Pomegranates

January 8, 2018

When I was a kid, the only thing that helped me get over the passing of Christmas was the appearance of what my grandfather called “Chinese apples.”  I couldn’t wait…

Food

Can Vegetables Be Our New Meat?

January 8, 2018

It’s been a bad time recently for meat-and meat eaters. Everywhere they turn, they are faced with studies telling them meat kills, experts advising to quit meat and contaminated meat…

Food

Cranberries for A Healthy Holiday Glow

November 30, 2017

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, our thoughts turn to family gatherings and tradition.  Okay, the pressure of holiday shopping is foremost in our thoughts, but stay with…

Food

Let Go…and Do Good

November 30, 2017

I am not a big fan of clutter or accumulating what we don’t need so the rule in our house goes like this: “Have you use this in six months?”…

Lifestyle

Happy Healthy Holidays

November 30, 2017

I spent a few weeks working in Italy this past summer and fall and was struck by how healthy Italian living feels with its slower pace and relaxed lifestyle. Italians…

Food, Lifestyle, Seasonal

The Soy Story (and how it relates to your thyroid…)

October 26, 2017

From Christina: I am asked about soy and thyroid all the time so I thought I would go an expert on the topic, my great friend, Andrea Beaman. Here are…

Food

Always Read the Nutrition Label

October 16, 2017

By Dr. Miranda Graham | The Vegan MD The healthiest food you can get will always be from the produce section at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. However,…

Lifestyle

The Minimalist Kitchen

October 16, 2017

I hate gadgets. I’m glad that’s off my chest. From garlic presses to citrus juicers, I have little use for any of it. Give me a chef knife and a…

Lifestyle

Hallo-Whining!

October 16, 2017

Okay, I admit that Halloween was always my favorite holiday. It involved dressing up in costume, lots and lots of sweets and…it kicked off the holiday season with glitter and…

Lifestyle

Cooking Rules

August 29, 2017

The simple act of cooking. It has taken on meaning that we can barely fathom anymore. Is it a colosseum-type sporting event with chefs running around a kitchen cooking sea…

Food

Our Little Ones

August 29, 2017

It’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Childhood Obesity Awareness Month so let’s talk about our kids and their wellness, shall we?   I’ll start this article by saying that I…

Lifestyle

What’s Going on with Our Colons?

August 9, 2017

What’s Going on with Our Colons? The news was big…and somber…and apparently, shocking for many people, including experts.   A new study, published in the Journal of The American Medical…

Food

Get Pickled!

July 28, 2017

It’s all the rage. It seems everyone is fermenting something and extolling the virtues of fermented foods.   That includes me.   So let’s talk fermentation, shall we? Is it…

Food

Living Like An Italian…for a Little While Anyway

July 24, 2017

It feels like a moment ago that we landed in Rome, jetlagged from an overnight flight, but eager to welcome our guests, friends and family to another epic adventure in…

Travel

Bashful bananas

June 8, 2017

I have to tell you, bananas are not my favorite fruit…sorry.  It’s not the flavor…they’re sweet, so that’s good, right. It was purely a texture thing; they’re too soft or…

Food

The Epitome of Summer…Tomatoes

June 8, 2017

What’s summer without tomatoes? Lifeless…lackluster…flavorless…okay, okay…it would still be summer and wonderful at that, but tomatoes bring a luscious, sensual energy to hot, sultry days that is without peer in…

Food

Baby, It’s Blueberry Season

June 7, 2017

Baby, It’s Blueberry Season One of the many things I love about summer, besides basil, the beach, Italy, hot sultry days, cold crisp salads, lush fruit, staying outside until long…

Food

Time to Play

June 7, 2017

With summer in full swing, it's prime play time. I don’t know about you, but I drain every drop of fun in the sun out of this all-too-short season.  …

Lifestyle

The Beauty of Basil

June 7, 2017

One of my favorite things about summer is not the beach or long lazy afternoons in the sun or even the explosion of color and perfume in my flower garden. …

Food

The Carb Dilemma

June 7, 2017

I took my inspiration for this blog from my pal, Kris Carr. Both of us were surprised that people were still sooooooooo confused about whether or not to eat carbs….

Food

KISS Me, Baby

May 31, 2017

I say it all the time. Keep It Simple, Sweetie. It’s the key to success when you’re thinking about changing your diet and lifestyle to reflect healthier habits.   My…

Food

Celebrating Men

May 31, 2017

This month, we celebrate men.   According to the internet, June is dedicated to helping men to find their way to wellness. It reads: “The purpose of Men’s Health Month…

Lifestyle

Don’t Fry Day?

April 18, 2017

It’s Don’t Fry Day, but it’s not what you think. This is “take care of your skin” day. As Memorial Day weekend is on us and we unofficially kick off…

Lifestyle

Get Outside and Play!

April 18, 2017

It’s May and the height of spring. We’ve done the cleaning, decluttered our lives and now it’s time to refresh our fitness routines.   How?   Get outside and play!…

Lifestyle

The Healthy Kitchen

April 18, 2017

People ask me this question all the time: “what are the ten essential ingredients for a healthy pantry?”   In my view, there’s a lot more than ten things, but…

Food

What’s Moringa Got to Do with Arthritis?

April 18, 2017

Arthritis and its associated aches and pains plague the lives of millions of people in this country…and the world. New statistics tell us that one in five American adults have…

Lifestyle

Light, Bright Italian Fare

April 18, 2017

I am always inspired by my travels in and around Italy…all of the Med, really, but Italy is where my heart lives. I feel my best there, the most natural,…

Food

What’s Up with Turmeric

March 10, 2017

Obesity, lethargy and lifestyle diseases are almost inevitable or so it seems. With our notorious health-stealing American diet of fast junk food, frozen meals and convenience foods, not to mention…

Food

Spring Re-Boot Cleanse-Your Most Gorgeous Spring Ever!

March 8, 2017

Spring has sprung, but have you? Are you ready to bare your skin to the warmth of the sun? Are you radiant, glowing? Or do you need a wee bit…

Food

The Three-Day Detox

January 23, 2017

Can you feel like a new person in just 3 short days? Can you undo the damage you did over the holiday season? This 3-day plan can put your feet…

Lifestyle

It’s Black History Month

January 18, 2017

Every February we celebrate heart health and love. But we also celebrate Black History Month, paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full…

Opinion

Soy, Thyroid and You!

January 11, 2017

I’m asked this question a lot: Can I eat soy if I take thyroid medication to regulate its function. So I put on my reading glasses and scoured the net…

Food

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

January 6, 2017

  We all love our pets and want the best for them so when I received this blog from Jenny Holt about homemade dog treats, I just had to post…

Lifestyle

Here We Go Again!

January 3, 2017

Each year, we make the same promises to ourselves. This is the year that you’ll get healthy, eat right, get fit, get more sleep and take care of yourself.  …

Lifestyle

Perimenopause and You

January 3, 2017

Perimenopause and You I get asked about this life condition a lot so I thought I would take the time to do some research and get you some good information…

Lifestyle

Our Smoothie Culture

December 14, 2016

I have a very specific opinion on smoothies. You may hate it; you may rant at me for it, but here goes.   We finally put kale…in all its crunchy,…

Food

Holiday Leftovers

November 10, 2016

You’ve worked all week: shopping, cleaning the house, prepping ingredients, baking and cooking for the big feast that brings us together around the table to celebrate our gratitude for abundance,…

Food, Seasonal

You and the Flu

October 5, 2016

Every year around this time, the bombardment begins. Every expert pushes each and every one of us to get a flu shot like our lives depend on it. It starts…

Lifestyle

Imagine a World without Soda

September 28, 2016

My husband and I travel a lot for our work, as well as with family and for pleasure. We see a lot of sights…and stop at a lot of rest…

Lifestyle

Get Your Pink On and Open Your Wallet…Again

September 20, 2016

It’s October, girls, so gird your loins! We’re about to get pinked! You’ll see the color everywhere from tee shirts to ribbons, kitchen appliances to running shoes, all designed to…

Lifestyle

Your Essential Pantry

August 23, 2016

I must get asked these questions ten times a day: How do I set up a pantry to create health and wellness? What should I include, besides the basics to…

Food

Love the Skin You’re In, Baby!

August 23, 2016

Women spend a staggering $426 billion on beauty products each year:  shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dry shampoo, face wash, facial scrubs, tea tree oil, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, whitening toothpastes,…

Lifestyle

This Old Yankee Had a Cutting Board

August 22, 2016

It was a blazing hot summer day and I was about to do a cooking demo for the Newport Mansions Food and Wine Festival.   A man with sparkling eyes…

Lifestyle

Actually, This Is the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer!

August 22, 2016

I love my knife. There; I said it in my outside voice. I love my knife the way women love their shoes…with all my heart.   The affair began about…

Lifestyle

There’s a New Kid in Town

August 9, 2016

Camelina oil was brought to my attention a couple of years ago when I was traveling around Italy. It seems some of my best ideas, luck, products, people, experiences, food…

Food

The Power of Sublime Porcini

August 2, 2016

There are some things that you just can’t live without…great olive oil, sexy shoes, fresh garlic, juicy grapefruit, loyal friends, tulips in the spring and porcini mushrooms.    Growing up…

Food

Eating with the Seasons: Summer

August 1, 2016

Just to take us back to the dreamy, leisurely days of summer…yum! Summer Now we’re talking. Summer. It’s my season. Sure, I love Christmas and all that goes along with…

Food

Eating with the Seasons: Spring

August 1, 2016

I know it's not always spring (we can only wish…), but it's important to discover seasonal foods so you know what to eat as the seasons change. Spring During those…

GMO

My Dolce Vita

August 1, 2016

A month at both work and play in Italy is pretty sweet.   Now I’m back at home, looking out my kitchen window over my little city garden, my fig…

Lifestyle

Organic VS Non-GMO

June 21, 2016

It’s exhausting; I know. The dilemma of choices is in our face on a daily basis. Organic, non-organic, GMO, non-GMO; local, pasteured, grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic-free.   It could curl your…

GMO

Protecting Your Peepers This Summer

June 15, 2016

As the days heat up, so do our bodies. We sweat more easily to stay cool. We drink more water to stay hydrated. We rest more. We wear sunscreen.  …

Lifestyle

Social Media Day?

June 14, 2016

Who knew this was a thing? Seems to me we need a day when we take a wee respite from it and hang out with Mother Nature, no gadgets, phones,…

Lifestyle

Summertime and the Grillin’ Is Easy

June 14, 2016

I know what you’re probably thinking. Vegetarian and grilling are like Romeo and Juliet…with the tragedy. They just…don’t…go…together. But, really, they do. From corn on the cob to veggie kabobs…

Food

Cha-Cha-Cha-Cherries

June 14, 2016

As summer really heats up, we look to sweet, succulent fruits to help us keep our cool.  Cherries are the perfect summer treat (gee…do you think that’s why nature gives…

Food

Step Away from the Stove…

June 14, 2016

What? Is she telling us not to cook? Dream on, kids. I am asking you to explore a new idea to add to your repertoire of healthy eating…raw cuisine. And…

Food

Smile and the World Smiles with You!

June 13, 2016

We all know the power and magic of a smile. We have all basked in the warmth that radiates from someone’s grin when directed at us.   A smile…that silent…

Lifestyle

Time for a Picnic

June 13, 2016

As the first day of summer approaches (yippppeeeeeeeee…) we begin to think…picnic! There’s nothing more fun and relaxing, more leisurely and chill than a blanket on the grass with friends…

Food

Passionate About Peaches

June 13, 2016

As summer moves into its hottest weeks, I think only of peaches…sensual, soft, rich in nutrients and so lush with juice that it runs over our fingers and drips down…

Food

Make Life Beautiful Today!

June 6, 2016

There's an official day to make life beautiful. The official description of this lovely idea reads: “It is a day dedicated to encouraging and celebrating men and women who are…

Lifestyle

Time to Sweeten Things Up…

June 6, 2016

As far as I’m concerned, pineapple is the aristocracy of fruit.  But don’t let its royal appearance fool you.  Underneath its regal crown lies sweetly sensual fruit that can take…

Food

How the Heck Did We Get Here?

May 31, 2016

I think a lot about food. I guess that’s obvious, right?   The other day, my husband and I were driving on the highway, passing billboard after billboard for food…

Food

The Beauty of Basil

May 31, 2016

One of my favorite things about summer is not the beach or long lazy afternoons in the sun or even the explosion of color and perfume in my flower garden,…

Food

The Epitome of Summer…Tomatoes

May 31, 2016

What’s summer without tomatoes?  Boring…lifeless…lackluster…flavorless…okay, okay…it would still be summer and wonderful at that, but tomatoes bring a luscious, sensual energy to hot, sultry days that is without peer in…

Food

The Sensual Nature of Strawberries

May 28, 2016

Here on the East Coast, during that brief period of paradise known as early summer (or late spring), strawberries rule…as they should.  There is nothing quite like them in the…

Food

Sassy Saffron

May 24, 2016

With the warming days of spring moving quickly toward summer, I start to think of ways to refresh my cooking.  After a long, cold winter of hearty soups and stews,…

Food

Summer Skin, Baby

May 18, 2016

The days are longer, the sun higher, the breezes warmer. It’s almost here…the crazy days of summer. Are you ready? I’m sure you’re fit and fine, psyched for sun dresses,…

Lifestyle

The Sensual Nature of Strawberries

May 17, 2016

Here on the East Coast, during that brief period of paradise known as early summer (or late spring), strawberries rule…as they should. There is nothing quite like them in the…

Food

No Bones About It

May 17, 2016

It seems that each month, we work to create awareness of another illness that is plaguing our modern lives. We host runs, walks and any number of events to raise…

Lifestyle

The World’s Healthiest Diet

May 13, 2016

When I heard that it was International Mediterranean Diet Month, it made me stop what I was doing and reflect on that for a minute or…10 (as they would in…

Lifestyle

It’s Celiac Awareness Month

May 10, 2016

I will be honest here and tell you that I would be incredibly sad if I was told that gluten had to be eliminated from my diet. While we don’t…

Food

Mama Mia!

May 6, 2016

The modern American holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia….

Food

It’s National Smile Month!

May 1, 2016

What a gorgeous idea had by the UK several years ago when they dedicated this month to dental health.  And while the health of our choppers is paramount to our…

Lifestyle

Spring Sneezing

April 25, 2016

As April showers are replaced with May flowers, many of us rejoice at the thought of spring being fully sprung. And then there are the more than 50 million Americans…

Lifestyle

Amazing Asparagus

April 23, 2016

Just when you think there isn’t one more thing you can love about spring, along come the first tender stalks of asparagus, the surest sign of the season after tulips. …

Food

The Loveliness of Lemons

April 19, 2016

In Chinese medicine, lemons are a key ingredient in remedies used to aid the liver in its functions of ridding our bodies of toxins, as well as regulating the metabolism…

Food

The Art of Artichokes

April 15, 2016

Growing up in an Italian family (yes, I am half Irish, but we were all about the Italian food…), artichokes were a staple of our diet. As a kid, I…

Food

Loving Your Liver

April 13, 2016

Truly warm days of summer seem a distant dream at the moment, but there is a shift in the energy around us. You can feel it if you really pay…

Lifestyle

Check Out Chives

April 5, 2016

I know what you’re thinking.  She’s become desperate…she has no idea what to write about anymore, so she is writing about garnishes.  Well, nothing could be further from the truth. …

Food

The Joy of Cooking…Redux!

April 5, 2016

When I was a kid, we “ate out”…in a real restaurant once a year…on my mother’s birthday. It was her day not to cook. We ate at the same Polynesian…

Lifestyle

Our Glowing Skin

March 30, 2016

Our skin…soft, smooth, dewy—our pride and joy or the plague of our beauty regime. Never is this more obvious than in the spring when our winter-weary skin must face the…

Lifestyle

I Want an Easter Egg!

March 26, 2016

When I was a kid, my favorite cartoon character was Bugs Bunny. In one episode of Looney Toons, he ran around yelling “I want a Easter egg! I want a…

Lifestyle

Luscious Leeks

March 25, 2016

Cooking with onions seems to be the base for just about any good recipe, but pull out a leek and everyone gets just a little nervous…isn’t that the weird veggie…

Food

Fitness Redux

March 23, 2016

When I began my vegan macrobiotic practice 35 years ago, my life was on the line. I changed everything about my life to regain my health. I walked away from…

Lifestyle

Planting Your Future

March 18, 2016

I don’t know about you, but as spring begins to spring, my thoughts turn to dirt. Yup, dirt. I think about my little city garden and how may flowers and…

Lifestyle

St. Patty’s Day

March 17, 2016

I grew up with a mother who was seriously proud to be Italian. Seriously proud. She loved the cliché that there were two types of people in the world: Italians…

Lifestyle

Paleo-Should We Really Eat Like Cavemen?

March 15, 2016

I have to say that of all the dietary extremes we humans adopt on our quest for health and fitness, the Paleo or caveman diet concerns me the most. I…

Food

Stressed?

March 11, 2016

Winter drags on with February behind us and spring on the horizon, but it’s cold and most of us are over it. I know I am. We can become cranky…

Lifestyle

The DARK Act

March 11, 2016

With all the talk about the DARK Act (HR1599)seeing the light of day in the Senate after easily passing in the House, I thought it might be time for us…

Lifestyle

Get Your Glow On

March 11, 2016

How do you maintain a demeanor of calm, serenity in the world we live in? To say it's been a heck of a time since March of 2020 would be…

Lifestyle

Supplements-Savior or Sinner?

March 10, 2016

I wish I had a penny for each time I was asked about supplements in my career. I’d be writing this article from my villa in Italy! I kid you,…

Lifestyle

Supplements-Savior or Sinner?

March 10, 2016

I wish I had a penny for each time I was asked about supplements in my career. I’d be writing this article from my villa in Italy! I kid you,…

Lifestyle

Calm, Cool Cauliflower

March 8, 2016

Considered by many to be the mild-mannered Clark Kent of vegetables, cauliflower is actually a true superhero of nutrition…and one of my favorite veggies. A garden plant with origins in…

Food

It’s Almost Here

March 3, 2016

I bet you’re thinking I’m talking about spring, right? Hah! While that most glorious season begins on March 20 and I wait breathlessly for the first buds to sprout, it’s…

Lifestyle

Oil or No Oil-That Is the Question

February 29, 2016

Not a day goes by that I am not asked about oil. I have to say that while I am honored and thrilled to answer anyone’s questions at any time,…

Food

How Far Have We Really Come In Our Quest for Health?

February 26, 2016

It’s a discussion that has to be had, whether we like it or not. Not a day goes by that we don’t read, see or hear a news story telling…

Food, GMO

Living a Healthful Peaceful Life

February 22, 2016

I am a cooking teacher, first and foremost. I get asked a lot of questions as a result. And it seems to me that we have lost our way when…

Food, GMO, Lifestyle

Suffering Seaweed, Batman! It’s A Real Super Food!

February 17, 2016

You may think of them as the annoying fronds that wrap around your ankles at the seaside, but sea vegetables are the ultimate super food. At a time when it…

Food

Shiitake Happens

February 12, 2016

We may not think of shiitake mushrooms when we think heart health, but we should. I often joke that a true lover would present his or her beloved with a…

Food, GMO

Dried Fruit-Healthy or Hype?

February 12, 2016

Many of you have heard me say that when that candy bar in your desk drawer is calling your name at snack time…well…there’s a better choice. For many of us,…

Food, GMO, Lifestyle

Saturated Fat

February 11, 2016

As we celebrate our tickers, I thought I would take a look at one of the ingredients that seems to cause us so much grief.   We are told that…

Food

Dysfunctional Foods

February 11, 2016

(A Note from me: I found this article online. I adore the work of Dr. Katz. I just had to share it with you. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM,…

Lifestyle

Oh, Boy, Brussels Sprouts

February 11, 2016

I know what you’re thinking.  It’s February, the month of love and romance…and she is writing about Brussels sprouts????  Brussels sprouts???? Before you turn to another article, hang in there…

Food

Tailgate This!

February 2, 2016

It’s that time of year. We’re all about the Super Bowl. And while the game is the center of the universe for those 4-5 hours, it seems to me that…

Food

The Beat Goes on

January 29, 2016

We may think of February and picture Valentines, but since 1963, this short month has been celebrated as American Heart Month to urge Americans to join the battle against heart…

Lifestyle

Glorious Grapefruit

January 21, 2016

I don’t know about you, but where I live, when the bone-chilling cold of winter sets in, it feels like it will never thaw.  Steel grey skies, cloudy days and…

Food, GMO, Lifestyle

Is Fruit Juice Healthy?

January 15, 2016

We seem to tend toward over-indulgence…the holidays, the summer, graduation, weddings…because it's Tuesday and then we want to get back on track. Is juice the answer? Maybe; maybe not. The…

Food

Fabulous Fennel

January 14, 2016

Growing up in an Italian household, fennel, or finocchio, was a staple on our autumn table.  It wasn’t until I grew up that I discovered that it was rarely used…

Food

Cleaning Up For the New Year

January 11, 2016

It’s the New Year. You’ve made the decision to clean up your eating habits and get fit. Maybe you’ve made this resolution before, but what if it could really “stick”…

Food, GMO, Lifestyle

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

January 8, 2016

Even though the tinsel has come off the tree, decorations are packed neatly in the attic and the menorah is wrapped safely in its soft cloth for storage until next…

Seasonal

Changing How We Think

January 5, 2016

When I was younger and newly vegetarian, I think I had it easier than today. In order to change how I ate, I had to change how I thought about…

Food

Listening In the Kitchen

January 4, 2016

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  It’s my job. I love every second of it.  Having worked as an artist in my earlier years, I love the…

Lifestyle

Changing Your Mind

December 30, 2015

No one likes change. It’s uncomfortable and takes us into uncharted territory. It can be scary and we aren’t sure of the results…or consequences. And sometimes, we just get tired…

Food

The Aristocrat of Oranges, The Mandarin

December 28, 2015

I live on the East Coast. Winter sets in with dull, grey, bone-chilling cold days.  Since I can’t always jet off to a tropical paradise for a break from winter…

Food

Discovering the Christmas Spirit

December 11, 2015

I grew up in a wild and crazy Italian and Irish family who seemed to compete for who could yell the loudest or be the most dramatic. We were all…

Seasonal

The Scoop on Sugar

December 8, 2015

It's World Cancer Day, part of a 3-year project to reduce the burden of cancer on the world. It's a great idea and there are lots of ways you can…

Food

May We Live In Interesting Times

December 8, 2015

There’s an old Chinese saying: “May you live in interesting times.” Never has that been truer. With political upheaval, fundamental extremism, violence at every turn, hatred and division, climate change…

Opinion

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

December 7, 2015

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” -Dalai Lama Sitting with my godson in an ancient Franciscan monastery in Italy,…

Lifestyle, Seasonal

Facing Down Illness

December 3, 2015

I became a vegetarian when I was 14 years old, as a way to torture my butcher father. I had no idea what it took to be a healthy plant-based…

Lifestyle

Eating with the Seasons: Winter

November 25, 2015

We live in a great country where we can get any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year. That’s good news and bad news for us. It’s good…

Food

An Open Letter to the Philadelphia Eagles

November 23, 2015

November 21, 2015 Mr. Jeffrey Lurie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Philadelphia EaglesNovaCare ComplexOne NovaCare WayPhiladelphia, PA 19145   Dear Mr. Lurie, I was driving down I-95 past our gorgeous…

Opinion

It’s Diabetes Awareness Month

November 20, 2015

If you watch television for more than 30 seconds, you’ll see an ad for a diabetes drug, with discouraging language for people trying to manage this lifestyle disease on their…

Lifestyle

Nutmeg-Adding Spice to the Season

November 20, 2015

Nutmeg is one of the signature spices of the holiday season. We associate its earthy flavor with eggnog, spice cakes, cookies and seasonal lattes. This simple spice has an interesting…

Food

The Salt of the Earth

November 17, 2015

I decided to write about salt for a couple of reasons. I adore salt and all it does for my cooking and health, but more important, I am asked about…

Food

Let’s Talk Turkey

November 13, 2015

Surveys tell us that more than 100 million turkeys are eaten each year in America, 46 million of which will be the center of Thanksgiving feasts. Yikes! Besides the karmic…

Seasonal

Is There a War on Delicious Meat…Or On Our Health?

November 13, 2015

The headlines blared from every national (and international news outlet): “Processed Meat Causes Cancer, says WHO.” The World Health Organization now says pretty definitively that eating processed meat such as…

Food

Have vegans given themselves a bad rap?

November 13, 2015

At the time of year when we are thinking about gratitude and compassion, this weighs heavy on my mind. I was talking to someone I love and adore, respect and…

Lifestyle

An Introduction to the Sublime – Chocolate

November 13, 2015

Honey…truffles…wine…all hailed as food of the gods at some point in world history. No food, however, is more deserving of the title than chocolate, the aromatic, creamy, rich, dark substance…

Food

Tis the Season for Squash

November 9, 2015

With colder weather just about here (and the holiday season already looming), people naturally begin to think more and more about cooking.  We see article after article, advertisement after advertisement,…

Seasonal

An Apple A Day

November 5, 2015

As the cold weather continues to march toward us and autumn is in full blush, is there anything that lifts your spirits quite like crisp, juicy apples spilling out of…

Food

A Week of Lunches

November 4, 2015

I know what you’re thinking. How boring. Brown bagging lunch every day to the office and sitting at your desk while you eat it. No way, baby. Homemade is far…

Food, Lifestyle

Hallowe-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-n!!!!!!

October 30, 2015

I love (she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm) reading all the “healthy Halloween” tips that flood our inboxes and magazine covers this time of year. Not only impractical and…

Lifestyle

Cooking for One…You’re Worth It

October 25, 2015

In the kitchen, one can be a lonely number. There’s leftover fatigue or the sad bowl of cereal for dinner – again-rather than cooking. On top of that, spending time…

Lifestyle

Glorious Garlic

October 22, 2015

Glorious GarlicI didn’t cook with garlic until I was about 10 years old. My mother, you see, didn’t like it. I know, right? An Italian cook who didn’t like garlic!…

Food

S-l-l-l-o-o-o-w-w Cooking

October 19, 2015

There’s something about the fall that makes us crave long-cooked, hearty dishes. They seem to comfort us as the days shorten, the nights grow longer and the frost is definitely…

Food

Eating with the Seasons: Autumn

October 15, 2015

We live in a great country where we can get any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year. That’s good news and bad news for us. It’s good…

Food

We’ve Missed the Entire Point About GMO Food — A Farmer Explains Why

October 15, 2015

(October is Non-GMO month. In honor of knowing what’s in our food, I wanted to give you great information. I found this article which blew me away. I hope it…

GMO

The Pleasure of Pignoli

October 13, 2015

Pignoli (or pine nuts) are one of life’s yummiest indulgences. If they appear in a dish, it’s suddenly more special, more richly-flavored. What is it about these pale little bits…

Food

Cooking without Onions

October 11, 2015

Wait…what? Cooking without onions or garlic? Seriously? I get this question a lot. Some people have a partner who hates all things onions and garlic; some have an allergy to…

Food

O-o-o-o-o-o-h, Onions

October 9, 2015

As the weather cools, we turn our attention indoors. We move from the outdoor sizzle of the weather to the indoor sizzle of our skillets.  For some of us onions…

Food

The Care and Feeding of Our Breasts: Series Post 2 of 2

October 2, 2015

Could it be that the key to minimizing our risk of breast cancer begins in the kitchen? While I have talked about this for years, research is beginning to prove…

Lifestyle

The Care and Feeding of Our Breasts: Series Post 1 of 2

October 1, 2015

We hear about it every day. Women are diagnosed with a cancer that attacks the very symbol of our womanhood. From the rich and famous to the not so much,…

Lifestyle

Women’s Health and Fitness Day

September 29, 2015

It’s a big day in my world–bigger than a lot of the days on which we celebrate various conditions and causes. We’re celebrating women’s health and fitness. Today we ask…

Lifestyle

Selling Us a Bill of Health

September 24, 2015

If words like ‘pesticides,’ GMOs,’ ‘artificial colors and flavors,’ ‘growth hormones,’ antibiotics,’ ‘high-fructose corn syrup,’ or ‘processed food’ makes you crinkle your nose in distaste; if long, chemically-sounding names cause…

Food

Eating with the Seasons

September 20, 2015

We live in a great country where we can get any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year. That’s good news and bad news for us. It’s good…

Food

Organic or Non Organic, That Is the Question

September 18, 2015

My friend and colleague David Steinman generously offered to help me explain the importance of organic foods. David is a journalist, environmentalist, and consumer advocate. His book Diet for a…

Food

A Grain of Truth

September 15, 2015

The word “grain” resonates deeply with me. It evokes images of simplicity, elegance, beauty and humility. Simply stated, whole grains and grain products are the cornerstone of any healthy, whole…

Food

Eating Well on a Budget: Series Post 2 of 2

September 12, 2015

Let's continue our conversation of what seems like an impossible mission of stretching your dollar to get healthy food on a budget.  VegetablesThis is a no-brainer. Veggies are inexpensive and…

Food

Eating Well on a Budget: Series Post 1 of 2

September 8, 2015

There’s a reason that healthy eating seems unattainable. The recipes can seem complicated (translation: lots of prep time) with ingredients that sound unfamiliar and when you seek them out, are…

Food

Back to School-for the Big Kids

September 3, 2015

It’s true-70% of non-athlete college students gain between 10-15 pounds their first semester, and it just grows from there. Yikes! While my days as a college student are long behind…

Lifestyle

Label.ology: General Tips for Reading Labels

September 3, 2015

How to Read a Label10 Tips 1. Ingredients are listed in order of their proportion in the product. So for me, the first three ingredients are the most important. They’re…

Food, Opinion

Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Labels Product Names

August 31, 2015

How to Read a LabelLesson 5 Don’t let product names fool you. The name of the food product has nothing to do with what is actually in it. Big brand…

Food

Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Vitamins and Minerals

August 27, 2015

How to Read a LabelLesson 4 The next part of the label reveals the vitamin and mineral content of the food item you are considering. The FDA requires listings on…

Food

Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Ingredients

August 23, 2015

How to Read a LabelLesson 3 Let’s talk ingredients. We see the lists on packages and sometimes they read like Russian novels. How could all those substances be in one…

Food

The Art of Canning

August 20, 2015

It’s that time of year. Your seeds have sprung into full-grown plants laden with the fruits of your labor. While much of your garden bounty ends up on your table–and…

Food

Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Calories, Fat, Protein, Sodium…

August 17, 2015

How to Read a LabelLesson 2 The next part of the label includes information concerning fat content and type, amount and type of carbohydrates, protein, sodium, fiber, and sugar. It’s…

Food

Label.ology: Ice Cream

August 14, 2015

The summer is hot. We all want ice cream. It’s a treat synonymous with the season. But is it healthy for us? It can be high in fat, sugar and…

Food

Ciao Amici!!!

August 13, 2015

As I traveled in Italy for the month of July, it occurred to me just how easy and delicious it was to eat well and stay healthy…even when you’re on…

Lifestyle

Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Serving Sizes

August 12, 2015

How to Read a LabelLesson One At the top of the label you will see the serving size or the number of servings that the nutrition information is based on….

Food

Label.ology: How to Read a Label

August 7, 2015

I know–duh, right? Don’t you just pick up the package, turn it over, and read? Yes, but you may not know what exactly you’re seeing. It’s complicated. We are bombarded…

Food

The DARK Act Passes…Now What?

July 30, 2015

I was traveling through Sicily when I heard the news. What has been dubbed as The DARK Act (Denying Americans the Right to Know) or HR 1599 (Safe and Accurate…

GMO

Beating the Heat, Italian Style

July 25, 2015

I spend a lot of time in Italy, where the summers simmer, I would do some investigating into natural ways to beat the heat. As many of you know, Italians…

Lifestyle

Olive Oil and Your Heart…A Healthy Combination

July 18, 2015

There’s a lot of talk these days about olive oil. There are people who would have you believe that it’s an unhealthy ingredient in your diet. These experts, many of…

Food

Gelato, Gelato, Gelato

July 13, 2015

The summer is hot. We all want ice cream. It’s a treat synonymous with the season. But isn’t it unhealthy for us? Not these recipes! Enjoy! Simple Vanilla GelatoThis easy…

Food

One reason Italians live so well… lentils!

July 6, 2015

I admit it. I am completely obsessed with lentils, as are most Italians. I always say that if we could make a delicious lentil gelato, we would! Green, brown, yellow,…

Food

Healthy Travel

July 1, 2015

It’s that time of year. We hop in the car or head to the airport to enjoy some well-earned downtime to chill with friends and loved ones…a time to refresh…

Lifestyle

…Road Trip!

June 22, 2015

Summer means strappy sandals, t-shirts and sundresses; long weekends picnicking at the beach and…road trips!!!! But wait. Can those of us dedicated to healthy living survive out there on the…

Seasonal

Why Aren’t We Asking More Questions About Chicken?

June 15, 2015

Do you remember when we first heard about the sinister Avian Flu in 2003? We panicked. The news covered this new bird disease incessantly. China and its Avian Flu became…

Food

In the Garden

June 8, 2015

It’s that time of year. As I type this, I am looking out my window into my little city garden just overflowing with life. A couple of days of seasonable…

Lifestyle

Don’t Sweat the Summer

June 1, 2015

The stories vary, like any legend, I guess (true or not; legend or not…). Some accounts say Coca Cola was introduced on May 6, 1886 and some say June 6,…

Lifestyle

If Gluten Isn’t An Issue for You, Should You Still Avoid It?

May 26, 2015

Not necessarily. Look, I want to go on record as a gluten fan. I love whole wheat flours; I love baking bread and sweet treats. Sure I can work within…

Food

Eat This Now: Arugula

May 18, 2015

Eat This Now! Arugula…A Most Tender Green For most of us, spring brings thoughts of crocuses popping their pretty little heads through frozen soil…or tulips and daffodils waving lazily in…

Food

Vitamin B-12; Do You Need It?

May 18, 2015

  By Bill Caradonna, R.Ph., N.D. (Note from me: As many of you know, I am a deeply committed advocate of Vitamin B-12 and have written about my own experiences…

Lifestyle

Four Signs of Gluten Sensitivity

May 18, 2015

Now before I give you fodder to give up gluten ‘just because,’ let me go on record as saying that I think we eat way too much of this protein…

Food

Standing Up for Kind

May 18, 2015

We live in changing times. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal Americans have become ‘serial snackers’ with 48% of us skipping meals, in favor of snacks at…

Food

Sweet Treats

May 12, 2015

One of the questions I am most asked is how to convert gluten-containing desserts into gluten-free treats that…well, not to put too fine a point on it, actually taste great….

Food

Is Gluten-Free Synonymous with Healthy?

May 11, 2015

With about 30% of Americans indicating that they feel like they should “cut down or be free of gluten” (according to a survey), it’s important to make sure your nutrient…

Food

What’s All the Hubbub About Gluten?

May 4, 2015

I confess. As I write this blog, I am chewing on a piece of toast made from Italian artisan whole wheat flour and thanking my lucky stars that I don’t…

Food

If GMO Labeling Is a Con, Then Con Me, Please

April 30, 2015

Did everyone see the article on Gawker last week proclaiming that organizations demanding mandatory labelling on foods containing GMO’s is simply a con to get consumers to purchase more organic…

GMO

Fast and Easy Breakfast Ideas

April 29, 2015

Froot Loops, out! Trix, out! Lucky Charms, definitely out!   What can you do to get that same silly smile on your face that you get with a bowl of…

Food

A Healthy Breakfast…It Makes the Day!

April 27, 2015

I always say that your mother was right, at least about this one. Nothing gets your day off to a great start like a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast sets you…

Food

My Go-To Dish

April 21, 2015

This is one of my favorite recipes for strength and endurance. I love how it makes me feel: strong and relaxed at the same time. Perfect for a tough workout….

Food

Life As a Plant-Passionate Gym Rat

April 20, 2015

I began my plant-based macrobiotic practice 36 years ago when I was terminally ill. Given about nine months to live, all my attention moved to healing and what I had…

Lifestyle

Your Precious Skin

April 14, 2015

I love The Environmental Working Group. I have found that their research is impeccable and they do not resort to simple scare tactics. But they also don’t shy away from…

Lifestyle

Ahhhhhhhh…Avocado

April 14, 2015

Ya’ know, I never really liked avocados…too soft and mushy. The flavor was okay, but the mouth-feel was just not for me. And then one day, my husband convinced me…

Food

Here Comes the Sun, Baby!

April 14, 2015

I told you these days would come. The birds are chirping; the sun shines brighter each day; buds are popping everywhere! We’re thinking about planting, signing on with a CSA…

GMO

Multiple Surfaces That Needs Cleaning? No Problem!

April 13, 2015

I love this simple to make multi-surface cleaner. I use it for just about every surface in my house, from the dining table to granite counters to wooden cabinets. It…

Lifestyle

Clean, Fresh Laundry…No Sweat

April 13, 2015

My husband and I are both athletes. Robert is a distance runner and gym devotee and I am a gym rat through and through. We also work hard, on our…

Lifestyle

Naturally Clean!

April 13, 2015

Spring cleaning. It’s that gorgeous time of year when we throw open the windows and air out our homes after a long winter. Just like our bodies want to hit…

Lifestyle

The Farm Markets Are Coming! The Farm Markets Are Coming!

April 6, 2015

Depending on where you live, it’s still on the early side to trek to the weekly farm market in your town. But it’s certainly the time to get your hands…

Food

Your Kitchen Farm-acy

April 3, 2015

Time for the big guns. Let’s move from the herb garden and the medicine chest to the pantry and the fridge because a lot of your relief…or aggravation with allergies…

Food

Ah-Chew…

April 1, 2015

As we move into spring have you noticed your appetite change? Do you want less food? Do you crave lighter fare?   Mother Nature guides us season to season with…

Lifestyle

Tips and Tricks for Healthier Living

March 31, 2015

We asked and you answered! As a long-time advocate of healthy eating and natural living, I sometimes feel like I live in my own little world. Living the way I…

Lifestyle

Ah-Chew!

March 30, 2015

Ah-Chew! As April showers replace March’s chill, many of us rejoice at the thought of spring.   But then there are the more than 50 million Americans who dread the…

Seasonal

Springing Forward

March 23, 2015

It’s finally here…spring. The breezes are growing warmer, wafting through our open windows with the perfume that tells us the chill of winter is behind us and it’s clear sailing…

Lifestyle

Bagged Salad: Should We or Shouldn’t We?

March 17, 2015

It’s important to understand all the stuff that’s in what you buy. Then and only then can you can decide if you want it in your food, on your body…

Food

Eat This Now!

March 17, 2015

Amazing Asparagus Just when you think there isn’t one more thing you can love about spring, along come the first tender stalks of asparagus, the surest sign of the season,…

Food

Spring is in the Air!

March 17, 2015

As I write, it is an unseasonably cold, grey March day. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever see sun or be blissfully warm again. As I write,…

Lifestyle

Going Meatless

March 16, 2015

We post some very cool social media with daily healthy tips, yummy recipes and some interesting information about our food and making healthier choices.   But now? Oh, yeah, baby….

Food

If GMO Food Is So Great and So Safe, Just Label It

March 10, 2015

It’s National Nutrition Month, thirty-one days dedicated to helping people make healthier choices in life. I see it as a time to refresh our commitment to wellness but also as…

GMO

What’s In Your Food?

March 9, 2015

Do you know what you’re really eating? “Imagine if waiters told you the truth about your dinner order. They’d probably start like this: “Hi folks! Thanks for dining with us…

Food

It’s National Nutrition Month! It’s National Nutrition Month!

March 1, 2015

With the herald of spring, we Americans also celebrate National Nutrition Month, thirty-one days encouraging everyone to (according to nationalnutritionmonth.org), “adopt eating and physical activity plans that are focused on…

Food

Beans, Beans; They’re Good for Your Heart

February 23, 2015

How could I resist using that silly little ditty from our childhoods to begin a discussion of beans…and their influence on your heart health?   I can’t. My inner Henny…

Food

Be #HeartHealthy And Win!

February 18, 2015

Calling all creativity! All you Instagrammers and Tweeters out there; it’s time to show off your artsy side…and win a great prize for posting.   It’s simple to enter. Simply…

Lifestyle

Let Them Eat Kale

February 16, 2015

There are two types of people in the world…those who eat greens and those who should.   You can laugh, but it’s true.   In my book, leafy greens are…

Food

Label.ology: Agave Nectar (Syrup)

February 11, 2015

Label.ology In this feature, we’re taking labels…and ingredients apart.   It’s important to understand all the stuff that’s in what you buy. Then and only then can you can decide…

Opinion

Lovely Lentils

February 11, 2015

I admit it. I am completely obsessed with lentils. Green, brown, yellow, red, black, small, large, humble or gourmet, lentils rock my world. And you need to let them rock…

Food

Money Talks…Chocolate Sings!

February 9, 2015

There’s a saying that money can’t buy happiness. It can, however, buy chocolate. And in my book that’s practically the same thing.   It used to be that chocolate, while…

Food

Christina Cooks Heart Health Contest

February 4, 2015

It's contest time! Don't you just love that idea? I do! To celebrate American Heart Month, I'm giving you the chance to become a 'proactivist' and take your heart health…

Lifestyle

Shiitake Just Got Real!

February 3, 2015

  If we think about mushrooms at all, we may consider them a tasty addition to a salad, stir fry or casserole. Ah, but they are so much more.   …

Lifestyle

The Beat Goes On – American Heart Health Month

February 2, 2015

I hear it all the time. Thank goodness February is short. It’s the most unpopular month. It’s dark and cold, snowy and grey. There’s nothing special about this beleaguered month…

Lifestyle

One Healthy Thing – Week 5

January 26, 2015

Waking Up and Smelling the Toast As humans, we have taken ourselves so far from what is natural for us that we don’t know what natural is anymore. We think…

Lifestyle

The Dairy Myth

January 21, 2015

Doesn't it seem that for most of us we often have weight loss on our minds? We’ve been told that milk and other dairy products can be helpful in the…

Food

Oh, What a Relief It Is

January 20, 2015

Look out, kids. It’s cold and flu season!   We’ve seen the ads and they make colds and flu seem as terrifying as anything Stephen King can imagine.   Simple…

Lifestyle

One Healthy Thing – Week 4

January 19, 2015

One Healthy Thing Week 4: Be Nice and Eat Your Lentils! As January moves along, we are getting healthier every day. As we choose to add one healthy thing each and…

Lifestyle

Natural Radiant Beauty

January 14, 2015

Radiance, beauty…that elusive glow that we all seek to achieve.  I would venture to say that we would rather look good than feel good.  Unfortunately, you can’t have one without…

Lifestyle

One Healthy Thing-Week Three

January 12, 2015

It’s almost the middle of January and look at you! You’re glowing with the spark that comes from becoming a proactive creator of your own health and wellness. With you…

Lifestyle

Label.ology: Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) & Petrolatum Liquidium

January 10, 2015

In this feature, we’re taking labels apart. It’s important to understand all the stuff that’s in what you buy. Then and only then can you can decide if you want…

Food

Why We Cook

January 9, 2015

Why do we cook? Anthropologists tell us that cooking is what ultimately makes us human, differentiating us from other species in that cooking created community. We gathered around the fire…cooking…

Food

One Healthy Thing – Week 2

January 5, 2015

  See? That wasn’t so bad. One healthy thing, each day, and you already have 4 days of making healthier choices under your belt. Just look at you! You’re glowing…with…

Lifestyle

One Healthy Thing

December 29, 2014

  "The greeting cards have all been sent The Christmas rush is through But I still have one wish to make A special one for you"   Get your act…

Lifestyle

Why I Love Kettlebells and You Should, Too

December 12, 2014

I am a gym rat. It’s my one true vice. Not chocolate or salt or even espresso. I am deeply attached to my workouts. If I could move my bed…

Lifestyle

Happy Holiday Season

December 12, 2014

I grew up in a wild and crazy Italian and Irish family who seemed to compete for who could yell the loudest or be the most dramatic. We were all…

Lifestyle, Seasonal

Tis the Season…To Shop

December 11, 2014

Every year we struggle with holiday shopping. We want to be conscientious, sustainable; we do not want to consume more than we need. We dread the stampedes at holiday sales…

Seasonal

The Oh, It’s Cold…But Wait There’s a Crocus…Here Comes the Sun Series

December 11, 2014

The holidays will come and go and where will we all be? Happy and healthy or wondering why we did what we did…again. Long winter days provide the perfect encouragement…

Lifestyle

Easy Weekday Soups to Keep You Warm and Strong

December 11, 2014

As the holiday season heats up, we get busier and busier…and it becomes more challenging to cook from scratch so we stay strong and healthy.   One of my go-to…

Food

Label.ology – Butylated Hydroxyanisole /Butylated Hydroxytoluene

December 11, 2014

In this feature, we’re taking labels apart.   It’s important to understand all the stuff that’s in what you buy. Then and only then can you can decide if you…

Food

Buona Tiramisu

December 9, 2014

BUONA TIRAMISU While not really an Italian classic, this yummy dessert has come to be associated with Italian cuisine…right up there with pasta. My version is delish and lighter on…

Food

The Root of It All

November 20, 2014

With cooler weather as the order of the day, we look to our food and cooking styles as our first line of defense against the harshness of cold days. And…

Food

Tis the Season of Spice

November 20, 2014

As the days continue to cool, our bodies struggle to adjust to this new weather pattern. Will you be sitting on the couch cloaked in a blanket (already?) shivering in…

Seasonal

Label.ology ; L-cysteine

November 20, 2014

In this feature, we’re taking labels apart. It’s important to understand all the stuff that’s in what you buy. Then and only then can you can decide if you want…

Food

Cookies to Make You Happy… and Healthy… This Holiday Season

November 17, 2014

It’s that time of year. The air is crisp and cold. We’ve packed away the flip flops for boots and sweaters. The lights are untangled and ready to adorn the…

Food

Who Has Time for That?

April 11, 2014

Watching a cooking show the other day, I saw an ad for Marie Callendar pot pies talking about how the crust is made from scratch and the ingredients simmered with…

Food

Roundup Rip Off

March 27, 2014

Whenever the episode on GMO’s runs on public television, my office phone rings off the hook and my website blows up with irate people telling me that I don’t know…

GMO

Why We Cook

March 5, 2014

Why do we cook?   Anthropologists tell us that cooking is what ultimately makes us human, differentiating us from other species in that cooking created community. We gathered around the…

Food

Workout Your Heart

February 20, 2014

I know what you're thinking. This is the one where she gives us that tired old advice of exercising daily.   And while that is essential to heart health (really…

Lifestyle

Why Does the Food Industry Want to Block GMO Label Laws?

February 18, 2014

An article appeared in Bloomberg Business Week on February 6 that should have us nervous about the future of our food…and asking a lot of questions.   The Coalition for…

GMO

Arctic Apples…Why?

February 11, 2014

I suppose it was only a matter of time before somebody messed with our beloved apple. We humans just can’t leave nature alone. Our ability to create and manifest what…

GMO

Living Well Is the Best Revenge

February 11, 2014

Who doesn’t want to live a happy, healthy life? But who’s got the time? We are tired, overwhelmed, struggling to just get through the day. Well, there’s a better way….

Lifestyle

The Art of Living Well

February 11, 2014

Food is merely the foundation upon which we build the rest of our lives. We live in a world where it is quite difficult to maintain a natural balance. Everything…

Lifestyle

Vegan Pregnancy Q & A

February 11, 2014

Very informative interview by Alicia Silverstone with experts she trusts…including me. What kind of formula should a vegan baby drink? Christina: Well, first, I have to say that the best…

Lifestyle

Living a Healthy and Peaceful Life

February 11, 2014

As a cooking teacher I get asked a lot of questions about food and health. My conclusion? People are so confused. Each day we hear statistics that are scarier than…

Lifestyle

An Ode to the Long Lunch

February 11, 2014

I have been traveling to Italy for both business and pleasure for years. I have often said that I feel more myself there than I do here in my own…

Lifestyle

Eat Your Way to Better Sleep

February 11, 2014

We all want a great night’s sleep. Just about every expert will tell you that many of the ills plaguing modern society have some roots in sleep deprivation. Study after…

Lifestyle

Get the Glow

February 11, 2014

It’s that time of year again…time to start spring-cleaning! And I’m not talking about the usual scrubbing, dusting and mopping, though I do enjoy a tidy nest! It’s no secret…

Lifestyle

They Don’t Call Them Essential Fatty Acids for Nothin’

February 11, 2014

The year was 2003. Living a plant-centric lifestyle for more than twenty years and teaching healthy cooking and eating macrobiotically for more than fifteen years, I thought I had it…

Lifestyle

The B-12 Dilemma

February 11, 2014

In our house, 1998 has a pet name…the year from hell. Everyone has them…those years that you literally count the days until they end…even living a macrobiotic lifestyle does not…

Lifestyle

President Bill Clinton… National Treasure

February 11, 2014

From little fat boy to the national poster boy for healthy plant-based eating, the former President has become…in my view, a national treasure…a shining example of what we can do…

Opinion

Fit for Human Consumption

February 11, 2014

If we took cooking seriously, we could change the human condition. I’m not kidding. French food expert, Jean-Anthelme Brillat Savarin once said that cooking made us who we were; that…

Opinion

I’m Mad As Hell

February 11, 2014

Ay, Ay, Ay, as the saying goes. A pandemic, lost jobs, unprovoked war and political unrest, global natural disasters, and, as Peter Finch’s character declared in the 1976 film Network,…

Opinion

My Story of Growing up Italian and Where It Got Me to Today

February 11, 2014

My life began when I was 14. Okay, I was born fourteen years before that, but… I was raised in a big Italian and Irish family, with extended clan members…

Opinion

Why Choose HEALTH When You Can Choose Dinner in a Bucket?

February 11, 2014

Walk into a fast food restaurant and look at the menu closely. Your head will spin at the sheer number of options available to wreck your health and accelerate your…

Opinion

Ya Gotta Love How Special Our Special Interest Groups Are…

February 11, 2014

I have been away, working in Italy for about a month, so I have spent a few days catching up on email and other office stuff that has built up…

Food

A Day in D.C. (A Retrospective)

February 11, 2014

On a crisp Thuirsday in January of 2012, I had the privilege to testify before the USDA with my friend and colleague, Dr. Neal Barnard, president and founder of the…

Lifestyle

Where Has All the Compassion Gone?

February 11, 2014

I wanted to talk about something that seriously bugs me. I have lived a plant-centric lifestyle for more than 25 years and people rarely knew it. I always told myself…

Opinion

Can We Cut Crime by Changing Cafeteria Menus?

February 11, 2014

I know; I know. It’s controversial. Some say crazy, but what if we could reduce crime and violence by simply changing cafeteria menus? A high school in Appleton, Wisconsin tried…

Opinion

Is Healthy Living the Privilege of a Few?

February 11, 2014

In these hard economic times, people are watching their dwindling money do less and less. We also continuously hear about living well, eating naturally and preventing disease. These three basic…

Opinion

Why We Eat

February 11, 2014

Thirty-five years ago, I changed the way I eat in order to regain my health during a life-threatening illness. Obviously, it worked out well, as I am here and healthy…

Opinion

The Impulses of Impulse Eating

February 11, 2014

We have all done it. We’re cleaning up after a party, holiday feast, or other celebration and you munch as you go. There’s one cookie left on the plate, and…

Opinion

Foods Your Family Will Love

February 11, 2014

We have all had those days…or heard the stories. You are worried about your family’s health. You desperately want them to eat healthy food so you buy books, scour the…

Opinion

No Choice but to Be Fat?

February 11, 2014

‘Sometimes I have no choice but to eat heavy, greasy food…’ goes the opening line in a television ad for ‘Activia,’ the yogurt enriched with ‘bifidus regularis’ (an invented marketing…

Opinion

Again with the Resolutions?

February 11, 2014

Are you as sick of New Year’s Resolutions as I am? Every year, we hear the same things: make this the year you get fit; slim down; make healthy lifestyle…

Seasonal

Holiday Feasting, In the Plant World

February 11, 2014

Holidays can be challenging on many levels, but if you really want to throw your family into a tailspin, tell them that a vegetarian, or worse…a vegan, will be joining…

Seasonal

‘Tis the Season…

February 11, 2014

You survived it…the summer of beach time, barbecues, block parties, late nights. ‘Tis a new season as we face the reality of head colds and flu…and surviving that! Simple colds…

Seasonal

Cleaning Up For the New Year

February 11, 2014

It’s the new year. You’ve made the decision to clean up your eating habits, de-tox your body and get fit. Maybe you’ve made this resolution before, but what if it…

Seasonal

Life’s A Beach

February 11, 2014

With long, languid summer days ahead, it’s time for some serious summer health talk. I know that when I walk into my gym after any given weekend in the summer,…

Seasonal

The Back-To-School Dilemma

February 11, 2014

It seems that summer just begins and suddenly, we are bombarded with ‘back-to-school’ ad campaigns designed to market as much stuff to our kids as they can absorb…and our kids?…

Seasonal

Top Ten Farm Market Ingredients to Buy and Eat Now!

February 11, 2014

It’s the time of year more near and dear to my heart than Christmas, the season of farmers’ markets. We are especially blessed in my region of the country, surrounded…

Seasonal

Summer Abundance

February 11, 2014

The day I met Julia Child was amazing…awe-inspiring and I was just a little star-struck. Here she stood, the icon of all that is cooking, shaking my hand, smiling and…

Seasonal

Stay Healthy This Autumn with These 10 Tips

February 11, 2014

I don’t know about you, but as much as I adore summer, I love those first cool days when I race to the kitchen, turn on the oven, and begin…

Seasonal

The Christmas Spirit

February 11, 2014

I grew up in a wild and crazy Italian and Irish family that seemed to compete for who could yell the loudest or be the most dramatic. We were all…

Seasonal

The Forbidden Fruit

February 11, 2014

When I was a kid, the end of summer meant three things, pressing grapes with my grandfather to make wine, canning the garden’s tomatoes with my mother…both chores we hated…and…

Food

Brown Rice Syrup & Arsenic… The Truth I Discovered

February 11, 2014

People are confused and scared by grim statistics and dire predictions about health and our diets. Organic, non-organic, local, commercial, GMO’s, farm fresh, natural…it’s like you need to be a…

Food

Brown Rice and Arsenic…Here We Go Again

February 11, 2014

Just when I think things are returning to some form of normalcy, there is more panic around food…some for good cause and some, as Jon Stewart says, not so much….

Food

It’s Easy Being Green

February 11, 2014

Shakespeare coined the phrase ‘salad days’ in ‘Antony and Cleopatra,’ referring to a time of youth and innocence. In modern days, this same phrase indicates the peak of life, regardless…

Food

Napoli and Pizza

February 11, 2014

My mother’s family came to America in search of a better life. The youngest of seventeen children (yes, you read right, seventeen!), my grandmother talked often of their life in…

Food

The Deadly Nightshades…Or Are They?

February 11, 2014

I grew up in a big, culinarily inspiring Italian family. We cooked, ate, made and drank wine, cooked, ate, tended vegetable gardens, fought, cooked and ate. But I learned everything…

Food

Seeds of Life

February 11, 2014

As the earth thaws and the change in the air we know as spring embraces our winter-weary bodies, I am acutely aware of the rebirth of all life. We emerge,…

Food

The Scoop On Wheatgrass

February 11, 2014

Wheatgrass is one of the most intensely concentrated nutrients. And while it has a very strong taste, very grassy, like drinking the lawn…(kidding…) it can be a healthful addition to…

Food

The FDA Says Walnuts Are Illegal Drugs?

February 11, 2014

I am an avid reader of the magazine Life Extension. I find their articles compelling, no-nonsense and their research impeccable. In one of their issues, I read an article that…

Food

Where Does Your Food Come From?

February 11, 2014

It’s all the rage. Eating organically produced foods, supporting farm markets, CSA’s and eating locally have become as common in our language of food as food itself. We are all…