Will Our Fascination with Meat Ever End?
It’s no secret that I love everything Italian. I fell in love with every single episode of the series with Stanley Tucci showcasing all that is wonderful about Italy. I was, as you would expect, appalled at some of his food choices, like offal, tripe, lampredotto and other weird animal parts that may have been…
What to Eat…Now
A dear friend, Andrea Fein encouraged me to read Marion Nestle’s new book, an updated version (and massive volume) on her 2006, What to Eat. Called What to Eat Now, it takes us on a terrifying journey through supermarket shopping and the psychology used to encourage and influence how we shop. I can’t decide if…
How to Eat
You might be wondering what exacrly I am talking about. Don’t we just take the food we choose, chew and swallow it and our bodies do the rest? Am I over-complicating this simple process? Maybe I am, but it seems to me that in this world of social media and ‘influencers,’ we have lost our…
Another Confirmation. How Many Do We Need?
It wears me out. I see influencer after influencer (why do we listen to them?) telling us that plants are toxic and that meat, butter and other animal food products are the key to, well, everything that makes a life healthy. It’s time for a reality check since the latest research shows that 50% of…
How Did Vegans Become Villains?
(Editor’s Note: I read this article recently by another hero of mine, Chef Alexis Gauthier, chef/owner of restaurants in Soho in London. He’s a brave, outspoken advocate for animals and compassion for all beings and I simply adore how he writes and cooks. Enjoy. –Christina) It’s a strange question when you stop and think about…
The New Guidelines for Healthy Eating for Americans
Every time I think that we can’t be more gaslit or sold out by the very agencies put in place to protect our interests…you know, the interests of the American people, I am the one fooled. And once again, I am not disappointed. The ‘inverted’ pyramid has been released by the FDA and HHS; you…
My Hero Tells It Like It Is
(From Christina: It’s no secret that I have great admiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger and that I train to his amazing app four days each week (I am obsessed with it). I read his daily newsletter for information on nutrition and fitness and I admire his philanthropy. I read this piece by him and it hit…
Suffering…and the Table
I think a lot about suffering these days, as I am sure many of us do. I read news and see article after article about conflict, war, loss, grief, anger, rage and intense pain. And then I read articles about people standing up and showing the best of humanity. Often around food. People delivering meals…
Why Health Advice That Sounds Oh, So Certain Is Often Oh, So Wrong
As I grow more…mature, shall we say, one thing has become increasingly clear to me. I don’t know anything. Obviously, I am being a touch facetious, but as I grow older, listening has become more important than to sound so absolutely certain about what I am saying. “I don’t know.” It sounds small, weak even.…
What Has Immigration to Do with Food?
Like many of us, immigration is on my mind. I see the same news that we all see; I am horrified by the violence I see around an issue that should be anything but violent. For me, this issue is about food, as well human decency. My grandparents, on both sides came to this country…
How Did We Get Here? Is It the Food? Yup…
I seem to think a lot about compassion these days. Perhaps it’s the desperate need for empathy that I see all around me. Perhaps it’s the apparent loss of it by so many who see kindness as a weakness, not a virtue. We see cruelty each and every day in so many ways and yet, we…
How Do I Make Change?
I have been doing what I do for a long time; more than 30 years. I have worked passionately at the mission that drives my every waking moment tirelessly and with great joy. The flip side is that I have also, with my Pollyanna optimism, been pushing a rock uphill for the last 30 years.…
Here’s to 2026
Happy New Year!!! I hope 2026 is your healthiest, strongest, fittest year yet. I read this the other day, from my hero, Arnold and I could not have said it better, so here is some new year motivation from the man himself: “Monday Motivation People ask me every day how to stay motivated. It just…
Has PBS Been Defunded?
It has not! The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been defunded by the federal government. In its quest to suppress any narrative except the one it prefers, it moved to remove educational television from people’s screens in an attempt to keep us uninformed. National Public Television is alive and well, although because of the way…
Protein Harvesting?
You might be wondering what ‘protein harvesting’ means. I know that I was. It’s the sanitized word now being used to describe the slaughter of animals for our dining pleasure. It’s yet another way to market meat to us that makes it feel less gruesome and healthier for us. Most people who eat animals focus…
I Wonder Why…
I have been reading a lot about veganism lately. Having lived this lifestyle for more than forty years, I would have thought I had heard it all. But there seems to be a…new…wind blowing. I know we live in interesting times; times in which cruelty is celebrated as strength. It is beginning to translate into…
Why Don’t We Like Healthy Food?
I was happily working as a private chef way back in the day. I loved that job: the different kitchens, the varying personalities of the families I cooked for; the varying tastes and desires. It was fun, challenging and rewarding work. I was cooking for a family who were quite new to macrobiotics and plant-based…
Veganism Isn’t a Problem, but Mocking Compassion? Big Problem
I read another blog by my new hero Chef Alexis Gauthier and it made me think. The beginning of the story is a re-telling of his version of events in England…and then it’s all me, baby, ranting. According to Chef Gauthier, in late July, singer Billie Eilish made the bold decision to make her O2…
Protein-Rich Veg? Yes, Please
Protein is a key component of a healthy diet, and some of the best protein sources are vegetables. In addition to being easier on your wallet, these veggies (many of which can actually be grown at home, if you’re feeling ambitious) tend to be loaded with other nutrients which some of those other foods may…
The Belle of the Ball…Florence
Imagine walking down cobblestone streets; the same streets walked by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and other luminaries of the Renaissance. Imagine cool early spring days spent enjoying nature in the hills of Chianti. Imagine decadently delicious meals served each evening prepared with local ingredients and zero waste by Christina and Chef Patrick Verre. Imagine no more.…
Barcelona, Baby
Barcelona is widely praised for its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and art, design, and delicious Catalan cuisine. It’s crazy beautiful and in April, the huge summer crowds have not arrived and the weather is simply perfect. The sun shines brightly, but with moderate humidity levels, the warmth is enjoyable rather than oppressive as it can…
A Chef’s Life Altering Reflection
(From Christina-I have been following Chef Gauthier for some time and have loved his evolution. His commitment to the reduction of suffering and to the welfare of animals and humans makes him one of the greats in my humble opinion. He posted this on Substack. It is more than worth your time to read and…
What Can We Do About Food Waste?
The numbers are terrifying. Here’s some food for thought, pun fully intended. Worldwide, humans waste 2.5 billion tons of food each year, but the United States discards more than any other country, around 60 million tons, (120 billion pounds) every year. Its equivalent to 40% of our entire food supply and translates to an average…
What I’m Eating this Summer
With hot steamy days ahead, we have to plan so that eating well doesn’t fall by the wayside. And while I love to make most of my foods from scratch, summer weather can have even the most intrepid home cook looking for ways to make life easier. Actual Veggies When I don’t make them from…
Have We Lost the Art of Consideration and Kindness?
Where are our manners? I wake each day with a sunny outlook on life. I am very blessed. I have a husband that I adore; friends and family who are loyal and loving…and honest. We live a good, if simple life with enough. All we have ever aspired to is to have enough; not more…
Healthy Living Really Is Boring
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger. His philosophy on fitness and overall wellness is, to me, spot on. While I don’t always agree with his take on food and some of the supplements he loves, I see in his thinking a foundation on which we can truly build…
The Hope of Spring
As the breezes are growing warmer, wafting through our open windows with the perfume that tells us the chill of winter is finally behind us; it’s clear sailing into summer. We begin to develop a deep desire to clear our homes of accumulated winter clutter; we dust, wash windows and change bedding to lighter, airier…
Le Belle Ame of France…
Edward Hopper said: ““I do not believe there is another city on earth so beautiful as Paris nor another people with such an appreciation of the beautiful as the French…” You can’t really understand this sentiment if you haven’t been to France. You all know that my heart beats with an Italian rhythm and there’s…
The Work I Do
I truly love the work I do. And I especially love hearing from all of my viewers and followers across the country. I love that they are inspired by my program, inspired to make better choices in their lives and the lives of the people they love. I just returned from the annual public television…
No One Should Be Surprised by This One
Honestly, I feel like I have written this blog a hundred times before, but here I go again. I recently read two articles that sent my blood pressure soaring. And before you ask, I have no answers except the obvious ones. But I am getting ahead of myself. In Axios, I read that 73% of…
This Season
With the interminable election season behind us, we now deal with the aftermath; who is disappointed, scared and apprehensive and who is thrilled with the results. The good news is that we can finally stop dreading the ugly ads and rhetoric and get on with the sparkling days that make up the holiday season…before the…
What I Eat in a Week
I am having a passionate love affair with Stanley Tucci’s new book, “What I Ate in a Year.” He is a smart, articulate, passionate-about-food, clever writer who charms with every word on every page. His diet, as I read his diary makes my cholesterol and triglycerides rise. But I love his style and his passion…
Cooking from the Heart
As the holidays come on the horizon in all their twinkling glory, we think about cooking. I confess that I always think about cooking, but that’s me. My passion for cooking has never waned. Decades of kitchen life, both professionally and at home…or in a classroom continually inspire me. If you cook, you know that…
Wanna Greens, A Game-Changing Green Vegetable
Not a day goes by (hardly) that I am not messaged, emailed or DM’d about a revolutionary new product that will change the way we think about food, nutrition and sustainability. It’s never actually been true…until now. We met the genius minds behind GreenOnyx about a year ago, when our television sponsor relations partner introduced…
Be Useful…Use Your Voice; Take Care of Each Other and Vote
We live, day to day, in what can only be called a grand experiment. Our founders were sure that a government by and for the people could succeed. Are we perfect union? Hell, no, but with each election, from city councils to the presidency, we work to create a country that is welcoming, just and…
FinaMill…Part Deux
I have been cooking all my life, well, almost. I fell in love with the rhythm of the kitchen at the tender age of 4, watching my mother, grandmother and aunts move around each other in perfect harmony, laughing, singing and drinking coffee as they cooked together. That music was all I ever wanted to…
The Mystery and Magic of Puglia
It was October and the weather was amazing; perfect autumn, cool at night and warm during the day. We were in Puglia filming my TV series in various locations. I was anxious as I always am when filming. I have come to realize that my nerves are just part of the job for me. I…
How I’ll Spend My Summer Vacation
It will be steaming hot this summer, ‘punishing,’ I think it’s being called; as summer is known to be these days. Since it gets so warm and often muggy globally, my little boutique travel business is on hold until September. I always find it so sad when I watch groups of tourists in Rome, Florence…
An Ode to Sunday Lunch
When I was a kid, meals were considered sacred time. I always joke that if you weren’t at the dinner table, you’d best be dead. No excuses mattered. Not late volleyball or swim practice; not play rehearsals; nothing. You were expected around the table for dinner. It was a time together; it was respect for…
Well, This Is Frustrating…
It’s the season of seashells and balloons. We long to hang outside and take vacations, big or small. We savor every second of the long days and warm nights, making any excuse to stay at the beach or in the park…just a little longer. I am just back from working in Italy and Spain for…
Freshly Ground Spices and Wellness
I confess that I am not much for gadgets. They have always been categorized in my mind as “just another thing to clean” when I am cooking. I use my knife and a mortar and pestle for everything. All that changed for me when I was introduced to FinaMill. Sometimes it’s good to be forced…
Fall In Love with Cooking Again and Again
I love pots and pans. No; let me correct that. I adore pots and pans. My husband gets more anxious when I walk into a kitchen store than into a jewelry store. And I especially love great, well-made cookware that is, simply stated, gorgeous. I have cooked with all of the big brands, all with…
Why Can’t We Do Better?
I was sitting in Charles De Gaulle airport, leaving Paris, heading to Rome for work. As usual, I ordered an espresso and my lovely Robert, a tea. Since we were headed to our gate, we received our drinks in paper cups with…wait for it…paper lids (all from recycled paper). Had we chosen to have table…
Food Noise?
I am all about food…and wellness. I love the communal, sensual nature of preparing luscious, healthy foods and enjoying them with people I love. As an Italian, we always joke that we are either eating, talking about what we ate before or what we might eat later. It’s true. We love everything about food, including…
I Left My Heart In Rome
It’s no secret that I adore Italy and that my Italian tours and adventures are very close to my heart and give both my husband and me enormous pleasure…enormous pleasure. Sharing this country we love; this culture we love has turned the world on a dime for us. There is nothing quite like experiencing another…
Are We Just Going to Talk About It Again?
For some of us, the season of ‘peace on earth’ and ‘goodwill to all’ are little clichés that get written on Christmas cards and social media posts. Once the tinsel gets pulled from the tree and the lights and ornaments packaged up, it’s back to business as usual with division, disagreements and less than ‘goodwill…
Regenics…a Medical Wellness Company
It’s no secret that I am all about food and natural healing. I am of the mind that wellness begins in the kitchen and that Mother Nature is our best teacher. I also live in the real world and understand that sometimes, we just need help. I’m writing today about Semaglutide. You may know it…
The World’s Tiniest Fresh Vegetable Takes Healthy Eating to a New…and Yummy Level
When I first heard of GreenOnyx, I had no idea what I was in for. I was told it was a ‘revolutionary product;’ a game-changer.’ I have heard that before…about product after product. I confess that I have not seen many game-changers in the mix. I was completely unprepared for the premier product of GreenOnyx,…
Feeling Grateful and Letting Go
As we move into this glorious month; the month that kicks off the holiday season and allows us to deny the reality of a long, grey winter ahead, we begin to read and hear a lot about gratitude…and how we should feel it. For some of us, gratitude comes easy and for some us, we…
Where Has Civility Gone?
I have been thinking about civility a lot these days. We seem to have become a society of survival of the meanest, no longer of the fittest, as the saying goes. In my little corner of the world, I have seen an erosion of civility that extends from the grocery store to the gym to…
I Fell In Love Again
He took my breath away, for the millionth time since I met him. I looked up at his perfect form, his perfect face, broad shoulders, strong legs, ready to take on the world. As I stood mesmerized, tears running down my face…again, for the millionth time since I met him, I realized that this was…
The Importance of Fitness
I was at the gym the other day, sweating through one of my favorite, rough and tumble classes when the instructor yelled out, “Now is not the time to slack off; Memorial Day is just around the corner and we will start showing off our arms! Let’s be readyfor summer!” It got me thinking. Is…
Nightshades and Our Wellness
I have lived a vegan, macrobiotic lifestyle for more than forty years. I came to this lifestyle through severe illness and using a rather rigid approach to eating, was able to turn my health around and enjoy the robust wellness I do today. I am forever grateful to this way of life, forever grateful. In…
Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative Agriculture? Conventional, locally grown, CSA, organic…and now regenerative agriculture. Is it just another buzzy term for us to navigate as we try to shop and vote with our dollar for the health of ourselves, our families, our communities and the planet? No, it’s not. It’s an important (but not new) trend that’s getting a…
I Can’t Believe I’m Writing About This Again…
Recently, I posted a photo about the smoke event in the Northeast from wildfires in Canada. I was working in Rome and was so sad to see this in my hometown of Philadelphia. I connected it to climate change and suggested, as I would if you know me, that maybe we should eat more plants…
What Is It About Healthy Eating?
I was with a dear friend and fellow cooking instructor and health activist having a coffee on a lovely spring day. Our conversation turned to our work; our missions in our lives; why we get out of bed each and every day. We talked about the fact that some days, out work feels like pushing…
Biohacking…Seriously?
I’m in my beloved Italy as I write this, working with yet another spectacular group of happy tourists looking to immerse themselves in their own personal La Dolce Vita. When I am here, even in high season, throngs of tourists filling the streets, I feel that I operate at my best, which got me to…
Magnesium and Your Brain
Brain care supplements are really having a moment, but are they worth the hype? Many of us think of this as a concern as we age, but brain health should be a real concern, like now, for all of us. What can we do to keep our brains sharp, functioning at their best and serving…
Listening to Each Other
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since high school (yup, I worked out to his vinyl exercise album, the chart of the moves pinned to my bedroom wall) I have admired his no-nonsense approach to fitness. In recent years, he has taken on the role of elder statesman,…
You and Your Blood Sugar
My friend and brilliant macrobiotic teacher, Dani Mayor in Barcelona recently wrote a wonderful article on hypoglycemia and how many of us it affects; its impact on our daily wellness is incredible. According to the National Institutes of Health, 45% of Americans struggle with moderate hypoglycemia while 19% with severe. Wait…what? This felt like something…
Why You Don’t Need a Book to Cook
Cooking has gotten a bad rap in the past decades. From Betty Friedan to talk show hosts telling women that they’re better than the kitchen, we have moved away from this sacred space (yes, you read right; sacred) at such a level that it seems like a novelty to go back into the room that…
If All You Need Is Love, We Sure Could Use More
What has become of us and our ability to be kind? When did we become randomly cruel to people we do not know because we have a keyboard at our fingertips? What makes people turn indifferent to the feelings of others? What makes us hate anyone not like us or with whom we disagree? Or…
Gas Stoves…Now What?
The articles have been around for a couple of years (many years really…), creating a low-level buzz of discomfort in the cooking community. It seems to have become more like a sonic blast now. Are gas stoves killing us and poisoning the planet? It takes someone who lives under a rock to think that anything…
An Ode to Stepping Away
It’s February, the month dedicated to hearts, from health to romance. I thought I would take the opportunity to talk to you about my thoughts. On December 20, my lovely Robert and I left for a one-month holiday in Italy. Yup; you read right: one-month holiday. We rationalized it like this: our office is often…
As the New Year Begins
As 2025 begins to fade from our memory and 2026 begins, shiny with promise and hope, let’s try something new or at least something we may have forgotten about. For the last years, our discourse, personally and politically has become…difficult on the best of days; ugly and disheartening on the worst. But what if we…
Cooking with All Your Senses
Food delights us in every way. The taste is central to the enjoyment, but let’s not forget the enticing aromas, the texture of various foods in your mouth, the sexy sizzle of ingredients cooking in hot oil, or the magnificent colors of Mother Nature when we see the perfectly cooked vegetables on a plate. Eating…
Greetings from Christina
People say that no one will contribute to or invest in a television show. People say that it’s a vanity project and you can’t expect people to contribute their hard-earned dollars to my ego. The truth is that those statements couldn’t be further from the truth. We are all worried for the future; for our…
I Got to Thinking
I am in Ireland as I write this, working with a fabulous group. Everyone is tucked in for the night after yet another day of fun adventures and I got to thinking. As we ate dinner this evening, I looked around the table at the happy faces enjoying their meal and I was suddenly nostalgic…
The Importance of Self-Care
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 yourself! With all of the craziness going on around us right now I cannot stress the importance of self-care enough. What is self-care though? It…
Keeping It Simple
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 of cooking, where an efficiency of preparation, ingredients and technique comes only after hours and years spent doing the same tasks in the kitchen over…
It’s the Wind; Always the Wind
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 nothing, beats the Italian superstitions that came from my mother’s side of the family. I was just in Italy working for two glorious months, from…
Why You Should Be Packing Your Bags and Traveling to Italy…with Me!
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 rest of our days? Nonsense! I have just returned from eight weeks travel for work all over Italy (filming tv shows and hosting groups) and…
Consider the Summer…
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 how we will spend unscheduled hours, days. If we are lucky, we will get to fill those in blanks how we wish. We have spent…
Working Hard to Find Beauty
We work harder now to find beauty, pleasure and even satisfaction in food, cooking and in life in general. I am tired of hearing about pandemics, past, present and what might come; Russia is still actively decimating its neighbor Ukraine while the world watches the heartbreak, suffering and literal murder in real time. We see…
Happy 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 match was as tough as it could get. I was wrong. As long as there is evil in people’s hearts, things can always get worse…
I Just Can’t…
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 joy. I was thrilled to click on an article whose headline referred to a new generation of ‘influencers’ making an impact on younger people. Those…
The Olive Oil Debate Continues…Why?
(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. Maybe it finally puts this debate to bed. Speriamo…we hope. Thanks, Anthony!) I have worked as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for the past 13 years,…
You and Your Food
My stove and I have the greatest time together. We love our time together; our warm relationship (see what i did there?); our companionship in nourishing my loved ones. She brings a balance to my days that can only come with reliability. She supports my cooking decisions. It’s that tims of year when we reflect…
Tis the Season of Spice
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 the cold or will you manage the shift in weather with grace and comfort? We all know that our foods need to change to accommodate…
When Will We Learn?
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, a rare and quite virulent strain of salmonella (infantis) caught the media’s attention. In less than two months, the bacteria had made more than a…
Back to Italy
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 ten days of filming in Tuscany for our September 2023 season. Life is good right now. I love Italy, its glory, beauty, culture, food and…
Italy Now
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 economy. It’s bouncing back, slowly, like the rest of the world. It’s a slow and painful process, mitigated by fear, politics and misinformation, but I’m…
What Do I Know?
This Memorial Day will be the fifth anniversary of an event that changed the life of my little family. A serious health incident rocked us to the core and changed everything about how we move through life and what we stress over…or not. After years of saying WTF?!?! in my head several times a day;…
What Are We Becoming?
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 to give their opinions. They fought and debated. Then they kissed, laughed and went on with their lives until the next round. I do not…
Memorial Day 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 enjoy the summer to come? Maybe you’ll spend the Memorial Day weekend cooking for a picnic, or prepping your grill, patio and garden to host…
Ah, Vaccines
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 turned out to be a bit…controversial. While the pandemic decimated lives (literally) and businesses, turning our lives into deep wells of isolation, despair and terror,…
Hope As We Grieve…Over and Over
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 glorious time; my days of travel are the times I love the best. I live for gathering happy travelers around my table as we cook…
Time to Chill
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. Maybe it’s all the reflection i have done since The Pandemic, like everyone else who takes the time to look around…and back. He was talking…
Let’s Make Pizza
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 or just approximating living. Saturday, Sunday? Who cares? It might just as well be Tuesday or Thursday. But it is, in fact Sunday so let’s…
Living in Love
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 old 2022 saw us sadly and helplessly watching the butchering of Ukraine. And we are finishing off this dark year recovering from one of the…
One Month In…
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 more important to us than ever. January is behind us, after months of Zoom meetings, pushing off decisions and treading water day to day in…
And Now for Something Completely Different (cooking…)
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 pizza joint anytime soon. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. The pandemic blues are finally getting to me. I’ve been relatively okay until…
Cooking Now…Again
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 lentils and sweet vegetables is now a classic staple. Nothing new, I cooked hundreds, maybe thousands of satisfying and nourishing dishes, but I cooked with…
Cooking for Thanksgiving
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 and highways to get to your table, you’re thinking about this year’s feast of gratitude. It might be the first time you have taken on…
Celebrating The Year
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, it sure doesn’t look that way. It’s the time of year when we traditionally gather with friends and loved ones to celebrate all the blessings…
Here I Go Again
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 inherent meanness, but here I am. I write sometimes to vent. Bear with me or bail while you can. I was raised in an interesting…
Acrylamide-Should We Worry?
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 worry about when it comes to our food. And while some of it is legit, some of it isn’t worth our stress. For me, acrylamides…
It’s Almost Over…2020 That Is
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 they’re right about this year which continues to be filled with surprises, not many of them good. Just when you think things can’t go further…
Fall Cooking Now
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 our loved ones across the yard, park or terrace, seated at opposite ends of the bench as we tried to stay connected to each other.…
The Days Roll On
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 see each little advance as a triumph as we try to keep our loved ones and ourselves safe. Some of us don’t get enough sleep…
My Pop
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. He also knew ambition and desire. He was born with an internal engine that drove him to strive for being his best. He might not…
How Did We Let This Happen?
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 some hybrid of education for our kids. We are working from home, not working or working tirelessly in essential roles to keep society and life…
The Joy of Still Cooking
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 I usually do: in the kitchen, at the gym (for hot, sweaty outdoor workouts) and in the love and companionship of my husband. But it’s…
Women, Cooking and the Vote
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. It’s about food, women and the fight we fight every day. It was November, 1970. I was 15, a good kid, but rebellious. My mother,…
The State of the World
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. We may be surrounded by family or on our own. We nervously wait in lines to get into the market, the post office, the bank…
The Sicker We Get, the Happier We Are?
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 the programs. If they’re to be believed, every single person struggling with one disease or another is well, frankly, living their best lives. If these…
A Midsummer Night Dinner Party
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 fun food gatherings, like cooking classes. It seems like decades ago, in a different world, where we all crowded around a table laden with fresh…
Moving Forward
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 will finally venture out and gather together in ways we haven’t in some time. We have come through months and monthsof sickness, economic strife, racial…
Be the Good…and Win
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 sit around, cowering in our masks or we can stand up, be strong and make the world a kinder, more compassionate place. We see it…
Making the Case Against Eating Meat- yet Again
‘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 Weather” by Jonathan Safran Foer. The book focuses on the human contribution to climate change and the steps we can take right now in our…
Managing Life in Uncertain Times
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 the face of the steep uphill climb that is sure to be our recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on every aspect of our lives?…
Black Garlic, Baby
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 tossed out. But not so fast. In countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand, black garlic has long been used for cooking and its health…
Keep Cooking
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 write recipes for a living. I guide people through the potential kitchen disasters that are often inevitable when a dramatic diet change is adopted and…
Good Morning Weekend
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 the street when another human walks near me. I am tired of wearing a mask. It’s spring. The flowers and trees are in full bloom…
Reassessing…Everything
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. None of us, with the exception of missionaries and doctors who have worked with pandemics in other countries has the tools to navigate this. In…
Italy, Pasta and My Heart
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 off to my beloved Italy. It was with heavy hearts that my husband and I rescheduled our summer holidays on the sunny Amalfi Coast for…
Failing in the Kitchen
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. That may be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. Life in the kitchen can be humbling for the best of us…
I Thought About You
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 when I thought of you. I thought about how you’re managing. Many of you love to share with me on my various social platforms: your…
Our New Normal…For Now
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 and creating recipes. As I looked out my front door here in Philadelphia, the streets are creepily quiet. No rush of cars down the street…
10 Tips for Taking Care of Ourselves
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 with time to cook. I can advise you on the best kinds of ingredients to boost and support your immune function. I can advise you…
Oh Boy, The Corona Virus
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 and vulnerable. But…and I cannot stress this more strongly…now is not the time to lose our minds and completely panic. If you are a person…
This Is No April Fool’s Joke
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 idea is out of their mind. Here’s the scene. A woman is peering into her mirror, looking wistfully at her long, gorgeous mane of curly…
Can Vegan Burger Subs Really Reduce Our Consumption of Meat?
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 with bailing on eating meat. Being kind to each other is everything as it allows us to live in love. Read on: How Impossible, Beyond…
This Chef’s Life
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 on a number of non-profit boards, traversing the globe teaching and hosting groups. I consult with restaurants on healthy vegan menu items. On those occasions…in…
Cozy Soups and Stews
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 of combining the most humble ingredients to make the most delicious soups and stews. See, she understood that the key to really good soup is…
Healthy Holiday Side Dishes to Savor
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 the truth of winter, harsh weather (for most of us…), long nights and short days. We feast and party, party and feast. And we…
Why Do People Hate Vegans?
(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 is long but you will relish every word. And as the author states at the very end (spoiler alert…this is the end of the piece),…
The Key to Wellness
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 nail squarely on the head and rather than put my spin on it, here is the piece, in its entirety. It will make you sit…
Ramp Up the Anti-Cancer Power of Vegetables
The “war on cancer” drags on with no end in sight with 1.9 million Americans diagnosed with cancer last year alone. I don’t know about you, but with stats looking a lot like they did in 1971 when this “war” was declared, I’d say we are losing the battle. But there’s hope and it lies…
The New Shows Are Coming! The New Shows Are Coming!
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 with a fresh take on my very cool message of wellness and healthy eating. Heaven knows we need to be strong and empowered now more…
Want World Peace? Stop Killing Animals
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 forgotten more about the natural order of the planet than most of us will ever know. He was talking about how easily we could slow…
What the Heck Is Fast Fashion and Why Should We Worry About It?
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 (complete with food stains), aprons and the rare “cool” outfit (that I bought in Italy) for going out to the occasional dinner. But I do…
My Pop
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 butcher (with an artist’s soul) to support the family, juggling positions at three different shops to make ends meet. He worked two jobs during the…
What’s Going on with Being Vegan?
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 vitality and wellness. Wait…what? I thought the exact same thing. As I read and viewed their apology tours, my heart broke. Here were these gorgeous…
GMO’s Deciphered
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. i will never worry again. My brilliant friend, Todd Napolitano, who serves as the Director for Business Development for Merieux NutriSciences GMO Services has a…
Is Fried Food Really That Bad For Us? Really?
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 death. Researchers looked at data from 100,000 women followed since the mid 1990’s. Now between the ages of 50-79, these women’s data has revealed some…
Fending off Disease with Fiber
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 piques my interest and inspires me to write. This week I read such an article. The first line of the article reads, “If you want…
A Story of My Father
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 butcher (with an artist’s soul) to support the family, juggling positions at three different shops to make ends meet. He worked two jobs during the…
Enjoying Eating…No, Really Enjoy It
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 waistline or wellness. If you can’t remember, maybe it’s time to eat by intuition and stop eating by the “rules.” Listen, kids, I…
Natural Relief
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 a toxic (and possibly addicting) pain killer, remember that the plant kingdom can have a strong and effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the body.…
Gua-What?
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 check it out. Let me warn you right here. Do not search “gua sha” unless you want to scare yourself silly with photos of an…
Pasta, Actually
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 travel to Naples on a whirlwind food tour. Our mission? Pasta. And what a delicious mission it was. Using my connections, his research and…
Bathroom Beauty
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 gifts, like jams, breads, cookies or pickles? Do I make watercolor paintings or drawings? This year, I stumbled on a new idea and I…
Holiday Wellness
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 and day out. Add the holidays into the mix and we all have the potential of turning into Ebinezer Scrooge! How do you navigate the…
To Soy or Not to Soy. That Is the Question
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 been created around this humble bean. Walk into any restaurant, coffee shop or super market and you will see for yourself that there are…
What Does It Really Mean to Be Vegan?
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. What does it mean to be vegan in this modern time? Is it elitist to eschew meat, a cultural phenomenon reserved only for the…
Are We Really Standing Up to Cancer? Really?
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 of year when we will once again, Stand Up to Cancer, watching on all networks as celebrities in their designer tee shirts ask us to…
Hard to Believe We’re Still Here in 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 to be intelligent, unbiased and open-minded to all sides of an argument or issue. Again, until last week. I often go on record as…
It’s An Italian Thing
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 to Italy with clients, family and friends. The image of the table laden with freshly cooked whole grains, beans and seasonal vegetables prepared in deliciously…
What Does Cancer Prevention Really Mean?
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 about. People are losing their health at younger and younger ages. People who considered themselves healthy are struggling. I am particularly raw about it…
Is It All Downhill As We Age?
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 their impeccable research. So when I saw an interview in the latest issue called “Reversing the Downward Spiral of Aging” I was intrigued. The interview…
What’s Up with Fatigue?
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 are over-scheduled and work hard. I get it. I work hard, too, running three small businesses, teaching all over the globe, writing and staying fit,…
What to Cook This Week
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 you ever lost your inspiration and find yourself cooking the same recipes over and over? Me, too. It doesn’t happen to me often, but I…
Seriously?
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 was the 80’s…). Anyhow, I read Time because he loves it. A recent issue featured an article: “Four Ways to Grill Healthier.” Naturally, my…
Summer Salads That Satisfy
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 time to step away from the stove a bit and create delicious, lighter fare to sustain us through the summer weather to come. Salads…
Making Vegan Yogurt
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 of the process. I confess that I have never been one for yogurt, not ever. My mother adored it and when I was a kid,…
Lighten up Your Lunch
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 our sandwiches so we can continue to enjoy them as the days warm and we want to feel light and fresh! Here are two ideas…
Discover a Younger-Looking (and Feeling) You…in the Kitchen
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 you could rejuvenate and refresh your very real face with some simple tweaks to your food choices? Can you really get a facelift from what’s…
Your Kitchen Is Your Pharmacy
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 fragile planet groans under the weight of our excesses. Our healthcare costs are through the roof, leaving many of us feeling unsettled about the quality…
Eating for Your Workout
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. The spring comes and with it a renewed commitment to be our best (or perhaps it’s simply the deeply-held dread of taking off our layers…
What’s Being Vegan Got to Do with It?
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 pharmaceutical ads (with their breathy disclaimers of side effects) supposed to ward off the impact of these foods on humans. As a cancer survivor,…
Coffee for a Cause
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 name as I walk by coffee shops in the city. It’s my own personal siren song. I’ve learned to control my demon coffee cravings, but…
It’s Almost Like They Want Us to Die
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 chicken wrapped around meat and cheese. We have burgers with bacon weighing in at 1150 calories. We have breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese, bacon and…
Want More Energy?
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 need a B12 boost. Our bodies crave B12 to keep our nerves and cells healthy, among other things. Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin…
Olive Oil and Your Heart
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 better and longer. While the diet consists mainly of whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds (and in some cases, small amounts of fish or…
The Pomp of Pomegranates
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 until he pried the bright red skin open, revealing the tiny jewel-like seeds. I loved the tart juice as it burst on my tongue and…
Can Vegetables Be Our New Meat?
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 recalls. Everywhere, knives and forks are paused over juicy pieces of animal shank in hesitation. Of course, surveys also tell us that most Americans are…
Cranberries for A Healthy Holiday Glow
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 me on this little ‘Currier and Ives’ vignette for just a minute. One of the holiday season’s greatest pleasures comes in the form of feasts…from…
Happy Healthy Holidays
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 approach life much differently than we do. They’re less concerned with how quickly they can get through a meal, instead savoring each bite with relish.…
The Soy Story (and how it relates to your thyroid…)
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 her thoughts on soy. I hope this helps clear things up for you all. When I post a soy-based recipe on my social media that…
Always Read the Nutrition Label
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, in the era of high-stress jobs and familial responsibilities that don’t always leave time to make everything yourself from scratch, learning how to properly read…
Hallo-Whining!
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 glamour that is unrivaled. Then I adopted a healthy lifestyle and it all fell apart. Truthfully. As I work in the mission I love…and…
Cooking Rules
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 urchin and circus peanuts? Is it a Nonna-like chef taking us back with recipes nostalgic for our youth? The art of cooking comes complete…
Our Little Ones
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 don’t have kids. I always say when other young women were getting married and having babies, I was getting married and healing from cancer. …
What’s Going on with Our Colons?
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 Association (JAMA) revealed an alarming increase in the rate of deaths from colon and rectal cancers beginning at about the age of 50, but also…
Get Pickled!
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 really all that? Fermentation dates back millennia as humanity worked to preserve food through the seasons. Before Christ, the Greeks wrote about the health…
Living Like An Italian…for a Little While Anyway
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 Italy. Converging on Albergo Santa Chiara, (http://www.albergosantachiara.com/) a gorgeous boutique hotel, perfectly situated behind the magnificent Pantheon, we could easily walk to see all…
Bashful bananas
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 gushy, as I called them as a kid. So ignore my food foibles and discover the benefits these beauties bring to your wellness for…
The Epitome of Summer…Tomatoes
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 the plant-passionate world I live in. I can hardly imagine a salad without tomatoes bursting open on my tongue, their juices cooling off the summer…
Baby, It’s Blueberry Season
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 after dark…is blueberries. I totally love summer and blueberries rule my kitchen when they are in season. Blueberries belong to the heath family, which…
Time to Play
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. I usually spend my summer months running around Italy at work and play, exploring various sights and treasures of this gorgeous country, hosting groups of happy…
The Carb Dilemma
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. We thought that thinking was so yesterday. But since it’s not, I’m taking a page from her playbook and giving you the best info I…
KISS Me, Baby
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 mother used to say that all you needed to create a great meal was extra virgin olive oil, salt, garlic and lemon. I can still…
Celebrating Men
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 is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.” The list of…
Get Outside and Play!
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! If you’re accustomed to training in a gym, try moving your workout out of doors once a week. Sweating in fresh air, in highly…
The Heart Healthy Kitchen
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 let’s start with my top ten and you can build on it as you feel better, cook more and live a healthier life. Nuts to You…
What’s Moringa Got to Do with Arthritis?
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 been diagnosed with this painful modern plague. And with more than 100 types of arthritis, there are a lot of ways to suffer, the most…
Light, Bright Italian Fare
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, the most…me. In America, Italian food has the reputation of being heavy, oily and smothered in cheese…and nothing could be further from the truth.…
What’s Up with Turmeric
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 the ever-growing threat of environmental toxins. Add to that our sedentary lifestyle practices and it’s no wonder so many of us struggle. Now you’re…
Spring Re-Boot Cleanse-Your Most Gorgeous Spring Ever!
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 of help to face the lazy, crazy days of summer? Well, here you go. In three days, you’ll be glowing with health and wellness…
The Three-Day Detox
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 on the path to regaining your energy, looking like you’ve taken to napping and glowing with vitality. Keep it simple; follow this plan for…
Soy, Thyroid and You!
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 for reliable sources of information to put together for you so you can understand the impact of soy on your health and wellness. It’s…
How to Make Homemade Dog Treats
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 it! -Christina How to Make Homemade Dog Treats Every pet owner wants only the best for their pooch including feeding them choice foods…
Here We Go Again!
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. We dive in, all eager, earnest and well-intended and somehow, each and every time, our enthusiasm wanes. Life gets in the way of our precious…
Perimenopause and You
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 on how to manage it. Perimenopause literally means “around menopause” and indicates the onset of certain symptoms as your body transitions from childbearing to…
Holiday Leftovers
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, life…and this year, more than ever…each other. The table is set; the candles lit, the wine opened or chilled. The house is fragrant with…
You and the Flu
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 to sound like carnival barkers: Get your flu shot here! And yet it seems that millions suffer from the flu each and every winter.…
Get Your Pink On and Open Your Wallet…Again
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 raise money for breast cancer research. I am so confused and “over it”, to be honest. After all the suffering, loss and disfiguring of millions…
Your Essential Pantry
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 enhance the nutritive value of the foods I cook? Each time I hear these or the million other variations on the topic of setting…
Love the Skin You’re In, Baby!
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, serums, body lotion, face lotion, primers and toners. When it comes to beauty and appearance maintenance, it can feel like there’s no limit to…
This Old Yankee Had a Cutting Board
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 and a baseball cap walked slowly toward me. Slowly because he was seriously encumbered by the weight of an enormous cutting board on his hip…
Actually, This Is the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer!
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 28 years ago when Robert gave me a Kyocera KyoTop ceraminc knife for Christmas. At first, I was skeptical. This knife was light as a…
There’s a New Kid in Town
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 and loves come when I am traveling around Italy. But I digress. We were minding our own business in Tuscany when I received…
The Power of Sublime Porcini
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 in an Italian family, cooking…and eating was a part of life, something to be celebrated, enjoyed bite after bite. For me, rich, smoky porcini mushrooms…
Eating with the Seasons: Summer
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 the festivities, I love the delicacy of spring. I love the freshness of autumn and the crisp chill in the air. I love roasted squash…
Eating with the Seasons: Spring
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 first warm days of spring, is there anything better than letting the sun kiss your skin as you munch on freshly picked strawberries? Spring is…
Organic VS Non-GMO
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 hair! Well, for me, The Cultivator newlsetter has solved the dilemma once and for all and it’s a beautiful thing. Answering most-asked questions,…
Protecting Your Peepers This Summer
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. But how do we protect our precious peepers in the hot, sometimes humid weather? So easily…and naturally as well! Cool as a Cucumber…
Summertime and the Grillin’ Is Easy
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 to yes, desserts, grilling is summer cooking at its best. For carnivores and omnivores, grilling is pretty straightforward. Throw some kind of meat on…
Cha-Cha-Cha-Cherries
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 them to us?)…with their juicy flesh and rich mineral content…and they are oh, so yummy. It is difficult to establish the country of origin…
Step Away from the Stove…
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 there’s no better time of year than summert to explore some of the finest crisp, vital, lively food that Mother Nature provides. When I…
Smile and the World Smiles with You!
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 hello as you pass by a stranger leaves you feeling touched by love. A smile signals acceptance, encouragement and gratitude. A smile can calm anxieties…
Time for a Picnic
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 and loved ones than a picnic. The keys to a great al fresco party are the food and the people. It’s no picnic being…
Passionate About Peaches
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 our chins, cooling us with their sweet, sunny character. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Native to China, the peach is…
Make Life Beautiful Today!
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 making life beautiful. Whether you’re creating beauty through building relationships or helping others achieve personal success, one small action can lead to a ripple effect,…
Time to Sweeten Things Up…
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 your breath away. The fruit of an herbaceous plant believed to have its origins in Brazil, the pineapple belongs to the Bromeliaceae family. Interestingly,…
How the Heck Did We Get Here?
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 that seemed to become less like food with every passing mile and ad: burgers, pulled pork, soda, sweets, sweetened drinks, fast food joints selling all…
The Beauty of Basil
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, although I love them all. My favorite thing about summer is basil. From the shape of the leaf to the delicate fragrance to the way…
The Epitome of Summer…Tomatoes
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 the veggie kingdom. I can hardly imagine a salad without tomatoes bursting open on my tongue, their juices cooling off the summer heat…their flavor lifting…
The Sensual Nature of Strawberries
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 plant kingdom. I can think of no other fruit that inspires thoughts of sensuality and romance like these lush berries. Slightly sweet, with just enough…
Sassy Saffron
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, thick soups and warming grain, bean and vegetable dishes, I want light, fresh, crisp and richly flavored foods to carry me into the warm sunny…
No Bones About It
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 money for research to find the cure for disease after disease. We struggle and struggle but no answers or ‘cures’ seem to come, right? Osteoporosis…
The World’s Healthiest Diet
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 the languidly paced Mediterranean). When we think of the Mediterranean we think of azure blue seas and leisurely days. I think of robust feasts served…
Mama Mia!
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. In 1908, Congress refused to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, joking that they would have to proclaim also a “Mother-in-law’s Day”. Yikes! Talk about…
Spring Sneezing
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 who dread the blossoms on the trees, the pollen in the air because for them, spring doesn’t bring flights of fancy, but rather boxes of…
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 after tulips. After a long winter hiatus, the first limbs of this wonderful vegetable are as welcome as the first warm rays of sun on winter-weary skin. …
The Loveliness of Lemons
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 of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The delicately sour flavor and astringent character of lemon juice has made it an important ingredient in home remedies for…
Check Out Chives
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. Chives are so much more than the graceful slivers dressing your dinner plate. An aromatic plant native to Asia, the chive belongs to the same…
The Joy of Cooking…Redux!
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 restaurant each time as she loved what she considered their exotic food. Otherwise, she cooked. Or I cooked. Or my Nonna cooked. Or an…
Our Glowing Skin
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 light of day. For some of us, the thought of going sleeveless is too much to bear as we know our skin will be dull…
I Want an Easter Egg!
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 Easter egg!” It cracked me up and I ran around our house yelling it all of the Lenten season. You can imagine my mother’s delight!…
Fitness Redux
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 the foods and lifestyle that I believed had helped create my condition of illness. I ditched vegan junk food, started cooking whole grains, beans and…
Planting Your Future
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 food plants I can cram into containers and in raised beds. My Irish father and Italian grandfather instilled a love of gardening in me that…
St. Patty’s Day
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 and people who wished they were Italian. But on one day each year, she celebrated my Irish father. St. Patrick’s Day was his day (even…
Paleo-Should We Really Eat Like Cavemen?
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 decided to write about this because it seems to me that there’s a lot of misinformation—and marketing—behind this dietary approach. Once again, people are confused.…
Get Your Glow On
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 a laughable understatement. We are more than a year into the pandemic, with lockdowns, restrictions, masks and social distancing as our new normal for now.…
Supplements-Savior or Sinner?
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, but I know there’s a boatload of confusion swirling around the concept of taking supplements. You guys know I am a science and nutrition nerd,…
Calm, Cool Cauliflower
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 Asia Minor, cauliflower migrated to Italy, where it was transformed into the plant we enjoy so much today through traditional hybridization. Historical evidence suggests that…
It’s Almost Here
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 also National Nutrition Month. Yup. It’s time to celebrate nutrition with thirty-one days encouraging everyone to (according to nationalnutritionmonth.org), “adopt eating and physical activity plans…
Oil or No Oil-That Is the Question
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, this one makes me sad. Sad? Yes, sad. You see, from my perspective, eating a diet of densely nutritious and yummy foods results in robust…
How Far Have We Really Come In Our Quest for Health?
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 us how our collective health is deteriorating. Not a day goes by that we are not bombarded by a walk, run, climb, dance-off, spin-a-thon or…
Living a Healthful Peaceful Life
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 it comes to food. People are so confused. Each day we hear statistics that are scarier than anything that Stephen King could imagine. So now…
Suffering Seaweed, Batman! It’s A Real Super Food!
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 seems there’s a new super ingredient every day, sea vegetables are the real deal. If the only seaweed you’ve ever eaten is the nori wrapped…
Shiitake Happens
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 sack of shiitakes before that heart-shaped box of chocolates. The shiitake mushroom has one of the most unusual naturally occurring nutrients called d-Eritadenine, lentinacin, or…
Saturated Fat
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 eating foods containing saturated fats raises cholesterol levels in your blood. We know that high levels of LDL cholesterol, along with elevated triglycerides (fats in…
Dysfunctional Foods
(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, FACP, is a specialist in internal medicine and preventive medicine, with particular expertise in nutrition, weight management, and chronic-disease prevention. He is the founding director…
Oh, Boy, Brussels Sprouts
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 with me. By the time you finish this piece, you will have Brussels sprouts as the centerpiece of any romantic dinner…heck, you might even sprinkle…
Tailgate This!
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 the parties are just as important. We gather with families and friends; in bars and restaurants, homes and clubs and at the field itself tailgating.…
The Beat Goes on
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 disease. Since 1963???? Wait. What? We have struggled to get Americans on board to keep their hearts healthy since 1963? Before 1900, very few people…
Glorious Grapefruit
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 long dark nights leave us shivering under blankets for months. So how do we add a bit of tropical warmth and sunshine to our winter-weary…
Is Fruit Juice Healthy?
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 average American drinks about 30 quarts of fruit juice every year. It’s a healthy way to start your day or a seriously convenient method of…
Fabulous Fennel
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 in American cuisine. Well, I’m here to tell you that this is a vegetable not to be missed. Originating in the Mediterranean, fennel is a…
Cleaning Up For the New Year
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” this time? What if you re-thought the way you approached food and eating and really changed your life? It all begins with cleaning things up.…
Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
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 year, there’s no need to give up eating chestnuts…those sensually yummy treats that we reserve only for the holidays. Not simply holiday indulgences, chestnuts are…
Changing How We Think
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. I wasn’t bombarded by faux foods. I didn’t have access to veggie burgers, vegan hot dogs, vegan ice cream, vegan cheese or vegan eggs.…
Listening In the Kitchen
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 creative outlet I have always found in cooking–developing recipes, creating beautiful presentations, discovering new combinations of food and of course, always discovering how the energies…
Changing Your Mind
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 of “growing.” I know I do. If we are to transform our health and wellness and create the vitality we desire, we must change the…
The Aristocrat of Oranges, The Mandarin
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 blahs, what’s a girl to do? I take my pale-face to the market and pick up some mandarin oranges. They’re like my own personal dose…
Discovering the Christmas Spirit
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 about family, food and celebrating. Never was this more evident than during the Christmas season. My mother began baking dozens of varieties of Christmas cookies…
The Scoop on Sugar
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 work…your own life…to reduce your risks…and sugar is at the top of the list. Sorry kids, but this one is big…and real… According to experts,…
May We Live In Interesting Times
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 that can no longer be ignored, we have all chosen to live in interesting times. Is there really anything to celebrate at this magical time…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
“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, we stared at the large, austere crucifix over the altar. He said it seemed that the man was glorified, not the otherworldly faith. We talked…
Eating with the Seasons: Winter
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 because it’s a sign of abundance. It’s not so good because in all that abundance, we have lost touch with what’s in season—and how foods…
It’s Diabetes Awareness Month
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 own. The implication is clear. You can’t manage Type 2 diabetes with diet and lifestyle alone. You need whatever drug is being featured to regain…
Nutmeg-Adding Spice to the Season
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 history that isn’t exactly the stuff of holiday celebrations. One of the saddest stories in food history, nutmeg was the subject of torture and bloodshed…
The Salt of the Earth
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 it all the time. Salt has become a product category more than an ingredient in our modern foodie culture. From table salt to pink…
Let’s Talk Turkey
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 debt incurred with eating animals, what are the real risks of eating turkey? How much time do you have? Donald Schaffner, PhD, an extension specialist…
Is There a War on Delicious Meat…Or On Our Health?
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 sausages and ham causes cancer, while unprocessed red meat may also be carcinogenic. The WHO’s cancer research unit now classifies processed meat as “carcinogenic to…
Have vegans given themselves a bad rap?
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 admire. I was so upset after our conversation I thought my head would explode. Maybe it’s me, but the attitude he displayed showed me arrogance…
An Introduction to the Sublime – Chocolate
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 that many people simply cannot live without. Even its name signals its divinity. Derived from a plant whose official botanical name is “Theobroma cacao,” which…
Tis the Season for Squash
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, talking about the joy of the feast, from preparation to table setting to serving. One of the best things about colder weather is winter squash,…
An Apple A Day
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 the bins of the local markets? Apple pies, turnovers, or cobblers, baked, stuffed, sautéed or simply enjoyed in their simple exquisiteness, apples are the epitome…
A Week of Lunches
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 from ho-hum. Look at it this way. If you work outside your home, as many of us do, you’re also eating lunch outside the home…
Hallowe-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-n!!!!!!
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 hard to pull off, many of these articles imply that this one day of the year, dedicated to excessive candy eating, is the culprit for…
Cooking for One…You’re Worth It
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 making a dish that requires pans and utensils isn’t worth it when it’s just you eating, right? Seriously? When I lived alone people asked why…
Glorious Garlic
Glorious Garlic I 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! Since she did all the cooking for our immediate and extended family, we didn’t eat garlic. I didn’t know garlic. Then she went to…
S-l-l-l-o-o-o-w-w Cooking
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 on the pumpkin. Allowing for quick and easy preparation, ease of cooking and eliminating the worry of overcooking or worse, burning, slow cookers are seeing…
Eating with the Seasons: Autumn
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 because it’s a sign of abundance. It’s not so good because in all that abundance, we have lost touch with what’s in season—and how foods…
We’ve Missed the Entire Point About GMO Food — A Farmer Explains Why
(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 helps you understand the importance of this battle for our food.-Christina) Originally published by Huffington Post by Forrest Pritchard When it comes to the subject…
The Pleasure of Pignoli
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 of goodness? Enjoyed since ancient Rome, legend tells us that warriors ate them for strength and in ancient Greece, authors extolled their virtues as early…
Cooking without Onions
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 these alliums or a medical condition like IBS that can be aggravated by these foods and some people live according to spiritual practices that prohibit…
O-o-o-o-o-o-h, Onions
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 are off the table, as they say, for health reasons, spiritual practice or personal preference. Most of us can hardly imagine beginning a sauté without…
The Care and Feeding of Our Breasts: Series Post 2 of 2
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 just that. We can eat our way to the lowest risk of breast cancer, deliciously. Remembering that genetics play a role in our risk, we…
The Care and Feeding of Our Breasts: Series Post 1 of 2
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, it seems no one is immune or safe from breast cancer. The numbers are staggering. According to www.breastcancer.org, about 268, 450 (an increase yet again) …
Women’s Health and Fitness Day
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 women to take care of themselves. Women work hard to create a warm, nurturing home life. We work outside of the home in corner stores…
Eating with the Seasons
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 because it’s a sign of abundance. It’s not so good because in all that abundance, we have lost touch with what’s in season—and how foods…
Organic or Non Organic, That Is the Question
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 Poisoned Planet grew out of his own personal concern for what was really in the food he was eating. What began as an investigation into…
A Grain of Truth
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 foods diet. There is an old saying; “Man cannot live by bread alone.” Well, he (and she) sure can live well on grain! Yes, we…
Eating Well on a Budget: Series Post 2 of 2
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 nutrient-dense so you win all around. You fill up, fast and at a low cost. Wait…what? You don’t like vegetables? Um, let me think how…
Eating Well on a Budget: Series Post 1 of 2
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 expensive and outside your realm of what’s possible. Stretching your dollar to get healthy food on a budget can seem like an impossible mission. So…
Back to School-for the Big Kids
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 me, I have lots of kids in my life either going back to school or beginning their college years. All are worried about success and…
Label.ology: General Tips for Reading Labels
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 what make up the majority of the product you’re eating. 2. If the ingredient panel contains long words you don’t recognize, do some research and…
Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Labels Product Names
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 names make products like "Guacamole Dip" that contains no actual avocado! Lots of fat and flavors, but no actual fruit. Made with hydrogenated soybean oil…
Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Vitamins and Minerals
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 calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C, but not others. Manufacturers often add other listings of percentages, like folic acid, potassium or magnesium if the…
Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Ingredients
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 and be good for us? Of course you know I am going to say the fewer ingredients the better, but what about the ingredients…
The Art of Canning
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 friends,’ neighbors’ and loved ones’ tables, there are often an excess of fruits and veggies that can overwhelm you. There are only so many tomatoes,…
Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Calories, Fat, Protein, Sodium…
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 important to note that the FDA now requires the amount of trans fats in products be listed, which is great news. They will be listed…
Label.ology: Ice Cream
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 calories—and stuff you may not want to eat. Just reading an ice cream nutrition label can require a post-grad degree. Many commercial ice creams can…
Ciao Amici!!!
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 holiday. Vacations aren’t an excuse to abandon all commitment to health while you lose your mind (or wellness) eating and drinking to excess. But don’t…
Label.ology: Reading and Understanding Serving Sizes
How to Read a Label Lesson 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. This is one of the most important parts of the label because all the other information in the nutrition panel is based on the…
Label.ology: How to Read a Label
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 by conflicting information, buzzwords, health halos and claims being made on packages, so we just chug along, not making changes we know we need to…
Beating the Heat, Italian Style
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 are not really into air conditioning; at least not like Americans. It’s an expensive proposition and uses tremendous precious resources. And yet, they are cheerful…
Olive Oil and Your Heart…A Healthy Combination
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 whom I know, love and respect, could not be more wrong…in my view…and in the view of most of the Mediterranean! Some facts for you.…
Gelato, Gelato, Gelato
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 Gelato This easy to make gelato has all the creaminess we love about this treat without the fat and sugar we don’t. Makes 6-8 servings 1, 13-ounce…
One reason Italians live so well… lentils!
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, red, black, small, large, humble or gourmet, lentils rock my world. And you need to let them rock yours, too. Around 6000 BC, lentils (along…
Healthy Travel
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 our bodies, minds and souls so we can take on the adventures of life with serenity and grace. We’ve talked about healthy road trips and…
…Road Trip!
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 road and return home with our health intact? Yup…as long as we know how to sidestep some potential landmines lurking along the road. I’m talking…
Why Aren’t We Asking More Questions About Chicken?
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 synonymous with illness and fear. Now this disease (in a morphed form) is affecting poultry in about 20 states, forcing the slaughter of more…
In the Garden
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 warmth followed by some soaking rain has created a haven of green lushness…my mint is poised to overtake the space with my heirloom grape tomato…
Don’t Sweat the Summer
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, 1886. Either way, this iconic brand has been around for a long time and this one little beverage changed everything…for better or for worse, depending…
If Gluten Isn’t An Issue for You, Should You Still Avoid It?
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 gluten-free guidelines and a generous percentage of our at-home macrobiotic diet is naturally gluten-free. I also think there’s a real role for gluten in a…
Eat This Now: Arugula
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 the delicate breeze…or the first warm sunny days teasing us into summer. For me, spring brings back childhood memories of arugula…yes, you heard me, arugula.…
Vitamin B-12; Do You Need It?
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 on several occasions. I decided to ask an expert to give us his thinking about this vitamin so essential to human health.) A half-century…
Four Signs of Gluten Sensitivity
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 in our modern diets (just like we do with most protein…). In the macrobiotic way of eating, flour products are considered supplementary to our daily…
Standing Up for Kind
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 least three times a week. http://www.wsj.com/articles/forget-dinner-its-always-snack-time-1404240759 In this culture of grab and go eating, the reigning champion of the modern table is the snack…
Sweet Treats
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. We have all had those gluten-free desserts that taste like sand or glue…or have a completely unpleasant aftertaste from all the gums used to hold…
Is Gluten-Free Synonymous with Healthy?
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 intake is sufficient and your diet balanced should you decide to take this on. So before you ditch bread and pasta, consider this. If…
What’s All the Hubbub About Gluten?
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 have to live without this manna from heaven. Gluten (from Latin gluten, “glue”) “is a protein composite found in wheat and related grains, including…
If GMO Labeling Is a Con, Then Con Me, Please
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 foods? (Like that would be a bad thing…) You know, I always try to be nice and to take the high road, meet people…
A Healthy Breakfast…It Makes the Day!
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 up for a rollercoaster of a day with your blood sugars all over the place trying to keep you nourished and balanced. According to…
My Go-To Dish
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. Miso Braised Tofu with Garlic Sauteed Kale Makes 3-4 servings 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons brown rice syrup 2…
Life As a Plant-Passionate Gym Rat
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 to do in order to well…live. I was committed to doing what needed doing, what needed changing. Training and fitness were some of the…
Your Precious Skin
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 the truth. I turn to them for a lot of information. This month, as spring springs, we think skin. We want to reveal a dewy…
Ahhhhhhhh…Avocado
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 (after much pleading and cajoling) to try his guacamole…and I was hooked forever. What I had considered soft and mushy was actually smooth, creamy and…
Here Comes the Sun, Baby!
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 to ensure we have fresh food all summer long, right from the farm to your table. We smile easier; we feel relaxed. Our shoulders aren’t…
Multiple Surfaces That Needs Cleaning? No Problem!
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 smells great, disinfects and cleans like nobody’s business. And there’s no need for a boatload of different products! 2 teaspoons borax 1 teaspoon washing…
Clean, Fresh Laundry…No Sweat
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 feet most of the day, resulting in what I call “The Always Full and Thoroughly Stinky’ laundry basket. Sweaty gym clothes, day to day…
Naturally Clean!
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 the refresh button (and we have been doing that…right?), we also want to refresh our living space. We clean and scrub, polish and dust…
The Farm Markets Are Coming! The Farm Markets Are Coming!
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 on share of the yield. If you live in California, Miami or other warm locales, you are in farm market heaven year-round! CSA or…
Your Kitchen Farm-acy
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 can be linked to what you eat…or don’t eat. The good news is that it’s time to spice things up, add some sizzle to…
Ah-Chew…
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 foods and weather to keep us comfortable no matter the weather. We just have to pay attention. During allergy season, we have to really…
Tips and Tricks for Healthier Living
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 do is natural to me after all my years doing so; I can’t imagine any other way. Every day I meet people who are…
Springing Forward
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 into summer. We begin to develop a deep desire to clear our homes of accumulated winter clutter; we dust, wash windows and change bedding to…
Bagged Salad: Should We or Shouldn’t We?
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 or in your home. So I decided to put all my years of label reading to good use. It’s amazing to me how ingredients we…
Eat This Now!
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, next to tulips. After a long winter hiatus, the first limbs of this wonderful vegetable are as welcome as the first warm rays of sun…
Spring is in the Air!
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, it’s snowing…again…outside my window. And yet, if I pay attention and stop whining about being cold, there is a freshness in the air that can…
Going Meatless
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. Time for the big guns. While going vegan has become a bit more…chic in the last years, there are still plenty of people who would…
If GMO Food Is So Great and So Safe, Just Label It
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 a time to pay attention to the food we eat…and what’s in it. We should be nervous about the future of our food…and asking…
What’s In Your Food?
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 tonight! We’ve got some delicious specials for you. Our featured pizza comes on a dough built partially from plastic foam; topped with human hair, duck…
Beans, Beans; They’re Good for Your Heart
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 Youngman just won’t let me… As corny as that little song is, it rings of truth. Beans, eaten regularly are great for creating a…
Let Them Eat Kale
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 the first line of defense when it comes to improving or maintaining your health and wellness. Leafy vegetables are brimming with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and…
Label.ology: Agave Nectar (Syrup)
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 if you want it in your food, on your body or in your home. So I decided to put all my years of label…
Lovely Lentils
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 yours, too. Around 6000 BC, lentils (along with barley and wheat) were staples of ancient Greek eating, commonly enjoyed in a sort of soup called…
Money Talks…Chocolate Sings!
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 delicious, decadent and rich was not the best food for health and wellness. In recent years, chocolate has gotten a lot of media coverage because…
Shiitake Just Got Real!
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. There are about 38,000 species of mushrooms and most of them provide a wealth of protein (yes, you read right), fiber, B vitamins, vitamin C,…
The Beat Goes On – American Heart Health Month
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 (except for this year because it’s Leap Year). Sure it’s cold and snowy in most places and by the end of the month, we are…
One Healthy Thing – Week 5
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 it’s normal to feel tired, lethargic, to have aches, pains, bumps, lumps, bulges, dots, spots and hair in places we didn’t think possible and no…
Oh, What a Relief It Is
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 colds and flu are, in my humble opinion, a blessing, although an uncomfortable one, as I sit here writing while nursing my own sniffles and…
One Healthy Thing – Week 4
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 every day, we’re glowing, smiling for no reason, have energy to burn and are loving life. When we feel great, we can change the world.…
Natural Radiant Beauty
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 the other. Like love and marriage, looking great is usually the result of feeling great…and conversely, if you don’t feel well, it’s hard to put…
One Healthy Thing-Week Three
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 well on your way, you’re seeing how the little things add up to creating a wholly healthy you. No magic, no rainbows or unicorns or…
Label.ology: Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) & Petrolatum Liquidium
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 it in your food, on your body or in your home. So I decided to put all my years of label reading to good use.…
Why We Cook
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 and eating together. They also tell us that cooking helped us to pre-digest food, fueling our brains more efficiently, allowing us to evolve into having…
One Healthy Thing – Let’s Do This
As we move forward into these next days, let’s challenge ourselves with lifestyle choices that will result in real radiant health. Everyone tells us that being healthy is easy (including me…) but is it? We live in a world where we are bombarded by advertisements for food that…on a good day…robs you of your vitality.…
One Healthy Thing
“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 together. So many of us wake on January 2 filled with…the glow of Christmas past? Nope. With regret; for too many indulgences and too little attention paid…
Why I Love Kettlebells and You Should, Too
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 into the gym, I just might consider it. There’s nothing like a good sweat. I love the strain of my muscles as they push, pull…
Happy Holiday Season
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 about family, food and celebrating. Never was this more evident than during the Christmas season. My mother began baking dozens of varieties of Christmas cookies…
Easy Weekday Soups to Keep You Warm and Strong
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 methods for keeping us on an even keel is to make several varieties of soups and freeze them in portioned containers. I thaw them as I…
Buona Tiramisu
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 the hips. MAKES 8 SERVINGS 2 tablespoons unsweetened organic almond milk 2 tablespoons avocado oil 1/2 cup silken tofu 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1…
The Root of It All
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 with the holiday season soon upon us, we will need strength and stamina to get through it. Root veggies are not only sweet and warming…
Tis the Season of Spice
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 the cold or will you manage the shift in weather with grace and comfort? We all know that our foods need to change to…
Cookies to Make You Happy… and Healthy… This Holiday Season
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 tree, windows and doorways, warming our hearts and our homes, welcoming everyone to celebrate with us. The holiday season is here. And with it, the…
Who Has Time for That?
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 love and care. And then the ad said “who has time for that? Marie Callendar, that’s who.” Seriously? Are we going to fall for…
Workout Your Heart
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 essential…), I am thinking about working out your heart in another way… especially during these challenging times in which we live. Volunteering has a…
Why Does the Food Industry Want to Block GMO Label Laws?
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 Safe Affordable Food includes twenty-nine members representing companies like PepsiCo, the world’s largest manufacturer of snack food and Monsanto, as well as the National Corn…
Arctic Apples…Why?
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 we imagine infuses us with an arrogance that takes my breath away. The simple, humble apple is being re-introduced into the marketplace (if the USDA…
Living Well Is the Best Revenge
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. It’s time to take back responsibility for our own health with freedom. What does that mean? I have come to realize that as we have…
The Art of Living Well
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 around us pushes us to work harder, make more money, move more quickly. Even our leisure time is frenetic with activity. Think about how you…
Vegan Pregnancy Q & A
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 food for babies is breast milk. In the rare instance that a mother cannot nurse, then a formula can be used. There is a lot…
Living a Healthy and Peaceful Life
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 anything that Stephen King could imagine. So now we’re not only confused, we’re scared witless about what to eat! Organic, non-organic, local, commercial, GMO’s, farm…
Eat Your Way to Better Sleep
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 study tells us that not getting enough sleep impairs us in the most dramatic ways. New thinking even refers to fatigue as a modern illness.…
Get the Glow
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 that good food is integral to health and vitality and spring is a great time to start cleaning things up. I’ve created a menu of…
They Don’t Call Them Essential Fatty Acids for Nothin’
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 all handled…nutrient-wise anyway. I ate well, lots of seasonal, organic vegetables, beans, tofu and tempeh, with a smattering of whole grains, pasta and breads to…
The B-12 Dilemma
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 guarantee immunity to such years. We may like to think that it does, that living natural, whole lives makes us somehow magically immune to disease…
President Bill Clinton… National Treasure
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 to create health if we put our minds…and wills to it. Granted, I am not the best judge here. A committed plant-centric eater for almost…
Fit for Human Consumption
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 the discovery of fire in cooking “had done the most to advance the cause of civilization.” In 1964, anthropologist, Claude Lévi-Strauss regarded cooking as a…
I’m Mad As Hell
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, “air you can’t breathe, water you can’t drink, and food you can’t eat.” I can’t tell you what to do about the economy, politics, war,…
My Story of Growing up Italian and Where It Got Me to Today
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 roaming wildly in and out of our house and lives on a daily basis. With the exception of my Irish father, we all cooked…my brothers,…
Why Choose HEALTH When You Can Choose Dinner in a Bucket?
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 arrival at the Pearly Gates. They may call it convenient and even more criminally…food, but what they’re really doing is robbing you of your health…and…
Ya Gotta Love How Special Our Special Interest Groups Are…
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 while I was gone. I tell you this because I might be a little behind the times on this rant, but I don’t think it…
A Day in D.C. (A Retrospective)
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 Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. I presented the following comments on the first draft of the USDA dietary guidelines, to be released this December. I…
Where Has All the Compassion Gone?
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 it was because I disliked labels, so ‘macrobiotic,’ ‘vegan…’whatever was off my list of things to call myself. But that’s not entirely true…actually not true…
Can We Cut Crime by Changing Cafeteria Menus?
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 an experiment under the enlightened guidance of their principal, LuAnn Coenen. She wanted to see if she could positively affect the fighting, weapons-carrying and general…
Is Healthy Living the Privilege of a Few?
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 concepts of a healthy life have taken on the aura of out-of-reach luxury. Nothing could be further from the truth. While natural lifestyle enthusiast ‘A-listers’…
Why We Eat
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 these many years later. In the process of discovering my way back to health, I was introduced to Japanese philosopher, Georges Oshawa, considered to be…
The Impulses of Impulse Eating
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 we eat it. We’re not hungry, but it’s there. Are you hungry? Nope, but we eat anyway. What’s up? Are we weak-willed losers, or is…
Foods Your Family Will Love
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 internet for recipes, attend cooking classes. You create a colorful, creative, flavorful meal for them to enjoy and they turn up their noses. You scrape…
No Choice but to Be Fat?
‘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 name for Dannon’s exclusively used probiotic) to normalize digestion. A professional-looking woman runs through her day, grabbing a hot dog, cake at a party to…
Holiday Feasting, In the Plant World
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 you for your holiday feast. My most amusing conversations have come from the panicked inquiries of hosts wondering what in the world to cook for…
‘Tis the Season…
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 and flu are, in my humble opinion, a blessing, although an uncomfortable one, as I sit here, writing while nursing one of my own. Our…
Cleaning Up For the New Year
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 could really ‘stick’ this time? What if you re-thought the way you approached food and eating and really changed your life? It all begins with…
Life’s A Beach
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, there will be body after body suffering the after effects of too much sun (and other excesses) at the Jersey Shore. How do we keep…
The Back-To-School Dilemma
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? Well, they want it all. One of the biggest challenges facing parents today is what to do about lunch at school…there has been a lot…
Top Ten Farm Market Ingredients to Buy and Eat Now!
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 by some of the lushest and abundant farm land in the country. So why should you be shopping at a farm market? The easier question…
Summer Abundance
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 asking about my specialty. ‘So all you eat are vegetables?’ she asked, genuinely interested and perplexed. At first, all I could think was that she…
Stay Healthy This Autumn with These 10 Tips
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 cooking in ways that will warm us for the cool weather ahead. The house fills with the perfumes of fall cooking, making the world a…
The Christmas Spirit
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 about family, food and celebrating. Never was this more evident than during the Christmas season. My mother began baking dozens of varieties of Christmas cookies…
The Forbidden Fruit
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 picking the figs from my grandfather’s tree…a job we adored. We waited greedily all summer for the succulent fruit of the majestic fig tree that…
Brown Rice Syrup & Arsenic… The Truth I Discovered
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 rocket scientist to grocery shop. And after all that; after doing ‘all the right things,’ the food is less than yummy and you’ve given up…
Brown Rice and Arsenic…Here We Go Again
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. This article is about the latter. Here we are again discussing arsenic in brown rice and while I am weary of having this same discussion…
It’s Easy Being Green
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 of age. I wonder if The Bard really knew what he was saying, if he knew the value of greens in keeping us youthful and…
Napoli and Pizza
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 a small village outside the city of Naples in southern Italy. She talked about day-to-day things, the stuff of life in a small town. She…
The Deadly Nightshades…Or Are They?
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 I know about nourishment from hanging out with these kitchen wizards. If only they knew how well they practiced macrobiotic ideals, they would laugh…and then…
The Scoop On Wheatgrass
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 one’s diet. Wheatgrass can be a great little energy boost or can be used as an occasional cleanse, maybe 1-2 times per week. For those…
The FDA Says Walnuts Are Illegal Drugs?
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 made my skin crawl, my hair stand on end and my rage boil over like a too-long simmering stew. Wait til you hear this one!…
Where Does Your Food Come From?
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 concerned with making a lighter footprint; leaving the world a little better, a little cleaner for our being here. We want to consume fewer resources;…
Celebrating Chocolate
The great Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus christened the cacao tree…food of the gods…and boy, was he right! We’ll never know what nirvana is…well, most of us won’t anyway…maybe the Dalai Lama (but I hear he loves chocolate, too)…but chocolate is about as close to ambrosia that we mortals will ever experience. For most of us,…
GMO’s-Playing Roulette with Our Lives
G-M-what’s? GMOs are genetically modified organisms that are engineered in a lab, in petri dishes, without any influence from Mother Nature, and then used to create new breeds of foods (and other living things). DNA and other compounds, like pesticides, are incorporated into organisms for an end purpose. We know little about the long-term effects…
Holy GMO’s, Batman! In Artificial Sweeteners, Too?
GMO’s are complex and often confusing. They are ingredients derived from plants whose DNA has been altered with genes from other plants, animals, bacteria or viruses. Yuck, right? If you didn’t think artificial sweeteners were bad enough, aspartame, considered by many to be the most widely used sweetener in the world, is found in soda,…
Just When You Think Monsanto Can’t Be More Subversive
“The motto of the world’s largest youth organization is “To Make the Best Better.” This is honored by Monsanto as we are proud to share and support the motto of 6.8 million youth, aged 5-21, who are involved in 4-H programs annually.” -Monsanto’s website I thought things could not get worse for our kids. When…
End of content
End of content
