“…It’s not only wine that sings Olive oil sings too It lives in us with its ripe light And among the good things of the earth I set apart Olive oil…” -Pablo Neruda- How to Pick the Healthiest Olive Oil For decades we’ve known about the benefits of the “Mediterranean diet" (fresh fruits and veggies, fish, whole grains, red wine, and olive oil). Modern science tells us that of those foods,
Recipes & Healthy Eating
January: Upgrade Your Favorite Foods
This new year, instead of making the usual resolutions that we’ve given up on by the end of January, we decided to break it up by dividing some big goals into manageable chunks. Each month, we will invite you to overhaul one aspect of your life to reduce toxins, improve health, and increase your peace of mind. Our promise is that these changes will be easy to implement, and we hope will help you
5 Days of Healthy Packed Lunches
I hope you all are having a wonderfully relaxing holiday break! I always enjoy the week where my kids have lots of new stuff to play with from Christmas, and stop asking for screens!If you're like me, you're also spending this week getting organized--from new toy storage systems to winter gear organization to getting your various resolutions or intentions for 2018 set up for success.One
How to Build a (Sort of) Healthy Gingerbread House
A new employee of mine, Casey, recently made the crazy decision to volunteer to make a gingerbread house with my kids. So on Friday evening, Casey came over, along with a couple of our other friends, a couple bottles of red wine, and big plans of making a healthy and delicious gingerbread house.The video below shows the highlights of the experience, which lasted all of one evening and then the
4 Eating Tips to Avoid Fall Illnesses
The season of “school bugs” is upon us. Are you already fed up with runny noses, coughs, and stomach bugs?In my last post I shared five strategies for staying healthy during the school year and promised that I’d follow up with some specific food tips. When it comes to staying healthy and recovering from illness, you really can’t ignore the importance of diet—for adults and kids alike.But
Healthy Go-To Quesadilla Lunch
In an effort to avoid serving my kids macaroni and cheese twice a day, I came up with what I think is a more healthful--but equally yummy and tasty--quesadilla recipe.Sometimes I make this in the morning (or the night before) to go in their school lunch, because it's even tasty cold. When I serve these for dinner, I gussy them up with avocado and greens (and salsa for the grownups).Why
5 Simple Ways to Pack Healthy, Yummy Lunches
It’s that time of year again! The newness of back-to- school is wearing off, and my grown children have started to complain about how hard it can be to pack healthy, tasty lunches for their own kids.I remember getting discouraged when my kids were young. At one point, all they wanted for their lunches was bagels and cream cheese…every single day!If you’re in a lunch rut, too, read on for
Phthalates in Mac and Cheese: Should We Panic?
Did you guys catch me on The Dr. Oz Show yesterday? I was invited to speak about phthalates in macaroni and cheese. Whether or not you saw the segment, I thought you might want to hear my thoughts on the scary headlines. Real Quick: Here’s What Phthalates Even Are The chemical compounds know as phthalates (pronounced f-THAL- lates) are used to make plastics flexible and as lubricants in
Healthy Fruit Popsicle Guide
After staying with us for nearly a month this July, my grandkids left me three reminders of their visit: fingerprints smudged on the glass of my deck doors, jars of (dead) lightening bugs on the picnic table, and half-full boxes of popsicles in my freezer! That pretty well sums up the summertime, doesn't it?!Popsicles are a must-have on hot afternoons, and last month, Maia and I set out to
Plastic-Free Lunch Packing Supplies for School
Can you believe it's already time to start thinking about back-to-school? I think some of you have may have even already started?! Talk about waaaaah! In my kids' public school in Brooklyn, teachers collect money at the beginning of the year to pay for supplies, which makes life easier for sure. All I have to buy in anticipation of school this year (besides clothing) is lunch packing gear. Of
