Though we all want to eat healthy, we can’t get there unless we know what healthy food is. Non-healthy foods are refined and processed, made with unhealthy forms of fats and sugars and non-food chemical ingredients. If this is the kind of food that you habitually eat, you probably crave it—and it’s hard to give […]
Reprinted with permission from author, Rebecca Thistelthwaite, and LocalHarvest. Last month I wrote about how many CSA farms and other direct-to-consumer farms are struggling with the increasingly fickle consumer and the growing competition of online food sales. Taking our plethora of diverse food choices for granted has become the norm. No matter how many times you may suggest […]
The road to more healthful eating can often feel daunting. Less-optimal temptations beckon us from every corner: refined and adulterated ingredients, toxic quantities of sugars, and questionable additives abound. And to top it all off, even when you think you might be making a healthy choice, much of the information out there is conflicting, misleading, […]
With March being National Nutrition Month, the logical self-health habit to encourage this month is to try a nutrient-dense food you’ve never tried before. (Now, keep in mind that it can take some time to acquire a taste for new foods. So, don’t let the first bite determine a new food’s fate on your future […]
Ask Chef Phyllis: Many years ago, my grandmother and great-aunt Theodora made a southern dish they called Deviled Autumn Pork Chops, For lack of more information, I know they used spicy mustard (maybe even more than one kind), country ham, and collard or mustard greens in it. In late autumn, when the pigs were slaughtered, […]
Can you identify with any of these symptoms: struggling to lose weight, anxious and/or fearful, not sleeping well, tired but wired? And do you feel all of this despite last year’s resolution to give up carbs in a last-ditch effort for more energy or to feel calmer and slimmer? Perhaps you became disillusioned after seeing […]
Fundamental Middle Eastern Flavors I’ve been rather enamored with the bold, exotic flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean regions for quite some time. Growing up, I was fortunate to experience the influence of Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese cultures, though I barely ventured outside my comfort zone—pita, hummus, shawarma, and the like. As I’ve matured, I’ve discovered […]
A national celebration of one of my favorite topics began in 1970, armed with the mission: “to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of good nutrition and position American Dietetic Association (ADA) members as the authorities in nutrition.” Starting out as a week-long campaign, March became National Nutrition Month in 1980 and continues to […]
Companionship is something we all value, which is a big reason why so many of us decide to bring a pet into our lives. Pets bring us laughter, happiness, and friendship. Nevertheless, it’s important to find the right pet for you. Whether you like tiny teacups, mighty Mastiffs, subtle chinchillas, chirpy birds, bearded dragons, colorful […]
There’s something very promising and positive about New Year’s resolutions, those goals we make for ourselves and for our loved ones. We do our best to keep them, even though we often don’t succeed. Here are some common resolutions we make to improve our health, along with some tips for accomplishing them. Keep a Journal […]
A Grain-Free Take on a Middle Eastern Classic Those who have been reading my blog for some time now, might know that one of my favorite things to do is revamp classic recipes, to make them more wholesome and fitness-forward, and to suit restrictive diets and alternative lifestyles. Those who are new to the site, […]
While zipping through the grocery store a few days ago, my hubby noticed a jar of ghee. I’d seen the display several times on previous stops without giving it much thought. Interest piqued, he asked, “What is ghee, anyway?” To which I replied, “Do you really want to know?” Now, why did I ask him […]
Here’s the straightforward answer: the keto diet can help manage diabetes by helping to normalize uncontrolled blood sugar levels through reduced carbohydrate intake. But how does keto work? What is the correlation between a low carb diet and regulated blood sugar? In this blog post, I’ll simplify things for you. By the end, you’ll learn: […]
When my clients describe the following, I immediately know what they are talking about: “gut signals.” A sudden and anxiety filled awakening that often comes in the super early-morning hours, approximately 3 AM—though symptoms may also come at other times of the day, depending on many factors. Since I frequently hear more about the 3:00 […]
Fresh, Fast, and Family-Friendly I always start getting a hankering for spring towards the end of February. Funny, because we really haven’t had much of a winter this year (though there is presently snow on the ground…finally!). I think this is simply hardwired into my brain from growing up in the Pacific Northwest, where the […]
In the online news this morning, there are all kinds of headlines about disease—the flu closing schools, measles outbreaks, hepatitis A diagnoses… How could you not want to lock yourself and your loved ones in your house and stay there until the dust settles? Since that isn’t realistic, learning some basic ways to safeguard your […]
In the battle to find a healthy balance between eating food that’s good for you and food that tastes great, you have a secret weapon: your spice rack. To avoid the temptation of foods loaded with sugars, salt, and/or fats, a well-stocked spice rack and kitchen pantry can give you a serious advantage. Why is […]
The dreaded hangover—that painful reminder that you overindulged. Isn’t it true what we ALWAYS say? I’m never doing that again! And yet, after a few days or a few weeks, we find ourselves suffering again because of our own poor decisions. Dr. Scott Walker, DC, one of my mentors and the developer of the Neuro-Emotional […]
Save Time, Money, and Your Health with One-Pan Meals in Minutes One of the most common reasons people have trouble making home-cooked meals is the time it takes. I get it; after a long, hard day, sometimes the mere thought of cooking is more than I feel like taking on. The last thing people want […]
If you’re one of the many people who avoids going to the doctor, this month’s self-health habit is for you, and merely a reminder for everyone else. I challenge you to make an appointment for biomarker testing this month. A simple blood draw and the corresponding results are a great tool to compile a complete […]