We know that fruits and vegetables are beneficial to our physical health. But what about our mental health? Could the food that makes us healthier also make us happier? Does the food that fuels our bodies best also fuel our creativity, our engagement in life and feelings of well-being? Recent studies suggest the answer is [...]
Richard* had his first heart attack at the age of 42. Three years later he suffered a stroke. His right carotid artery was totally blocked, and his left carotid artery was 27% blocked, so he underwent bypass surgery. After surgery he followed the usual advice of decreasing sugar and fat, and eating less meat. But [...]
One Woman. Every Minute. That’s how many women have their lives cut short by heart disease. While 1 in 31 will die of breast cancer, 1 in 3 will die of heart disease. That’s about one woman every minute - a staggering number. But it doesn’t have to happen to you, even if you have [...]
During the land’s wintry deep sleep, when the hardy greens of spring are only garden plans on a page, I turn my culinary and nutritional attention to root vegetables. They’re what’s in season, and I love them all. Roasted carrots, parsnips, beets and sunchokes. Baked and stuffed russet potatoes. Celery root salad. But the sweet [...]
Growing up, I used to drown my mom’s fluffy pancakes in a sea of Log Cabin® Syrup. The “other” syrup, the tiny bottle of amber-hued “real” maple syrup stayed in the pantry. It was expensive, and was brought out only for the occasional recipe calling for it. It wasn’t until I was grown and cooking [...]
When fresh cranberries hit the grocery store shelves, I stock up. I love that tart pop of flavor, the perfect counterpoint to the sweet in baked goods. I often add cranberries to banana muffins and pancakes. Here is a delicious recipe that combines health promoting cranberries with real, maple syrup. The cranberries do a good [...]
We all do it, at least occasionally. We tell ourselves food stories - convenient but untrue beliefs or ideas said privately to ourselves or aloud to others – that help us ignore the facts (or put off getting the facts,) so that we don’t have to change. It doesn’t make us bad people. It just [...]
In June, General Mills finally caved to mounting consumer pressure and agreed to remove artificial flavors and food dyes from their breakfast cereals over the next two to three years. Children cheered and moms everywhere breathed a sigh of relief – one less thing to worry about. While I am glad to hear they are [...]
You’ve probably heard the stats. About 1 in 8 American women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their life. What you may not have heard is that what you eat can dramatically improve those odds. This week I made a vegetable soup from one of Candice Kumai’s recipes in her new book [...]
Toward the end of summer, when the days are still hot and farm fresh vegetables are abundant, a healthy dinner can be fast and easy. I love this skillet salad. Chopped and diced fresh vegetables are quickly seared in a smokin’ hot cast iron skillet, then tossed with a cilantro-lime dressing. By adding a can [...]
