Guacamole is thought to have originated in Aztec, Mexico, evolving from whatever was available locally. Most people I know adore the rich, fatty, creaminess of avocado and feel delighted to see it show up at meal times. Avocados are laden with health benefits, so it is no wonder that they rank at the top of every discerning health seekers menu. I’ve written a whole article about the health benefits of…
To some folks, vegan food is a mystery. But it really isn’t! vegan food is everything that you have always eaten. Vegan food has always been your food, minus the animals. Fruit, vegetables, grains, rice, pasta, potatoes, nuts, beans, a lot of dark chocolate and many breads are all vegan food. Let’s dispel some myths about vegan food: 1. What Is “Vegan Food”? Technically, vegan food is no meat/flesh, no…
I walked my way through rows and rows of neatly lined up bushes in the summer heat holding my green cardboard container, intensely looking at each one, pushing branches aside. I stopped and excitedly called over to my kids, “Here is a good one!” They came running over past the other people with their containers and said, “Oh look at them all.” This bush had lots of beautiful, plump, vibrant…
There’s something deeply satisfying about the vibrant sweetness of a summer garden berry smoothie, especially with fruit freshly gathered from your own raspberry and strawberry plants (if you are fortunate enough to grow your own that is). For years, my soft fruit crops never seemed to yield enough to allow me to bring any back to the kitchen, because I’d devour them straight off the plant! These days, I feel…
If you’re vegan, do you think you get fewer colds than the average person? Speaking for myself, I have to answer with a resounding “yes.” I’ve been vegan for the last 15 years. In that time, I have never had the flu. I get a cold about every 3 to 5 years, and the duration and severity of the cold are far less than when I wasn’t vegan. The colds…
Last week I had a physical. Since becoming vegan over two years ago, I actually look forward to physicals. At my age, for the record I am half-expired, this is when doctors start to salivate over the notion of prescribing some sort of medication to keep me alive. It’s also that time of life when they are making their Viagra quota and are very disappointed when I let them know…
Suppose that you are vegan and you live in a house with non-vegans. And suppose that these omnivores are your family, your children and/or spouse. Oftentimes families have mixed dietary preferences and approaches. But families still want to eat together—eating together as a family provides communication, an opportunity to listen, eye contact, and of course, time to remember gratitude. It’s good and it feels good to herd everyone together for…
As a chef and cookbook author, I’m always on the lookout for new recipes. While perusing the internet not long ago, I was very excited to see that a new vegan food magazine is available online. The magazine is called “Fresh Vegan” and I was lucky enough to read their first two issues. The issues are jam packed with innovative and delicious recipes, beautiful pictures and interesting articles on chefs, restaurants…
Walk, drive, run, or bike past a bakery and the aroma of something sweet and freshly baked is looming in the air that will cause a sudden turn into the parking lot. Once lured in through the door, the smells are intense, with a combination of decadent chocolates, breads, and sweet fruits that enter the nose activating the dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain, down to the tips…
I am often asked about healthy, vegan breakfast options…Most of the time, I enjoy fresh fruit or a smoothie in the morning, although there are days when fruit just doesn’t cut it. When deciding on what to eat for breakfast I want to make sure that every morsel is healthful, nutritious and of course, delicious. This is where my Quinoa Breakfast Bowl works a real treat. It’s the perfect, cooked,…
Purple toe nails—and I’m not talking about the pretty polished kind. I’m talking about the kind that most runners experience. The ugly side effect we experience from miles of pounding on pavement. As athletes, we don’t exactly have pretty, manicured and polished feet. That is one of the prices we pay. Why do they turn purple? Is it dangerous? How can we prevent this? According to articles from various websites…
Cauliflower is packed with nutrients and high vibrational goodness, so I like to include it in my weekly cuisine in ample amounts whenever it’s in season. I love it raw (see: Cauliflower & Tahini Salad), cooked in soups and curries or gently steamed and served on a soft bed of quinoa with hemp oil & tamari (nothing beats a bit of good ol’ fashioned simplicity!). The coconut and tomato in…
My Exotic Tropical Organic Green Smoothies are the easiest health solution yet! You can bond with friends and family while blending, and you never know what wonderful health improvements you can expect from adding organic greens to your life! Directions: 1.) Add to a blender the following (high powered blender is best because you really need high power to liquefy the greens): 1 cup organic liquid (organic unpasteurized fruit juice, organic…