Fri 13 Jan 2012
Although I have generally been in the habit of taking off my shoes in the house, the habit really stuck with me when I lived in Japan where taking off your shoes inside was a must. Now, I know exactly why!
My kids and I did a “Disgusting Science” experiment. I thought you definitely might be interested in the results.
We set up petri dishes and added some disgusting specimens to them. The specimens included dirt from the bottom of a shoe, armpit sweat, saliva, and a snot. These were kept in a cool, dark place and allowed to grow. (more…)
Fri 13 Jan 2012
It is a new year and many people have added weight loss to their list of resolutions. Now, wouldn’t it be good to have it on the list this year and not have to put it on the list next year because you don’t have any more weight to lose? Of course that would be WONDERFUL! Unfortunately, for many people this resolution is on their list year in and year out.
Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Let’s put an end to the insanity and do things different this year. Here are some counterintuitive tips to make weight loss drop from your list of resolutions next year: (more…)
Tue 10 Jan 2012
Glycemic load and glycemic index are measurements used to gain a better understanding of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar. The glycemic index gives a number for each food that demonstrates the increase in blood glucose levels when the food is ingested. In general, the more processed a food is, the higher its glycemic index. Very often, people use the glycemic index to help diabetics understand their food choices. Low glycemic index foods are recommended for people with diabetes and people wishing to prevent diabetes. While some popular diets recommend avoiding all carbohydrates, it is more advisable to consume carbohydrates with low glycemic index ratings. This may include most vegetables, lentils, nuts, and seeds.
The glycemic load is another rating that allows us to understand a food’s impact on our blood sugar levels. It is different from the glycemic index (more…)
Mon 9 Jan 2012
Do you ever feel like the woman in the picture? Completely frustrated with trying to get your kids to eat healthy? Don’t despair.
Believe it or not, picky eating is a part of childhood. Yes, the whole picky-eating-thing is a developmental stage that young children go through. The good news is, you are not alone. Many parents are experiencing the exact same issue. Truth is, if you focus on healthy eating, your children do not have to be destined to be junk-food-a-holics. So, as they go through this developmental phase of their lives what can you do? (more…)
Mon 9 Jan 2012
The “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean 15″ are the names of lists of fruits and veggies that have been ranked according to their pesticide levels. These lists, put out by the Environmental Working Group indicate those fruits and veggies that should ideally be eaten organic and those that do not always have to be. According to the Environmental Working Group, if people consumed their five servings of fruits and vegetables each day from the “Clean 15″ list instead of the “Dirty Dozen”, they would reduce their exposure to pesticides by 92%.
So, what are on the lists? Here they are:
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines– imported
- Grapes – imported
- Red Pepper – Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries– domestic
- Lettuce
- Kale/collard greens
The Clean Fifteen
-
Onions
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Sweet Corn
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Pineapples
-
Avocado
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Asparagus
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Sweet peas
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Mangoes
-
Eggplant
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Cantaloupe – domestic
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Kiwi
-
Cabbage
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Watermelon
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Sweet potatoes
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To learn more about these lists and the methodologies used to create them, please visit the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide.
Sat 24 Dec 2011
Posted by Danielle under Recipes
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Here is another yummy AND healthy recipe. It is sure to be one your family will love. This recipe comes from The Veggie Queen, Jill Nussinow. I, personally, have a copy of her book, The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get The Royal Treatment. It has over a 100 recipes divided into the 4 different seasons. The recipes are delightfully delicious and clever. This recipe not only looks festive, but it is also a crowd pleaser.
I made two substitutions though. I used coconut oil in place of canola oil (it is the only oil I cook with). In place of the flour, I ground up quinoa (I try to avoid gluten as often as possible). (more…)
Wed 21 Dec 2011
Posted by Danielle under Recipes
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Need a quick and delicious snack. Mrs. Owl has a great recipe for peanut butter treats. Mrs. Owl, also known as Arla Caraboolad, is the author of a fabulous children’s book, Tommy Tortoise Gets The Sugar Blues. In the book, Tommy learns about the effects of overindulging in sugar the hard way. This recipe, however, will not leave you with the sugar blues.
Although the recipe below uses carob chips or chocolate chips, I prefer to make my own chocolate (combine 2 tablespoons of melted cacao butter with 2 tablespoons of coconut nectar, and 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder). (more…)
Wed 23 Nov 2011
OK, so it happened. It was Thanksgiving dinner and you ate way more than you should and way more than your body wanted you to. Now, you are feeling sick to your stomach and simply can not move. Before you reach for the antacids, hold on! Antacids are not all they are cracked up to be. In fact, they can be harmful to your health and make digestive issues worse. So, what can you do? Here are some natural alternatives:
- Make yourself some ginger tea. Ginger tea tastes fantastic and is wonderful when it comes to soothing the stomach. It is also simple to make. (more…)
Tue 22 Nov 2011
I think we all associate Thanksgiving with massive amounts of food. For ages, people have filled up on their Thanksgiving feasts, passed out after dinner, pigged out again for dessert, and then dealt with serious indigestion, weight gain, and plain old lethargy. This does not have to be you however! You can prevent yourself from overeating this Thanksgiving. Here are some helpful tips:
- Workout in the morning. You will get your metabolism moving, you will feel better about yourself, and you will likely follow suit with healthier choices.
- Eat a healthy breakfast (and lunch if you are eating a late dinner). Don’t assume (more…)
Fri 4 Nov 2011
Fall is here and along with it are sniffles and sneezes, coughs and aches. Want to recover quickly? Try something super simple, effective, fun and totally natural: Amazing Socks.
Amazing socks is a time tested natural remedy for helping to relieve coughs, colds, and the flu. It is a naturopathic technique that is a form of hydrotherapy. Amazing socks is excellent for increasing circulation throughout the body during the night and stimulating the white blood cells so they can heal the body. It works like a charm so, give it a try. Here is what you do (this is done before going to bed or laying down for some rest): (more…)