* spirulina shake

Spirulina, it's the forgotten super food.

Spirulina was very trendy in the 1990's and somehow it has dropped off the forefront of hot food trends.

I am here to bring it back!
....Or at least remind you why it's so great.

Spirulina Facts 101

1. Spirulina is a blue-green algae.

2. Spirulina can easily be added to smoothies. Though the color impact will be bright green, the taste impact is minor to none.

3. The name spirulina is derived from the Latin word for "helix" or "spiral"; denoting the physical configuration of the organism.

4. Spirulina is called the "food of the future" because of its ability to synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae.

5. Spirulina is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. In comparison, beef is only 22 percent protein.

6. The Japanese both produce and consume more spirulina than anyone else. Some researchers claim that Spirulina is useful in helping diabetics control their food cravings and decrease their insulin intake.

7. Spirulina is one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12. B12 is usually only in animal products. Thus, vegans should take note to add spirulina to their diets.

8. 1 tsp. of Spirulina will meet your RDA of B12, and spirulina contains over twice the amount of B12 found in an equivalent serving of liver.

9. Spirulina contains many other nutrients - amino acids, minerals, enzymes and more.

10. Spirulina is not a sea plant! It survives in fresh water ponds.

So I hope you will consider giving spirulina a second look.

It was trendy once, for a reason...

It is indeed an excellent vegan source of vitamin B12.

SERVING SUGGESTION:
Add it to a blueberry banana smoothie and you won't even taste it! (Don't let the dark green color scare you away.

KIDS
If making a green spirulina smoothie for your kids, call it the 'green monster smoothie' of 'slimy sea monster smoothie' or the 'Tinkerbell smoothie' or 'lucky green smoothie'.

* citrus shake

Don't feel bad. I love them too. Those brightly colored, cutely named little plastic bottles of juice, all lined up perfectly on the grocery store shelf. With names like Strawberry C Monster and Antioxidance, how can we resist?

Naked, Odwalla and Bolthouse Farms are brands we all know and love. But here's a tip: once in a while make sure that you get your juice FRESH and FAST.

FRESH AND FAST
Vitamin C is a very delicate nutrient. A little to much exposure to heat, light or air -or too much time left on a shelf or truck - and it simply starts to oxidize and disappear. Some studies have shown that the level of Vitamin C in orange juice degrades by about 2% each day after it was first squeezed. Drinking freshly squeezed orange juice right away ensures that your body receives all of that lovely Vitamin C.

The same study analyzed the amount of Vitamin C retained in OJ after one and two weeks in a typical home fridge. 88% of vitamin C content was retained after one week of storage and 67% after two weeks.

The Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Rule:
Break out the fresh oranges, get yourself a cheap hand-juicer at Crate and Barrel and put some elbow-grinding, squeezing action into your morning routine- at least once in a while. Start off with a Sunday morning OJ ritual.

And yes, those store bought Super Silly Stupendous 'C' Drinks from the above mentioned brands, are OK once in a while. Just don't use them as your juice crutch.

* my fave peanut sauce

Nuts and nut butters are incredibly healthy additions to any diet. And as we often learn, the fresher, the better! Without packaging, processing, shipping and storing, there are more nutrients and enzymes in tact at the time of eating!

1. So why not make nut butters at home!

There are several nut butter machines out there, many very high quality machines go for $1500+, but a 'cheaper' option is this retro inspired machine. You can even customize chunky to smooth texture.

2. Peanut Butter and Company

Another fun peanut butter link is to Peanut Butter and Co. It's a retail store meets peanut butter cafe here in NYC. But you can order their products online or even find them in your grocery store.

3. Cookies. Seeking a sweet treat for that peanut butter craving? My favorite is Uncle Eddie's peanut butter choco-chip cookies. I learned about them from Marilu Henner's book Total Health Makeover. And I was thrilled to find them in any Whole Foods Market. They are about $6 a bag and very delicious. And vegan! No bad stuff in these treats.

4. Peanut Butter Jar Mixer

There is also another option for us all-natural peanut butter lovers. I often avoid buying the all-natural stuff simply because the oil that settles at the top of the jar is too tricky to mix without making a mess.

Check out this invention that stirs that store-bought nut butter, without the mess!

5. Nuts are Superfoods

Want to learn more about how nuts and nut butters are SUPERFOODS?
Read my Gathering the Basics: Nuts for Nuts post here!

* my fave popcorn recipe

Headed to the movies this week?

There are a ton of great award-worthy movies out right now.

Revolutionary Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, The Reader, Doubt, Seven Pounds, Frost/Nixon, and Marley and Me.

But many seemingly healthy people can get sidelined by the tempting visions of dancing soda cups, overflowing popcorn poppers and brightly colored candy wrappers all screaming "eat me!".

Any health-minded person knows that the movies are not the best place to fuel up on food. So the most important tip:

DO NOT GO TO THE MOVIES ON AN EMPTY TUMMY.

But if you are just a bit snack-happy, there are options I assure you.

For the traditional candy/popcorn movie theater , here are a few tips:

Top Five Worst Movie Munchies Choices

1. Added butter to any size of popcorn
2. "Ballpark-style" anything (nachos, hot dog, pretzel, pizza)
3. Ordering a smorgasbord. Get one item only.
4. Non-diet large beverages.
5. King Size anything

Top Five Best Movie Munchies
1. Small popcorn, no butter added.
2. Water any size.
3. Diet soda. Small.
4. Junior Mints. Don't eat the whole box. Mint can be an appetite suppressant.
5. Best option: a pre or post snack from the 'Starbucks' or 'cafe' across the street.

Side note. There is a trend among independently owned theaters catering to a new-age crowd of patrons, to have healthier munchies options at the theater. Here in New York there is Angelika Film Center which offers soy lattes, vegan cookies, healthy sandwiches and even a sorbet bar. At Landmark Sunshine you can get vegan cookies, nuts and more.

* holiday french toast

Have a wonderful holiday.

Advice for the holidays with stress management and wellness:

BREATHE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Here are a few of my recent holiday themed posts:

Sore Winter Muscles? Epsom Salts!

Fireside Snacks

VIDEO: Happy Bouncy Snow Dog

Holiday Spirit Report: Live From NYC

Give Back this Holiday Season: It Does a Body Good!

My First Snow of the Season

Ice Skating and Cocoa!

New Years Day Hot Yoga

Why not make a mini Frank Bruni in training.

Kiddie critics will be the next reality television trend I'm sure of it!

So here is the fun idea.
Get a little feedback from your kids! A lunchbox survey is a cute and handy way to get your kids interacting with their lunch (and you).

Also, since kids like to color, why not add one of these adorable Lunchbox Bunch coloring sheets to your child's lunchbox as well.

And maybe even a copy for a friend.

Why not make lunch an eat and play and create experience.

Don't forget the crayons...

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

Tis the season for winter blizzards, icy blue frost on the trees and coming in from the cold. And to take the chill off our bones, we all need a nice hot beverage!

It seems that hot cocoa is a nice addition to your holiday home. And who can argue with the reasoning of creamy chocolate goodness and smooth whipped cream or puffy marshmallows.

But if it is coffee you crave, I ask you to take a moment and pause with your beverage choice. Why not try antioxidant filled tea!

Tea is the perfect hot beverage for health. You can choose green or white for the highest antioxidant levels. Black for a dark flavor and caffeine kick, or chai and milk for a super spicy smooth beverage that works great on digestion after a meal.

Herbal teas like peppermint and chamomile are also great stress soothers at bedtime. For my bedtime tea, I still reach for that old favorite Sleepytime tea by Celestial Seasonings. The box with the cute bear in his pajamas and cuddly bedtime cat.

So try tea next time you crave warmth! And you just may make a beverage switch. Your body will thank you.

Looking for warming beverage options that are not coffee? Check out my 8 Not-Coffee Lattes, including a few yummy tea lattes. (Photo at top is one..)

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

So I am kind've obsessed with honeycrisp apples. Here in New York City, one medium sized honeycrisp from Whole Foods Market usually costs $1.69 each. And that's not even the organic variety which is $2.99 a pound.

Yet I still buy them!

Hands down, honeycrisp apples are the best eating apples around. So try one, not matter the price. And if you turn into a honeycrisp addict like me, so be it!

You can buy them, and learn more here. Makes a great gift even...

...well if you're giftee is me!

Whether you are headed out to do some holiday shopping this weekend, or staying warm and cuddling by a fire, its always nice to have a list of quick and scrumptious fireside snacks to whip up.

During the holidays, we can all relate to craving quick munchies throughout the day - and a bag of chips just won't cut it.

Here are a few healthy and satisfying ideas.

And yes they all go great with a mug of hot cocoa, chai or spiced cider.

1. Salty Baked Chestnuts
Chestnuts are now available fully shelled and cooked in easy open pouches. Trader Joe's even carries them now. So pick up a few pouches and when the fireside setting calls...load a baking sheet with those tasty chestnuts and bake at 400 degrees for about 5-8 minutes. Spray with a bit of canola or olive oil and sprinkle with salt. For a spicy taste add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning as well. Toothpick them for a party setting.

2. EZ Toasty Bagel Bites
Toast up a few bagels. Stock up on those "veggie-singles" cheese slices. Melt one on top of each toasted bagel. Then add an array of toppings. Sliced mushrooms, olive oil and pepper, salt and thinly slice pears or apples, canned mandarin oranges, fresh chopped parsley or arugula, slivered pearl onions and even some drizzled honey. Then slice the differently topped bagel into thin strips. About three 'strips' per half bagel. Mix and match 'flavors' of bagels for a treat any guest or family member will snatch up.

3. Fireside snack mix
This is easy. In a bowl, toss any or all of the following: peanuts, almonds, popped cereal, popcorn, low-fat kettlecorn, pretzels, spicy rice crackers, soy crisps, rye crisps, bagel chips, banana chips, tings or veggie booty. Then add the seasoning. Go sweet with a pinch of sugar or honey, salt and canola oil spray. Go spicy with salt, pepper, cayenne and olive oil spray. Or go smooth with a thick coating of canola oil spray and just a pinch of salt. Toss well. Make ahead and store in little grab baggies.

4. Thick cut potato slices and dipping sauces
Use either white or sweet potatoes. (I prefer sweet.) Cut into thick long 'fry' slices. In a plastic bag combine the slices, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Shake-to-season the slices. Lay flat on baking sheet, bake at 425 degrees, until soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. Pair with spicy honey mustard, veganaise with chopped chives, melted veggie cheese fondu, or lemon zest infused olive oil.

5. Pita-dilla
This is like a quesadilla, only using a pita. Melt in the microwave about 2-3 cheese (or soy cheese) per 1 pita. Cut into triangles. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with thickly sliced fruits and veggies. The muncher can add the fruits and veggies to the pita, or eat them on the side. (Drizzle lemon juice on cut fruit if setting out at a party.)

6. Bean-There, Dipped-That Nachos
In the microwave, heat some canned vegetarian black or refried beans. Pour into a serving bowl and top with 1 slice melted soy or traditional cheese and freshly chopped cilantro. Along side the bean dip prepare a large plate of blue or yellow corn tortilla chips. On the chips, drizzle olive oil, add sliced mushrooms, jalapeños, black olives, chopped white onions, and of course some cheese of your choice (the healthier the better). Microwave chips on plate for 25 seconds. Top with fresh diced tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and some cayenne for spicy nachos. A dab of vegan or traditional sour cream can be added on side as well.

7. Cran-Cheese Bagels
Too easy. Add a layer of smooth cranberry sauce/chutney to a traditional cream cheese bagel.

8. Maple-Almond Butter American Toast
Toast fresh sliced french bread. Add a drizzle of maple syrup and a slathering of almond butter. Pair with fresh sliced honeycrisp apples. A dash of cinnamon adds a nice aroma.

Remember that snacks shouldn't be your main source of nutrition. You can always munch a big green salad or a bowl of winter stew to give yourself a healthy boost of nutrition to get you through a busy day.

*top photo: skillet 'apple turnover' snacks

This product review is for that special pet in your life. If you have a dog or cat, you should consider a brand of food called Petropics. New to me, I fed the wild caught salmon to my kitty and she loved it!

Here's my review:

Petropics Canned Cat and Dog Food
Shelf-Appeal: Shiny labels, large size. Very cute names like North Shore Luau, Hana Luau and Manana Grill. Hawaiian inspired branding of course. (Not that Fido or Whiskers will notice that.)
Label Check: Yup it's got real ingredients in there! No by-products or useless cornmeal in there. All human grade ingredients. Nice.
Taste Test: Well even though it's human grade, my cat was the taste-tester here. She loved it! Nice amount of liquid on top, which she loves to slurp. She won't eat that hard clumped food.
Price: About the same as the high quality cat food I usually buy. About $1.05-$1.69 a can.
Last Word: Make your pet a Tiki pet.

Update: We have been fans of TikiCat for over ten years now. It is a fave of the kitties and I feel great feeding them their high quality food.

* Creamy Fettuccine
Does Rachel Ray put you to shame?

Don't feel bad.

Apparently, in a HuffPost article, the first lady isn't so hot in the kitchen either.

It makes for an interesting question:

If you didn't have to cook for yourself, would you?

I can't imagine hiring a personal chef to feed my family. There is something very nurturing when my husband comes home after a long hard day and it is my delicious spread that greets him. Even a simple snack of cookies and cocoa wouldn't satisfy if not made with love.

I always enjoyed how Martha Stewart would scold her show guests if they would bring her a gift that they didn't make from scratch themselves. A local news anchor once brought her cookies from his favorite uptown bakery. She went off on him! It was great. She was insulted that he paid cash for cookies, one of Martha's favorite things to make yourself.

I recently read that Angelina Jolie is among the Hollywood mothers who religiously uses a private chef.

Maybe I am simply nostalgic to my moms home-cooked meals of lasagna, taco night, and those Saturday morning spreads featuring sometimes lumpy cream-of-wheat and a tad burnt fresh-apple-pancakes. No matter what the food flaw, I only noticed how hard my lovingly mom worked. And love makes everything taste good.

Go on Laura, your kids are grown, but I'll bet President Bush would get a lot of joy from a signature Laura Bush meal. Burnt edges and all.

source article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/19/laura-bush-i-dont-remembe_n_152302.html

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

When was the last time you tested your limits?

When was the last time you took the hard road instead of taking an easy exit out?

I did today, in a test of my physical strength and mental determination.

Having underestimated the weight of my groceries, I found myself walking 16 blocks or 1.12 miles, carrying what I later calculated to be 61 pounds! (More than half my body weight.)

Yes, I could have hopped in a cab and been on my way, but something told me to trek on. To push my limits and take the hard road (or sidewalk).

When I made it home, my arms throbbing in overexertion, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Not because I saved five bucks in cab fare, but because I finished a challenge that I initially thought I couldn't do.

I know I will be sore tomorrow, but that's OK. Sometimes pushing our limits reminds of what we are capable of doing.

"I can't do it." is a phrase we should all ban from our dialogue.

How I Mapped My Walk:

I easily mapped my trek on this fabulous website called Map Your Walk:

MapMyWalk.com - Map your Walks for Fitness and join our Community of Hikers. Walking Social Network. Calorie Counter, Pedometer, Distance, iPhone, and More.

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

photo at top: Dubrovnik Adventure

So I saw this email today from Vital Juice Daily about how to make an at-home banana hair mask. I had to laugh since I had such a tough time with the banana mask recipe I tried a while back.

So a warning to all the at-home spa-ers out there: take heed in the words "using a high speed blender" DO NOT add a chunky banana mask to your hair. Yes mushy banana when applied to head may add hair softness....but you might be combing out dried up banana chunks for a few days, as I was.....Read all about my banana head hair mask experience here.

Banana Hair Mask Recipe here: http://www.vitaljuicedaily.com/recipes/?rsub=253&rid=148

Top recipe: Banana Chocolate Shake

Planning your New Year's Eve 2009 outing? Well why not look into how you are going to spend your first day of 2009. My suggestion? Hot Yoga.

If you live in NYC, OmFactory has a great HOT YOGA class. Here are the details:
Kick off the New Year with a two-hour hot, sweaty Vinyasa workshop, designed to set intent and honor yourself through the sacred action of asana. We will begin and end with meditation, to crystalize your desires for the year ahead, and in between we will ignite the flame of passion for living with movement. Bring your friends! Create a new ritual!

CLICK HERE for the health benefits of HOT YOGA.

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

Have you tried hot yoga! Instead of practicing in a room of average or slightly warm temperatures, in hot yoga, you exercise in a room with temperatures of around 92 degrees or so. This induces sweating while you are practicing. Here are some of the possible benefits..

Here are a few of the health benefits of hot yoga, from Quick Fit Yoga:

* Your body burns fat more effectively.
* The heat produces a fluid-like stretch allowing for greater range of movement in joints, muscles and ligaments. Less injury risk when your body is more flexible.
* Capillaries dilate in the heat; more effectively oxygenating the tissues, muscles, glands and organs and helping in the removal of waste products.
* Circulation improves.
* Your metabolism speeds up the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids.
* You benefit from a strengthening of concentration and determination in the challenging environment.
* Sweating promotes detoxification and elimination through the skin - which is the body's largest eliminating organ.
* Your nervous system functions at a heightened state of awareness.
* Metabolism improves in your digestive system.

Have you tried hot yoga? Do you prefer it over traditional yoga?

One of my very favorite yoga varieties is called Yin Yoga. It is where you hold poses for very long periods of time. In my class I go to it is 3-5 minutes per pose. This allows a very deep stretch.

Recent posts featuring wellness tips:
Have You Breathed Today?
Skin Detox 101

Did you know that cereal is the number one breakfast food in America?

Did you know that cereal is also the number one food bought in supermarkets today.

The first breakfast cereal was created in 1863 in New York by a vegetarian.

So all you vegetarian haters out there (aka my fave hater Anthony Bourdain....) you can thank us veggies every time you crunch on a bowl of Cheerios.

Yes Cheerios is the number one cereal purchased...

Read more breakfast fun facts here.

Related Posts:
Vegetarians are a Pain. Say Moms and Chefs Everywhere.

A few breakfast recipes to try:
- easy energy shake with banana and almond butter
- vegan cinnamon rolls
- Vegan breakfast sandwich
- Mushroom Toast

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

I left the theater smiling. My 3pm workday detour, to attend The Happy Hypocrite at York Theater, was a brief escape from reality that seemed to recharge every corner of my workaholic-wired mind."

When was the last time you took a long lunch break to do something other than work?

Like attend an afternoon play, take a noon yoga class, schedule a 3pm massage, or peruse an art gallery midday - when everyone else is hunched over their desks, squinting at their afternoon string of unread emails, chugging their second venti extra-shot latte (aka lunch).

Well contrary to what our fast-paced, workaholic, over-achiever-obsessed American culture may believe, taking an extra long lunch break to detox your mind, body, and/or spirit, may just be the smartest detour in your day you've made in a while. (Much better than that 4pm Starbucks run.)

I have recently acquired a fondness for attending midday casual theater readings here in New York. I found my perfect sanctuary in the form of the York Theater Developmental Reading Series, here in NYC, just a few subway stops away from my office. What an amazing gift it is to be able to attend a reading featuring Broadway alumni actors and directors. And hold your breath, it's free. How I love New York for reasons such as this.

The two readings that I attended at York Theater were called Conversation Piece and The Happy Hypocrite. You can read my reviews of each of the readings at the links below. But let me just say this again, as I want you to promise to do something on your lunch break that gives you this same feeling:

"I left the theater smiling. My 3pm, workday detour, to (insert your activity here), was a brief escape from reality that seemed to recharge every corner of my workaholic-wired mind."

Photo at top: My Dubrovnik Trip

They Don't Eat Your Green Beans Because?....

A nice reminder to all the at-home and in-restaurant chefs, to remember special diets and food allergies when preparing that special holiday menu.

Even if your guests are likely to eat anything on their plates, it certainly never hurts to ask about their needs.

You may be surprised to find that they never touch your almond green beans, simply because they are allergic to the nuts! ...And are actually quite fond of green beans.

Even if you cannot prepare special meals for allergy or special-diet guests, you can put a note in an invite politely asking for anyone who needs special eats to bring their own - this way they won't be left out in the cold and communication is clear.

It is also kind if you simply want to ask for suggestions of what you can prepare for them. They can always send you recipes.

So maybe it's not green beans...

..or maybe it is!

Green Bean lovers, try this snap pea recipe

Spice it up! You've heard that spicy foods are good for you right?
Lets review a few of the health benefits.

From respiratory conditions like a stuffy nose and asthma, to decreasing your risk of cancer. The verdict is in: spicy foods offer more than just a flavor boost to your taco night.

Got a cold or the flu? Eating spicy peppers promotes sweating and eases many cold and flu symptoms. Hot peppers also help to open up clogged nasal passages.

Studies have shown that cayenne gives a noticeable kick to your immune system.

Spicy foods temporarily boost your metabolism.

A jolt of spicy foods may reduce the pain of a headache. And when applied topically, spicy foods may assist in pain relief.

And spiciness even releases endorphins in your brain. Creating a good mood feeling that can be addictive.

..So that's why I get cravings for super spicy burrito night...

Study source: http://www.medhunters.com/articles/trivia021908.html

One of my favorite spicy recipes right ow is a juice recipe for celery, raw ginger, green apple and lemon. Get the recipe here: Green Juice with Celery.

Another spicy recipe to try: Spicy Soba Noodles

Browse thousands of recipes in my recipe index.
Snag meal plans, printables, 150+ recipe pages with photos, tips, shopping lists and so much more with the Finding Vegan Meals E-book.

I started thinking about what I eat that I really don't like. I actually had a tough time at this. Thank goodness I like veggies. When I was a child I used to force myself to eat brussel sprouts and spinach. But now I prepare these things in ways that please my palate. Hmm sometimes I drink wheat grass shots, and I hate the taste.

Is there anything that you eat that you despise?

A few people said these things: oatmeal, flax seeds or oil, salmon, low-fat milk, cooked greens and nuts.

Nuts? Who doesn't like nuts??!

I eat (blank)because it's good for me (but I don't really like it) | Serious Eats : Talk : Food and Drink

This makes me happy-so I'm posting it. White puffs of cotton candy are falling from the NYC sky. Otherwise known as snow.

...and I'm headed out in it. Is it weird that I am excited about that?

Want to see more pretty snowy scenes? Check out my Iceland Travel Adventure.

Headline: Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas.

Call me crazy, but I do not think that charging a tax on non-diet soda is going to solve the obesity crisis.

Nor will it solve our economy. This tax is also not fair. Plenty of healthy people consume a few regular sodas once in a while. If you want to add an all-soda tax, while still being silly, at least it is fair. The non-diet soda tax discriminates against those who do not like or cannot consume artificial sweeteners. Surveys show that 1 in 10,000 individuals have a condition known as phenylketonuria, and cannot metabolize the phenylalanine found in some diet sodas.

I am not a big soda fan myself. I know that many recent studies have shown that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda can cause sugar cravings, headaches, digestion disruption and bloating. Not to mention the fact that while FDA approved, diet soda is essentially a sugar-chemical containing beverage. And the less chemicals we put into our bodies, the better.

My advice to the government? I am less in favor of taxing unhealthy-minded people and more in favor of giving positive recognition to healthy individuals. I don't know how, but if the government is really concerned about the public's well being, they might look into a little positive feedback to go along with their new tax ideas. Taxing soda is a quick fix, that I do not believe really fixes anything in the long term.

Read the complete story in the NY Daily News:

Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas

12/16/08 10:11 AM

Curious about soda-free options? Learn about kombucha!

This past weekend, my husband and I took an evening outing to the 'festive holiday' parts of New York City. Rockefeller Center, to check out the tree and lights. Radio City, to watch the tourists emerge from shiny yellow cabs and crowd themselves into the 8pm show of the Radio City Christmas Show. And the we walked to Bryant Park to watch the herds of evening ice skaters tumble and giggle as they glided across the crowded white chalky ice. We had planned to join in, but decided to come back on a weeknight and avoid the crowd.

I had one question in mind to answer: How is the holiday spirit holding up this season?

I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

Cheerful couples holding hands. Tourists taking photos with the wandering troupes of Holiday Elmo's and Santa Clause characters. Smiling kids with wide eyes and rosy faces awe struck by the endless array of starlight and rainbow-colored lights twinkling; wrapped around proud holiday trees and strung across once corporate-seeming gray cement buildings. Everyone seemed to be cupping a warm latte, tea or cocoa (Starbucks of course) as they braved the chilly weather- not letting it keep them inside.

Lately, all I watch on TV is bad news. And all I read are crummy headlines crowding the front page of the newspaper (or nypost.com, haven't read a paper in ages). Yet even amidst the dreariness, I was greeted by a warm front of cheery faces and optimistic outlooks from the strollers this holiday night.

Holiday Spirit report direct from Rockefeller Center NYC: Alive and well. Cheerful and perky with just a chance of swampy clouds hovering over the holiday lights. Those with their eyes open, will be able to find some cheer.

Final word: You make your own holiday memories. Make sure you make some happy ones.

Browse holiday season recipes: Christmas Cookie Round-up

A common question I get, what is in season now??

Here is a great resource from Cooking Light: In Season Now?

Some of my faves..

WINTER
citrus
kale
mushrooms
cranberries
pomegranate
root veggies

FALL
apples
pumpkin
squash

SUMMER
plums
peaches
leafy greens
watermelon
berries

SPRING
berries
leeks
peas
leafy greens

We all love cake and sweets and all those yummy sort of dessert things, right? Well check out this inspiring article..

The children in this cafeteria shovel corn kernels on their sporks and munch on tuna sandwiches on wheat.

I'm impressed.

But does it work? And at what cost to "childhood joys," like ice cream parties?

My favorite quote from this story: "Browns Mill fifth-grader Cori Bostic said she would prefer honeydew, watermelon or cantaloupe to cake anyway."A childhood without cookies, candy and rampant hot fudge sundae parties? Sounds sad doesn't it? Well, maybe not so sad at all. Maybe we CAN replace sugar-frosted birthday cupcakes with bowls full of tropical fruit salads, honey and fluffy fruit-filled strawberry-peach muffins. Side of coconut banana fruit smoothies? Doesn't sound that sad to me...

read more at CNN

Everyone loves Salted Caramel Apples, right? Well what about skipping the sugar part and just doing some salted apples? Sound weird? Try it!..

This is a thirty second, two ingredient recipe. So you have no excuse not to try it.

You will be shocked at how delicious this is.

Why is this the perfect after-work/after-school snack? ...it is by the way.

After a long day of work, unless you have been chugging Evian every half-hour, you are most likely a bit dehydrated.

(In winter months especially. You may not be sweating as much, but that cold weather huffing and puffing will leave you quite parched.)

Salt, is necessary for hydration.

This quick snack will give you a delicious crunch of hydrating sweet apples, and a salty boost you may be craving. Bag the chips and try this snack.

Salty Apples

1 large apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji varieties taste best)
1-2 teaspoon coarsely ground salt (Trader Joe's Sea Salt grinder works perfectly)

*salt should be thick crumbly, flaky bits. Traditional fine table salt is not the best option.

Assembly: Thickly slice apples into round slices. Sprinkle or grind salt over slices.

(Spritz of lemon juice is optional, keeps apples from browning)

Salted apples. Sounds simple, but very crave-worthy.

This recipe can also be modified to add a variety of fruit slices.
Other options: Pears, grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, papaya, mango, or kiwi.

For a party, set out a giant platter of fruit kabobs sprinkled with lemon juice and coarsely ground salt. Your guests will be quite pleased with this healthy yet interestingly addictive option.

Love apples: Check out all these Apple Recipes here on the Blog!

A new survey shows that adults are working more, playing less. Much less. Twenty percent less!

Wow, a twenty percent drop off in play time this year? That's harsh. I think 'play' time, whatever that may mean to you, is crucial to a productive day. When I take time to play, I find that I am much more happy, productive and creative minded at work.

Here's an idea. Make a list of twenty things that you do to play. Then over the next week try and get each of those activities in, just once!

Lets not let this trend of slacking on playtime. Even if times are indeed tough.

Here are a few playtime ideas: reading, cookie baking, painting, sports, taking a stroll without a destination, gardening, taking a bubble bath with extra bubbles, playing with your kids or pets, attending a movie, scrap-booking, crosswords, napping, photography, perusing a bookstore, yoga, attending a theater or musical show, dancing, or even meditating.

Hey, Madonna said it best, "..If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate...it would be alright!"

I have been vegan for seven years. Vegetarian for fifteen. I grew up in Santa Cruz, a few hours west of the central valley of California where "vineyards, orchards and fields produce 25% of America"s table food!"

It was easy to embrace plant-food. I now live in NYC. I am always shocked when someone scoffs at my diet. I don't understand the cynicism. Studies have shown that a plant-based diet is the healthiest. Asian cultures, who eagerly embrace plant-based meals, soy products and fish, have been shown to have the longest lifespan and vibrant longevity.

But the big question: why? Health is a factor. But that's not what keeps me eating vegan for a lifetime. There are plenty of unhealthy things I do from time to time.

The reason I embrace a vegan lifestyle is my love of animals. I don't like to expand upon that topic. It gets too political. I like to simply say that I love animals too much. Thats just the way I am wired.
I have do not have any negative feelings for meat-eaters, (like my husband enjoyed a Kobe-burger at the Miami Mandarin Hotel on our wedding day). In this country, we are free to choose our diet. Spam, raw oysters, tofu, chocolate, brussel sprouts, pigs-feet, truffles, parsley, or jackfruit. Food can get very political. But for my personal life, I only want to be free to be who I am, and let you be free as well.

About FoodRead the Article at HuffingtonPost