Seasonal eating for spring simply involves eating produce that is currently in season, because this produce is at its peak in taste and nutrition. Also, by eating produce that is in season, you support local agriculture and minimize your carbon footprint, since the food isn't transported from distant locations. Seasonal Eating for Spring Spring produce is often referred to as "cool-season" crops because they begin to germinate in cooler soil and can endure low temperatures we

Today is the first day of spring and many of us are sick with colds and allergies.  Spring colds are different from winter colds, in that the mucus is thicker, and we may have achy muscles and joints (like the flu), swollen lymph nodes, and ear pressure.  So, if you're suffering with a spring cold or allergies, follow some of these suggestions. Try These Tips for a Spring Cold or Allergies Herbs and Spices Cook with lots of warm, pungent, and astringent herbs and spices to he

My grandmother was a housewife in the 1930s through the 1950s. Sometime during this period, she found a recipe for Irish bread in the Boston Globe ; but I’m not sure in which year she found it. However, her Irish bread was a favorite in our family. Since having to go gluten-free, I’ve tried to make it by substituting the flour with gluten-free flour, but it just doesn’t come out right. This is a heavy, dense bread to begin with, but it was much too heavy. This year, I decide

Kale is a healthy and nutritious plant food. It’s low in calories but high in vitamins, so it’s among the most nutrient dense foods. A cup of kale contains Vitamins A, B6, C, and K, manganese, calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium and more. Kale with raisins and toasted pine nuts is my favorite kale recipe. Kale with Raisins and Pine Nuts Recipe Ingredients: 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 2 cups water 3/4 pounds (6 cups) chopped kale 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons extra-virgi

The seasons are getting ready to transition again.  We’re preparing to leave the harsh, frigid winter for the warmth of spring.  In nature, everything will loosen up – the rivers will flow due to the melting snow, as well as the tree sap.  Our bodies will also try to loosen up and release excess fat and congestion.  So, if you feel congested, heavy, and sluggish, follow these self-care tips for March to help your body transition into spring later this month. Self-care Tips fo

February is American Heart Month! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the world's biggest killer is ischemic heart disease, accounting for 13% of the world's total deaths. So in honor of American Heart Month, let's take a look at twelve foods to incorporate into your diet for a healthy heart.   12 Foods for a Healthy Heart Berries Berries are superfoods! They deliver the phytonutrients you

In February, we're still experience cold weather, but we may also enjoy some warmer days here and there, pointing to the warmer weather that will be coming in spring. The days are noticeably longer now too. It's natural to want to slim down, rejuvenate, and refresh yourself in late-winter, so consider following some of these diet and lifestyle guidelines. February Guidelines Diet You may notice that your body naturally wants some lighter foods now, particularly green leafy

Sweet potatoes are considered a superfood.  They’re one of the most nutritious vegetables with lots of vitamins and minerals.  Sweet potatoes are loaded with antioxidants, which protect your body from free radicals, promoting gut health and brain health.  They’re high in fiber and complex carbs, so they may be an ideal food for those with blood sugar issues.  Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support your immune system and eye health

This nutritious and hearty lentil soup is an excellent high-fiber lunch option. As a high-fiber food, lentils offer a feeling of gratification and fullness, helping you stay satiated all afternoon. Fiber also reduces your risk of heart disease, helps lower blood pressure, regulates blood sugar, and helps protect against colon cancer. So, prepare a batch of this soup for lunch. Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe Ingredients 1 cup green or brown lentils  1 tablespoon olive oil (or ga

If you love garlic, then you’ll love this garlic-infused olive oil recipe. It’s great for so many recipes, such as stir-fries, sautés, roasted vegetables, mixed into mashed potatoes, home-made hummus, and salads.  Actually, for any recipe that calls for oil, I use my garlic oil. For those that love garlic but can’t eat it because of digestive issues, such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel, SIBO etc., and must follow a Low-FODMAP diet (FODMAP stands for F ermentable

According to US News, the Mediterranean Diet has been named the healthiest diet for the eighth year in a row, followed by the DASH Diet, Flexitarian Diet, and MIND Diet.  What these diets, or eating plans (I don't like the word "diet"), have in common is an emphasis on plant-based foods and limiting or avoiding refined grains, added sugars and highly processed foods.  Most importantly, they offer a flexible approach to eating without being restrictive. They're highly adaptabl

Have you ever had a bowl of oatmeal that looked like a gelatinous blob?  Well, there are a few simple tricks to making a rich, creamy bowl of oatmeal.      Creamy Oatmeal Tips You'll need to use steel cut oats or old-fashioned rolled oats; this doesn't work for instant oatmeal. If you're gluten-free, Bob's Red Mill food company offers gluten-free options. The amount of liquid is important.  You need three to four times the amount of liquid to dry oats; so, if you’re using a

On a chilly winter day, prepare a pot of this filling Tuscan White Bean Soup to keep cozy and warm. To make it vegetarian, simply leave out the sausage, or try my Mediterranean White Bean Soup recipe. Tuscan White Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil or garlic-infused olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced (omit if using garlic-infused olive oil) 1/2 large onion, diced 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 2 celery stalks, diced   1 pound ground Italian sausage 2 te

This creamy, coconut curry is gluten-free and vegetarian, so it's great for a meatless Monday. Or if you've been eating too much heavy, difficult-to-digest foods lately, this will give your digestive system a little break. The ingredients in this dish are very nutritious and wholesome. Chickpeas are high in fiber, and as a bean, help to reduce cholesterol, as studies have shown. Chickpeas also contain a higher amount of the amino acid, tryptophan, than other legumes, which me

“Sunshine in a bowl” – that’s what I think of when having butternut squash soup.  It’s the perfect fall/winter soup.  Roasting the squash, however, kicks it up a notch, because roasting gives the soup an earthy, caramelized sweet flavor.  Butternut squash is hearty and grounding.  It’s high in beta-carotene and alpha carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A; and vitamin A is important for the immune system, which may need a little boost right now.  The spices of cinnam

Pumpkin Bread was one of my favorite autumn foods growing up, which I still make in the fall, but now it's gluten-free. Gluten-free Pumpkin Bread Recipe Ingredients 1 can pumpkin or 15 oz. fresh pureed pumpkin 3 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 cup good quality vegetable oil or walnut oil 2/3 cups water 2 tsps. baking soda 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. each of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves 3 1/3 cups gluten-free flour, such as Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-free Flour 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 cu

I was making a recipe that called for poultry seasoning, when I realized I didn’t have any, so, I decided to make my own homemade poultry seasoning. This recipe is quick and easy, and you probably have all these herbs and spices in your pantry.   Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe Ingredients 4 teaspoons dried sage 3 teaspoons dried thyme 2 teaspoons dried marjoram 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (it seems strange to add nutmeg to

Welcome to November!  The cold, dry, windy air is with us and is characteristic of Vata dosha in Ayurveda. To counteract these qualities, we want the opposite characteristics of warm, moist, and grounded. To do so, follow some of these selfcare tips for November.   November Selfcare Tips Diet Include hearty whole grains, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Favor sweet and earthy root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squashes and potatoes. Be sure to eat

Whether you have heart disease, diabetes, or digestive issues, such as constipation or diverticulosis, you probably have been told to follow a high-fiber diet. Read on to learn about fiber's benefits, how much you need and how to get more fiber. Fiber's Benefits Dietary fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.  It has amazing benefits – it regulates bowel movements, feeds gut bacteria, reduces inflammation in the gut, balances cholesterol levels

Seasonal eating benefits you as well as the environment, so read below to learn about seasonal eating for this Fall. The Benefits of Seasonal Eating Every plant has a growing cycle, and when it reaches its growth maturity it’s harvested.  It is at this point that the plant offers its best nutritional value as well as flavor. Seasonal eating is the practice of consuming produce that is at its peak in flavor and nutrition.  Prior to the modern age, this was how people ate, i.e.