I personally love this time of year for a backyard barbecue. The weather is warm but not too hot yet, all the flowers are in bloom (unfortunately so are my allergies but you can't have everything) and the days are getting longer! Invite a few good friends, open a good bottle of wine and cook up some delicious food.

I'm always on the lookout for healthy but delicious food that I don't have to prepare. Sometimes you need a quick meal and there just isn't time to shop and cook! Recently I was given a gift card to a local place called Ginger Juice in Richmond, Virginia.

Many of us associate asparagus with the unpleasant aroma you smell when urinating after eating asparagus. This odor comes from a chemical called asparagusic acid which is only found in asparagus as you might have surmised.

I think we might be skipping spring and heading right into summer this week in Virginia. This kind of weather makes me think of cook-outs, time outdoors and of course the dreaded swim suit! I recently came across a recipe in a magazine that looked healthy and fancy enough to serve to guests.

I was listening to an interview with Kris Carr who is a plant-based author and filmmaker the other day and found myself very inspired by her words. The interviewer asked her, What is the most important thing to healing and well-being?"

Most of us know that in order to maintain a healthy diet we need to limit sugar. However, it is important to differentiate between natural and added sugar. Sugar that occurs naturally in a whole food such as fruit has fiber attached to it.

The Pistachio is a member of the cashew family. It’s a tree nut that originated in Central Asia and the Middle East, and is now largely produced in California and Mexico by over a dozen first, second, and third generation families.

It can be very hard to find chain restaurants that have healthy options. Jason's Deli may be one that you have overlooked thinking they serve the typical deli fare that is meat heavy and vegetable lite.

We are all aware of the dangers of eating processed foods but what we may not be aware of is that oils are the best example of a highly processed food.

Now I know what you are thinking! Radishes, not my thing! I, however, would like you to reconsider and take a look at radishes from a new angle

I have suspected for years that the convenient microwave popcorn bag I was eating and feeding to my children was probably not the healthiest choice. However, I recently came across some information regarding just how bad microwave popcorn is for your health.

Flavenoids are a group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that are responsible for the vibrant colors found in fruits and vegetables. They are powerful anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories and boost the immune system.

What, you may say! Cheesecake Factory? That place is notorious for calorie laden dishes that are anything but good for you. While that is true in some cases, Cheesecake Factory does offer some choices that are health promoting and delicious so check out this blog from a few years ago and put Cheesecake Factory back in your rotation of restaurants!

What is it?

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium or blue-green algae that has some pretty amazing health benefits.

Maybe you decided to cut back on food in the new year and lose a few of those pounds you put on over the holidays. If that is case, it is entirely possible that you also feel chronically hungry! There is one basic strategy that will help you feel full and satisfied without destroying the healthy eating plan you have adopted, EAT MORE! First let's talk about the science behind why this strategy works.

I haven't been able to turn on the television in the past two weeks without hearing some expert or another talk about the diet they are promoting. It is enough to drive a person mad! Many of us approach the new year as a way to change some bad habits to good ones and perhaps lose a little weight.

As I took a six-hour trip this weekend to North Carolina, I was reminded of how hard it is to eat in a healthy way on the go. I was constantly bombarded by signs for fast food that was anything but healthy.

When I tell people I eat a whole-food plant-based diet, I often get a worried look from people. They will say "all the vegans I've ever known have been sickly. Aren't you worried about things like anemia?"

Brazil nuts come from the Brazil nut tree found largely in the Amazon. The Brazil nut tree is one of the largest trees in the Amazon and produces 250 pounds of nuts a year. The Brazil nut tree can live more than 500 years and is used for its fruit as well as harvested for its timber.

It's the day after Christmas and many of us either ate too much the past few days, are at a family member's house and don't have access to a gym or perhaps both! I thought I would repost a blog that might come in handy about now!