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Go Viral With Your Garden
Tweet Share on Facebook December 14, 2012 CommentSpider webs are not the only webs that matter to your garden's success. The World Wide Web and the world of support it can garner matters too, especially if you are trying to recruit volunteers, get business sponsorships, and find much-needed resources.
Many community gardens already have a website, but how many are truly putting the power of social media to work for them? A blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube channel, and Pinterest board are all ways to tell your garden's story, attract members (and even the media), encourage donations, and connect with others near and far who can share everything from tools to seeds to suggestions. Even if your garden leaders don't do this, I can assure you that some of your garden's members or visitors are capturing what's going on in the garden and sharing it online. In fact, there's a strong chance there's a photo of you with a pitchfork flying around the Internet right now!
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Recipe for Health
Tweet Share on Facebook December 14, 2012 CommentI have previously mulled over the implications of treating health more like wealth. Today, I want to mull over the implications of treating health more like paella.
Don't worry—it will make sense in the end! If I may borrow from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, if it doesn't make sense, it's not yet the end.
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Morning Sickness Survival Guide
Tweet Share on Facebook December 13, 2012 CommentThe lovely Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is suffering from another bout of extreme morning sickness. Kate is dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition that causes extreme nausea, vomiting, and weight loss and sometimes requires hospitalization. And yes, as you've probably read, it can be a sign that she and Prince William are expecting twins. Goodness, I can already picture her pushing a pristine navy double pram around London!
Women like Kate have it extra rough, but most of use do experience some form of morning sickness, especially during the first trimester. In fact, morning sickness can actually hit you any time of the day. It's caused by a surge in pregnancy hormones, several of which are on the rise during early pregnancy, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), cholecystokinin, estrogen, and progesterone. Levels of hCG start to increase as soon as you become pregnant—it's hCG that turns that pregnancy test pink or blue. It's necessary for getting the embryo to successfully implant in your uterus, and it's also what makes you have to pee every half hour.
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Are Mobile Health Apps Helpful?
Tweet Share on Facebook December 13, 2012 Comment'Tis the time of year that many of us will receive gifts revolving around mobile technology. Whether it's the newest iPhone or iPad, or some other smart phone or tablet, those of us interested in health and fitness will likely start searching for related apps to download. This can be an overwhelming process—just consider the sheer number of apps that currently exist. There seems to be a new one every week.
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Healthy Holiday Drinks
Tweet Share on Facebook December 12, 2012 CommentThe holiday season is in full swing, and we want to indulge! Many of us look for healthy ways to satisfy our cravings for traditional pumpkin pie and gravy-laden mashed potatoes. But the holidays aren't just about what's on our plate. They are also about what's in our cup! (And no, I'm not just talking about alcohol).
The dry winter weather makes us more susceptible to dehydration, so it's important that we remember to drink enough fluids. Why not hydrate in the holiday spirit by indulging in these traditional favorites: hot chocolate, mulled cider, and chai tea. These drinks are typiclaly high in calories and sugar, but I've provided you with recipes that quench your desires (without being too devilish). Enjoy these treats whether you are solo, hosting a soiree, or having an intimate shindig!
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This Year, Make a New Year's Resolution Resolution
Tweet Share on Facebook December 12, 2012 CommentNo, that's not a typo in the title. I'm talking about a resolution you absolutely need to make about your actual New Year's resolutions. Perhaps with this "resolution resolution," you might actually follow through with your annualized best intentions.
Looking at the statistics, the majority of us tend to make New Year's resolutions. Last year the top resolution was, yup you guessed it, lose weight. That was followed by resolutions involving fitness, saving money, enjoying life, quitting smoking, helping others, falling in love, and spending more time with family.
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Looking Beyond the Latke
Tweet Share on Facebook December 12, 2012 CommentWho doesn't love a latke? As the official food of Chanukah, it is loved by Jews and non-Jews alike. It's crispy potato goodness—kind of like an entrée version of the potato chip. I love them with both applesauce and sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and I'll be making a big batch at my daughter's daycare this week.
Latkes are delicious, but what about other Chanukah foods? My husband and I often debate the merits of Jewish food. On the whole, he finds it bland, too tied to tradition, and lacking the grandeur and tastiness of Christian holiday foods. When it comes to things like gefilte fish, a chilled fish patty, often jarred in a gelatinous goop, it's hard to argue.
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Your Big, Fat, Gluten-Free Holiday
Tweet Share on Facebook December 11, 2012 CommentWith Thanksgiving now under our belts, the next hurdles of the seasonal indulg-a-thon are upon us. For those of us who must avoid gluten, the holidays can prove particularly challenging. To make sure 'tis not a season of digestive misery for all ye gluten-free friends and family, let's take a quick tour through some of the December food classics.
While my first instinct was to compile a laundry list of all the off-limits seasonal treats, I reconsidered that Scroogey approach. Instead, I offer the following list of gluten-free foods you CAN enjoy this holiday season ... without any of the requisite, dietitian commentary about fried foods, sugar, or calories. Consider this my holiday gift to you, and note that I reserve the right to resume aforementioned Scroogey commentary next week.
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How to Cope With Holiday Stress
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2012 CommentFor many of us, just hearing the word "holiday" can create anxiety and stress. We have little time to get a lot done, and it seems as if the year has just flown by.
With that in mind, here are five strategies to help you reduce your stress over the holidays.
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How to Use Glycemic Measures
Tweet Share on Facebook December 7, 2012 CommentI have long observed that food, or at times pseudo-food, is often garnished with far better food. In fact, the bright green curlicues of leafy greens and herbs (e.g., kale and parsley) are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Eat the garnish, skip the food—and you might just live forever!
But the way we garnish information about food is another matter altogether. Food for thought may start out quite wholesome, but get garnished along the way with a whole array of sales pitches and marketing distortions. The result can be rather unpalatable.
