One of the very first steps to eating more healthy is getting digestion on track.  To get started,  first take a good look at how you feel after you eat.  This will give you some idea about how well you are digesting your food. How we eat our food is just as important as what [...]

I’m a huge home-body. My apartment is, for me, an oasis from the rest of the world, a place where I can relax. Many of us who live in busy cities have no choice but to walk around all day, breathing in unavoidable toxins from pollution, exhaust fumes, that weird steam that comes out of [...]

I’ve been told this is the best smoothie I’ve ever made! This ended up being dinner for my 4 year old the other night. After making 3 different dinners trying to get him to eat something (I know they say not to do that but I kept thinking he had to be starving, and I [...]

I wonder sometimes just how many chemicals the average person is exposed to on a daily basis. Not to bum you out, but it is kind of overwhelming when you think of everything from just the smell of walking down a city street, to your “new car smell” to your freshly painted office to your [...]

Happy Holidays! This time of year brings on tons of fun, but also stress. Whether it’s money issues, family situations, work overload, overscheduling, or just simply too much to do, most of us find it hard to not be a little wiped out in the month of December. Right now I’m working on not getting [...]

I first made this about a year ago, just after I bought Laurie David’s The Family Dinner, Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids One Meal at a Time (which is now one of my favorite cookbooks!) This recipe is from the book, which I highly recommend because it offers so much more than recipes. [...]

It was one of those nights when I came home starving and without a plan for dinner.  The last thing I felt like doing was shopping, and I was too impatient to wait for take out.  I had some things in the fridge and really wanted to use them up.  So, I  made this without [...]

The summer almost always goes really fast, too fast.  Then I look at my my daughter Claire who just started 2nd grade, and I realize it’s not just the summer that goes fast, years FLY by once you have a kid.  It seems we as adults stop growing and watch as our kids (and/or other [...]

Recently I attended a training at Omega in Rhinebeck NY called Off the Mat, Into the World, with Seane Corn, Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling, three of the most inspiring, amazing, trail blazing women I’ve ever studied with.  It was a workshop devoted to service in the world and conscious activism, identifying our own traumas [...]

I love this recipe.  I just made it tonight.  I happened to have a bag of pre-shredded cabbage from Trader Joes and wanted to use it up.  In the past I’ve used whole cabbages and if you get a small one it takes no time to slice yourself if you have a good sharp knife.  [...]

I love to try new foods, and I often go through phases with things I love to eat.  What I was really into eating a year ago is very different from what I’m into now.  Things change based on how often I’m able to cook at home, who I’m eating with, what’s in season, and [...]

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a sweet treat on occasion. Some of us, though, are eating sugar more than just occasionally. We can certainly live without refined sugar….or can we? It’s everywhere –in most anything packaged, including drinks, soups, breads, in a lot of things you wouldn’t even consider sweet. Every celebration involves [...]

Miso soup is one of the quickest, most delicious soups you can make at home. And miso, (in case you didn’t already know) has plenty of amazing benefits. For starters, it’s extremely effective in reducing the toxic effects of radiation, smoking, and air pollution. Here are some other great things about miso: 1. Helps fight [...]

The past few months I had good intentions of getting out and doing my runs outside, bundled up in my layers. In the past I would have been really into doing that, but this year with all the snow and ice I opted out. Exercising in winter is really important, I believe, for staying healthy [...]

Hi everyone! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve written. It’s been a killer winter here in NYC and I’ve been busy trying to entertain my kids while we’ve been snowbound! We’ve been busy doing lots of crafts, games, movies, and cooking. One of the biggest challenges I’m having this winter is exercise. [...]

Cleansing is a pretty popular thing this time of year, as it should be.  It’s the beginning of a new year, time to shed old stuff you don’t want to bring forward with you, and to make new habits, changes and improvements.  The thing is, we often have great intentions and visions for ourselves, resolve [...]

It’s that time of year again, the ramp-up to the holidays begins, and we finally got around to turning the clocks back. Shorter days, less light, and it’s dark by 5pm. At least that’s the case here in NYC. Flu season usually happens after a few months of short, dark days, and lots of sugar [...]

I heard about “oil pulling” about 3 weeks ago. When I googled it, I found out first of all that it is not new, and secondly there were all sorts of claims that it “pulls” toxins from your body. The great results that people reported included everything from relief from sensitive teeth and gums (which [...]

My kids have been excited for Halloween since school started almost 2 months ago. The costumes, decorations, pumpkin picking, carving and eating, and of course candy has been all the rage as we quickly approach the big day. It’s not ideal, but let’s face it, lots of candy is hard to avoid at Halloween. But [...]

I love quinoa! I love it so much that I hardly ever even do anything interesting to it, I love it the way it is, just plain cooked quinoa. For a while there I was really into it, eating it with almost every single meal. My favorite way was with steamed or sauteed kale, and [...]

With the quick change in weather to instant autumn (it seems) I know I can’t be the only one who’s got the sniffles!   It’s like, I somehow don’t appreciate when my sinuses feel nice and clear until I wake up one day all stuffed up feeling like my head was stuffed with cement.  It only [...]

I’ve had several people ask me some interesting questions about making changes in their life in terms of eating and exercise. I’ve been thinking lately about what it is that prevents people from making the decisions and taking the actions that make them feel good. Not too long ago I remember hearing someone say, “Most [...]

Have you ever heard someone talking about how Pilates can “lengthen” muscles? I’ve seen many a body transform with Pilates. And while I know that it’s impossible for muscles to actually lengthen, I get it why some people say that. Personally, when I began doing Pilates I noticed I felt less aches and pains. That’s [...]

I do a fair amount of traveling with my family. We took a 4 hour road trip from NYC to State College PA last month, and more recently we were in Fire Island and upstate NY on vacation. I love road trips! As long as the weather is good, the ipod is updated with great [...]

In this post, I address common questions about colonics by interviewing colon hydrotherapist, Janice Zwail. She addresses the benefits, contraindications and how it’s done. All the questions you wondered about but didn’t know who to ask!

I finally found a tofu recipe that everyone likes and that you can’t screw up! I found it in the Kripalu Cookbook. You don’t need to cook the tofu, so it’s quick and easy to make, and it tastes so good even my 6 year old likes it. The last time I made it it, [...]

Probably one of the simplest changes I’ve ever made was to drink a big glass of lemon water first thing in the morning. When I first began doing this years ago, I couldn’t believe the difference I felt in my energy and alertness early in the morning. You probably already know it’s important to drink [...]

Raw foods and/or greens do not have to be boring! How you “dress” your food is so important, it can make or break a dish. I love dressings on quinoa, veggies, greens, as a dip, or even a spread. There’s usually some oil in dressings, which provides some healthy fat, and you can even blend [...]

Greens are great for so many reasons. I know they are not the first choice for many of us, but they are SO packed with nutrition. And by greens I’m talking dark, green, leafy veggies like kale and collard greens, swiss chard and spinach, even escarole. Here’s a few good reasons to eat them, as [...]

I’ve been making this extremely fiber rich smoothie for breakfast lately. Many of us don’t get enough fiber. Fiber is so important because it helps keep your bowels moving regularly (a good thing, right?), lowers blood cholesterol and helps with losing weight. That’s why I wanted to share this breakfast smoothie, since it’s a quick [...]

Last Thursday, April 15, I had the pleasure of being one of several judges at the 2nd annual Teen Iron Chef Invitational in Brooklyn NYC! This event was held at the Urban Assembly School of Music and Art, and was hosted by FamilyCook Productions and Dr. Oz’s Healthcorps. This cook-off, which brought teens from all [...]

I’ve been whipping up smoothies all week since I last posted, experimenting with all kinds of greens and fruits, mixing and concocting and blending and drinking. I basically throw in whatever fresh greens or fruit I have around. A banana or apple is great to add just enough sweetness to cut the bitter “green” taste, [...]

I love a green juice. Really I do. But greens in a smoothie? I wasn’t sure until I recently came across a book called “Green for Life” by Viktoria Boutenko. Viktoria is a long time raw food enthusiast who healed herself and her family from multiple illnesses with raw food. She recommends blending lots of [...]

Going green can be really easy, but even I don’t always remember these small ways to help reduce our impact on the earth. But every little bit helps, and it’s the little things that add up to the big results. So if your home watching the news wondering what you can do to help solve [...]

I love food, and I’m obviously quite fascinated by how different things affect our health. For years now eating organic food has been something that I’ve just been really passionate about. It may sound really hokey and corny, but to me organic food tastes more delicious, digests better, and I feel good about feeding it [...]

This is a busy time of year, and it’s likely the last thing on your mind (unless you’re already in a routine) is when you might start an exercise program.   But New Year’s resolutions are just waiting to be made in a few weeks!  During my years as an exercise trainer, many people have come [...]

When I bought the book Baby Greens: A Live Food Approach for Children of All Ages by Michaela Lynn and Michael Chrisemer, N.C., I was looking for some good ways to get more vegetables into my kids’ diet. They seemed to prefer raw veggies as opposed to cooked anyway. So far this is the first [...]

Garlic-Chili Flax Chips By now you know fruit and cut up vegetables are healthy snacks. But what about when only the crunchy, salty, tangy taste of a chip will do satisfy your craving?  As a crunchy food lover, I know the importance of a good chip and dip!  The thing is, unless you are really [...]

How often do you really eat a good breakfast….really? Of all the meals, it’s probably the easiest to skip because we usually eat it on the run if at all. “Breakfast” literally “breaks the fast” from when you last ate the night before, but it also jump starts your metabolism, helps you sustain energy and [...]

I recently saw the movie “Food Matters” and was blown away by what I learned. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who really wants to take responsibility for their health, and have the most concious, healthy, ALIVE life possible. What we eat DOES matter, and unfortunately the majority of people (especially in western medicine) [...]

It seems that more people these days are not only noticing, but experiencing the very real connection between the mind and body. Any modality that increases awareness that helps to prevent injuries is a very valuable, since we often do not even realize how much tension we create in our bodies through stress. A friend [...]

We all want our kids to be healthy, but (I’m a mom too, so I know) we can get into ruts where we slack off a little here and there, and next thing you know, the kids are not eating so great. Here are some tips and things that have been working for me lately. [...]

When was the last time you cleaned out your basement? Or that drawer filled with junk in your kitchen? Even the neatest among us has a cluttered spot somewhere! Spring is a time for everything new, clean, and fresh….but anytime is a good time to refresh your home by getting rid of old stuff. How [...]

I actually asked my friend Jen Gatz, an amazing athlete and coach if she would mind writing a few tips for those of us fair weather runners who go gangbusters at the first sign of spring and wind up either burnt out or injured in just a few days. Here’s what she had to say: [...]

Most people do the best they can to get enough sleep. It’s not easy as most of us are busy with work, families and kids, as well as travel and social activities. If you find yourself sometimes burning the candle at both ends, go for quality over quantity. Here are some ways to get deeper, [...]

Green Foods The power of green plants in healing has been recognized throughout history. Many indigenous peoples, and all mammals except modern humans, live primarily on grasses and green plants especially for healing and balance. In the past thirty years, a number of green food supplements have become popular, two of which are known as [...]

As a mom of a 3 year old I know the importance of doing the old “Oh, that was your idea!” routine. (At least I don’t think I’m the only one that has to do this!) Especially when it comes to mealtimes and snacks. I must admit lately I’ve gotten into a bit of a [...]

If you are just beginning to use herbs and spices for the first time, start out by just buying a few to start—anywhere from 5 to 10 that you think you might enjoy and would like to learn more about. If you can go somewhere that sells fresh herbs or to a health food store [...]

The Pilates method was created by Joe Pilates with aspects of many other types of physical activity in mind: yoga, acrobatics, Tai Chi, and gymnastics, to name a few. However the main thing that makes Pilates unique and different as compared to other styles of exercise is the fact that there are several specific guiding [...]

Anyone who knows me has heard me say this more than once: Pilates is like learning a foreign language. Just as you wouldn’t expect to know German or Chinese after just one class, you can’t expect to have mastered the Pilates method after only one or two sessions. It sometimes takes several sessions to just [...]