When I was growing up, I reveled in candy-coated cereals. My mom let me eat whatever kinds I wanted, which included technicolor Rainbow Brite crisps and the ultra-sugary Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms. It’s a wonder my head didn’t explode with all that sugar running through my energetic little body!

Sending your kids off to school hopped up on morning sweets is not the best way to start the day, but that’s what a lot of parents do. Cereal is quick and convenient, but unfortunately not too nutritious. A recent study on kid’s cereals found that many of them have as much sugar as a glazed donut. So what’s a busy parent to do?

Check the labels. Shop for cereals that are low in sugar, high in fiber, and preferably organic.
Buy a plain cereal but sweeten it up with cut fruit or a bit of agave nectar.
Go granola! Oats are very healthy, but make sure the granola is baked and sweetened without refined white sugar. Bits of dried fruit make it even more delicious.
Make your own! Here’s an easy granola recipe:

4 cups rolled oats, wheat, or barley (any combination) 
1/2 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup honey, maple syrup, or a agave nectar
1/4 cup cooking oil (I like coconut oil for the flavor)
1 teaspoon vanilla, orange and/or other extract
3/4 cup dried fruits of your choice (raisins, papaya, coconut flakes, etc)
1/2 cup nuts (walnuts, ...Read More

Tasty, high in protein, low-fat, and inexpensive. For years, tuna was a top choice for a healthy meal. Then came news of fishermen catching (and killing) dolphins in their nets, and excessive mercury being ingested into our bodies.

Thanks to organizations like The Marine Stewdship Council which ...Read More

This is my favorite season, late summer. I recall the dimming and faint sound of crickets as their time comes to a close and other sounds of nature simply just seem to be slowing down and becoming more still. Leaves are fullest and the wind captures this heaviness. Gardens look different, fruit and vegetables are abundant and some are even rotting ...Read More

In elementary school one of my favorite lunches was Oscar Mayer bologna on white Wonder Bread with the ends cut off and a can of ...Read More

Yikes! The guests are early and knocking at the door, dinner is an hour away, and you forgot about hors d’oeuvres. If you don’t want low blood sugar and lackluster conversation, you’d better feed your invites a little something. Here are some fast, simple, healthy appetizers for the last minute, using ingredients you’ve already got ...Read More

A few of you DIYer’s out there have been clamoring for a kombucha recipe, but I’m merely a connoisseur and haven’t been making this living tea myself. As it happens, I live in an eclectic little community, and wouldn't you know my neighbor Dillon has been making the stuff for years. She swears it’s easy and low maintenance. I present to you ...Read More

Who needs soda, with its health-eroding sugar per serving and corrosive phosphoric acid and nerve-wrecking caffeine?  As a mom, I feel it is crucial for me to provide tasty, nutritious drink alternatives to my kids (and myself).

Lacto-fermented beverages sometimes called kefir sodas and ...Read More

 New research from Virginia Commonwealth ...Read More

A lot of things are called “nature’s candy", but the date really is. Sweet, luscious, just a bit gooey – could it get any better than that? Actually, it does. With calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, plus a range of vitamins and amino acids, dates make ...Read More

Keep your party glowing late into the night with these rechargeable LED bowls and vases. They look sexy, and guests can find their way to the asparagus and ...Read More