produce

These days it seems everyone from Gwyneth to your Dad is pushing the benefits of fresh juice. Perhaps you've tried a juice cleanse yourself or maybe you are on the other end of the spectrum and the sight of the "green stuff" makes you ill. I'm certainly not a health care professional nor a dietitian but what I've found when it comes to juicing is... moderation is key. (Duh?!) Here are 5 reasons to get your juice on, plus why too much of a good thing ain't always a good thang.

Spring is almost here and it's time to consider where you'll get your local spring and summer produce. Community supported agriculture groups (CSAs) are one of the best ways! CSAs are an efficient means to get your produce directly from a local farm and cut out the middle man (grocers.) I love implementing the farm to table concept in my own kitchen, and have discovered lots of new veggies and fruit via CSA programs (rhubarb, swiss chard, and purple peppers to name a few!) Discover local CSA options after the jump.

It finally feels like spring! The warmer weather has my body craving seasonal fruits and veggies that feel like a treat after the long winter. You really can get delicious produce in the Philadelphia region that doesn’t have a ridiculous carbon footprint. (New Jersey tomatoes anyone? ) Here’s some of what’s in season in the Northeast for Spring:

Thanksgiving is all about two things: 1. Giving thanks, being grateful , reflecting on all we have. 2. The food! Let's focus on the latter for a moment, and talk about how we can celebrate this Thanksgiving's feast in truly green fashion. Here's 4 simple ways:

A highlight of my week is picking up produce from my CSA share. I consider it a culinary challenge to base my meals around what's in the box each week. Furthermore, I love that the produce doesn't have to travel far to make its way to my table. But, when Fall rolls around I recognize that there is perhaps a more eco-friendly way to get my fruit - pick it.

Now that we've revealed the Dirty Dozen, it's time to reveal the "Clean 15", or produce that's OK to buy non-organic. Most often, fruits & veggies that have "thick skins" tend to be safe for consumption. Here they are, ranked starting from lowest in pesticides:

Happy Earth Day everyone! On this celebratory day I thought I’d recap some of the simplest things you can do year-round to help the earth. Longevity and health are key – and there are choices we can make each day to do our part. Here’s four easy areas to greenify: