Parents, grandparents, caregivers and anyone else involved in the life of a baby can tell you: feeding the little bundle of joy can get expensive! Breastfeeding is, naturally, one low cost way to make sure your baby gets the proper nutrition, but what happens once the little one begins eating solid foods? Just a quick glance at popular places to purchase premade baby foods like . . . more »

Want to liven up your snacks, lunch or just create a special treat? Have you ever thought of drying or dehydrating food at home? Many of us love the taste of a chewy piece of dried fruit, a savory bite of beef jerky, or the added crunch of dried seeds in a salad. Oftentimes, however, these types of goodies are expensive or loaded with added . . . more »

Anyone who spends time looking into popular trends in health and nutrition has probably heard about juicing. From promising to help you lose loads of weight, to cleansing your body to lowering cholesterol, juicing is a craze that often seems to travel into “cure-all” territory. While many of the claims about juicing have not been scientifically proven to be true, there are some benefits to . . . more »

Now that the weather is warming up, it’s time to clear the cobwebs off the barbecue and get to grilling! This fun outdoor cooking method offers up plenty of new opportunities for chefs to experiment with different flavors and techniques, but also has some health benefits as well. According to an article published by Botsford Hospital at Michigan State University, there are four major health . . . more »

Sometimes cooking something delicious and healthy after a long day of school, work or taking care of the family can be a real hassle. But before you reach for your phone to order pizza, why not plan ahead and make something everyone can enjoy in one of the handiest tools ever created for the kitchen: the slow cooker! Slow cookers (a.k.a. crock pots) are an . . . more »

I think we can all agree that some of the best, most flavorful food in the world originates from the multitude of cuisines found in Asia and its surrounding islands. From Chinese to Japanese to Thai food and more, the list goes on and on of delicious culinary treasures that anyone regardless of their nationality or ethnicity can enjoy. The only problem? Though generally quite . . . more »

Who doesn't remember that joyful feeling we experienced as a child opening a fresh Twinkie, finishing off a circus train shaped box of animal crackers or licking your fingers to get the last little bits in a bag of Corn Nuts. Those special snacks always inspire a nostalgic feeling for days past, and, unfortunately, remind us of how lacking in nutrition our treats really were. . . . more »

It seems like going gluten-free is the new thing to do in the world of diets and nutrition, but for those of us who suffer from Celiac's Disease, gluten sensitivities or wheat allergies, it's more than just a fad. But with all of the gluten-free products available out there, where do you even start if you're just beginning on your life without wheat? If your . . . more »

February 14th might be the day of love, but for so many of us it seems to be more like the day of indulging on candies, cookies, cake and chocolate. Want to celebrate Valentine's Day without ruining your diet? We have some books that can help you! Check out the list below for some healthy alternatives to the traditional Valentine's Day goodies and reserve your . . . more »

We are all on the hunt for delicious, healthy and quick meals to take with us to work or school instead of the classic (but often boring) sandwich or leftovers. Well search no more: try salad in a jar! This handy idea is becoming more and more popular, and is an easy way to prepare tasty and nutritious meals for the whole week. The internet . . . more »

Everyone knows that many animals survive by foraging, searching for edible plants, berries, mushrooms, nuts and seeds, etc. in their habitat. But did you know that foraging can be a fun and beneficial hobby for us humans, too? Foraging has a long history in the bay area, with groups meeting regularly to celebrate nature's wild growing gifts and to promote sustainability of our landscapes. For . . . more »