I am currently using a supermarket brand of laundry detergent, and I would like to switch to a brand without harsh chemicals and dyes. Any suggestions?
I often wonder how the dye- and fragrance-laden detergents actually clean clothes. Several years ago, I made the switch to using dye-free detergents and I have never looked back. Mainstream brands, such as All and Tide, produce laundry detergents that are free of added dyes and fragrances. Your health-food store should also carry some alternatives. […]
I’d like to start substituting wheat flour for white flour. I have tried it a few times, and the consistency turned out strange. Should I use more/less wheat flour when substituting?
The trick is to substitute whole wheat pastry flour for all-purpose white flour. Whole grain flours are naturally higher in gluten, the protein in wheat flour that causes baked products to be chewy and tough. Pastry flour contains less gluten than all-purpose flour. By using whole wheat pastry flour as a one-to-one replacement for all-purpose […]
I have heard that dark chocolate is healthy. Do you recommend eating dark chocolate everyday? How much is considered healthy?
It would be wonderful if chocolate were actually good for us—That way, we wouldn’t need to feel guilty polishing off a box of truffles! Cocoa beans do contain flavanols, which have been linked to blood vessel and cardiovascular health. The majority of chocolate consumed is actually low in flavanols because flavanols make chocolate bitter, exactly […]
Cool School Lunches
As you know by now, all parents have a different idea of what is healthy food and what is not. For years, you have had the opportunity to hand select and monitor what your child eats for lunch. Now it is time to test their ability. It is only natural for your child’s eyes to […]
Homemade Baby Food: A Fresh Start to Healthy Eating
Introducing solid foods is a very important step in your baby’s development and well-being. In fact, studies show that babies who are fed nutritious, healthy diets grow into stronger kids and better-adjusted eaters than those who are fed poor diets. Many parents don’t realize that making baby food at home is a simple and economical […]
Birds Prefer Organic
Organic farms in Great Britain attract more wildlife than nonorganic farms. A study funded by the British government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reported that organic farms in the UK had 109 percent more wild plants and 85 percent more plant species than did nonorganic farms. The farms attracted an average of 32% […]
Beware of Pesticides
If you still are not convinced about the wisdom of buying only organic food, you may wish to take a look at the latest studies on the world’s best-selling agricultural chemical, Roundup®. Roundup is the brand name for an herbicide whose main ingredient is glyphosate. According to a report in the June 2005 issue of […]
What is the Slow Food movement?
The Slow Food movement was founded in Italy in 1986 by Carlo Petrini and is an international association that works to combat the standardization of food and wine around the world. According to the Slow Food movement’s mission, “Slow Food believes the enjoyment of excellent foods and wines should be combined with efforts to save […]
Are all organic foods healthy?
Although I believe that organic foods are healthier than their conventional counterparts, not all organic foods are health supportive. In fact, my local health-food market has entire aisles dedicated to cookies and potato chips. When buying processed, packaged organic foods, it is still important to read labels as any processed foods may be loaded with […]
Is it okay to buy imported produce when fresh fruits and vegetables are not in season in my area?
While it is exciting to find bright, shiny nectarines in the middle of February, out-of-season fruits and vegetables may be more heavily sprayed and treated for more-consistent results and to survive shipping long distances. If the produce was not grown in the U.S., there is also a possibility that it was treated with a chemical […]
The Pumpkin and Friends
The pumpkin: a harbinger of happy times and one of the most welcome signs of fall. Pumpkins appear stacked up and rolling in various directions at farm stands, or may debut along with other squash at farmers’ markets. And, they will always mark the season's spookiest holiday, Halloween disguised grimaced or gawking on doorsteps across […]
Home Care: Tips from MaryJane Butters
Make Your Carpet SafeGood news: You can seal the carpet in your house with a three-step process using products that form a barrier to prevent outgassing. Carpets are built with nasty things like formaldehyde and 1,1,1 trichloroethane, which release an alphabet soup of unpronounceable compounds, most of which challenge your immune system. Many of these […]