If you're like most people, you'll probably find yourself attending or hosting a Super Bowl party next Sunday. And regardless of whether you know a down from an end zone, you'll almost certainly be surrounded by food. Super Bowl Sunday represents the essence of unhealthy over-consumption — second only to Thanksgiving. The National Chicken Council estimates that more than a billion wings, or 90 million pounds, are consumed over the weekend! And on top of that, 15 million tons of potato chips. That's some serious eating during the big game. Part of eating and living healthfully is also knowing …

We’ve had more than our share of snow so far this winter and it's only January. Here in Westchester County, my fellow homeowners are sick and tired of clearing the driveways and walkways. There’s got to be a better way to do it without breaking your back or your wallet! Here’s a run down on the pros and cons of snow removal. Snow Blowers can be useful in deep snow, but they are not cheap. It costs hundreds of dollars for a good one. But they burn gas and kick out exhaust that isn’t good for winter lungs. They are downright dangerous. There is a risk of serious injury with snow blowers. Last …

My personal mantra for the winter months is: Eat less, Sleep more. Do less, Rest more. Look outside, all of nature is slowed down or asleep. Even the squirrels aren’t scrambling around. We are part of nature, we should take it slow too. Contrary to popular belief, there is not really a “season” for colds and flu. The viruses that cause these illnesses do not simply fly into town for flu season, they are here all along!  The reason we succumb to colds and flu at this time of year is that we are generally run down from too much holiday craziness, over-indulging on food and not getting enough …

There's something that sustainable food advocates like myself tend to gloss over when discussing eating: winter. Eating local, seasonal food is great in the summer, but what about when there's snow on the ground? Many area farmer's markets are closed and the amount of local food in stores is minimal (though Gossett's in South Salem and TABLE Local Market are open) and the  If you're prepared and smart enough to have preserved or canned your own food for the winter, or signed up for a winter CSA, things are looking pretty good. Unfortunately, that's not the case for most of us. But there is a …

Two big pieces of food related federal legislation were voted into law last week during the lame duck session of Congress. My work as a school food activist over the past decade has forced me to learn more than I every really wanted to know about how our government works. Its not always simple, quick or easy to create new laws that will protect our health and the health of our kids. Both of these pieces of legislation have been quite a wild ride. School Food: This week Congress passed the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act", also known as the child nutrition reauthorization (CNR) bill.  This bill…

As if we didn't have enough to worry about in December, another thing that always seems to creep up this time of year is the real vs. artificial Christmas tree debate. For a "green" do-gooder, this can be a difficult question to tackle: chop down a living, carbon-sucking tree just for a few weeks of enjoyment, or buy a fake one that's full of the detestable polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? On the one hand, cutting down a tree (or purchasing a pre-cut one) supports local business and agriculture. According the the National Christmas Tree Association, there are over 15,000 Christmas tree farms that …

Chances are you will have a lot to get rid of after your Thanksgiving dinner. These are all compost-friendly: From the kitchen: Coffee grounds and filters Used tea bags Eggshells Corn cobs Fruit and vegetables Breads that you can't use or get anyone to take home Nutshells left over from that delicious stuffing Cotton and wool rags that you use to avoid wasting paper towels Paper towels and paper napkins also can be composted along with… Shredded paper bags. Next, peruse the living room for these compost-able items: Fire place ashes Black and white (not color!) newspaper Fur from your cat (or …

If you've ever been to a store, watched television or opened a magazine, you've probably seen food advertising in action. It's nearly impossible to escape, and almost as difficult to understand the subtle complexities of how it works. But Dina Wilson, a holistic health coach, believes that knowledge is power. That's why she gave a presentation on Tuesday at the Katonah Village Library entitled: "How the Food Advertising Industry is Affecting Our Health." Although the crowd was thin, the ideas were big and the suggestions helpful. Wilson began by describing some of the general techniques used …

Halloween has passed, Turkey day is around the corner, and your Jack O'Lantern sitting on your front porch is not getting any younger. No amount of botox can fix that sagging shriveling smile.  It's time to say goodbye to old Jack! Don't send your pumpkin off to Peekskill to be burned! That's where all the garbage you put out on the curb goes. No wonder air quality in Westchester County gets bad grades by the American Lung Association.  All non-recycled waste travels up to Waste Management's Waste to Energy facility in Peekskill. While its great they're producing electricity, its not so great…

Between energy, water, and garbage, the kitchen is probably the most wasteful room in any house. But in my opinion, it's the best. So what are some easy ways to make it a more efficient, less wasteful room without spending thousands on new Energy Star appliances or installing solar panels on the roof? Buy Quality CookwareYou don't need to throw out every pot and pan you own and spend a fortune on a new set, but next time you're in the market for a skillet, make the investment in a quality piece. Poor quality cookware doesn't last very long (maybe a few years at most until that Teflon coating …

Halloween is our country's second biggest consumer event—only the Christmas season is bigger. We spend millions of dollars on plastic-wrapped polyester costumes, cheap plastic decorations and so much more. When it comes down to waste, Halloween is a big mess. Most of our goodies end up in the landfill or, here in Westchester, incinerated in Peekskill.  The majority of the products we buy are made from petroleum and manufactured thousands of miles away in China. Our disposable culture is catching up to us as cheap oil and space in the landfills starts to run low. There's gotta be a better way …

You may have heard about the uproar over a newly developed genetically engineered (GE) salmon, mockingly referred to as "Frankenfish," that has been deemed safe for human consumption and is nearing approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The farm-raised salmon is engineered to be ready for market in only 18 months instead of the typical three years. If approved, it would represent the first commercially available GE animal product.There are some serious concerns with this that have been raised by advocates over recent weeks that are worthy of consideration. First, it appears the …

As autumn greets us with cooler weather, there are plenty of things to look forward to this upcoming season. The common cold and the flu, however, are not some of them. But if you find yourself coming down with a cold over these next few months, rather than running to the medicine cabinet, try heading for the kitchen cabinet instead.Hippocrates was on to something when he said: "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Although many people choose to ignore it, what we eat is probably the most important determinant in our health and well-being. Many people have spent …

I'll be the first to admit that I have often relied too heavily on labels to guide my food choices. Before I became more deeply involved in sustainable food, I was stubbornly focused on the words "organic" or "free-range," and just seeing them on a label or sign were enough to satisfy my questions and concerns. In the grand scheme of things, there's nothing wrong with that. The purpose of any sort of labeling is to provide us with a quick reference point when we don't have the time to look deeper. But in some cases, those words I so fervently clung to have become marketing tools, purged of …