Celebrate World Oceans Day
No doubt ... it's a dire time for the world's oceans. But on Tuesday June 8th, World Oceans Day, stop to celebrate what we have and take steps towards a healthier future.
nourish yourself all week
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thursday giveaway
You know Clif Bar. Well these tasty bags, like grown-up versions of trail mix, are made by the same peeps (Gary and Kit). Enter to win a bag of their Smoked Paprika Almonds!
Each Monday’s Nibbles to Noodle packs simple tweaks, put into practice by a tasty recipe, that collectively add up to sustainable change. So whether you’re looking to eat healthier, with a cleaner conscience, or just enjoy your meals more, these little nibbles will help you start off your week on the right bite.
Recent articles in Nibble to Noodle:
Love Your Veggies
A few years back, I interviewed Mollie Katzen—the vegetable guru—for a profile in Prevention Magazine and she spoke about a concept that really resonated with me. She talked about teaching to love vegetables rather than just telling people to eat more of them and—flash—I realized that the shift from ‘gotta do’ to ‘want to do’ was precisely when everything changed for me.
Make Flavor with a Pan Sauce
I remember the first time I learned what “fond” was. I was in a kitchenware store in New Orleans and Chef Paul Prudhomme stopped by to give an impromptu cooking class. He sautéed some chicken with a spice mix and then picked up the pan and pointed to all the gunk glued to the bottom. “That’s the good stuff.” He chuckled. “That’s where the flavor comes from.” From that day on I stopped fretting when my sautés stuck.
Look at Your Labels
Alison’s piece last week on egg labels got me thinking about how confusing it can be to evaluate foods. So I thought I’d distill some solid rules of thumb to help you choose wisely when in the packaged aisles.
Get a New Grain: Quinoa
You’ve probably heard about quinoa at some point by now—in a magazine, by a chef on a show. But is it really up to the hype? In a word: Yes.
Understand Ecosystems
In this age of green, the term ecosystem gets tossed around quite a bit--from technology to tide pools. But it’s an important concept to grasp, as in really understand, when talking about creating a sustainable food system.
Go Slow
It’s March first and, maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the year is already zooming by. Ironically, well before the year began I had slated March to be a time when we slowed down here on Nourish Network. Not in the sense of fewer posts or reigned in momentum, but in terms of taking a big breath and diving deeper. Into why fresh, seasonal sustainably-farmed, -caught and -raised food tastes better and is better for our bodies and the earth. Into how our communities are strengthened and nourished when we choose to eat these foods (and, by contrast, are depleted when we don’t). Into where the choices we make at the grocery store, as isolated as they may seem, really do have an impact on things like national health care; global warming; the obesity crisis and hunger in developing nations.
Get Your Flax Straight
It seems talk about flax—both flax oil and ground flaxseed—heats up and cools down at various intervals. There’s no question, flax is an incredibly nutritious food. But no matter what the buzz of the moment, it’s important to understand that flaxseed and the oil pressed from those seeds bring different benefits to our bodies.
Change Your Oil
One of the most frequent questions I get is, “which oil am I supposed to use for what?” My answer is a combination of unwavering advice and “it depends.” Here’s a guide to choosing wisely in all circumstances—from grocery store shelf to pan on the stove.
Be Blessed
Just about every culture spanning the globe partakes in some sort of thanksgiving benediction before consuming their food. Thornton Wilder once said, “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” And in that way, the act of pausing to give thanks for a meal is a blessing in and of itself.
Nourish Yourself in the New Year: Make a Night of It
In this month’s theme of giving you tools and practical strategies for eating smarter throughout the year, this one is low-hanging fruit; a super-easy step that will radically simplify your meal planning. Rather than start from scratch each week with what you’re going to make, designate two or three nights as themes. The beauty of this approach is that it allows you to structure your meal planning while still leaving you open to creative interpretation. For instance, I’m not starting from scratch when deliberating what to make on a Thursday night; I already know I’ll be making seafood. But that could be as varied as Curried Mussels or Blackened Catfish or Barramundi with Shallots and Chile.
Nourish Yourself in the New Year: Love Your Lists
Originally, I was just going to write about keeping a par stock list to keep track of your (fabulously efficient) pantry. But then I looked around my own kitchen and realized I have three lists working synergistically to help me keep the basics well-stocked and use what I have on hand. Here’s how I use them and how they work together.
Nourish Yourself in the New Year: Build a Healthy Pantry
Let’s be honest. Come 5:30, how many of us throw open the fridge and hope something will shout “I’M YOUR DINNER!”? Then, disheartened, we close the door and resort to pizza or take-out or Lean Cuisine . . . again. Having a well-stocked pantry can help you break that cycle by giving you the ability to transform whatever looks back at you from the fridge into a wholesome, home-cooked meal. Here's how to build a pantry to nourish a healthier you.
Nourish Yourself in the New Year: Consider a Fast
The topic of fasting may seem strange on a site dedicated to eating, but I'm going to argue that it's apropos. Fasting—even for a handful of hours—can help you recalibrate and enrich your awareness of how food affects you physically, mentally and emotionally.
Feast without Frenzy: Put People to Work
For whatever reason, I often feel like I have to do everything myself when guests gather—plan, cook, serve, clean (alright, I admit, Christopher does that). But the truth is, involving others in the meal makes them feel even more welcome, more at home. Here are five strategies for putting people to work during the holidays in a way that will bring cheer to all.
Feast without Frenzy: Make Ahead
The big day is drawing near and, if you’re like me, so is family. In this series, we’ve talked about planning ahead, freezing ahead and keeping it light. Our next strategy for enjoying time together instead of toiling endlessly in the kitchen is making certain dishes ahead.
favorite finds
I tasted this on a mad rush through the farmers market this weekend and am glad I did. Dukka is a Middle Eastern spice blend of nuts and seeds, and these guys include local fennel in theirs ...
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