GOOD LIVING IS GLAM ON THE ECO DIVA BEAUTY BLOG – Satisfying your sweet tooth can be challenging, especially when your body is telling you to devour a decadent dessert, while your head is guiding you to take a healthier, less indulgent path. So, how do you maintain your healthy course, while rewarding yourself at the same time? Incorporate an antioxidant packed superfood into your dessert, of course!
Read MoreWarning: Guacamole purists, look away! Avert your eyes! I know for many of you, daring to innovate the classic Mexican recipe is essentially a culinary crime. In the past, I've also wrinkled my nose and looked on disapprovingly as friends attempted to serve me variations of this beloved avocado side dish, so I understand if you're concerned. I assure you this recipe is worth trying once for the sheer surprise of how beautifully the subtly sweet and crunchy pomegranate and nutty pistachio partner with the chunky, yet smooth avocado. Besides, it's a visually fun and festive addition to your entertaining table that's certain to start an interesting foodie conversation.
Read MoreAs we count down the final moments of 2013, let's focus on starting 2014 with luck and prosperity. There are numerous interesting and fun New Year's traditions, but we are going to focus on one I like to do every year, involving an ingredient I never use throughout the year: black eyed peas.
Read MoreIt's root vegetable season, and the mild and slightly sweet watermelon radish is one of my favorites. The creamy bright white skin covers a green layer, but it's the vibrant fuschia on the inside that makes this radish such a visual delight to adorn any dish.
Read MoreCold season is officially here, so when I started to feel congested with a slight tickle in my throat, my mother reminded me of her Triple Chile Concoction and I immediately picked up the ingredients at the Union Square Greenmarket. This is not a cold cure, however in my experience it definitely accelerates the process and shortens the duration of the cold. Note: This is not for those with sensitive tummies, delicate taste buds or date night plans!
Read MoreThe weather has been divine in NYC this week, however I'm trying to stay a couple steps ahead of the forecast. Knowing that it will get chilly and the temps will be taking a dive again soon, I'm prepping my skin with one of my favorite must-have dry skin weapons: avocado. Prepared three ways, I'm going to protect against free radicals and inflammation (inside), infuse my skin with a nutrient packed mask (face), and slough off dead skins cells while moisturizing with a delicate scrub (body).
Read MoreMy closest friends are sometimes amused by how "particular" I am, although I see that comment as a nice way of calling me difficult. The truth is, I do like things a certain way. For me, it's not just that you do something, it's how you do it – the process, the approach, the context. OK, I do sound a little difficult, however allow me to explain.
Read MoreMy most commonly cooked carbohydrate is rice. My parents, being from the Dominican Republic and the Islands raised me on a healthy diet of natural, farm raised protein and rice in many different combinations – rice and black beans, rice and kidney beans, rice and peas, rice and spinach, paella... the list goes on. However, now I find myself in a brown rice rut. I love it, but this weekend I actually got bored with my beloved brown rice. So to convince myself it was okay to branch out, I decided to remind myself of the benefits of the other rices I've been neglecting: white and wild.
Read MoreI was always amazed at the amount of food on my grandmother's plate. All my life I watched her eat small, satisfying portions, and I never saw her snack in between meals. She and my grandfather lived for 98 and 95 years, respectively, which prompted me to wonder: Did the smaller plates contribute to their longevity? According to Ayurvedic medicine, absolutely.
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