Health Benefits
Alright, let’s talk about the health benefits. The Mediterranean diet has been praised for its heart-healthy qualities, thanks to its emphasis on olive oil, fish, whole grains, and fresh produce. On the other hand, the Vegan diet, with its focus on plant-based foods, has been shown to lower the risk of chronic diseases and promote overall well-being. So, who’s the winner here? Drumroll, please…it’s the Vegan diet! Jeff Bridges would be proud of this plant-powered victory as “The Dude” is a Vegan.

Environmental Impact
Now, let’s consider the environmental impact. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, which reduces carbon footprints. However, the Vegan diet takes it a step further by excluding animal products, which significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and deforestation. So, who’s the winner in this category? It’s none other than the Vegan diet, which is why “Dr. Strange” actor Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t find being vegan strange at all.

Culinary Delights
Ah, the joy of food! The Mediterranean diet spoils us with its array of vibrant flavors, from fresh herbs to succulent seafood. But let’s not underestimate the creativity and versatility of the Vegan diet, where plant-based ingredients shine in all their glory. It’s a tough call, but in this category, we’ll give a nod to the Mediterranean diet. “Roseanne” star John Goodman credits the Mediterranean Diet for his recent 200 pound weight loss.

Ease of Adherence
Now, let’s talk about ease of adherence. The Mediterranean diet allows for flexibility, making it easier for most people to incorporate into their lifestyles. On the other hand, the Vegan diet requires more commitment and careful attention to ensure proper nutrient intake. In this category, the Mediterranean diet takes the crown, making adhering to it as smooth as silk. TV host and professional chef Rachel Ray is a follower of the Mediterranean Diet, so there must be something to it.

Recipe Resources
Alright, we’re in the final round, folks! Both diets offer a plethora of delicious recipes to tantalize your taste buds. For the Mediterranean diet, check out websites like The Mediterranean Dish and Olive Tomato for a treasure trove of Mediterranean delights. But, and this is a big but, for the Vegan diet, we have our winner, and it’s none other than my queen of plant-based goodness, Minimalist Baker and Nora Cooks. While I believe that the top spot on the internet is a little website called Living Clean & Dirty, I definitely have to tip my chef’s hat to these cooking sites and more. Definitely helpful resources for everyone from master chefs to beginner cooks.

So we’ve seen a number of positives for either choice. They both have their merits, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and goals. So who’s the real winner? We all are, these “non-traditional” food journeys have never been so readily accessible as they are now. Generations before us have followed similar paths but it was definitely more of a challenge than it is now.

Easy Teriyaki Tofu from Nora Cooks

Greek Stewed Octopus in Tomato Sauce and Pasta from Olive Tomato

Remember, whether you’re diving into the depths of the Mediterranean or embracing the plant-powered revolution, what matters most is finding a sustainable and enjoyable way of eating that nourishes your body and soul. So go forth, explore new flavors, and let your taste buds dance with joy.

And before we wrap up, I can’t forget to mention one of my recent articles “Dirty Santa, Clean Earth: Navigating Eco-Friendly Holidays Like a Pro”. If you’ve never considered a penis-scarf as a gift, then you might want to check it out.

Now, go forth and whip up some culinary magic! And remember, no diet is perfect and very few worthwhile culinary adventures are ready to go right out of the box. You need to make it work for you. There are tons of benefits to be found in either choice, so either path is a winner in my book. So cheers to good food and good laughs!

Disclaimer: Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any drastic dietary changes, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or concerns. Stay healthy, stay happy, and stay weird, my friends.

The post Battle of the Diets: Mediterranean vs Vegan appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Misspelled cards and Picasso-esque drawings from my kids over the years will always have a special place in my heart, but as my girls are now in their teens (please pray for me, or at the very least send wine) the gift of spending time with them is just as precious. While not as Earthy-Crunchy as I am, at least not yet, my girls have definitely embraced some of my Eco-friendly ways and joined me on my journey.

I’ve become a newly self-proclaimed minimalist, I have a new kitchen goal, and I’m no longer driving a Hybrid. Is your interest piqued? Well, you’ll have to keep watching as I’ll get to those stories in future articles, but for now let me present my gift (or gifts) from one mom to another. Let yourself be a bit selfish this M-Day, we’ve earned it ladies and we keep earning it every day no matter if you’re changing diapers, need your own diaper changed or anywhere in between. Edible panties are a bit too personal, a candle that actual smells like Gwyneth Paltrow’s edible panties is definitely too personal, and “How to be a Good Mom” by Stephen and Janet Bly is somewhere between passive aggressive and just being a dick. I’ll admit there are some pretty terrific store-bought gifts out there but if you’re a regular reader of mine then you shouldn’t be surprised that I’m giving you my TOP 10 FREE things you can do right now to save you money and save Mama Earth.

1  Next to my kitchen sink is a pitcher. Don’t’ go out and buy one – trust me you’ve got something right now that’s collecting dust and will work perfectly. A big glass, a vase, a water pitcher, a bowl your kids made you for a past Mother’s Day, that goldfish bowl you bought even though the poor guy died two days after you got him. Really anything that will hold water. Throughout the day there’s so much extra water I have but never use. The water my kids didn’t drink, water in the measuring cup or pot that I didn’t use, or even ice that fell on the floor. Instead of tossing it down the drain, I put it in my pitcher and when it’s full, I use it to water my plants. Save money on your water bill and you’re not just tossing it down the sink.

2  Become that weird person who demands everyone to take their shoes off at the front door. I swear every time someone asked me to do it, I’d roll my eyes (behind their back – I’m not that rude) while taking off my shoes. Yup, now you can roll your eyes at me. Not tracking in dirt and debris helps to reduce indoor toxins and it helps to keep your floors clean. Between my 2 kids, my 2 dogs and my hubby there’s a lot of outdoors that ends up indoors. I used to blow through vacuum bags like potato chips at a Grateful Dead concert so this is really a no-brainer, less dirt, less spending on bags and less vacuuming…win, win, win.

3  Join me in My Year of Clear. Confused? That’s what I called it when I woke up and decided to keep only the things I love, use or are sentimental. Everything else goes. Not to the landfill of course, don’t be ridiculous. All that crap you’re saving “Just in case”? Let me be your blunt friend. I know you have the best of intentions, but you’re never going to use it. Trust me if you haven’t touched it in a year you don’t need it and why not make some money off it and sell it on Ebay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Let someone else use it or if you just don’t want the hassle of selling it, then donate it. Your trash is someone else’s treasure, find a local thrift store that donates the proceeds to a non-profit organization and you can feel good enough about yourself to dance around your house that just got slightly more roomy.

4  Did you know your clothes get just as clean using cold water. Yup, you not only save money on your energy bill but it will help keep your clothes looking new and helps the planet. BAM all in one! And if you want to take it another eco-step further, check out THIS ARTICLE and see how I ditched laundry detergent and now my clothes (and my washer and dryer) have never smelled better

5 This Mother’s Day I’ve set a huge personal goal for myself. Read one book a week. If you’re a reader like me there’s no way I’m buying all those books to read them once and then stick them on a shelf like some strange literary trophy. My local library always has enough to keep me entertained and they encourage their customers to help the planet by posting on the receipts how much money you’re saving by borrowing rather than buying each book.

6  “Turn the goddamn lights off!” Ahhhhh this brings me back. if I had a dollar every time my dad screamed that at me I could probably buy a small Island…like Staten Island. Turning off the lights inside the house is certainly easy enough, but it appears as if most of my neighbors grew up in a very different household and they keep their outside lights on all night. Now far be it from me to judge, so if you’re like them I totally get it (nope, I’m silently judging you). If you feel you need to keep the outside lights on at night, at least invest in a timer which saves energy and money on your electric bill. Unless of course you actually do own the electric company and then you should just turn them off to help Mama Earth while you are rolling around each night in all of our money.

7  Did you know you can turn the heat off in your dishwasher? Many even have an auto air option which allows your dishes to air dry. I always run my dishwasher (only when it’s full) at night so if it takes a few hours to dry it won’t matter.

8  I have a neighbor I absolutely adore but he’s a neat freak. He unrolls his garden hose each Saturday and washes his driveway especially in the spring. If he used just a broom instead of a hose he’d get the job done quicker, save money on his water bill and conserve the wet stuff. (Note to self…send sidewalk chalk to his kids and say they should draw mom a happy M-day message on the driveway)

9  Saving water seems to be the easiest thing you can do right now to save your wallet and the planet. Take a shower instead of a bath (uses less water). Don’t run the water while washing your dishes or brushing your teeth, and always try to shower with a buddy (in my case my hubby). And remember…A Retriever can be Golden, a Willy Wonka ticket can be Golden and Rose, Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia should always be Golden, but I would recommend to keep the Golden out of your shower for two.

10  If you’re not using rooms in your house, close off the vents to help reduce your energy costs and increases efficiency.

So to all those mothers, grandmothers and hard-working ladies out there enjoy your day, do something nice for yourself and for the Earth. Check back often for more helpful info and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.
That’s it for me today, I’m off to do some gardening and maybe if my hubby plays his cards right there’ll be a shower for 2 in his future.

The post Make it a MOM-entous day appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Water, it’s kind of a big deal. But what’s really in it, is it safe?

Millions of people around the world suffer from illnesses spread by polluted water.  I’ve seen enough of those heart-wrenching commercials about a small village in a country thousands of miles away with no access to clean drinking water. The stories are awful and my gratitude goes out to those who volunteer to do their part in improving the quality of life for perfect strangers.

You might say, “but that’s on the other side of the world, that wouldn’t happen here.” I’ll bet there was a time when the residents of Flint, Michigan said the same thing.  Ever since I first read about Flint’s water crisis in 2014 I haven’t looked at my water the same.  Over the years I bought a whole house water filter, a filtered instant hot spout on my sink and even a filtered water pitcher which sits on my counter.  Because like dad always said “If you’re going to do something, then take it to the extreme”.

Recently I reached out to my local water company to ask the tough questions

• Is my water safe?
• If I don’t just take your word for it is there a publicly available report I could read?
• Where did I leave my other green dangly earing?

Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Their representative told me our water is incredibly clean and perfectly fine to drink and he provided me with a report that may or may not have been in English. I recognized a lot of the letters and numbers but when you put them all together it was like a word salad, and not the kind you would toss.  Let’s just say my chemistry knowledge to this day still rivals that of Gene from high school, meaning I really didn’t understand most of it.

So next stop …the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database (https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/) where I learned I had 30 total contaminants in my water and 5 exceed their guidelines. But what does that mean? I know it’s not crystal clean water that came from a babbling brook in Maine (why they babble I have no idea) but am I the next Flint, Michigan?  I was pretty sure the water company wasn’t going to tell me “Oh, your water is garbage, you should probably keep your mouth closed when you shower”. I needed to get impartial answers from someone with nothing to gain.  At this point the Wikipedia side of my brain had kicked in and I spent many a sleepless night wondering what sort of physical damage our water could be doing to do my family.  Now don’t get me wrong, emotional damage is just part of good parenting, but physical is where I draw the line.

Well thanks to the good folks at envirotestkits.com I can put my worries to rest.  They sent me an awesome water quality test kit so I could get the answers I so desperately needed.  So check out the video and see how we did. And if you happen to see a green dangly earing in the background anywhere let me know.

Envirotestkits.com provided me with a SafeHome water quality test kit to facilitate this review; however, all opinions expressed are my own. 

The post Take care of your largest organ appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

It’s the rallying cry behind a lot of crappy decisions. Let’s take the morally questionable and sexually philanthropic decade that I like to refer to as “My 20s”.  There were certainly more than a few challenges during that time of my life but most of my friends and I took it to a new level and seemed to glom on to the worst boyfriend material we could find.  If he was nice, considerate and treated you right then he was a dud.  Bring on the bad boyfriend.

*Treat you like shit? Check!
*Blow you off to do stupid stuff with his friends? Check!
*In the middle of sex ask you if you have a sister? Check!

MMMM-HMMMMM, he’s perfect.  And when a friend would look at your situation and say “um…what the fuck is the matter with you”, like little pre-programmed robots we would all say, “I love a challenge”.

Well, fortunately for me I moved on from my 20s and I like to think my decision making skills have improved.  As a society we are still drawn to positively absurd challenges.  Here’s a list of 5 social media-driven challenges, 4 of which are real and 1 I made up.  Can you tell the difference?

1 – The Hot-Pepper Challenge
2 – The Space Monkey Challenge
3 – The Charlie Charlie Challenge
4 – The Purple Nutsack Challenge
5 – The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge

OK, while these are all awful and I can’t recommend enough to NOT try these I will admit that The Purple Nutsack is not a challenge and when I suggested to my husband that I add this to the list he just winced and wandered off.

My whole point is this…there are a literal fuck-ton of awful, disastrous and flat out dangerous challenges out there.  It’s further proof that when you were in your 20s in the 90s like me, or in your 90s in the 20s like my friend’s mother (who thinks the ice bucket challenge is hysterical) we are a society that is drawn to a challenge.

Well, I say we should use our love of challenges for good rather than physical disfigurement, public humiliation, or chance of a venereal disease.  It looks like the latest social media challenge is right up my alley – the plastic free challenge. Don’t believe me? It’s got a whole website dedicated to it.

www.plasticfreechallenge.org/what-is-single-use-plastic

We all know that plastic is not great for the environment but if we recycle then all is forgiven, right? Not exactly. You know where a lot of that plastic shit goes? Have you heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? If not, then look it up and prepare to be horrified.  Basically there’s no “safe” way to dispose of plastic that isn’t harming the environment, marine life and eventually yourself.  Now, I’m not a nut job or monster who says get rid of all the plastic everywhere.  That’s not realistic and after a hard-line declaration like that people stop listening.  Like blow jobs, I believe that everything should be in moderation.  Plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, plastic forks, plastic cups, plastic coffee lids…single use plastic, use it once and throw it away, that’s what we are talking about right now.

Any single use plastic is either avoidable or replaceable.  Reusable shopping bags, metal straws, BPA free water bottles are just some of the ways to take single use plastics out of your life.

Is it doable? Hell Yeah!

Is it a pain in the ass? Hell Yeah!…but we love a challenge, right?

Now I do all this stuff already but recently I took another step further to kick plastic to the curb.  We love to eat and cook our own food, which means we have a lot of dishes to clean. I have always said that you have to clean the dishes before throwing them in the dishwasher. My hubby completely disagrees and says that’s about as ridiculous as washing your car before taking it to the carwash or brushing your teeth before going to the dentist (I wish that was a joke, sorry Doctor K ;-)). Since I do the dishes, I won that debate and now have decided to retire the nasty plastic scraper I’ve been using to get all the food off my dishes and pots. I also go through a ton of sponges and wanted to pick a more eco-friendly non-plasticy choice.

That’s when I found Scrufah, it’s a loofa for your dishes and I love it. It’s a natural dish sponge that has NO PLASTIC, it’s eco-friendly because it’s biodegradable, compostable and non-toxic. Why are we going to all the trouble to eat organic but not worry about harsh chemicals coating the dishes you eat on and the pots you cook with, to say nothing of the chemicals you’re putting back into our water supply? They’re soft when wet (insert giggling here) and not abrasive so I know they won’t ruin my expensive cast iron pans. They use eco-friendly packaging which is awesome, they come 3 in a box (more giggling) each lasting 2-3 months, and they’re compressed flat but once you get one wet it will swell to its normal size (now, it’s like I’m doing it on purpose).

So now it’s your turn you challenge-loving freaks.  There’s a new sheriff in town joining the fight against single-use plastics.  I’ve been using my Scrufah to keep my metals straws, aluminum water bottles, glass bottles and food storage clean.

Join the fight and accept the challenge.  I’m giving away a Scrufah 3 pack to a lucky reader. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed in this little eco-friendly kitchen helper. You’ve got 2, that’s right 2 ways to win… 1) Automatically enter the giveaway by becoming a new subscriber to this awesome blog (do people still call them blogs?) or B) if you already knew a good thing when you saw it and are already a loyal subscriber, then click HERE to enter this awesome giveaway!

The amazing company that makes Scrufah, Oliver Flynn Lifestyles, is a small family business started by two sisters who wanted to create a low-toxic lifestyle for their kids and also wanted to reduce plastic waste is offering all my readers 15% OFF when you use the coupon code HBIC3MCK on Amazon.

Check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram

They’re up to the challenge, are you?

Oliver Flynn Lifestyles provided me with a Scrufah to facilitate this review; however, all opinions expressed are my own. 

The post Scrufah says…Challenge Accepted! appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

The post This Drink Is On Me appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Getting older has a funny way of changing your priorities.

Last week I was standing in my kitchen trying to figure out what to pack in my girls’ lunches. We needed lettuce, cucumbers and a few herbs, so I grabbed my basket and walked out the back door.

I hadn’t been in the garden for over a week.

The first thing that popped into my head was, “Damn…I really need to tend this garden.”

Then I started laughing.

The second thing that popped into my head was, “How in the world am I growing all this?”

I used to kill plants. Every single one of them. Big plants. Small plants. Houseplants. I even managed to kill a cactus, which should honestly require filling out paperwork.

Two years ago I knew absolutely nothing about gardening. I couldn’t tell you what grew well together, when to plant or even what compost really was. Then Hurricane Sandy rolled through our neighborhood and left me wondering what was in our soil. If I was going to grow food for my family, I wanted to know exactly what was going into it.

So I decided to figure it out.

My thought process was pretty simple. How hard could it be?

I’ve known plenty of people over the years who couldn’t balance a checkbook but somehow managed to grow incredible gardens. I figured if they could do it, maybe I could too.

A couple of seasons later, I’m still learning, but my family now shops in the backyard before we head to the grocery store.

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

• We built raised container gardens (basically a box on blocks) because the Big Bad Wolf otherwise known as Hurricane Sandy tried to blow my house down a few years back.  She did a ton of damage, flooded our area and I have no idea what’s in my soil now.  I figure if I ate the food I grew in it I might end up glowing in the dark or my tits could fall off (it could happen).  No thanks, not this holistic mama (and I have a bunch of cute bras I would miss too much).  Each of my 4 containers is filled with 20 bags of organic soil and 20 bags of organic compost.

• I used to plant seeds but ain’t nobody got time for that shit.  I have a short time window to work with – I live in NY and I needed to speed up the process a bit.  Luckily I found organic “starts” at my local farm so I’m supporting them while making my life easier.

• TEND THE GARDEN AND CLEAN THAT BOX OUT.  Don’t let the shit overgrow.

• Space out the starts.  “Oh they’re so cute and small, I can plant 20 of ‘em in a box.”  NO YOU CAN’T.  They multiply like bunnies listening to Marvin Gaye and drinking box wine.  Follow the suggestions for each start.  If it says 10 inches of space between them, then do like my hubby does and give the whole 10 inches.  Too many plants and they’ll smother each other.  Nothing will grow and you’ll get NO food.

• Change up the crops each year.  You don’t want to plant the same stuff in the same spot.

• Learn to freeze and pickle.  You could end up with more than you can eat that week and you don’t want it to go to waste or you could give it to your friends and neighbors.

One thing I never expected was how much my girls would love it. To them, grabbing vegetables for dinner isn’t shopping, it’s treasure hunting.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching your kids walk outside, pick a tomato and eat it before it ever makes it into the kitchen.

Honestly, I never thought I’d become “the gardening person.” I still wouldn’t trust myself with a fancy houseplant. But somehow I’ve become the woman who gets excited over compost, celebrates the first tomato of the season and can’t wait to see what’s ready to pick every morning.

Turns out tending the garden has become one of my favorite parts of living clean.

This one just happens to feed my family.

The post You Must Tend Your Garden appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Hi guys, I know you are all struggling along without your regular LC&D updates so I thought I’d throw you a quick one to hold you over.  Another tip from my kitchen and this is one of my favorites.  Add 1 part great vegetable, a cup of water, a dash of free and voila…magic scallions.  Doug Henning (look it up) would say “it’s an illusion”, well sorry Doug this tip is all real. I’ll never have to buy scallions again and after this neither will you. (I mean you the reader, not Doug Henning…he’s dead so that would be weird).

Catch you next time…

The post So smart, It’ll make you cry appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

and then if you’re still hungry for more click HERE to check out the chip slicer and tray (warning: there are no musical instruments at this link)

The post Who gives a chip? appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

When I was a kid I sat across from my older brother at the dinner table.  I’m not sure why, but every meal was an unconscious race to see who ate the fastest.  Maybe it was the fact that my mom was such an awesome cook that you couldn’t help but keep shoveling it in.  Maybe it was the fact that my brother was like a garbage disposal and ate everything in sight and no one’s plate was safe.  The most likely reason is whoever finished eating first got to decide what TV show we would watch before we went to bed.  My friends would come over for dinner and while they were finishing their soup, my family was polishing off dessert. So in our house, to paraphrase Ferris “Food disappears pretty fast.  If you don’t get it while it’s hot, you could miss it.”

So short story long…I have always eaten very fast.

As I got older and was maturing into the classy goddess of etiquette I am today (hah!) I still hovered over my food and wolfed it down like I was in a prison cafeteria and some bitch was eyeing my tray.  As some of you may unfortunately know, the problem with eating so fast is that your brain can’t catch up and let you know you’re full, so you eat too much and then you pay the price.  I was always thin so gaining weight was never my issue, but this was still a problem because I always ended up eating so much I’d feel miserable for the rest of the night. Looking back, my body was trying to tell me to slow down long before I was ready to listen.  While this was good practice for college with my double majors of drinking and more drinking, it was not so good that my friends were constantly going to my mom trying to stage an eating disorder intervention.  Ahhhh, good times.

So here I am, all grown up…having recently turned 29 (for the 15^th time) and I wish I could say my eating has slowed down but these days I only lie about my age.  Having long since abandoned my porcelain prayers, now I would just lie down after a big meal, feel like crap and wish that someone would just roll me back into the water like a beached whale.  A few months ago my BFF since I was 9 years old (who also just turned 29…again) came for a lunch visit, she was still finishing her salad as I sat and watched because I had already finished my meal ten minutes before.  “El, if I hear one gag noise coming from the bathroom tonight I’m calling your mom about that damn intervention”.  So rather than end up on an episode of an A&E reality show I’ve decided to finally change my ways.

I read a gazillion articles about fast eaters and tried all the slow-down fads.  I’ve tried eating with my left hand.  I tried putting my fork down between each bite but that annoyed the hell out of me, and my kids started making robot noises every time I moved my arms.  I even tried chewing each bite of food 20 times.  That ended up being the gold-standard of ridiculousness and between all the drooling and the pile of mush I ended up swallowing I would need to invest in a lifetime supply of bibs.  I was afraid the hubby was going to give me an adult size bib with some stupid saying on it like “If you think I’m cute, you should see my husband”.

So now I’ve gone back to basics and ditched the quick fix approach.  My family has instituted our new practice of “mindful eating”.  I’m teaching myself and my family to embrace a more relaxed, “in the moment” type of eating.  Sharing a meal with my friends and family should be about the journey and not the destination.  I continually strive to adopt this way of thinking to all aspects of my life…except for sex of course.

A fun trick that we came up with to help us on our mindful eating journey is replacing our utensils with chopsticks.  It’s slowing me down tremendously and I guess I make it look like fun because my kids are doing it too.  Now, before you ask, yes we still use spoons for soup and ice cream.  I’m committed to making this work, but there’s only so much laundry I can do in a week.

So these days my eating habits are less “The Amazing Race” and instead more “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, although my perverted lifetime roommate (let’s call him hubby) is still partial to “Twin Peaks” or “60 Minutes”.  My family knows to only eat until they are 80% full and no one gets read the riot act if there is food still left on their plate.  Oh I still have been known to visit the porcelain altar from time to time, but that probably has something to do with surpassing 80% full with my organic wine.

So, what have we learned today?

• Eating should not be a race
• They make bibs for adults
• Even at 29 it’s not too late to change your ways
• My family mercilessly (but lovingly) enjoy teasing me
• You can get valuable life lessons from Ferris Bueller

Hopefully I’ve made you think, made you laugh and even taught you a thing or two.  I’ll leave you with my favorite geology-based quote from Ferris Bueller that I find timely right around Earth Day.

“Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you’d have a diamond.”

…Bon Appetit

The post Not so Fast-Food appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” – Virginia Woolf 

“Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn.” – Dr. Ruth Westheimer (who I’m guessing is speaking of organic corn)

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” – Thomas Edison

“It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician.” – Meryl Streep

“I cook with wine.  Sometimes I even add it to the food” –  W.C. Fields

“Food is the fuel that will keep us on the go.  You got to eat right if you want to grow.” – Slim Goodbody

Food has always fascinated me. The more I learned about living a healthier, greener life, the more I realized how little I actually knew about what I was eating.

Around that time I picked up a copy of The Food Babe Way by Vani Hari.

Now let me start by saying opinions are like taints (look it up). Everybody has one, and it’s rare anyone actually wants yours. You can find people on the internet who think Vani Hari is changing the world, and you can find people who think she’s completely wrong. My advice is the same advice I always give: read with an open mind, ask questions, and make your own decisions. If you disagree with me, feel free to email me for a full refund for this free article.

What I appreciated most about the book wasn’t that it gave me all the answers.

It made me ask better questions.

I already considered myself a healthy eater. I bought organic whenever I could. I was paying attention to labels. Or at least I thought I was.

After reading the book, I realized I had been looking for a handful of buzzwords instead of really understanding what was in my food. I started slowing down in the grocery store. I read ingredient lists instead of just the front of the package. I became more curious about where my food came from and how it was made.

Did I agree with every single thing in the book?  Probably not.  But I didn’t have to.

A good book doesn’t always have to convince you. Sometimes it just gets you thinking in a different way, and that’s exactly what this one did for me.

One of my favorite parts was that it didn’t simply tell readers what to avoid. It also offered recipes, substitutions, and practical ideas that made healthier eating feel possible instead of overwhelming. My younger daughter became a huge fan of the homemade ginger dressing recipe because it tasted just like the one from our favorite Japanese restaurant. The difference was I knew exactly what had gone into it because I’d made it myself.

Like I tell my family all the time, getting healthier starts with getting educated. Read labels. Ask questions. Learn where your food comes from. You don’t have to overhaul your entire kitchen overnight. Just make one better choice today than you made yesterday.

Living healthier isn’t about being perfect.  It’s about paying attention.

I’ll leave you with one final quote from someone who was never afraid to put in the work.

“Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you’ve got to squeeze your buns. That’s my formula.” — Richard Simmons.

Words to live by, Richard. Words to live by.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are my own.

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