By Nancy Chuda founder and Editor-in-Chief of LuxEcoLiving and co-founder of Healthy Child Healthy World   National Chocolate Chip Day Today is National Chocolate Chip Day! It’s the perfect day to bake. But what if you can’t tolerate gluten , butter, eggs, sugar and last but certainly not least chocolate. I couldn’t resist finding a [...]

By Nancy Chuda founder and Editor-in-Chief of LuxEcoLiving and co-founder of Healthy Child Healthy World Whole body, mind and spirit Olivia helps others heal In July, Olivia will celebrate a long awaited dream in Melbourne Australia. The opening of a world-class Cancer & Wellness Centre dedicated to providing the very best in medical care and [...]

By Nancy Chuda founder and Editor in Chief of LuxEcoLiving and Healthy Child Healthy World You don’t want to miss the breakfast or the bed at The Old St. Angela Inn. Please Dianne, will you share your recipe?         The sound of the gulls and salty smell of the sea awakens the [...]

 By Allison Mowatt Courtesy of Live Healthy Live Green It’s hard not to be aware of the numerous health benefits eating organically has on the human body.  Not only do you feel more energetic and sport a healthier complexion but you also build a stronger immune system, keeping colds and viruses at bay more [...]

Organic Produce and Sustainable Farms are Celebrated at by Myra Goodman at Earthbound Farms
Excerpted from The Earthbound Cook
I discovered this amazingly simple but intensely flavorful pasta dish when our family traveled to Italy a few summers ago. It was so memorable that it made the top of my list of recipes to try to replicate. Chunks of succulent eggplant get a quick sauté to set their flavor, then are simmered in a light marinara sauce until tender. At the last minute, cubes of mozzarella di bufalo are added, quickly becoming soft and creamy as they melt into the sauce. This dish goes together in no time, especially if you have marinara sauce on hand. If you don’t have time to make my Heirloom Tomato Sauce or the Quick Tomato Sauce, you can fast-track the recipe by using a store-bought version. A word about the eggplant, which is at the heart of this dish: Salting is not required, but it’s important to sauté the eggplant over high heat in the amount of oil specified. You need very high heat to force the eggplant to brown and develop flavor. In the absence of high heat, the vegetable will simply soak up the oil, become soggy, and taste fl at. I serve this dish with a warmed baguette to sop up the extra sauce, and with a light salad of lettuce and endive dressed only with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper.

Organic Produce and Sustainable Farms are Celebrated at by Myra Goodman at Earthbound Farms
Excerpted from The Earthbound Cook
Sweet-tart and succulent, strawberries are a true joy of spring and summer. This light and delicious salad uses whole heirloom lettuce leaves as a beautiful and flavorful base for the delightful blending of sweet strawberries, creamy goat cheese, and toasted walnuts. The flavors are melded perfectly by a quick-to-make balsamic vinaigrette that features toasted walnut oil.

Are you wondering what to eat this spring so you can be bikini ready by summer? Try these light quinoa recipes to stay healthy and trim down.

By: Lauren O’Neill, LuxEco Editorial Assistant

With summer quickly approaching, the thought of baring it all and playing beach volleyball in a bikini can quickly become daunting. However, by learning what to eat this spring to shed the pounds and get fit, there will be no reason to feel mortified in your bathing suit. Quinoa is my absolute favorite ingredient to cook with and a staple in my daily diet. It is versatile, delicious, and loaded with nutrients that will keep you healthy, happy, and slim. Not only is it a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids, but it is also gluten-free and easy to digest. From improving cardiovascular health to reducing migraines, quinoa has a number of health benefits. It’s incredibly easy to incorporate into your diet. When cooked, its light and fluffy texture makes it the perfect healthy substitute for rice or couscous. Below, I have shared my top three personal quinoa recipes that will make you feel great.

By Hannah Canvasser LuxEco Editorial Assistant
This light and tangy salad will get your taste buds in shape for spring. Grab a few simple and healthy ingredients from your local farmers market and enjoy a lunch that will leave you full, but won’t weigh you down.

Hit your nearest farmer’s market for some farm fresh strawberries and get baking!
By Brooke Rewa, LuxEco Editorial Assistant
It’s strawberry season here in Southern California and were baking our way into spring. This homemade crumble filled with locally grown strawberries will have you sprinting to your local farmer’s market for supplies.

Vegan and non-vegan chocoholics can all huddle around the campfire with this easy chocolate recipe for Vegan Smores.
By Nancy Chuda, Co-founder and Editor in Chief of LuxEcoLiving.com and Healthy Child Healthy World
I have so many fond memories of being huddled around a beach bonfire, making smores with friends and family. There were never enough ingredients or coat hangars to go around. But if you are like me you will want to treat your friends to a new twist on an old delectable standard with delicious vegan smores. With this easy chocolate recipe for vegan smores, you will win the favor of every chocoholic!

By Anna Getty, Author and LuxEco Adovcate
I have been addicted to organic food for almost 10 years. I know it is better for me, my kids and better for the planet. Studies have shown organic produce to be higher in anti-oxidants; vitamins and minerals (thank you to The Organic Center for your vigilant scientific research) and organic dairy, meat and eggs have fewer hormones, antibiotics and pesticide residues (yes, pesticides are found in meat because cattle are eating feed laden with them). It’s also true that organic farming is more sustainable; it uses fewer resources and encourages community. But above all else it tastes better. Try this experiment. Blindfold your kid and have him taste both a conventional and organic apple. You will see, he will pick the organic apple.

By Lorri Ballance Laird, LuxEco Advocate
As we are in the midst of Hanukkah, Luxeco asked Laurie if she was doing anything special for the holiday. She told us that she was planning to try something different: Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Latkes. She and her two teenage daughters made this recipe together to celebrate the festive occasion.

By Kerin Van Hoosear, LuxEco Editorial Assistant and author of Seasonal Cooking with Kerin

Perfect for autumnal cooking, try your hand at Roasted Butternut Squash Mac ‘N’ Cheese (and don’t forget to buy your ingredients local and organic!)

First, to roast the butternut squash you’ll need:

one hot oven
1 butternut squash (medium sized), peeled and cubed (about 1/2″ x 1/2″)
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp sage
salt and pepper
olive oil

Welcome back to Nancy’s Organic Kitchen! Today Nancy Chuda welcomes us to her kitchen where she teases our taste buds with delicious organic recipes for fresh water cod fish, lentil soup, and a wild mushroom medley. Learn how you can make these easy, organic recipes at home.