This classic, all time favorite is something most of us grew up with. Mostly in the form of PB&J sammys, but these days it’s part of my diet almost on a daily basis, usually as a snack and sometimes right out of the jar to tie me over until the next meal.

But have you ever tried homemade peanut butter? I’ll warn you, once you do, you won’t be able to go back to store brought brands. It’s just not the same. But with only 15 minutes of your time, why would you settle for the hydrogenated oil-packed stuff? Albeit at least the “natural” brands these days are a better option if you still opt for the store bought, but it’s still not as healthy or tasty.

Before we get started on the “how to”, I want to give you some insight into what hydrogenated oils are. Very simply, it’s liquid oil that has been converted to solid fat. Partially hydrogenated oils are unsaturated fats that have been converted into saturated trans fats. Fully hydrogenated oils don’t contain the trans fats but are still solid fats nonetheless. Why use hydrogenated oils at all? In the case of peanut butter, it’s to keep the actual peanut oil from separating. Of course, this is entirely unnecessary and easily solved with a quick stir of the jar.

To touch upon trans fats for those who are unfamiliar, it’s an unhealthy form of fat that raises your bad (LDL) cholesterol and lowers your good (HDL) cholesterol. Some will the say the amount of trans fat is so minimal it’s irrelevant, but is it really? Perhaps if you only consume the 2 Tbsp serving size occasionally. For an avid peanut butter enthusiast such as myself….. I prefer the good stuff.

So let’s get on with it!

Prep: Pick up a bag of raw unsalted, shelled & skinned peanuts. A 1lb (16oz) bag will make about 8oz of peanut butter. I’ve found the best places to find this are indian or asian grocery stores.

Step 1: Heat the over 350º. Spread the peanuts in a baking tray. Throw it in the oven for 10 minutes, tossing them once half way through. This is what you’ll end up with…

If you prefer your peanut butter to really have a roasted flavor, add an additional 3-5 minutes. Note that the peanuts will continue to brown slightly as they cool.

Step 2: Toss the nuts into a food processor. Only fill it up 1/2 way to allow enough space for the peanuts to do their thing. If you have the option, use the blunt end of your blade, pulse at low speed. You’ll see the nut dust start to clump together. Be sure to scrape the sides down occasionally. This will eventually clump up so much it’ll be like ball of dough but just keep scraping and going….

Until you end up with this….

That my friends, is it!

Oh, and the snack I mentioned earlier…. a banana sliced, drizzled with honey, 1 Tbsp of freshly made peanut butter, and a 1/2 glass of cold low fat organic milk.

Have you noticed just how much hair ends up in your drain after you wash your hair? Maybe you think having enough to make a small toupee is normal, or for you guys out there, perhaps you haven’t paid attention to your secretly receding hairline.

I used to end up with wads of hair by the end of my wash. I couldn’t even rinse without strands just falling, and it was so gradual that I didn’t even notice it at first. Until one day I started to notice hair everywhere. It was on my pillow, the couch, my car seat, literally everywhere. This can’t be normal, so I began analyzing the situation.

I don’t brush my hair, I don’t excessively style it, I hardly blow dry, and I use very few products. I also ruled out genetics and diet. So what gives? I narrowed it down to my shampoo and conditioner. What exactly am I washing my hair with?

Detergents. Well okay, I AM trying to wash my hair after all.

No, it wasn’t okay. We’re talking about the same harsh detergents used to suds up your toilet with. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), & Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS). At least one of these, if not a combination of these, are listed somewhere towards the top of your ingredients list on that well-marketed shampoo you use with promises of giving you fuller, thicker hair.

Except that promise may be hard to fulfill when SLES happens to be a known irritant per the International Journal of Toxicology, and although it’s not a carcinogen on it’s own, there have been studies that show SLS to cause mutations that can lead to cancer. Now granted you’re not eating the stuff, hopefully, but you’re still allowing it on your scalp/skin which don’t forget is a large absorbent organ. Multiply your daily or weekly scrub sessions over the course of a year and well that’s a lot of sulfate exposure, don’t you agree?

Products use sulfates, because it’s a cheap cleaning agent, and it’s what causes all the lather. And those three sulfates listed above, are just the common culprits, but they can go by a variety of names.

We all have this image that lather is what cleans us up, when in fact, it’s entirely unnecessary. So I switched over to Nature’s Gate, a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner (also paraben and cruelty-free), and although it took a little getting use to the lack of bubbles, it cleans just fine. It’s been a few months now, and no more wads of hair in the drain. No more dry itchy scalp, and the frizz has happily subsided.

It’s time for another recipe! One of my simple faves, and takes under 15 minutes to make.

• whole wheat pasta of your choice
• Quorn chicken tenders (meatless & soy-less) or lean grilled chicken
• your favorite tomato based sauce (I’ve used Whole Foods Four Cheese Tomato)
• zucchini
• butter
• fresh black pepper

Get the pasta boiling, and in the meantime let’s get started on chicken tenders. The tenders take about 10 minutes to make, and if you’re really in a hurry, you can throw a few into the microwave to defrost first but I avoid nuking my food as much as possible.

Chicken Tenders: heat up some EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) in a nonstick pan and throw the tenders in.  I cover it off with a lid to kind of steam them soft at the same time. Keep an eye on them and just toss them around from time to time so it they don’t brown too much.

Zucchini: if you’re comfortable running a few pans at the same time, I suggest you start on the zucchini as well as that will take some time to steam. If you’re not, then leave this until the chicken is done, cause the zucchini will get cold very quickly. Get a fresh pan going on low heat and throw in a pat of butter.  I used one pat for one zucchini which makes the amount pictured above. The amount does reduce once cooked to keep that mind. Skin and dice up the zucchini, the smaller the pieces, the faster it’ll cook. Once the butter is melted, throw the zucchini in, coat it in the butter, and cover it with a lid.  Keep a close eye on it and toss it frequently cause you don’t want these to get too mushy. Think “al dente”.

Back to the pasta: By now, your pasta should be done. Drain and throw the sauce, and chicken tenders in. Bring the heat to medium and let that simmer while the zucchini finishes cooking.

Throw it on a plate, top the zucchini off with freshly ground black pepper and you’re all set!

Who doesn’t want soft, touchable skin? Girls and guys alike both use lotion, perhaps even on a daily basis. You probably have some on the bathroom counter, the car, your work desk, your travel bag, and maybe even the bedroom. Which means you’re probably slappin’ on the stuff liberally. Have you ever thought of what exactly you’re lathering on? Lotion is applied directly to our largest, very absorbent organ. The ingredients in your lotion, ends up in your blood stream.

The St. Ives line of lotions have an eco focus to them, that’s better than the other standard lotions out there in a number of ways.

• It’s got a light hypo-allergenic fragrance (great for those of you with a sensitive skin, a sensitive nose, or maybe you just don’t want it messin with your pheromones)
• Doesn’t contain any animal ingredients
• It’s not tested on animals
• The packaging contains 20% recycled material
• And it doesn’t contain parabens or phthalates

What’s a paraben? It’s a sector of chemicals widely used as preservatives.

What’s the big deal? It’s been found in breast cancer tumors, in low quantities. It’s also shown the ability to mimic estrogen, which contributes to development of breast cancer, and this ability to mimic estrogen is thought to be a reason for the increase of premature puberty in girls. Read up more on parabens here

Now what about phthalates? It’s essentially used to make plastics more flexible, transparent, and durable. Except I’m not just talking about the packaging. It’s used in everything from pill coatings, glues, paints, and unfortunately even food and personal care products. Read more on phthalates here

Do you really want that for your insides?

Those of you who have been to Europe will recognize this image….

(Image provided via Bike Nation’s website)

Us Angelenos are finally getting our own bike sharing system! Other major cities across the U.S. have already adopted this program and we’re finally getting on board. You essentially locate a kiosk, purchase one of their membership options which range from 24 hour access to 1 year, ride, and return at another kiosk nearest your destination. How cool is that?!

The system is to allow for short rides throughout the city so the first 30 minutes of your ride is free, with a nominal fee thereafter. Bike Nation will be installing 400 kiosks & 4,000 bicycles over the next two years. We’ll see the first installments available later this year!

Perks? What perks? It’s just a razor.

Yea, well I found one with perks! The Preserve Triple Razor. Here’s the scoop….

• Razors are made with 100% recycled plastic, and recyclable all over again
• Even the packaging is made from recycled materials
• It’s BPA free
• Last but not least, my favorite…. it’s cruelty free, which means cute little bunnies didn’t suffer razor cuts so we could look a little nicer

And get this, the triple blade gives a damn good shave. It’s got an ergonomic grip so it doesn’t slip in the shower, and it comes with an extra cartridge, for under $10. That’s about the same as what you pay for your not so perky hand razor anyhow.

I keep a spare in my travel case, and if you have a stash of Personna, Acti-Flexx, or Gillette Sensor blades, don’t worry, cause it’s compatible with the Preserve.

Those of you who know me, are probably wondering why there’s chicken on this vegetarian’s plate. Relax. It’s not really chicken.

Those of you who are vegan or vegetarian know how difficult it can be to incorporate protein into meals for a balanced diet. And perhaps some of you carnivores are looking for a healthy alternative. Toss together this easy salad and let me know your thoughts.

• Organic spinach
• Organic strawberries
• Organic pears
• Walnuts or Pecans
• Quorn Naked Chik’n Cutlets (these are also soy-free for those of you with soy allergies) or lean grilled chicken
• Balsamic dressing of choice (I used OrganicVille Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinaigrette)

There’s 11 grams of protein in one chik’n cutlet, plus a few more grams from the nuts. Go easy on the dressing and you’ve got a decent salad.

Remember the thrill of getting your 1st bicycle as a kid? Or that exhilarating feeling when mom or dad gave you that little push on the back of your seat, only to realize that the training wheels were off and you were doing it all on your own! It’s easy to forget just how entertaining and relaxing a bike ride can be, and maybe even a little daunting for those of us who haven’t gone near bike in years.

It’s time to get over those silly little fears, put the training wheels back on if you have to, and ride! There are sooooo many good things to bike riding, it seems like a no-brainer. And most of all, once you do ride, you’ll have the “why didn’t I do this sooner?!” moment.

Let’s talk about the benefits…..

• Environmental Happiness: more riding and less driving means less CO2 (carbon dioxide) released into the atmosphere. An easy way to do a little something, to NOT contribute to air pollution and overall global warming.

• Wallet Happiness: remember the good ‘ol days when gas was like $1.30 per gallon? Yea, kiss goodbye to those dreams, cause those days are long gone. With sky-high prices at the pump, nobody walks away feeling like a champ after topping off their tank. Rack up some savings by opting for breezy bike ride where possible. Hang up your car keys on your bike so you don’t forget to consider the option the next time you need to make a run to pickup dinner, grab milk from the corner store, or stop off at an ATM. Hmmm….anyone ever ride their bike through a drive-thru ATM?

See your potential cost savings and environmental impact with this nifty little calculator….. http://www.bikecommuters.com/gas-saving-calculator/

• Mind & Body Happiness: there’s just something about the nostalgia that riding a bike brings back, and you can just feel all the stress from work, all the pent up chaos, just melt away. Plus, you get to skip the road rage AND get some free-spirited exercise in.

So this weekend, dust off your bicycle and take it for a spin. Ride it to run your errands, or to grab lunch with a friend. Go for a ride along the beach boardwalk or head up to the mountains for an off-road adventure.

If you’ve been a weekend warrior for a while, consider swapping your work commute for a ride instead. With traffic, I’m willing to bet you make it to work in about the same amount of time. If you’re a student, ride to your classes. There’s nothing fun about lugging a 20lb. book bag from one end of campus to the other. That’s how you end up with scoliosis and shit.

Don’t have a bike? Rent one, borrow one, or buy one. If you live in the Los Angeles area, you’re in luck! The CicLAvia event happens to be this Sunday, April 15, where a limited number of bicycles will be provided to riders for the event. laist has an article that sums it all up…. http://laist.com/2012/04/05/free_wheels_ciclavia_partners_with_bike_nation.php

Don’t know how to ride a bike? Rubbish. But okay…… learn. http://www.cicle.org/events/47/learn-to-ride-for-adults

Recognize this seal?    

You should. It just might become your new best friend.

These days, the term “organic” is widely used, along with “natural”, “free-range”, “cage-free”, “grass-fed”, along with a slew of others. Although these all hold some value, how can you cut through the clutter and know where to put your hard earned cash? You look for your new best friend.

Products with the USDA seal of approval are inspected to fall under their standards, and do not contain unapproved pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, irradiation, genetic engineering, or sewage sludge. I mean c’mon….sewage sludge! That’s worse than the spray that occurs when flushing down last night’s dinner with the toilet lid open. Those of you interested in learning more about the USDA standards can check this out…http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPConsumers

Now, I know buying organic isn’t always the most pocket-friendly, but this is what we put in our mouths, what we fuel our bodies with, and what ultimately determines our health.  And we all know the impact health can have to ourselves, our families, friends, not to mention……once again, your wallet! 

So this weekend, when you’re in the produce section of the supermarket, look for organics when buying thin-skinned fruits and veggies like apples, strawberries, leafy greens, grapes, and even potatoes. The thick-skinned items such as bananas, onions, avocados, and kiwis, are the kind of items that are less inclined to hold pesticides and such, so if you can’t buy all organic, you now know what to look for.

Shop smart.