A recent article in Time magazine addressed the condition of our current food system, which provides government subsided, low-cost food products to an overfed yet undernourished American public. While the cheap price tag is alluring, the long-term effects of this broken system have become second thought, ultimately leading to a string of unpleasant results. Our farm crops are doused with chemical pesticides and fertilizers, livestock are treated with hormones and medications so they can be bred industrially, and the percentage of food-related disease in humans continues to rise.  At what cost are we negatively affecting our precious natural resources and our own health? 

The good news is that the buzz words are circulating–sustainable food, eco-friendly, green living–but the truth is that public awareness isn’t enough. Let’s make conscious decisions to act in more socially responsible ways. Small changes can lead to big results. Imagine a world with more accessible, inexpensive organic food and a happy, healthy population!

Think about what you could do in your community, among your family and friends, and even around your dinner table to improve our environment. Shop at the local farmer’s market or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture, where you buy a share in a farmer’s crop for the season), encourage neighbors to grow gardens in their yards and swap produce, consider eating less meat, reduce your carbon footprint by using cloth shopping bags and reusable water bottles rather than plastic, and walk or bike instead of driving. 

What other changes could you make to ensure the quality of our food and our future?

Remember, small changes add up.

Tags: Food, Healthy Tips by Joshua Rosenthal
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Need some time to relax and rejuvenate? But watching your pennies with today’s economy? How about a ‘staycation’? All across the country, families have decided to forgo expensive vacations this year and spend more quality time closer to home.

Traveling tends to include more work and stress than originally planned for, not to mention the added expenses, traffic and delays.

Staycations are not about the exotic locale, but how you spend your time. And more often than not, a break from your daily routine is all you really need.  Disconnect from technology and recharge your internal battery.

With vacation planning, ask yourself why you’re yearning to “get away” in the first place? Perhaps your job is overly demanding, your relationships have become strained, or you just feel a strong desire to escape the daily grind.

Think about what you hope to achieve during your staycation. Whether it’s rest and relaxation, much needed time with friends and family or maybe some fun activities to add excitement back into your life, prioritize this time for yourself.

During your free time, make a point to try something new. Try an exercise or yoga class that you normally couldn’t go to, take a day trip to a local town, or try a new restaurant or a recipe. Remember to practice extreme self-care and enjoy your staycation! 

Tags: Healthy Tips, Primary Food by Joshua Rosenthal
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We’ve all heard of fruit smoothies and juices, but fruit soups? In this New York Times article Martha Rose Shulman talks about how fruit soups are versatile and great for breakfast, dessert or as a snack. Get creative and pick up all of your favorite fruits from your local farmers’ market.

Here’s something to get you started.

Cold Cherry Borscht

Yields: 6-8 servings

You’ll need:
2 ½ pounds cherries
3 cups water
1 rose geranium sprig (optional)
2 tablespoons finely chopped lemon zest
½ teaspoon almond extract
Pinch of salt
1 1/3 cups plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Set aside 18 cherries. Pit the remaining cherries, holding them over a bowl to catch the juices. Place the pitted cherries in the bowl with the juices, and place the pits in a small saucepan. Add 1 cup of the water, the rose geranium sprig, the sugar and the lemon zest. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Strain the liquid in the saucepan into the bowl with the pitted cherries. Discard the pits.

2. Transfer the cherries and liquid to a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

3. Working in batches and covering the blender top with a kitchen towel to avoid hot splashes, puree the soup, about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Strain through a medium strainer into a bowl, pushing the soup through with the back of a ladle or with a rubber spatula. Stir in the almond extract, a pinch of salt and the lemon juice. Chill the soup by placing the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water, or refrigerate.

4. When the soup has chilled, whisk in the yogurt. Taste and add more lemon juice if desired.

5. Serve garnished with the cherries you set aside. Have you ever made a fruit soup? Share your recipe with us!

Tags: Food, Recipes by Joshua Rosenthal
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For many people chocolate seems like a necessary part of our diet. People love it! And what’s not to love? It can be sweet, bitter, salty, creamy and satisfying.

Part of why we love chocolate is that it helps release that feel-good neurotransmitter—serotonin—in the brain. Many of us have a love / hate relationship with this treat because it’s deemed as "unhealthy." Before you jump to eliminate it from your diet completely, read on.

The problem isn’t in loving chocolate, but rather the type that you might consume. Chocolate in its most natural state is high in iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B, C and D, but when it’s commercially produced it loses its nutritional value.

Quality makes a big difference. If chocolate is one of your pleasures in life indulge a little. But when you do indulge go for the quality. You will find that if you spend a little extra money you’ll be a lot more satisfied for less.

As with every food that you crave, be sure to check in with yourself to see why you are craving them. Are you feeling stressed out? Tired? Bored? Sad? Or are you thirsty?

Tags: Career, Food, Healthy Tips, Primary Food, Recipes, Relationships by Joshua Rosenthal
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Going to the gym, running on a treadmill and lifting weights isn’t for everyone. Just like food is bio-individual, so is exercise. This recent New York Times article talks about how gyms are expanding what they offer to entice people to sign up and get moving!

Check out some of these classes:

Jukari Fit to Fly: uses modified circus equipment as part of a cardiovascular workout

AntiGravity Yoga Wings class: students hang upside down from diaphanous hammocks suspended from the ceiling, their feet twisted in the fabric, as they attempt to execute an inversion by flipping into a bat-like

How cool! Health club executives say they are creating more entertaining workouts, so it’s not just about sweating, but also about having fun. Even if you have a set workout routine, sometimes it’s good to switch it up a little. If you are stuck in a rut and just can’t get yourself to the gym because the thought of doing a spinning or conditioning class bores you, check out your local gym to see if they have any new and fun classes.

Let us know what fun classes you have taken.

Tags: Healthy Tips, Uncategorized by Joshua Rosenthal
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When I started the school in 1992 never did I think we would be where we are today. We’ve gone from 10 to 1,500 students in our live program and now with our Distance Learning option there is no cap. There is no limit to who can receive this cutting-edge nutrition program.

When we launched Distance Learning back in the spring I really just thought that people in California, Florida or Texas would be signing up, but our cutting-edge nutrition program is spreading far beyond the United States. I have to share this with you.

Check out some of the places beyond America where we have Distance Learning students. It’s hot!

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Brazil
• Iceland
• Israel
• Malta
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Turkey

The ripple effect is spreading!

Tags: Food by Joshua Rosenthal
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