I was in high school when the Atkins Diet became popular. I had a friend named Kristen whose mother kept strictly healthy food in their kitchen. Fruits, vegetables and no junk food whatsoever. When the media began reporting that carbohydrates were unhealthy and that eliminating them could help weight loss,  Kristen’s family immediately gave up [...]

Last week an article in the New York Times reported that bake sales are banned from all state-funded public schools. Now, I know childhood obesity is no laughing matter but is a brownie at an occasional bake sale really to blame for the 16 percent of children (that’s over 9 million!) between the ages of [...]

It’s pretty common in American culture to blame our schedules for poor eating habits. Excuses like “I’m too busy to cook dinner,” “It’s faster to order take-out during the week,” and “I worked long hours, so I deserve macaroni and cheese” are all fairly common among the average kitchen-phobe. When your life is busy with [...]

In the summer, one of my favorite activities is dining and drinking outdoors. Whether it’s a rooftop lounge, a sidewalk cafe or a balcony overlooking a parking lot, there is something that just feels good about the warm summer breeze that makes the city air seem less polluted, fresher, hopeful. There is also something that [...]