Cultivating curiosity and wellbeing in Mexico
Our wellbeing: our relationships with our food, our bodies, and our earth. Alternative health, vegan lifestyle, permaculture, and sustainability
So much has come out lately in health news circles about the wonders and benefits of avocados. The avocado is touted as a superfood, effective for conditions and ailments ranging from osteoarthritis to cardiovascular disease, from dry skin to depression. As more studies come out about its properties and qualities, Continue Reading →
My tropical garden right now is at what must be the height of lushness for the season. Most of the plants are fully grown and providing me with wonderful organic fresh produce. I harvest splendid bunches of greens daily, enough for my smoothies and salads and soups, but not so Continue Reading →
The Alternative Daily published an article about the health benefits of gazpacho*, a cold, tomato-based soup that is brimming with flavor and nutrients, citing research published in the journal of Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases** that points to the ingredients of gazpacho containing properties helpful in protecting us against conditions Continue Reading →
This week, my Bedouin tomatoes began ripening on the vine so I’ve finally been able to give them a taste. I had started the plants from seed in individual pots on October 4 and transplanted them into their permanent home around the middle of November, some five weeks after planting. Continue Reading →
When in the Patzcuaro area of Michoacan, Mexico, with my cousins last month, we visited the lakeside town of Tzintzuntzan with its old churches set in an ancient olive grove and its crafts market replete with straw Christmas decorations, baskets, painted pottery, and miscellanea. Outside the gates of the church Continue Reading →
Last summer, I was looking for vegetable seeds suitable for cultivation in the tropics: things that would accept (and hopefully thrive) in a climate of hot, damp, and salty. One summer’s day while garden shopping, I was inspired by a friend of mine (thanks, Kat!) to pick up a packet Continue Reading →
Flor de jamaica is the Mexican name for the flowers, or actually the calyces, of the variety of hibiscus known as the roselle, or Hibiscus sabdariffa, which is commonly grown in the tropical climes of the Americas. Recently, I came across fresh hibiscus flowers at our local Zihuatanejo market. They Continue Reading →
For years we hosted an expatriate’s Thanksgiving for friends and acquaintances in quantities of up to and over 100 people. We’d deep fry multiple Cajun-style turkeys and concoct huge pans of thick gravy, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. We’d solicit the aid of all, asking guests to contribute pot-luck side dishes, Continue Reading →
This weekend I decided to end my juice fast. I was fifteen days into it and feeling good. I decided that I’d had a good spring cleansing; the minor allergic reactions that I was having had subsided, my skin and tongue were clear. And I felt really ready to eat! Continue Reading →
Cantaloupes are plentiful right now in the Zihuatanejo market and supermarkets, and they are especially sweet at the moment. It’s worth running down to the Mercado Central to pick some up, and here’s a perfect way to use them to cool down in the heat of early summer. This refreshing Continue Reading →
Last Saturday we took a stroll through the Zihuatanejo market to pick up a few things we needed. My favorite part of the market is the area out back, along Calle Mangos, where the local vendors tend to hang out selling their produce. Walking along the crowded sidewalk we came Continue Reading →
Today I came across a recipe for Black Bean Hummus. Now, black beans are a very Mexican dish and are a great staple in a vegan or vegetarian diet. Black bean soup, refried black beans (without the lard!), and black bean dip with tortilla chips are simple and tasty. When Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I made a very simple green smoothie that’s sweet and satisfying and downright yummy. Really easy. Greenya Colada water from one small, fresh coconut (about 1 cup) 1 thick slice fresh pineapple, trimmed and diced 1 handful (about 2 cups) fresh, young spinach leaves agave syrup, maple syrup or Continue Reading →
When I was a kid I hated potato soup. My Czech grandmother, rosy-cheeked and rotund, with her sparse, gray hair pulled back into a neat bun, any unruly wisps reined in by a near-to-invisible hair net, and with tiny ruby-red earrings studding her earlobes, used to make it for me Continue Reading →
This quick 30+ minute video is an excellent overview of the whys and wherefores of veganism. It addresses all of the salient points and reasons for following the vegan lifestyle. When I watched it, it effectively reinforced my support of a healthy, plant-based diet and made me realize that changing Continue Reading →
Reading and watching the history of Dr. Max Gerson and the strict plant-based diet that he developed during his treatment of a number of conditions and diseases was one of the earliest influences in my move toward eliminating animal products from my diet. Dying to Have Known is a documentary Continue Reading →