While we have a passion to eat well, organic produce can get pricey. You may often find yourself with large totals at the register that are shocking. Grocery stores like Whole Foods and Bristol Farms seem way out of budget for this grim economy. Here are 4 ways The Conscious Snob likes to shop without sacrificing healthy food choices:

1. Join a food cooperation where you can save with member discounts. These co-ops usually offer organic and sustainable products at much cheaper prices.
2. Get your produce directly from farmers. By paying $200-$300 every year by joining the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) you’ll be able to purchase all your produce at no markup!
3. Check out your local farmer’s market. Your local farmer’s markets are great havens for fresh produce at a fraction of the cost.  You can find homemade breads, canned jams, and delicious spreads along with the best produce your local farms have to offer.  Bring your own reusable grocery tote instead of using their plastic bags to save the environment even more.
   
4. Shorten your grocery list and create your own recipes. This is a no brainer for those of you who prefer healthier food choices by making your own recipes to control the quality of ingredients in your foods.

Chez Panisse is located at 1517 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, California and is known for the best-tasting food that is organically grown using ecologically safe methods by people who care about the earth.  Opened in 1971 by Alice Waters, this neighborhood bistro offers a different set menu every day, using only the freshest and finest ingredients of the season.  Prices are set, and reservations are required for dinners featuring Chicory salad with walnuts, duck liver toast, and gizzard confit as the first course, Maine lobster ravioli with herbs in fish broth as the second, grilled Marin Sun grass-fed beef rib eye with bordelaise sauce as the third course, and that is just the beginning.

There is also a Cafe upstairs that offers a la carte dishes for both lunch and dinner.  Menus still change daily, and reservations are recommended.  Some dishes you can expect to see at the Cafe include hand-cut fettuccine with asparagus, peas, crème fraîche, chervil, and pecorino, the Provençal fish and shellfish stew with saffron, leeks, and aïoli, and grilled cattail Creek Ranch lamb leg with wild fennel cakes, kale, cardoons, and green garlic.  Talk about watering tastebuds.

Reservations need to be made even a month in advance, and a $25 deposit is required upon making the reservations using a credit card.

Visit Chez Panisse’s website for the menu, reservations and directions.

Happy eating!

Sure, we eat organic fruit and cook wild salmon to satiate our hunger. But what about when we want something fun and refreshing to quench our thirst? Now you can have it all. It was only a matter of time before organic alcohol hit specialty liquor shops. While alcohol is alcohol (you still get the same amount of calories), how it is produced and manufactured is not something that’s truly regulated. Traditional farming has involved pesticides and fertilizers that are harmful to the farmers as well as the ground underneath us. New organic liquors are produced by sustainable farming free of such harmful ingredients and methods, which leads to a sense of guilt-free drinking. But clearly, drink responsibly and enjoy in moderation.

Tru Organic Straight Vodka
$33.99 for 750ml
This drink is pretty strong and has a bite if drank straight from the bottle. If you love mixed drinks, and this vodka can make a mean peach cocktail. Just add 3 oz Tru Organic Straight Vodka with 1/4 ripe peach, 1 teaspoon sugar, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprig of mint. Shake it up and pour it over rocks. Delicious!

Rain Vodka
$17.99 for 1.0 liter
This liquor is handmade in small quantities from organic white corn. This is actually a very smooth drink straight from the bottle with a hint of flowers and a nice aftertaste. It comes in a very feminine bottle and can be great for mixed drinks as well.

Juniper Green Organic London Dry Gin
$24.99 for 750ml
This gin is made with organic grain, juniper berries, angelica root and other herbs. There is a minty, sweet flavor to it and it is pretty smooth. Again, great as a mixed drink, such as a tonic with a slice of lemon.

There is always an air of guilty pleasure when it comes to desserts and sweets. It makes sense since most of the desserts we find at grocery stores and restaurants are laden with butter, fats, and enough sugary energy to fuel a marathon. Matthew Rogers and Tiziana Alipo Tamborra are two master dessert chefs at Cafe Gratitude who present Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts, a book of lovely recipes that celebrate life, love and the planet. These desserts are all based on the raw-food philosophy, which uses fresh and healthy ingredients to create truly guilt-free desserts.

Each segment of this book sections off with great personal introductions to each dessert group. From pies to cakes to ice cream, these recipes are amazing. When introducing pies in the second chapter, the authors discuss living in the present. Instead of getting stuck in the past and projecting or worrying about the future, the authors insist on fully experiencing the magic of the present moment, and nothing brings you to the present than when you focus on making these delicious pies.

“Preparing food is a great way to practice living in the present.  The best results with any recipe will come about from being focused and attentive to every step of the process.  Noticing all the colors, flavors, textures, measurements, and shapes of the ingredients naturally brings us into the present moment.  Enjoy living in the moment as you make these delicious pies.”

Rogers and Tamborra’s amazing recipes feature everything from baklava to brownies to guilt-free cheesecake, but what’s refreshing is that they also discuss how giving, receiving, forgiveness and love are emotions integral to preparing their desserts.

This book provides great explanations of the various techniques and methods of creating these desserts using the raw-food philosophy. The first chapter is dedicated to explaining where to find ingredients and specific utensils needed for the raw-food baking philosophy.  Their clear explanations and instructions slowly break down any sort of intimidation that raw-food diets may bring to new consumers.  For example, when making brownies, baking is not an option. Instead, a dehydration method is used to extract the fluids out of the brownies to create the chewy texture.  Who knew that could be done!

Another asset to this book are the discussions about the various types of foods used, health benefits, and philosophy of the raw food diet.  Raw foodism is a lifestyle that focuses on the consumption of un-cooked and un-processed foods, usually all organic as well.  By consuming only raw and organic foods, the person is healthier and able to prevent, even heal chronic health problems.  Raw foods are believed to have more nutrients and antioxidants than foods cooked at high temperatures.  Some raw food dieters choose to eliminate animal products completely, but some also make sure to include raw meats and fish into their daily diet.

Sweet Gratitude is definitely a must for serious raw food dieters or people who are ready to invest time and research to making these desserts. It adds variety to the raw food diet, but it’s important to note that some recipes, such as the one for brownies, might require a few days to manifest — so plan accordingly.  This book is definitely worth it for those interested in healthier desserts and ready for a healthier change in their lifestyles.

We love us some sushi.  Seafood is delicious and can provide a lot of nutritious benefits to our health, such as providing omega-3 fatty acids.  These fatty acids have been proven to demonstrate a decrease in cholesterol levels in people who consumed it regularly, which prevents heart disease.  There are also indications that it can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well.  However, don’t just run to the market and pick up just any old fish.  Nor should you just order the most expensive seafood dish at your favorite restaurant.

Not all fish are equal. Some are less environmentally friendly based on how they are caught, how much seafood is available and how the fisheries are managed.  It’s better to consume selections from healthy and abundant sources than consuming seafood that will lead to the extinction of some species.

Audubon is an organization focused on conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. They created a wonderful list of sustainable seafood and not so sustainable seafood. They indicate that anchovies, crawfish, halibut, Pacific-farmed oysters, Wild Alaskan salmon and other seafoods are great to enjoy, but they also warn us to avoid caviar, Chilean sea bass, farmed salmon and imported shrimp. To print your own list for your wallet, check it out here.

Here is a fabulous recipe for Ahi Tartare. Ahi is also known as yellowfin tuna, and has been listed as safe to consume.  The yellowfin tuna that has been troll-caught is okay, but the long-line catching techniques are listed as “Be Careful” by the Audubon’s Seafood guide for what types of marine food products are eco-friendly.

Ahi Tartare
Makes 6 servings

1 pound very fresh ahi
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame seed oil
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons grated horseradish/wasabi
Salt and pepper to taste

For a chunky texture, cut ahi tuna into 1/2 inch cubes and mix with all the other ingredients. Serve immediately.

For a smoother texture, combine the tuna and rest of the ingredients and the sliced ahi into a food processor and pulse until your desired texture is reached. Usually 4-6 times provides a great texture. Avoid pureeing.

Serve with crackers, toasted bread and even on a salad of greens!

There are a lot of foods out there that we consume. Do you know what the nutritional contents are? Knowing what we’re eating enables us to make better choices for our health. A great resource is Nutrition Data . This website has the most detailed breakdown of all foods. From apples to apple pies, you can find the good and the bad about what you eat.

Nutrition Data offers other great tools and features that include a body mass index calculator, weight loss tips, as well as a breakdown of the amount of calories your body needs in order to reach or maintain a certain weight. It also has current information pertaining to health and a ton of delicious recipes to try at home. Sign up for their newsletter for the latest information about nutrition and health. Remember, knowledge is power.

How many meals do you eat a day? The answer should be at least 3. That’s right, at least. Personally, I shoot for 5 small meals each day. Your body needs to continually refuel itself, and that means putting food in your mouth. Don’t be afraid of food. Love food. Indulge. Just be conscious about it and have moderation. Your nutrition is a huge factor to your quality of life, so start making better choices in what you eat.

If you are hungry, shoot for the fruit and healthy snacks. The healthy snacks are those that have never been packaged with an ingredient list longer than your makeup ingredient list. Apples, carrots, peaches, strawberries, almonds, and cashews are amazing snacks that fill you up.

Take a multivitamin as an insurance plan. It’s pretty likely that even though you try your best to eat healthy, you may not be getting all that recommended vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

Start tracking what you eat, and you will be surprised at what you are putting into your body. By writing them down, you become more aware of your consumption. Try FitDay for free food journal tracking. It takes some initial time to set-up and input specific foods, but once you get started, it’s easy to keep track of your food, caloric intake, and fitness activities.

Nutrition is about conscious choices, not deprivation. Eat sensibly, and allow yourself treats about twice a week. It can be a small slice of cheesecake or an ice cream night out. Keep in mind: deprivation leads to failure, and it’s all about establishing good lifestyle habits. Take a bite towards better health today.

I am fascinated with eco-friendly products, from clothing to vehicles to finding new ways to make life more organic and environmentally safe. Now I can cook organically with foods purchased at a local farmer’s market and specialty grocery stores.

There are a lot of different and amazing foods out there with various benefits and flavors that can enhance all of your meals. The Organic Cook’s Bible is just the thing to have on your kitchen counter.

When I first leafed through this book, I was excited to see a lot of new items I didn’t know about and how easy it was to incorporate into my meals. I love trying new recipes, and this book not only provides details of the fruits, vegetables and meats, but it also gives delicious recipes with a twist, such as Rosemary Pesto. It also teaches you how to pick the best produce when grocery shopping.

Organic produce is free from conventional pesticides, fertilizers, fecal matter, and any type of sludge from the sewers (are you grossed out yet?). Animals have not been fed hormones or antibiotics, which can still exist in the meat eaten by humans. When labeled organic, the food has followed strict rules and regulations and have been certified to be free of such possible contaminants.

I purchased this book and love it! It’s a great book to have at the coffee table as well for friends and guests to skim through. I refer to i before grocery shopping to see what new dishes I can cook up. Take a step towards a more organic lifestyle by eating organically. Remember, you are what you eat.

Before, summertime meant regular trips to Thrifty’s for their 39¢ ice cream cones. Maybe if it was a weekend, it meant a much anticipated trip to Baskin Robbins or Dairy Queen for a 31-flavor taste test and a Blizzard made-to-go.

Now, summertime means trips to Pinkberry for a frozen yogurt and to any convenient store for a zero-calorie-anything drink. However, before you rush into line to get what you may think is a healthy snack, read what we think are the three best and healthiest suggestions for easy, refreshing summer snacks.

1) Ice cream vs. Frozen Yogurt: If you’re debating between the two then frozen yogurt is probably the healthier choice, but this doesn’t mean that it’s actually healthy for you - especially if you’re topping your 13 ounces of frozen yogurt with a heap of almonds and M&Ms. Frozen yogurt has about 25-30 calories per ounce, so even without the toppings you easily have over 325 calories in your cup. Be wary of what you put on top of your frozen yogurt as well as the size of the portion. Keep in mind that frozen yogurt also has about half the calcium and protein benefits of regular, plain yogurt. So if you’re really looking for a healthy snack, mix some summer strawberries or cherries with a cup of non-fat, plain yogurt for something that’s both cool to the palette and great for your body.

2) Regular vs. Diet Drinks: It’s tempting to grab a super drink in this heat but keep in mind that mega-size portions come with mega-size calories. It’s really easy to over consume our portions because everything is served so out of proportion. This also goes for diet sodas or other diet drinks. While these types of drinks may contain zero calories, they usually use aspartame or some other form of artificial sweetener to sweeten the drink. Studies have shown that the sweet flavor triggers your body to want real sugar, setting off cravings. Your body was expecting calories from your sweet diet soda, so when there aren’t any, the body will demand real calories. So whether you’re choosing a regular or a diet drink, think about how often and how much you’re consuming these drinks. If you’re looking for a cold fizz, then why not opt for a bottle of sparking Perrier or maybe add some cucumber, apple, orange, or lemon slices to your water for a bit of flavor!

3) Strawberries vs. Cherries: To this I say both! Summertime’s a great time to get strawberries or cherries at your local farmer’s market. Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber. Cherries are great for potassium and also a good source for calcium. Both also serve as good sources for antioxidants which help protect the body’s cells and organs. If I can’t finish my strawberries while they’re fresh, I like freezing them so that I can slowly eat them like ice cubes (although this is probably not the best for your teeth). Other fruits are also great snacks to add to your daily diet. Aside from various vitamins and nutrients, eating fresh fruit is also great for digestion and for burning calories. Unlike drinking blended fruit smoothies, which takes the body little effort to break down, the body has a steady process of breaking down fresh fruit to allows us a consistent source of energy.

So whether you’re on a healthy diet or looking to satisfy a craving, keep in mind that the key is balance. Indulging occasionally is okay as long as you are aware of what you’re putting into your body and mindful of other healthier alternatives!

We eat to live, not live to eat. We also tend to mindlessly munch on snacks during computer or television time, as well as wolf down a meal when we are rushed and especially hungry. Sometimes we feel sad and start to eat. A lot. What happened to experiencing our food?

A step to greater satisfaction with food and better weight management is mindful eating. While it is hard, try to have one meal or snack where you are truly enjoying the texture, taste, and smell of what you are eating. You will soon realize that only three bites will have you satiated and full.

To enjoy your food, here are a few things to think about before chowing down:

How hungry are you? Assess your hunger level and determine how much you should eat before you even put anything on your plate. Therefore you already took a mindful first step towards control.

Eat slowly That means setting your utensil down before you take another bite. It takes longer but gives you time to chew, taste, and swallow.

Really taste the food Let the flavors dance in your mouth. Feel the texture along your tongue and palate. Observe the colors. By doing so, you will notice your taste satiety, and become fuller faster.

Stop before you are full It takes your body some time to signal to your brain that you are full, so start listening more carefully to your body. If you feel full, you probably ate too much already.

For a list of great foods to include and enjoy in your diet, check out my post on five foods that can change your life.