The Eco-Chic Kitchen

10 Fabulous Ways to Reuse Aluminum Foil

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:19:34 -0700

Aluminum foil appeared on the market in the early 1900s as a wrapper for Life Savers candy, and quickly eclipsed tin foil to become a popular helper in kitchens across the country. Today, the handy metal leaves provide a pliable substance that works as a total barrier to light and oxygen, ideal for packaging food and other perishable items. However, this convenient resource does not comes with a price.

The 5 Best Herbs to Grow for a Windowsill Herb Garden

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:19:33 -0700

No matter how tiny your apartment or how limited your time, you can make room for a miniature window herb garden. A few decorative pots and a little sunlight, and you’ve got fresh herbs whenever you want them, year round. But which are the best herbs to grow? Here are the ones that’ll look, smell and taste best, and give you the most for your tiny herb garden investment.

What Is Eco Tourism, Anyway? 20 Green Travel Tips

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:19:33 -0700

Your eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t stop when you travel, even if traveling makes maintaining your green routine difficult.

What with the complexity of finding organic and sustainably grown food, the lack of recycling options when traveling and the environmental impact of just getting from point A to point B, keeping up with your commitments to living green can be darn hard away from home. When you want to see the sights on your next getaway, go the complete eco-route. Green your travels by committing to ecotourism.

Biotech Industry Pushes Back Against California GMO Labeling Initiative

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 01:46:17 -0700

It was only a matter of time before Monsanto and the biotech industry at risk of being forced to label genetically modified ingredients pushed back against The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act. They’re targeting Californians where it hurts most: their wallets and the state’s poor communities. http://dlvr.it/1rdvN2

14 Natural Remedies to Treat Summer Bites, Itches, & Burns

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:50:02 -0700

That sultry summer party you’re attending this weekend is the perfect event to unveil your new strapless dress. There’s just one problem, though—your sculpted arms and legs are covered with bug bites.

While summer is the optimal time for showing off toned skin and flaunting revealing fashions, it’s the absolute worst for bug bites, sunburns, and itchy rashes. Stop skin blunders from ruining your look with any of the following skin relief treatments.

13-Year-Old CEO Invents Cure for Hiccups

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:35:01 -0700

In the summer of 2010, Mallory Kievman had a bad case of the hiccups. A _really_ bad case. Desperate for relief, she started trying every folk remedy she could find, including sipping pickle juice, drinking saltwater, and swallowing a glass of water while hanging her head upside down. In fact, she tried more than 100 remedies before deciding to try combining her three favorites—lollipops, apple cider vinegar, and sugar—into a single, powerful hiccup cure.

Mariel Hemingway Crowdfunding Anti-Monsanto Film: Will You Help?

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:42:34 -0700

Movies have always been a great way to mix education and entertainment. In many ways they can do more to raise widespread awareness for a topic than any documentary or news story. Think of how much the film “Philadelphia” did for AIDS awareness, the way “Dead Man Walking” tackled the death penalty, or how “Milk” educated a new generation about the efforts of Harvey Milk.

I’ve been fed up with what Monsanto is doing and how they’ve been treating farmers for a long time. I also believe that we need to know as much as possible about the foods we eat and whether or not they contain GMOs. If you follow health news at all, you’ve probably heard quite a bit about Congress and the Monsanto or GMO rider in the last few weeks. These stories are slowly creeping into the mainstream news, but it’s not happening fast enough.

Farro Salad Recipe

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:42:33 -0700

Italy’s favorite grain has a mild, nutty flavor and crunchy texture. It is an excellent base for salads, and hearty enough for vegetarian mains. Treat it to a thick dressing of artichoke hearts, lemon, and Parmesan in this toothsome salad.

Organics Condensed… Campbell’s Buys Natural Juice Company for $1.55 Billion

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:10:01 -0700

Marking one of the largest buyouts of a natural brands company in history, Campbell’s Soup has announced an agreement to purchase the Bakersfield, Calif. juice and salad dressing brand Bolthouse Farms for $1.55 billion. http://dlvr.it/1rMQLW

How To Be Awesome - Awesome Things Make You More Awesome

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:02:01 -0700

A new study out of Standford University shows you how to be more awesome—by exposing yourself to awesome things.

The paper, due to be published in _Psychological Science_ later this year, posits that exposure to awesome things—literally, things that inspire awe—can expand the participant’s experience of time, increases feelings of well-being, and even causes people to be more altruistic and less materialistic.

Chicken Tostada Salad Recipe

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:52:02 -0700

This is a refreshed version of the ubiquitous taco salad, with lean chicken and chopped vegetables piled high on a crispy tortilla. For a shortcut, omit frying the tortillas and serve the chicken salad over large handfuls of good-quality corn tortilla chips.

6 Self-Watering Pots and Planters for Forgetful Minds

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:52:02 -0700

We’re all pro-plant here, right? Plants are keen! And it’s difficult to harbor ill will towards living objects that are beautiful and produce edibles. But sadly, even the most dedicated plant lover can forget to water her little green friends in a timely manner. Keep buds blooming instead of browning by investing in a few self-watering planters, or by making a few self-water-ers with your crafty, green thumbs, er, hands.

It’s Hot Out There! Try These 9 Thirst-Quenching Foods

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:52:01 -0700

Baby, it’s hot out there! If glass after glass of water doesn’t seem to be quenching your thirst, try one of these nine foods as recommended by food writer and educational consultant Rebecca Wood in her book, _The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia_.

300,000 Farmers Seek Legal Protection from Monsanto’s GMO Seeds

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:17:32 -0700

In efforts to protect themselves and their farms from a potential legal backlash by Monsanto, more than 300,000 individuals and family farms have taken “preventative” legal action against the multinational GMO seed and chemical company, which has a history of suing farmers for patent infringement. http://dlvr.it/1r4yrf

Tree Death Claims from DuPont’s Imprelis Pesticide Total More than $500 Million

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:28:01 -0700

Homeowners and businesses have filed more than 30,000 claims stating that a DuPont herbicide killed thousands of trees. Restitution, expected to be paid out by the fall, will cost the giant multinational chemical and seed conglomerate hundreds of millions of dollars, the company reports. http://dlvr.it/1qsHmW

Laser Beam Can Detect Fruit and Vegetable Levels…in Your Skin?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:13:19 -0700

Good (and super futuristically strange) news for parents and vegetable lovers—and not-so-good news for you kids and Brussels sprouts haters: Scientists have created a laser that can tell if you’re eating enough vegetables simply by shining a beam onto your skin. For. Real.

Get the Glow: Best Summertime Skin Care Fixes

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:13:18 -0700

Summer…the sun in the sky, warm temps, outdoor activities and water play. Let’s face it (literally). Increased outdoor activities in warm summer weather, working up a sweat coupled with higher humidity, a need for extra sun protection, temperature fluctuations and exposure to the elements can all create the perfect storm for your face. Do you find you’d rather hide than come out to play due to break outs, sunburn, shiny face and hyperpigmentation? We’ve pulled together a few skin care product quick fixes (and some requiring a little time and diligence) to address these summer skin challenges.

Don’t Fat-Shame These Healthy Fats!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:13:18 -0700

Remember the wretched fat-free products that were so hot in the mid-90s? Blech! Everyone was so darn busy fat-shaming foods that no one took time to read food labels. Some fats are essential to the human body. And others – well, yeah – they totally deserve to be fat-shamed.

Pest-Proof Your Garden... the Natural Way!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:13:18 -0700

If you’re lucky, your garden is probably in full bloom right now. But while the tomatoes, zucchini and lettuces you’ve been tenderly caring for all spring and summer are meant to end up on your plate, they’re also probably attracting other interested animals. Instead of using dangerous deterrents that could harm both the animals and the loved ones you’re feeding, try using some of these all-natural methods to keep your garden pest free!

Good News for Coffee Lovers: Heart and Cancer Prevention in Every Cup

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:32:02 -0700

If you can’t seem to give up your morning java fix, there may be a silver lining: Harvard School of Public Health has released two studies that show a connection between daily coffee consumption and decreased risks of both heart failure and skin cancer. http://dlvr.it/1qgdnP