Sometimes you just want a cookie. But how do you make a cookie not so bad? A common answer would be, “remove all the sugar.” But let’s face it… if you remove all the sugar, who would want it? The answer? Compromise! When I bake I usually reduce sugar content by ½ and incorporate natural […]
Susan Ventrella, DO, ND
Should I Go Vegan?
Patients frequently ask me, “Should I go vegan?” And my answer is usually no. Let me explain. Making the choice to be vegan means you will only consume plant products. Absolutely no animal products, this includes products like cheese, milk and eggs. You will not even be able to consume the gelatin in a typical […]
5 Ways to Cook Bok Choy
So it’s 3 O’Clock on Tuesday afternoon and I pull up to the CSA. Today it’s kale, snap peas and baby bok choy! Over the next 2 weeks, more bok choy, this time full grown. What do you do with this? Bok Choy is a cabbage family veggie used in Asian cooking. So, the first […]
What is a CSA? Confessions of a CSA Virgin
When I was a child in Buffalo, NY, my Mom always took us to local farms to pick apples, strawberries, and whatever else was in season. We had our own salad garden in the backyard. Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, and parsley were picked just before dinner every night. Our neighbors had sour cherry trees and […]
Black Bean & Quinoa Veggie Burgers
Most vegetarian burgers are loaded with chemicals and soy protein. I don’t want to eat that or serve it to my family. So I started searching for the best tasting veggie burger I could make. I tried a rice and quinoa based pattie, but that was too bland and the texture wasn’t right. I even […]
Why You Should Avoid Soy
Over the past 2 decades or so, soy has been touted as the best thing since sliced bread. Yet some people say you should avoid soy. Cheap, low fat and packed with protein, you can find it in nearly everything. It’s a vegan source of protein, so it’s what tofu and tempeh start with. It’s […]
How to Make Ghee
Ghee is clarified butter. You know, the stuff you dip lobster into. It has been used forever in India in making curries. Lately it has been “discovered” here, so it became hip– which means it’s expensive. Why pay high prices for it when you can make ghee yourself? It’s easy! So why bother making ghee? […]
When to Buy Organic Produce
How do you make the most of your food dollar? Organic produce is generally more expensive than conventionally grown produce. When is it worth it to spend the money for organics? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a way to know exactly which types of produce need to be organic? As a matter of fact, […]
It’s Your Job to Create a Healthy Lifestyle
As adults we are solely responsible for creating a healthy lifestyle, unless there is a disability that prevents us from doing so. When we were an infant, we had to rely completely on our parent to care of us. As we grew older, our parents taught us how to take care of ourselves. We had […]
Self Care is Not Selfish: 2 Simple Steps to Taking Care of Yourself
Sometimes you need to take care of yourself first. Have you ever noticed that the airline hostess instructs you that in the event of an emergency, place the oxygen mask on your face before assisting anyone else? Have you ever thought about why they say that? If you pass out from lack of oxygen you […]