Where have I been?

Boy it has been a while since I blogged!! That is not proper blogging etiquette. Well, here we are in November and the last time I posted was January. Nearly a whole year has passed and I wanted to give an update to the happenings at Holistic Living Now before the year closes out and we are in the throws of 2011.

This year I have been making monthly wellness presentations to the patients at the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention. This has been a wonderful experience for me to share my wisdom with adults healing from various cancers such as breast, prostate and the like. I am more certain than ever before that the human spirit cannot be extinguished! We are resilient and can survive so much. Always keep your hope alive no matter what comes your way!

I have just started to teach cooking and wellness at GEMS - Girls Empowering and Mentoring Services. This is special work. The average age of the girls is 15 and they are working to leave the sex trade. Empowering these girls to feed themselves with nutrient-rich foods and habits can help them get grounded in their body and grow beyond this chapter in their life.

My work at the the Children's Hospital at Montefiore continues. I am part of Dr. Karen Moody's IMPACT team for Pediatric Oncology / Hematology. Integrative Medicine and Palliative Care Team is what we are and my part of that is Holistic Health Education and Cooking Instruction. This December marks my second anniversary as part of this remarkable team! With the help of my intern Keith Machler, I was able to get two generous blender donations this spring. Blendtec and Montel Williams both donated very powerful and useful blenders. Now, I go from room to room on the 9th floor making delicious and healthy smoothies for the kids who are inpatients. My next goal is to set up a table in the day hospital waiting area. This clinic is where kids come to get their chemotherapy and have regular checkups. The Bronx has been deemed the least healthy county in the U.S. so our work there can be overwhelming at times. Education is power. My goal is to share my recipes and guidance with as many as possible.

And finally, I created a Holistic Living Now fan page on Facebook. That is a great spot to view photos and videos of my wellness events. There are contests to compete in and conversations to join.

Thanks for reading and please post a note so I can hear your feedback!

Did you see Michael Pollan on Oprah today? That is what I am talking about! It is simple, as I have been saying since I founded Holistic Living Now back in 2003...eat whole, unprocessed foods and don't deprive yourself of foods you love. I recently watched Food Inc. the documentary. Did you see it too? I am so glad this information regarding the way meat is produced in this country is getting out to the masses. It helps us make better choices. Buying locally is so important so I am always telling people about the benefits of belonging to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Are you confused about how to start, what to cook and how to fit it all into your hectic life? Write to me and tell me your concerns. Let's solve this together. Thanks for reading! Tell your friends and help me get this important message to all who need to hear it. Don't forget to be conscious when you make your 3 "votes" each day. Food suppliers listen to where you put your dollars.