California State Senator Mark Leno has introduced a bill that would require all cell phones sold in California to include information about their radiation emissions. The Environmental Workers Group has compiled their list of the safest cell phones on the market based on the amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body when using the wireless device. The levels range from 0.3 to 1.6 watts per kilogram of body weight.

One cup of quinoa has more calcium than a quart of milk and has twice the protein of barley or rice.

Salad:
• 2 cups quinoa
• 4 cups filtered water
• pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 med onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 broccoli stalks, in bite sized pieces
• ½ cup sunflower seeds, toasted

Dressing:
• ¼ cup flaxseed oil
• ¼ cup brewer's yeast
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 1 tsp mellow miso
• 1 tbsp tamari

The Mayans considered chocolate "The Foods of the Gods" and drank a very bitter mix of it with peppers for royal and ceremonious purposes. The Aztecs held this unsweetened chocolate drink to an elevated status. Europeans did not take to chocolate until sugar was substituted for peppers. Milk was added to chocolate hundreds of years later, creating milk chocolate.

Feeling that you have a case of the ‘winter blues'? Don't just brush it off - Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. Most people with SAD start feeling their symptoms in the fall and this continues in the winter months.

Seasonal affective disorder is a seasonal or cyclic condition. Symptoms may start out mild and become more severe over time.

Ingredients:
• 2 cans black beans, with the liquid!!
• 4 roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 red or yellow onion, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of cumin
• 1 small can tomato paste

BPA is in the news again! This time it seems as though the FDA is going to acknowledge BPAs and start regulating them. On Friday January 15th the FDA stated "it was concerned about the chemical's effect on fetuses, infants and children."

It is that time of the year again; time to make New Year's resolutions. I, like so many, make resolutions every year; they range from simple things like waking up with a smile to more complex resolutions of being healthy in the New Year. I make a resolution to be healthy every year; healthy physically, healthy emotionally, healthy mentally and healthy spiritually. Getting healthy takes work, it takes commitment and for many of us it also requires help. Health is a lifestyle; it is about learning to put yourself first, so you can then be there for everyone else.

1. Exercise improves your mood. Stimulating brain chemicals while exercising leaves you feeling happier anAllergiesd more relaxed. Losing a few pounds from exercising will also help boost your confidence and self-esteem.

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases. It has been proven repeatedly that exercising can reduce your risk for diseases such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer to name a few.

I do not know about you, but pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors in the fall and winter. I found this great recipe from the Meal Mixer Magazine, which is a weekly email of Personalized Meal Planning Made Easy. I enjoy using Meal Mixer because it allows me to plan meals for my family and put in any food allergies or dislikes. If you would like to know more about Meal Mixer, please feel free to give me a call 415.912.9934. I hope you enjoy this pumpkin inspired cookies.

The beginning of October I went to the DAN conference in Dallas, TX. I went to learn ways of treating Autistic children, but walked away with a new respect for families dealing with children on the spectrum. The challenge of treating children on the spectrum is that they are all so different: one child might only have mild symptoms while another child is unable to communicate in any way with their parents.