Challenge Yourself: Natural Foods

We truly believe incorporating natural foods into your life is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Here are some easy ways to get started.

32 Total Challenges

61 participants 8 comments
Posted on: April 17, 2008

Learn to decipher food labels

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Organic, all natural, cage-free, Fair Trade...what does it all mean? Today, educate yourself about food labels.

30 participants 13 comments
Posted on: April 08, 2008

Find a good salad recipe

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Caesar or Waldorf? Beet or tabbouleh? It’s a toss-up. In the next 24 hours, add to your culinary repertoire by finding a salad recipe you’d like to try out. _(Watch out for the salad dressing...

44 participants 14 comments
Posted on: April 01, 2008

Grow your own herb garden

Challenge yourself for: 180 days

Fresh herbs are not only a great way to add interesting flavors to your meals, they're also packed with nutrients. When you have them readily available, you can quickly toss them into your favorite...

68 participants 9 comments
Posted on: February 12, 2008

Color your diet healthful

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Fruits and veggies are actually colored by their various nutrients and phytochemicals. As a result, the more colors you eat at each meal, the more nutritious it is. Today, challenge yourself to...

19 participants 3 comments
Posted on: February 06, 2008

Simplify dinner

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Cooking a nutritious meal after a long day at work can sometimes be overwhelming. One great way to reduce the effort - and the dishes afterward - is to cut-up your produce before leaving the house in...

3 participants 1 comment
Posted on: February 03, 2008

Throw a chocolate tasting party

Challenge yourself for: 30 days

Now that the holidays are over you may find yourself missing some of the hustle and bustle of social events and activities. Which is why we think that throwing a chocolate tasting party this month is...

10 participants 6 comments
Posted on: January 25, 2008

Buy Fair Trade

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Shopping at your local grocery store, you may have seen the “Fair Trade Certified” label on foods like chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar, wine, and fruit. But what exactly does it mean? Essentially...

2 participants 0 comments
Posted on: January 20, 2008

Have a tea party

Challenge yourself for: 30 days

Although you might think that tea parties are for children, they’re actually quite fun for adults too. Especially if you plan them on a theme. The best ones are based on a tea’s origins. For example...

8 participants 3 comments
Posted on: January 14, 2008

Squeeze your own juice

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Although the jury’s still out on whether freshly-squeezed juice is better for you than the commercially-produced kind, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a benefit to squeezing your own juice. Taste alone...

9 participants 2 comments
Posted on: January 09, 2008

Know your fish

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Many species of fish are on the verge of extinction. And countless more are filled with toxins such as mercury and PCBs. All of these factors can make eating fish confusing for healthy...

22 participants 12 comments
Posted on: January 05, 2008

Try a new tea

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

If you’re a tea drinker, you probably drink the same tea most days of the week. After all, when we find something we like we usually stick to it. The great thing about tea, though, is that it doesn...

10 participants 0 comments
Posted on: January 03, 2008

Experiment with oatmeal

Challenge yourself for: 7 days

You may not realize it, but all oatmeal is not all the same. Depending on the way oat groats are processed, oatmeal has a very different texture once it’s cooked. So while you may think you don’t...

10 participants 0 comments
Posted on: December 22, 2007

Cook ahead

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

Sharing food with family and friends is one of the joys of the holidays. But if it’s your job to cook the meals, you may find yourself spending more time in the kitchen than enjoying the festivities...

32 participants 5 comments
Posted on: December 21, 2007

Eat for winter

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

We love eating foods that are at the peak of their flavor and nutrients. After all, when fresh whole food is naturally delicious it entices you to eat it more often. When is food in its optimal...

41 participants 19 comments
Posted on: December 05, 2007

Go vegan for a day

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Ever wonder what it’d be like to be a vegan? Do you think living without meat or animal products would be impossible? Today, challenge yourself by putting your ideas to the test. Try a vegan diet...

8 participants 2 comments
Posted on: November 20, 2007

Spread some organic love

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Don’t you just love it when coworkers bring in healthy snacks and fresh produce to share? Today or tomorrow, be that generous person. On your way to work (or on your way home tonight) stop off at...

10 participants 6 comments
Posted on: November 19, 2007

Learn about local tap water

Challenge yourself for: 7 days

Do you drink bottled water because you assume it’s better than tap water? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if you live in the United States bottled water is not necessarily safer...

20 participants 14 comments
Posted on: November 16, 2007

Try a meat substitute

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

High in protein, low in fat and chock full of vitamins, meat substitutes are popular on the plates of vegetarians and vegans. Recently, however, chefs have been adding them to the menus of some fancy...

19 participants 7 comments
Posted on: November 10, 2007

Make pasta from scratch

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

Ever wonder what it’d be like to make pasta from scratch? Although it’s not difficult, it can be somewhat time-consuming. But there are so many benefits! To start, because homemade pasta is made with...

12 participants 5 comments
Posted on: November 09, 2007

Eat locally

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

There are so many benefits to eating locally that listing them all here would simply take too long. Here are a few great reasons: 1) With less transit time, locally grown produce is fresher (which...

36 participants 15 comments
Posted on: November 07, 2007

Eat something bitter

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Did you know that eating or drinking something bitter helps your body digest better? Apparently, bitterness causes you to salivate, and the enzymes in saliva help your body deal with whatever is in...

27 participants 5 comments
Posted on: October 29, 2007

Eat for autumn

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

There’s something comforting and instinctive about eating seasonal foods. Just think about how good it feels to eat a thick, rich stew filled with potatoes and carrots on a cold rainy night or a...

5 participants 1 comment
Posted on: October 01, 2007

Throw an olive oil tasting party

Challenge yourself for: 30 days

Did you know that in the Northern Hemisphere (where the majority of the world's olive oil is produced) the olive harvest season starts in the fall? As a result, your best chance of getting fresh olive...

65 participants 19 comments
Posted on: August 28, 2007

Make a rainbow-colored meal

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Did you know that fruits and vegetables are colored by their various nutrients and phytochemicals? This means that you get unique health benefits from eating colorful food. Today, make a meal that...

20 participants 12 comments
Posted on: August 21, 2007

Toss in some fresh herbs

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Fresh herbs are chock full of vitamins and minerals. They also add an unexpected twist to your favorite recipes. Try adding some fresh herbs to one of your old stand-by recipes today. Or, better yet...

22 participants 1 comment
Posted on: August 09, 2007

Make an all-organic meal

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

During the next 24 hours, challenge yourself to make a meal that contains only organic ingredients. There are so many benefits to supporting organic farming.

38 participants 18 comments
Posted on: August 05, 2007

Taste an alternative milk

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

In addition to soy and coconut milk, there are lots of other alternative milks you may or may not have heard of. Believe it or not, milk can be made from almonds, oats, rice, and even potatoes. During...

29 participants 12 comments
Posted on: August 01, 2007

Splurge on dessert

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Many good-for-you foods are also delicious and dessert-worthy. Today, identify a healthy dessert you'll really enjoy and indulge in an after-dinner delight.

10 participants 1 comment
Posted on: July 31, 2007

Learn the benefits of going organic

Challenge yourself for: 7 days

Everyone assumes that organic food is better. But what makes it better? This week, do some research to learn about it. How does it taste compared to conventional produce? How much more expensive is it...

40 participants 7 comments
Posted on: July 26, 2007

Try a new grain

Challenge yourself for: 7 days

There are so many interesting and tasty grains to try. This week, challenge yourself to visit your local natural foods store and buy a whole grain you've never tasted before (e.g. groats, spelt...

30 participants 13 comments
Posted on: July 26, 2007

Cook a one-pot meal

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Using one pot to cook an entire meal makes a lot of sense. For starters, when different foods simmer together their flavors blend in delicious ways. And then there's the added bonus of energy...

38 participants 10 comments
Posted on: July 26, 2007

Discover a local farmers market

Challenge yourself for: 7 days

Locally grown foods are not only beneficial for the environment, they're often a lot fresher and cheaper too. Then, there's the added bonus of supporting local businesses. Make an effort this week...