Reverse the ratio
Instead of serving up a large portion of meat and carbohydrates with a small portion of vegetables, change the ratio, says Terry Traub, author of “Food to Some, Poison to Others” (Frederick Fell Publishers, $14.95). Create a meal with two large portions of vegetables, a good portion of brown rice, and a small amount of meat, only 4 ounces or less, says Traub, who has two sons with celiac disease. Her book offers information on elimination diets, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome, in addition to 175 recipes.
Healthier yoga mats
The Boulder Mat Co.’s products come in five energizing designs. Founder Amber Kastenschmidt spent a year looking for the perfect mat and now makes them from a man-made but toxin- free foam. Customers who send in their old mats to the address below will get a $5 coupon to buy a new Boulder mat online. “We clean them with a vegan yoga mat cleaner, and then offer them, free of charge, to yoga charities all across the U.S. Then, the yoga mats are used to teach yoga in schools, shelters, prisons and safe houses,” says Kastenschmidt. The mats, $49, are available at yoga studios, health clubs and Whole Foods.
The Bolder Mat Company, 837 Incorrigible Circle, Longmont, CO 80504; 1-800-368-9809 or 303-775-3486;
Turnoff Week starts today
Designed to fight obesity, improve literacy and encourage stronger community involvement, the event encourages people to turn off their televisions and video games for a whole seven days, April 20 through 26. We spend an average of nine hours a day in front of a screen, more than time spent in school, at work or asleep. The idea is to take an extended break and discover healthier alternatives. “It’s a chance to read, be more physically active, converse, think, create and do. We want to link people back into their communities by reminding them to utilize their local resources such as parks, trails, playgrounds and recreation centers,” says Eric Aakko, director of The Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program. screentime.org, livewellcolorado.or
