Eatwild has a comprehensive database of grass-fed food sources in both the US and Canada. I utilize them as a resource when I am traveling, searching for options for clients, or investigating options I find on local menus.

Aside from being a fabulous resource, they also offer educational articles on why grass-fed is a preferable option, have a small store of books on farming, food, food politics, and cooking gadgets. It’s a site worth bookmarking for future reference!

To find local suppliers of grass-fed products in your area, click here:

Romio’s Pizza has wowed me by offering dairy, gluten, and/or soy-free pizzas coming the first week of June!

They have partnered with DaVinci’s bakery to reach out to those of us who have food intolerances. DaVinci’s makes a D/S/F pizza crust and DaVinci’s has been offering soy cheese to those who are lactose intolerant (please note - the soy cheese make have the milk protein casein in it; check with staff to make sure). I’m no stranger to a cheeseless pizza from my vegan days (back in the 90’s, in Alaska, when soy cheese was relatively unheard of), so even if Romio’s hasn’t figured out a dairy-soy free cheese, I’ll gladly order a pie from them the next time I’m having a craving for pizza or wanting to prep for a long run.

Please show Romio’s your support by ordering from them the next time you want a pie. Thank them for considering those with food intolerances and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Romio’s is located in Greenwood, but offers delivers free to the following areas:
North to 160th St.
East to I-5
West to Puget Sound
South to the Ship Canal

Greenwood, Phinney, Green Lake, Wallingford, Fremont, Ballard, Loyal Heights, Crown Hill, North Beach, Blue Ridge, North Park, Broadview, North Gate, And Bitter Lake.

ROMiÓS PIZZA & PASTA
Greenwood
8523 GREENWOOD AVE. N.
SEATTLEWA 98103

Tel: (206) 782-9005
Fax: (206) 781-9181
E-Mail: office@romiospizza.com

I had the great pleasure of spending my holiday learning how to meditate. Meditation has been on my list of to-do’s for a few years now, but I felt uncomfortable trying and thought I couldn’t “do it right”. My brain would never calm down, I felt awkward and silly, and wasn’t quite sure how sitting and listening to my inner chatter was going to give me clarity, insight and peace.

After several positive testimonials, I decided to give myself a crash course in meditation by attending a Vipassana retreat in Onalaska, WA. For 10 days I sat and meditated, mostly in silence, with periodic breaks for delicious, wholesome food and walking on the retreat grounds. My rationale was 1) I can’t procrastinate or escape if I’m at a retreat, 2) 90-100 hours should be enough time to get comfortable with it, and 3) the quiet time and introspection were in dire need at that moment.

So off I went!

I cannot really describe what occurred, or how it occurred, but I can tell you that one does not leave such a retreat the same person who arrived. 10 days of mediation takes great effort, its true, but the profound rewards of attentiveness, awareness, and clarity are given without conscious struggle or effort. Your objective is to sit and observe, and through this process you somehow release attachments and struggles to emotions, ideas, and expectations. It’s as though you distract yourself with the meditation process while someone else cleans house (or head, as the case may be). I left knowing I had changed, but not knowing just how I had changed.

In the few weeks since my return to civilization, I have observed the following; I am more calm and accepting of the world around me – traffic, people, weather (the cold bothers me less, Mom!); I have greater faith in the unfolding process of my life, and I hear things I did not hear before such as inflection in tone and that which is unsaid. I am less afraid to be straightforward with my opinions, thoughts, and feelings. I feel more comfortable with who I am, even if others are not.

I might be more daring. I might be less hog-tied by uncertainty. That is not to say I am fearless - but now I know in my gut that it’s a passing phase. It will come up, show its face, and fade away, just like all other emotions and experiences in human existence.

Vipassana, or insight meditation, trains the subconscious mind to accept the impermanence of all things. We can consciously observe and accept that everything changes and nothing is forever but for some reason we still become attached or repelled to ideas, thoughts and habit patterns that, according to Buddhist philosophy, only lead to pain and suffering. Something we want doesn’t pan out, something we did not expect throws us for a loop – these things simply occur; our reaction to them is what ignites unpleasant feelings in our body or mind. Vipassana meditation is reported to alleviate suffering through developing a deeper understanding of the temporary nature of all things through simple observation of the body.

Of course, 10 days does not a Buddha make. While I’m not walking around enlightened, I can report that if I do get irked at traffic or burned rice it doesn’t last as long. Interactions with others that would normally upset me (rude strangers, for instance) don’t phase me. I can more clearly see how my own thought patterns can lead me to unpleasantness, and I’m less likely to fall down the rabbit hole after them.

If you are interested in exploring Vipassana mediation, retreats are available all over the world. The centers are run by donation only so that everyone can have access to the benefits of a calm, equanimous mind. For more information, contact me or visit the National Vipassana Website at http://www.dhamma.org/

Beginning this month, VIBRANCE is offering a lively, interactive group program to assist those seeking no-fuss, easy secrets to healthy living! This workshop series is open to enter at anytime, though those who begin the program at its inception will receive the greatest benefits and special discounts.
This workshop series will cover the following subjects -

• Protein, Carbs and Fats! What’s healthy, what’s not?
• Adding healthy foods into your diet one easy step at a time!
• Nutrition Secrets that tame mood swings and the blues
• Dealing with food cravings that get the best of you
• Discover food and exercises right for your unique body!
• Healthy snacks to keep you on track
• Simple ways to increase vibrant living with greater ease!
• How to end self-sabotage for good
• Tips for enhancing your relationships for continued success
• ….and more!

This workshop series begins Thursday, May 10th and is held every other Thursday from 6-7:30pm. Prices are as follows:

• $65 per class to drop-in
• $100/mo. (two 90 min. classes)
• $90/mo. - Three month series commitment (6 classes) ($85/mo before May 10th)
• $85/mo. - for all six months (12 classes) ($78/mo before May 10th)

Those who pay in full for the three or six month series before May 10th will receive additional savings as a reward for their commitment to better health and vibrancy! Email or call 206-227-1231 to sign up!

This week I have had a lifelong friend visiting. She has recently been diagnosed with multiple food allergies and is currently on a predominantly gluten-free diet. What most would consider a great limitation has been a wonderful exploration in what is available in Seattle (and NYC).

Right here in our lovely city is Wild Ginger, listed among my friend’s research as being friendly to those with gluten sensitivities. To say it is “friendly” is a gross underestimate. Del, our server, bent over backwards and made certain that each meal was suitable to be shared among all. The house soy sauce was substituted for a wheat-free tamari, our catfish was breaded in tapioca flour instead of wheat and was sent back twice (without our knowledge) because the “chefs didn’t get the sauce perfect enough”, and then given to us on the house in the end because it came to us late. Del’s commitment to our meal was legendary, and so memorable I nabbed her business cards to share with my food-sensitive clients.
The garlic bok choy we ordered was not too heavy on the garlic, and stir-fried until just crisp-tender. The curry was heavy with coconut and spice, the sauce itself thickly clinging to the vegetables and rice rather than dripping through to the bottom of the plate. My companions eagerly mowed down on Kung-pao chicken and lamb skewers, remarking on the generous flavors of each dish. The complex yet balanced flavor profile of each dish reflects the quality of the chefs and the commitment to fine cuisine Wild Ginger is known for.
If you have food-sensitivities or just value damned good service, I highly recommend Wild Ginger downtown. Ask to be served by Del - she certainly won’t disappoint - and tell her I sent you.

Coal Creek Trail in Factoria is a wonderful, moderately difficult trail that can be enjoyed by you and your family on summer afternoons. Just 30 minutes out of Seattle, this trail features coal mining remnants and a beautiful meadow. If you continue past the meadow, slightly up a service road and take a left back into the forest, you will come across waterfalls and an underwater cave. The trail ends across the street from Red Town Trailhead at Cougar Mountain. Be sure to bring ample water on hot days! The trail is about 4 miles round trip.

Directions: Take 405 to exit 10 (Coal Creek Pkwy) . This is one exit south of the I-90/405 interchange. Turn east onto Coal Creek Pkwy, past 128th Ave. SE for about 3/4 mile. You will curve to the right, and head down the hill past Forrest Drive. Once you reach the bottom of the hill you will pull into the small gravel lot immediately to the left. Please be careful as you prepare to turn - traffic behind you may be moving fast. The trailhead is directly ahead of the parking lot (on the right side).