Articles Written by Beth Funari

Flying Fish Brewing Co. has announced that they'll debut a new beer early this February and donate 100% of the proceeds to New Jersey victims of 2012's Superstorm Sandy. The new beer named "Forever Unloved Sandy" or F.U .Sandy for short is dubbed a hybrid wheat-pale ale. I say hats off to Flying Fish; The thing that strikes me as especially cool about this is Flying Fish isn't just donating profits but every dollar and cent to NJ Sandy Storm Relief. The F.U. Sandy brew will produce approximately 100 kegs of beer, sales of which will generate $50,000 directly towards a charity.  The recipient of the F. U. Sandy funds will be a grassroots NJ-based charitable organization dedicated to Superstorm Sandy relief and chosen by Flying Fish fans via social media.  Read on to find out how you can nominate a charity.

During cold and flu season it's important to be especially diligent about washing our hands.  But are the often touted antibacterial soaps really better when it comes to preventing germs? Some experts say that plain ol regular soap and water do the job just as well. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has made statements that hand washing with regular soap is as effective at removing germs as antibacterial soaps, and they don't necessarily endorse antibacterial soap. So what's the key to cleanliness and germ-fighting?

Do you ever wonder if you really need to scrape that last bit of ketchup or maple syrup out of the jar before tossing it into the recycling container? Are clean recyclables key to an efficient and successful recycling process? The answer... well, it depends. Residue left on plastic or glass containers is typically flushed out with water at some point in the process. Goo and gunk  traces on steel and aluminum cans is most likely burned away during the recycling operation as well. Essentially there's no need to waste tons of water by running the faucet repeatedly over your recyclables—even if you were to get them pristine clean, they'd probably end up getting washed again. However, you do NOT want to throw half-full food items in the recycling bin as this can lead to mold, insects, vermin and other unsanitary conditions.

This salad accomplishes two lovely things: 1. It gets me eating raw greens in the dead of winter when I could easily live off comfort food like vegan hot cocoa and muffins. 2. It satisfies the sweet and salty combo that I adore. Kind of like my greatest treat-love dark chocolate covered pretzels do... only this salad is a bit healthier. I used a spinach base but you can easily mix it up with kale, arugula or any other salad greens. The pomegranate seeds provide a sweet bite balanced by the slightly salty sunflower seeds and crunchy edamame. And the dressing, my friends, is not to be underestimated. This salad dressing is so simple yet flavorful that you might want to make it a salad staple. An added bonus? There's plenty of health benefits going on in this simple dish.

I tend to geek out a bit over restaurants that specialize in local, organic, homemade and sustainable fare. Though I've learned over the past few years that some aren't so legit. For example, the menu is merely sprinkled with local lettuces and the fish is farm-raised and potentially genetically engineered. My experience at Farmhouse was the real deal.  They are truly a farm to table ( tavern in this case) establishment. Farmhouse makes a big effort to make much of their menu from scratch and source food locally. They change the menu often based on food seasonality but some of the current yummy fare i ncludes ...

So we're in the second week of January and everywhere you turn - news stands, television, the office water-cooler... people are talking about their new year weight loss and health resolutions. I say hats off to the January joiners but I do want to provide them a word of caution - a lot of what you're hearing is good old-fashioned marketing. (How do I know? I'm a marketer and a certified athletic personal trainer and it's my job to pay attention to this stuff.) One thing you may have noticed in recent years is the hype around superfoods. They promise everything from a faster metabolism, hormonal balance, antioxidants, improved mood and even a longer life. In the wake of the new years diet blitz these foods are more popular than ever. Is the hefty price tag on these foods worth it? The short answer: sometimes. Read on for a breakdown of what you're really getting from some of the power foods out there.  And some advice on how to mix them into your diet should you decide these superfoods are for you.

Well helloooo 2013! As a new year is upon us and we're bombarded with ideas on how to be our best, thinnest, richest, smartest self ever we have some ideas to throw in the mix. Of course these resolutions are good for the planet, but the bonus is there also good for your wallet (and don't involve a gym membership or chalky protein shakes.) After all, who isn't looking to save a few bucks as those holiday credit card bills roll in? Click through for green resolutions!

It's 5 days before Christmas and I can practically smell the excitement in the air. For some of us that anticipation may be commingled with final frenetic shopping. No matter, if you're still on the hunt for that last-minute sustainable gift idea Zipcar zipcertificates may be your answer. Have a young adult on your list? Research shows 18-34 year olds (the Millenials) are increasingly forgoing car ownership and adopting alternative means of transportation such as car-sharing services like Zipcar. In a Zipcar study, 78% of Millennial respondents said car ownership is difficult due to high cost of gas, parking and maintenance. Philadelphia provides good sources of public transportation but sometimes a car is just necessary for those major shopping hauls. family visits, or impromptu road trips. A Zipcertificate starts at $50.

It's dessert season, and today you are in for a treat. These vegan chocolate coconut bars would make a great addition to any holiday menu. Or, you could even gift them to any worthy sweet-tooth in your life. This recipe is reposted from  our guest blogger, the lovely Mara Tyler who runs Cheap & Simple Vegan, and is also the managing editor of Healthy Bitch Daily. I was craving some coconut. And some chocolate. And cookies. The result? Something I don’t even think I can describe well enough to tell you how good they are. They’re like a brownie-cookie bar-gift from heaven. I could eat these for my last meal. Click through for the recipe!