Articles Written by Julie Hancher

Marc Vetri isn't just an all-star chef... he is also passionate about young people eating healthy and making wiser lifestyle decisions. This passion is why the Vetri Foundation's Eatiquette program is helping transform lunchrooms locally. I spoke with the Vetri Foundation's Director of Culinary Operations, Tia McDonald to find out more about the program.

CSA veggies get super repetitive and boring this time of year, so it's time to get creative with the summer harvests. That's why I traded my typical salad-with-lettuce for a CSA Cucumber, Fennel & Mint version. This actually came from one of our CSA's members, but I added a few extras for a more filling lunch. CSA Cucumber, Fennel & Mint Salad Recipe - after the jump!

If you were to ask me my two favorite food groups, they'd be Mexican and sushi. (Although I'm not a chef, that's the most accurate answer I'd give.) Although I rotate a variety of Mexican dishes, sushi is something I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. HIGH FIVE, My friends: I dominated the DIY Sushi recipe. I haven't attempted using fish since I'm terrified and wanted to try easy vegetables first, but it was SO much easier than I had imagined. Plus, my Mom had given me a sushi kit a few years ago that I stashed away and thought "yeah, I'll never actually try that...". Well Mom, I'm maturing at my cooking and finally broke out the kit - and am officially addicted. This DIY CSA Sushi recipe makes it totally easy to have for dinner OR make for a party. Recipe, after the jump!

Growing your own herbs & plants means you get SO many fresh veggies. You almost forget about about those dreaded winter nights where you can't find anything growing besides mold in your leftover takeout. So rather than let your plants over-blossom, why not preserve your herbs now? Here are 4 ways to Preserve Your Herbs for Colder Times:

Just like Cloth's Angela Halperin knows, "natural" parenting is awesome. Based on the desire to live & parent responsibly, MommyCon is a one day conference to help parents make conscious decisions. On August 11th, MommyCon is coming to Philadelphia's Sonesta Hotel to provide families with advice, inspiration, techniques, products and answers to all questions regarding "natural parenting." Find out more and how to win a FREE entry to the event, after the jump.

When you're adopting a furry child, you're faced with many choices from beds to toys. Yet nothing prepared me for the worst day of being a CatMom. Find out about what happened to Pounce and what you should do during pet emergencies, after the jump!

Whether it's August or feels more like "Rain-Fall", there's never a bad time to cleanse your life... which means getting rid of those piles of clothes you haven't worn for a year and those 'registry' gifts you never bothered opening. One great way to do that? Hosting a yard sale! (or apartment/condo/room sale.) In honor of Where Can I Wednesday, we're addressing How Can (you) host the best yard sale in Philly.

The Hemp Heals Music Festival returns to Philly on September 7 at the Festival Pier! Hemp Heals was founded to spread awareness of Hemp as an industrial product and promote holistic approaches to living & eating healthy. Hemp has a variety of advantages environmentally and is different (and often confused) with its redneck cousin marijuana. Find out who's playing and how you can win FREE tickets, after the jump!

“Ugh, I hate grocery shopping,” complained my dental hygienist. “I want to buy the healthy food but it’s so much more expensive than the crap.” I realize that this is the perception of so many Americans. Although I frequent Whole Foods, I typically stick to a list or create a budget before heading over. After all, “Whole Paycheck” is the infamous knock that ain’t so far from the truth. Do I shop at Whole Foods or farmer's markets 100% of the time? No. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about  the "cost" of food versus the cost of “food.” Find out more about the cost of food, after the jump!