Social Workout

Retreats

Paradise, With 3 Bananas, 2 Avocados, 1 Apple, Some Pistachios and Handful of Purple Seaweed

I just left Ek Balam. It was a brief and sweet romance exploring astounding magical Mayan ruins, visiting a super cool ranch with tons of chickens and fruit trees, swimming in the cenotes, eating local wild honey, and connecting to great people from around the globe. Yes, I even had a kick ass and truly mexican margarita made by my new favorite friend German (pronounced Herrrrmahn). And now, I've just arrived at a place called Organic Yoga Mexico right outside of Akumal. There's no food served here which I wasn't really prepared for...

Poet Laureate

Flossing, Green Tea, and Checking Your Testicles the Keys to Good Health

Men’s Health recently had Doc Oz from the aptly-named The Dr. Oz Show and asked that he write up list of 25 things men should do to be healthy. I’ve read the whole thing, and am astounded Men’s Health managed to use every item on the list to shamelessly plug themselves, but also learned a few things along the way, such as “Avocado” is Aztec for “Testicle”; a man’s waist size should be half his height or less when the tape measure is wrapped around at belly-button level; and your poop should be “smooth and S-shaped, like your colon.” I’ve cleverly summarized the whole thing — check it out after the jump!

Elixirs

The Chocolate Berry Blast Antioxidant

Your Friday elixir, detailed after the jump, is packed with antioxidants courtesy of Cacao, blueberries, and raspberries. Cacao also happens to be loaded with good-for-you magnesium and happy energy boosting Theobromine. (If you're sensitive to caffeine, though, lay low on Cacao.) Furthermore, the CBBA gives you one of the healthiest natural fat sources around: Coconut butter. Replacing your processed unhealthy fats with things like coconut oil and avocado is a great way to shed weight and feel satisified at the same time. Hello spring!

Practical Eating

Guac Meets Choc

Last week, I went to an avocado love-fest hosted by the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association. The celebrity draw at the event was Cheryl Forberg, the "registered dietician" behind the diets of the contestants on The Biggest Loser.  I knew that avocados were a superfood, like blueberries, but Cheryl informed me that avocados are actually berries. That's right: Turns out avocados are fruits -- which, I guess, makes guacamole much closer to jam than dip. Anyway, our meal with Cheryl consisted of classic dishes (guacamole, salads, etc.), all very creamy and buttery. And all savory. I started wondering just what kind of dessert these berry fruits could make. With a little sleuthing, I discovered a recipe for Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes which draws raves from online foodies. Naturally, I just had to try it for myself, and I wasn't disappointed....

A.B.O.W.C.hicka-Bow-Wow

1) Is anybody else just now getting the SW.com, HTML-riddled emails?? I totally would've added my workout shtick to their tracking list had I known earlier :-/ 2) There's a six pack of Modelo in the fridge. So what did I do last night??? Hide it behind the organic OJ, of course. 3) Welcome to day three. On with the post.

New York

Practical Eating

Five Ways to Eat More Avocados

I feel sorry for those people, and I've seen them in my office, who eat berries and fish every single day because Dr. Andrew Weil or some other "nutrition expert" says they should. Don't they know about the avocado? You'll go crazy without variety, people.

Avocados are delicious, dead simple to prepare, and they've all the necessary minerals and the cholesterol-friendly fats to fully qualify as a "superfood." Yes, a superfood, just like blueberries or broccoli or salmon. But how exactly to eat them, you ask? Let me count the ways.