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Emily is a Holistic Health Counselor and she is based in Boise, Idaho and provides nutritional counseling services to clients in the Treasure Valley and across the United States via phone or Skype. You can contact her at eattothrivehealth@yahoo.com.

An Allergy-Free Memorial Day Menu

It's Memorial Day weekend here in the US, which means that summer is finally upon us and it’s time to start planning a cookout with friends, family and lots of delicious food! If you’re cooking for a crowd this year, serving a meal that satisfies everyone, even those with food allergies, can be difficult. Instead of making one vegan burger, or a small batch of gluten-free cookies, why not make delicious, allergy-free dishes that everyone will enjoy? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite gluten-free, vegan, and raw dishes (with a few meat dishes for your omnivorous friends) that everyone is sure to love!

Have a gluten allergy? Try…

7 of Our Favorite Things This May

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May is the month we finally say goodbye to the last chill of winter and welcome in flowers, sunshine, and the first signs of summer. We rounded up a list of our seven favorite things to help you celebrate this joyful season. We hope you have your healthiest, happiest May yet!

Gluten Free 101: Is It Right For You?

Chances are you’ve heard about the gluten-free phenomenon that has swept across the country. It seems that wherever you look there is a new gluten-free bakery or product line. Even celebrities are joining in with everyone from Bill Clinton to Zooey Deschanel turning to a gluten-free diet.

But is it just another fad diet, or is it a lifestyle change? Should you and your family be gluten-free? We’ve answered a few of the questions we hear most often so you can decide if gluten-free is the right choice for you.

What is the difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity?

Simple Tips for Energizing Your Creative Spirit

There are many more aspects to health and happiness than merely what’s on your plate. Wholesome food, fitness, and time with loved ones can certainly take you a long way, but true fulfillment comes from the full expression of one’s authentic self.

While some may discount creative endeavors as frivolous or wasteful activities, immersing yourself with focus, energy, and enjoyment towards something that you care about has many benefits to overall well-being.

Being fully present and mindful, as we tend to be during times of creativity, is an incredible stress-reliever. It also helps tap into the subconscious mind where our deepest desires are held, and creates a sense of personal success and accomplishment. That’s not to mention the added bonus of developing mental clarity and problem-solving skills that can be applied to other areas of life!

5 Simple Tips for Grilling Vegetables

Nothing says summer better than a good old-fashioned barbecue. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you might wonder what you can enjoy among the classic barbecue staples like hamburgers, chicken kebobs, and fire-grilled shrimp.

But grilling vegetables is actually easy and delicious – especially if you grow your own. And the best part is that they make a great main dish packed with delicious vitamins, minerals, and fiber!

Here are some tips to use when cooking vegetables on the grill:

1. Slice and dice: Cut your vegetables into pieces that are small enough to cook quickly, but large enough to stay intact. Slice thick vegetables like squash and eggplant into 1/4-inch thick portions, and put long, thin veggies, such as asparagus and green onions, on the grill whole.

2. Use skewers: Keep smaller vegetables from falling apart with skewers. Pair up soft vegetables like cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, and do the same with hard veggies like peppers and onions.

Natural and Safe Sunscreens for Summer

One of the greatest joys of summer is spending time outdoors in the sun. As the best natural source of vitamin D, sunlight promotes bone health, supports the immune system, and boosts the mood. Yet too much sun can cause painful burns and potentially dangerous long-term skin damage, so it’s important to protect yourself with sunscreen, especially if you’re going to be outside during peak hours.

When shopping for sunscreen, choose wisely. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that are absorbed directly into the body and can be harmful. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, create a physical barrier to block UV rays and are regarded as quite safe. For more information about which sunscreen ingredients to look for and which to avoid, check out our Summer Wellness Tune Up guide.

Upbeat Songs for Your Summer Workout Playlist

Finding the time and energy to work out during the winter can seem like a daunting task. When it’s cold outside, we just want to curl up at home with a cup of tea and a good book instead of braving the cold to go for a run.

The warm weather, longer days, and sunshine make summer the perfect time to amp up your fitness routine! The only thing missing is a playlist that will push you to run an extra mile or do one more set of squats at the gym. We’ve complied some of our favorite upbeat jams that have us rocking out on the treadmill! If you need a little musical inspiration to encourage your fitness routine, try adding a few of these songs to your playlist:

10 Easy-to-Grow Herbs and Vegetables & Refreshing Recipe

There’s nothing better than biting into a juicy tomato ripe off the vine or adding fresh herbs to a summertime meal. But the reality is that if we want to enjoy fresh seasonal produce, our local grocery store isn’t always the best option. So what do we do if we want to add fresh foods to our diet without stretching our budget with frequent trips to the farmer’s market?

Growing your own herbs and veggies is a fantastic way to help save money, reduce your environmental impact, and eat fresh, healthy foods all season long. The best part is that you don’t need a ton of space to grow your own organic produce. There are lots of herbs and vegetables that you can grow right in your backyard or even your kitchen!

A surprising number of herbs thrive as in indoor plants. If you’re looking to add a flavorful punch to your food, why not grow your own fresh seasonings this summer? To get started, all you need is a bright space and the appropriate containers and soil.

Here are 5 easy-to-grow herbs:

3 Easy Skin Care Recipes for Healthy Summer Skin

Summer is nearly here. As the temperature rises, and the days grow longer, we spend more active time outside and expose more of our skin to the elements. While the warm summer sun feels good, overexposure can cause damage and breakouts.

There’s no shortage of skincare products available at your local pharmacy or department store. But what’s in them?

Many contain manufactured ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance. These common chemicals can create hormonal imbalances and have been linked to the development of certain illnesses. Anything that you put on your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream, so it’s essential to take care that you know your ingredients.

The good news is that you don’t have to douse your body in unpronounceable ingredients and chemicals to keep it healthy, soft, and blemish-free. Here are 3 all-natural recipes for summer skin care:

Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment
Clear your complexion

8 Superfoods to Add to Your Smoothie

It’s that time of the year again. The days are longer, the weather is heating up, and you’re craving the most satisfying of summer beverages: smoothies. These blended drinks have numerous benefits: they’re quick and easy, they can pack an incredible nutritional punch, and they’re endlessly customizable.

Best of all, smoothies give you the chance to easily try many different nourishing ingredients – sometimes all at once. We rounded up a list of our favorite superfoods that are perfect for smoothies and encourage you to try them this summer season.

Chia seeds: You may first have heard of chia seeds during the Chia Pet craze of the 1980s. They are actually an ancient Aztec superfood packed with calcium, fiber, protein, phosphorous, manganese, and omega-3 fatty acids. They lend an instant creamy thickness to any smoothie.

Eat to Thrive

Emily Barker, Holistic Health Coach