Marissa Vicario

Recent Blog Posts

In Praise of Fat and Cholesterol

What if I told you that the amount of cholesterol you eat has little bearing on cholesterol levels in your blood? If you're accustomed to eating egg whites and avoiding butter, you may not believe it. But the truth is, cholesterol-rich foods like organic eggs and real butter, wild caught seafood and full fat raw, organic dairy products have numerous health benefits and supply important vitamins … [Read more...]

When Nature Calls

Have you ever been somewhere inspiring doing something you love and the combination of the two just makes you come alive? If you have, you know it's the best feeling in the world. This happens to me most often when I'm being active and feel connected to nature. It was at some point during my twenties when the shift happened. I was on a date and the words just came flying out of my mouth. I had … [Read more...]

The Magic of Mason Jars

About a year ago, I developed a certain obsession. Not the typical kind, like the ones you have with a food or maybe even a celebrity. No, this obsession was with a $1 glass vessel with a metal lid, typically used in canning. That's right, folks. I have a certain something for Mason jars, and I collect them in all shapes and sizes. My love of Mason jars started because I liked the simple, rustic … [Read more...]

Easy Pesto Cubes

For weeks it seems I've had herbs coming out my ears! Every time I pick up my CSA share, there are more herbs than I can realistically use in a week -- basil, mint, parsley and cilantro. One of my biggest pet peeves is when food goes to waste in my fridge and one of my favorite triumphs is creating food that freezes well. So I did what any responsible kitchenista would do: took control of the … [Read more...]

Rawesome Stratwberry Shortcake Bars

My boyfriend and I have been avoiding sugar this summer, but that doesn't mean we don't still have a sweet tooth. As I was flipping through this month's issue of Whole Living, I happened on these Rawesome Strawberry Shortcake Bars (they called them Strawberry Oat Bars). Since I've been eating a highly raw diet, these were just the thing to satisfy my raw-finity and our preference for a little … [Read more...]

Coconut Water Gets a Makeover

By now, most of us have tried coconut water and either love it or hate it. For all the lovers out there, here's a simple way to jazz up your coconut water for delicious, refreshing hydration. This is a tip I picked up from Natalia Rose whose teachings I've been following lately. Start with water from a young coconut -- not the bottled or packaged kind, if you can help it. Pour the water into a … [Read more...]

Move Over Hummus: Tuscan White Bean Dip

Everyone loves hummus. It is creamy and flavorful, satisfying and healthy. As delicious on pita as it is on fresh veggies. But as tasty and healthy as it is, this savory treat is made from chickpeas which are difficult to digest and therefore, as I recently read, hummus does not support weight loss. Hmmmph. What's a hummus-lover to do, you ask? Never fear. There is certainly a way to re-create … [Read more...]

Brighter and Tighter Skin? Sign. Me. Up!

If you had told me - even two years ago - that a body brush would become a regular part of my beauty routine, I would have bet every skincare potion and product I've ever owned that you were wrong. At first glance, dry brushing seems like a strange practice, but after trying it out a few times and getting the hang of it, I was hooked. What is this strange beauty regimen? Aside from being one of … [Read more...]

Lovely Little Lentil Salad

I've been vowing to eat more lentils lately but cooking them always seems to be a chore for me. Then, my friend and fellow Health Coach tipped me off to Melissa's steamed lentils which I had seen before, but hadn't considered using in my cooking. It turns out, they were the perfect solution to my problem. Clearly, soup is no match for hot summer weather so I used the ingredients I had from my … [Read more...]