12 Easy Steps to Reduce Food-Related Waste

Over the past few months, I have been challenging myself to minimize the amount of food and inorganic material waste that my family and I create.  Though I have been composting since 2013, I’ve become humbly aware of how much single-use plastic and paper products we dispose of on a regular basis.  From produce bags and food packaging to straws at restaurants to take-out drink/food containers when traveling… It’s mindboggling how much waste we can create and unflinchingly consume.  By making a few small changes in my life, however, I’ve been able to significantly reduce the amount of waste we create as a household and while I’m on-the-go.  Below are 12 easy yet impactful steps you and your family can take today to reduce food-related waste.

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The 101 on Tick Repelling Essential Oils

Like our entire team at Arogya, I feel blessed to live nearby the lush forests of Connecticut. I’m grateful for the ability to enjoy well-preserved trails, forage for edible gifts such as ramps and thimbleberries, and simply breathe in the diverse flora and fauna. At the same time, living amongst nature also means existing side by side with ticks, including Ixodes scapularis. This hard-bodied arthropod, commonly referred to as the blacklegged, or deer tick, is responsible for the spread of Lyme Disease, as well as the malaria-like parasitic disease babesiosis and two rarer, potentially fatal conditions: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (which has only been reported in Wisconsin and Minnesota) and Powassan Virus (one case has been reported in Connecticut).

You’ve probably heard (or might have noticed) that 2017 is an especially prolific year for deer ticks.

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Tea 201: Tea Plant, Cultivation & Terroir

Have you ever wondered how one plant (Camellia sinensis) can be crafted into a near infinite number of varieties of tea? Or have you found yourself curious about tea culture prior to the English teapot and beyond today’s ubiquitous tea bags?

We hope you enjoy this first chapter of our current work-in-progress: an educational series exploring and demystifying Chinese teas, as well as the rich culture behind them. This post will begin with an introduction to the plant, examining its cultivation as well as how terroir influences the final product. Future posts will examine harvesting, processing, and eventually take us on a complete journey through the subtle differences between each type of tea and their known benefits.

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Golden Milk (Mylk)

I am a turmeric enthusiast. This yellow spice, celebrated for its powerful anti-inflammatory and detoxing properties, finds its way into many of the meals I cook for my family.  We also enjoy supping ample amounts of Arogya’s Turmeric Ginger Tea.  Recently, I felt inspired to dress up this nourishing tea with coconut milk, turmeric power, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and raw honey.  The result was this pleasantly zesty version of golden milk. 

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Happy Chinese New Year

Welcome to the Year of Rooster! This celebration of new beginnings, and of spring to come, is a special time of year. While January 1st is a good post-holiday wake up call, Chinese New Year, for me, has more depth because it is tied to the greater cycles of nature and tradition. I still remember the excitement of wearing new clothes and finding the special red envelopes under my pillow. But I ask myself: how we can maintain a sense of everyday gratitude when we buy clothes and receive money all year round? How do we preserve our connection to nature if we are inside all the time?

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Chinese Ritual of Foot Soaking

I always remember sitting around a circle soaking feet and chatting about our day with my family growing up. Foot soaking is a common traditional Chinese health remedy used to detoxify the body, promote circulation, relieve pain, and optimize total wellbeing. Immersing the feet and legs in a tub of herb-infused hot water for 20 – 30 minutes at the end of the day can be a very powerful and restorative ritual.

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Chinese New Year: Year of the Fire Rooster

On the new moon of January 28th, the year of the Fire Rooster begins. This year is going to be passionate and action-packed, and is an opportunity to focus on your personal development in your inner world as well as the world at large. Though there will be lots to bring into balance this year, it’s also an amazing year for truly following your heart’s desire. This is a time to invest in your own strength and vitality. Those who focus with determination and endurance will surely see the fruits of their labor.

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Chaga

Chaga Tea: a Powerfully Medicinal Mushroom Tea

Pat Lewis, a landscaper from Portland Maine, is a friend of ours who always gives us a unique gift: wild-crafted chaga mushrooms. Working in the wilds of Maine, he often comes across this highly medicinal mushroom. The first time he gave us some pieces of this dark, wood-like mushroom, we had never seen it before and didn’t quite know what to do with it. However, after researching and experimenting, chaga tea has become a beloved medicine in our home.

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Homemade Superfood Almond Butter

The Best Homemade Almond Butter

Lately we’ve been wild about our version of the Oh She Glows Superseed Almond Butter. We’ve given this amazing recipe an Arogya twist, adjusting a few of the ingredients to our liking. It’s the best almond butter we’ve ever tasted, hands down, and definitely worth the effort. This incredibly nutritious nut butter is perfect to spread on toast, and with jam takes the humble nut-butter-and-jelly sandwich to a whole new level. Have fun with this homemade almond butter recipe, and experiment with adding different varieties of nuts, or your favorite superfoods. We think you’ll love this recipe!

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