I have to say, there are few things quite as beautiful as a pregnant woman. This was completely evident as I had the privilege to be part of the PAM (Pregnancy Awareness Month) kick-off event in Los Angeles this past weekend hosted by Anna Getty http://www.pregnancyawarenessmonth.com. Babies, bellies, and children were abounding! 

Not only is cooking and healthy eating a passion of mine, but making sure that women have the tools and knowledge to empower themselves for a healthy pregnancy and child development is cornerstone. 

I had the fun part of creating a lunch that everyone could snack on while getting to hear such great speakers as Dr. Alan Greene, renowned pediatrician and author, Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and Sheila Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation, or while enjoying a fashion show with the latest hot mom trends. As many of you know, keeping up on exercise is something I struggle with (if only shopping for a great pair of shoes could sculpt the body like Pilates...). Too bad for me that when Chiara, my daughter, was young Lisa Druxman's fantastic Stroller Strides had yet to launch. Check out what is going on in your neighborhood: www.strollerstrides.com 

Recipe for Success

I had the privilege of working with the after school program for Recipe for Success at MacGregor Elementary School in Houston, TX last week. What an amazing afternoon I had. First, the kids' enthusiasm for cooking is so encouraging. It reminds me that by taking the time to talk about what great foods are out there and how to utilize them you can build a lifelong relationship with food that is healthy and delicious. The kids were making aguas frescas (a blend of fruits, seeds, sugar and water, traditionally from Latin America). They used different ingredients from their garden as well as local fruits. Some of my favorite combinations were mint, lemon, strawberry and papaya and there was a fantastic basil, strawberry and orange drink. I brought in agave nectar to substitute for the sugar. I love seeing how creative everyone is with the same ingredients to choose from. There were no two drinks alike. I learned a new trick from one of the budding chefs...he took papaya and pressed it through the handheld juicer...it got the juice out and made the pulp easy to stir into the drink! I'm really excited to return at the beginning of March when the kids put on their Spring Fling. They will be cooking and serving a full meal to their families and teachers.