SEASONAL PRODUCE: FIND OUT WHAT IS IN SEASON NOW IN NYC

Because New York is a major food industry business hub for all people across a variety of cultures and backgrounds, there is access to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables from all over the world, at any given time.

But we here at project: CLEAN FOOD believe in the power of eating food that is in season instead of produce coming from far away lands.

Here is a little link that helps New Yorkers check in and see what fruits and vegetables are currently in season and those that are coming into season.

Clean food is seasonal food. Enjoy!

http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/ap/prideOFNY/harvest.html

THE SUN: THE GREATEST FOOD ON PLANET EARTH

The most amazing, nutritious, beneficial and nurturing food here on planet Earth is the ever so powerful and uncanny, Sun. The ancients of yore have praised the Sun and all of her beauties for aeons upon aeons. Here on planet Earth, the Sun provides for all beings, organisms and vegetations of the sort. The Sun has allowed for all beings to exist in the manner that they do now; for without it, life as we know it would not be. It is said, that if the sun would disappear, all life would perish in a matter of days.

That said, let us embrace the Sun. It is not so much about praising the sun, but allow it to grace the skin of your body. Allow it to nourish you. Balance out your entire system with a bit of sunlight. It will do wonders. Even when it is colder outside, you can take a moment to embrace and revere the Sun.

All the plants, fruits and vegetation yield their nurtitious quality, and quantity, directly from the Sun and all of her power. It is very beautiful when you take a second to think about it all...

Take a moment and relish some sunlight. Sunbathing is not necessary (too much of anything is not really good for anyone). So just allow your whole being to be receptive to that beautiful grace of the sunlight, in a balanced way.

As beautiful and amazing as the Sun is, so too are you. Light attracts light: or like attracts like.

Sun food is the best food. So go ahead, consume with grace.

For us to say that the Sun is clean food approved is an understatement...

Enjoy!

DELICIOUS WEEKEND FRUIT SALAD MIX: THE project: CLEAN FOOD WAY

Hi there!
Here is a great little fruit salad mix that is sure to keep your body cool, balanced and healthy through this weekend and even during the rest of the summer months.

--Mango
--Strawberries
--Kiwi
--Raspberries
--Blueberries
--Blackberries

Aaaaaaand there is always the smoothie option if you are on the go. Remember, its about adding small things to the normal eating regimen that can make us more receptive to change and growth: over time of course, ya?

Less food, more energy...

Make it a clean food weekend.

Enjoy!

EXPOSING YOUR FRUIT TO SUNLIGHT: A HEALING THERAPY

While your fruit is in travels to your local markets and stores, it is very likely for them to pick up impurities from the various environments in which it is placed. Also, many of these impurities come from the pesticides that are used on the fruits to keep them "healthy" while in transit. And unfortunately, washing the fruits does not always get all of the chemicals and toxins off of them. So, a nice quick fix? Expose your fruits to some sunlight for about 5 minutes or so before consumption.

By just exposing your fruits to the UV light being emitted from the sun, the fruits experience a sense of rebirth and rejuvenation throughout its entire "physical system" (similar to a human body). The sunlight not only takes the chill off of the fruit but also inspires some of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients to come alive.


Many of those nutrients that the fruits acquire come directly from the sun (and also the air, plants and insects of the sort). The sun is a healer of many things: for both the fruit and the human, alike.

So consider exposing your fruits to the sun for just a couple minutes before consumption. They don't have to be outside. They can just be near a window that takes in a lot of light as well. But if you want, there is no harm at all in exposing them to the beautiful essence of the external environment: especially since it is warmer outside in most places right now.

Sun-filled fruits are good clean food. So fill your fruits with that beauty once again.

Connect deeply to all of the healing properties of the Earth in this way.

...are you eating Clean Food...

EATING FOOD FROM YOUR LAND: A DEEPER CONNECTION

project: CLEAN FOOD is an advocate for consuming as much locally grown foods as possible. There are many reasons why one would do this. But the main reason we are in favor of this is that it allows your body to connect deeply with the soil, air and vegetation upon the land in which you live.

In major cities across the board, it can be a bit difficult to secure fruits and vegetables that are locally grown on a daily basis. This is why it is important to establish relationships with community farmers and farmers markets within your area. With so much produce coming from everywhere in the world, it makes our bodies more susceptible to impurities of the sort.

With locally grown foods, your body can not only connect deeply with the land, but also, you become more adapted to the weather conditions. When most people are either too hot or too cold, you will always be balanced in your system. Also, by eating produce of the land that is in season (and not necessarily grown in a lab of the sort to meet a demand), it strengthens the immune system over the course of time.

Anything that is grown within about 50 to 150 miles from you could be considered "local produce." Some would be inclined to include up to 300 miles from where you live. The discretion is all yours.

So make frequent visits to farmers markets or community farms. Make an attempt to eat less produce coming from outside of your community (or country). And begin to connect deeply with your entire land.

Many peoples, cultures and tribes of the sort have done this for centuries; and many continue to do it without fail.

Fall in line. Fall in Love. And become one with your dear Mother Earth again.

Local Food is good, clean food. Seasonal food is good, clean food.

And our warm embrace of good, clean food is definitely project: CLEAN FOOD approved...

project: CLEAN FOOD'S RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH: CHENNAI GARDEN, NYC

After careful deliberation, project: CLEAN FOOD has decided to give the stamp of approval to the ever so amazing, Chennai Garden!

This gem of a restaurant serves up the most tasty and delicious South Indian delights complimented ever so beautifully by an ecclectic mix of some North Indian meals. Chennai Garden has gone over and beyond to offer an array of Dosas (thin rice flour pancakes with various fillings and accompaniments), Thalis (an array of meals ranging from curried lentils to delicately seasoned vegetables with roti breads and accompaniments), and a slew of other delicious meals that will leave you coming back for more.

The desserts are tantamount to many within the neighborhood; whether it be the rice pudding, sweet milk ice cream with cardamom, the glazed over fried doughnut, or even a nice sweet mango lassi, you definitely cannot go wrong here.

The staff is very friendly and accomodating. They make sure you have everything you require so that your experience with them is an utmost enjoyable one.




This place is vegetarian and kosher. The food is very fresh, clean and always cooked to perfection. If you are looking for a new place to check out and enjoy some amazing Indian specialties, this is the spot.

They usually take reservations for big parties of 6 or more. Otherwise, just pop in and join the fun.

They also have one of the best buffets during the week for a mere $8: and its all you can eat. So if you can, check this out: Monday - Friday, 12 - 3.
(Besides, You may run into us and spot us consuming copious amounts of coconut chutney: with a spoon of course. Yum!)

Let Chennai Garden be your last stop for Indian Food here in NYC.
Great Staff. Great Food. Great Experience.

And in our eyes, that constitutes an overall, project: CLEAN FOOD approved restaurant.

Enjoy!!

Chennai Garden
129 E 27th St (bet Park Ave and Lexington)
New York, NY 10016
212.689.1999

Open Weekdays 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm;
Weekends 12pm-10pm

Trains: 6 train to E 28th Street; N/R train to W 28th Street

BAG TEAS VS. LOOSE HERBAL TEAS: WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Before tea was bagged and sold, tea leaves were collected from the garden or farm, dried and then soaked for some time before being consumed. In this day and age, many people turn to buying the same loose teas from their local herbalist or herbal apothecary. And when it is not bought loose, people buy them in their most commonly known form today: bagged and boxed at a convenient store or market.

But the question remains, if we are attempting to eat and consume foods and beverages in their most natural and pure state, what is the best way to drink tea? Let's check out some of the pros and cons of both.

Loose Tea

Pros
--There is less processing and handling
--The shelf life is shorter thereby ensuring fresher brewing
--It can be bought Organic
--An individual can connect deeply with the essence and aromas from preparing to brewing to consumption

Cons
--Easily susceptible to contamination (herbs are sensitive)
--Can dry up quickly and lose its freshness in a short time
--Preparation could take longer depending on the tea
--Sometimes more expensive

Bagged Teas

Pros
--Widely available in many varieties
--Shelf life is long
--Easier to find than loose teas
--Takes less time to prepare
--Not easily contaminated after leaving manufacturer
--Cheaper in Price

Cons
--Not usually available Organic
--Teas are not usually freshly packaged
--Teas are roughly handled during processing
--Can be exposed to many forms of chemicals while being overly manufactured
--Not as potent as a loose tea

This looks to be a tough decision here. We here at project: CLEAN FOOD drink both forms. However, whenever we can get teas in the loose form, we go for it. We like to consume foods and beverages that are collected directly from the Earth: the less processing, the better.

We are not totally against bagged teas, yet we prefer a wonderful, aroma-filled loose tea that has been soaked in pure, spring water. These sorts are usually more beneficial and have not lost much of its potency.

Go and try both. Go online and find out where you can buy some loose teas in a local market or in bulk. Here are some highly recommended resources we know of here in NYC:

http://www.sundialherbs.com/
(Bronx,NY)

http://www.integralyoganaturalfoods.com/NaturalApothecary.html
(Manhattan, NY)

http://www.sacredvibeshealing.com/
(Brooklyn, NY)

http://www.kalustyans.com/
(Manhattan, NY)

Are you drinking fresh, Clean Tea...

CLEAN COOKWARE, CLEAN FOOD

A quick note on pots and pans...

All the pots you use for yourself and for your family you should be clean, stainless and free of deeply rooted burns and scorches, as well as wear and tear.

When pots and pans become tattered over time, it can cause your food to absorb some of the metallic materials of the pot into the food: at a subtle level. If the pots have deeply rooted burns or scorches, there could be some rotting or rusting in the pots that could also seep into the food.

Many of us have seen the elders of the family using such pots for years: and they had no intention of changing those pots. We have even used such pots for quite some time as well. However, poor quality pots and pans usually mean poor quality foods. Your food is filled with nutrients, minerals and vitamins of the sort. And of course, we all want that food to maintain its level of nutrition and not risk losing any of it due to poor quality cookware. Contamination of foods can happen rather easily; the foods you consume are senitive and it should be treated as such. So be mindful.

If you and your family are using some pots and pans that could be deemed a bit old and outdated, consider removing them from your "kitchen artillery" and throw them away; update your cookware. A good set of cookware will last a very long time. So make a hearty investment: for the sake of your health and that of your family.

As we become more aware, let us release the old and bring in the new; together we shall cook clean food from this day forward.

Clean Cookware: Clean Food

JUICE IT UP! project: CLEAN FOOD'S YUMMY HOLIDAY JUICE RECIPE

HERE IT IS:

--KALE
--SPINACH
--PARSLEY
--CUCUMBER
--GREEN APPLE
--LEMON
--ONE CLOVE OF GARLIC

HAVE IT EVERYDAY THIS WEEKEND IF YOU CAN!!! IT IS OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU; COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT, YA?

IT'S PURIFYING. IT'S HEALTHY. IT'S YUMMY. AND IT'S CLEAN FOOD APPROVED.

ENJOY THE HOLDIAY WEEKEND, FROM project: CLEAN FOOD...

BECAUSE HEY....

::::WE LOVE YOU:::