Last week was a great week at PURE. In a joint effort with The Salvation Army, PURE was able to team up with the City of Los Angeles, The Salvation Army and their community partners to donate and disseminate 10,000 bottles of Skin Defense, our all-natural, non-toxic spray, to help support those need during the COVID-19 crisis.

In two major Food Distribution events, The Salvation Army will ultimately distribute 4,000 food boxes to those struggling during the Covid19 pandemic. At last week’s event at L.A.’s Exposition Park, The Salvation Army disseminated 2,000 Food boxes and hygiene kits containing bottles of Skin Defense to families in the Southern California area who had pre-registered based on need. Each food box contained 18 meals, delivering a total of 34,000 meals.
Skin Defense provides a layer of quick protection against unpredictable environmental elements, PURE’s Skin Defense utilizes key ingredient Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL), a naturally occurring chemical produced by white blood cells every day to fight off bacteria, superbugs and viruses*.

Non-toxic and non-sensitizing, Skin Defense is safe for use on intact skin, hands, the face and around the eyes, utilizing an alcohol-free, non-irritant formula that provides a less drying alternative to many other products currently on the market. Additionally, it serves as an effective medical aid for daily use on intact skin or for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, blisters and insect bites.

And with the current critical needs of so many across the United States right now, leaders at PURE jumped at the chance to help.

“The Salvation Army does so much to help many people in need,” said PURE Founder Mr. Dae Geun Jung. “We wanted to do something to show our appreciation for such an important organization whose work is making an even bigger impact than usual during this crisis.”

“An unprecedented crisis demands an unprecedented response,” said Lt. Colonel John Chamness, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army’s California South Division. “Having a partner such as PURE to help bring health and safety to go along with the food we will be distributing today is a true blessing.”

Additionally, as featured on Fox News 11 Los Angeles, on-air personality Dave Dettman, “Dr. Gadget,” partnered with PURE and the City of Los Angeles to share the story. “Skin Defense is the perfect blend of advanced technology and consumer protection—a true game changer in the world of health & wellness,” said Dr. Gadget. “This donation is an exciting way to show support to the community of Los Angeles, and we’re thrilled to spread this kind of good news right now.”

See the Fox News 11 Los Angeles story here.
PURE is also working to help emergency responders in our local community of Dallas/Ft. Worth—for every 10 bottles sold, PURE will donate a bottle of Skin Defense to help those who are helping so many during this crisis.  Join us in furthering this great cause—you’re just a click away. Help donate to our first responders here!

 

 

 

My boyfriend said to me the other day that he was craving Vindaloo.  I love to experiment with food from different cultures, so I was happy to oblige.  Indian food is lesson in flavor combinations and what spices bring to the table.  When we are eating healthy we rely on spices to take chicken breasts to a whole new level.  It’s not fat that brings the flavor in this dish.  I keep a well-stocked spice cabinet, but these spices can all be found at your regular grocery store. They’re also pretty cheap if you can get the little 2-ounce jars.

Don’t be afraid of the number of ingredients—it’s sooo worth the smell about to fill your house!  You will need a small food processor or a blender, a microplane or box grater, and a mortar and pestle or spice grinder (Good old-fashioned elbow grease and a fat wooden spoon works, too.) Roll up your sleeves, and let’s get into this!

 

INGREDIENTS
8-10 dried red chiles (less if you want it mild)
1 tablespoon of coriander seed
10-12 black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or 1” cinnamon stick)
1/8 tsp ground cloves or 6-8 whole cloves
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons MILA chia
10 cloves of garlic (peeled and grated)

1-2” piece of fresh ginger (peeled and grated)
1 teaspoon tamarind paste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 large ripe tomatoes*
1 med-large onion
1 1/2lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
3/4 cup chicken stock or 1 cup  water with a bullion cube dissolved
1/4 cup PURE Mangosteen juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a dry skillet, over medium heat, toast all of the dried spices for a few minutes until fragrant, and remove from a pan to a spice grinder or small food processor.
2. While the pan is still hot, but not on the heat, add the MILAand ground spices. Let them warm up a bit before adding those to the processor/grinder.
3. Add the garlic, ginger, tamarind paste and apple cider vinegar to the processor and buzz around until a paste forms.
4. Chop the tomatoes and add them to a hot skillet with a drizzle of oil.  Cook on medium until they begin to break down.
5. Add the paste to the pan and cook together, stirring constantly, until it is fully incorporated and you can smell the ginger and garlic.
6.  Transfer the entire contents of the pan to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Set aside.
7.  Clean out your skillet and use it to brown your chicken.  Once you start getting a little color, add the turmeric, paprika, salt and pepper.  Toss around and then add the onion. Cook until the chicken is brown, but not completely cooked, and the onions are nearly translucent.
8. Add the reserved sauce to the skillet, along with chicken stock, PURE Mangosteen juice and brown sugar.  Stir to combine and cook over medium heat until the sauce reduces and become thick.  This should take about 10-15 min.
9. Spoon chicken curry over rice and garnish with fresh cilantro and limes.

 

How spicy you want this will determine how many chiles you use.  I used 10 and mine was hot, but not TOO hot.  This is subjective, obviously.  I like my curry to be hot enough to make my eyebrows sweat, so this one was PERFECT!  This made my boyfriend slap the table it was so good.  I also had a close-my-eyes-and-don’t-speak-to-me-moment that made the effort worth it. 

One pro-tip: Let this hang out overnight and reheat it in the morning and toss it with some roasted potatoes. Fry up an over-medium egg and slap that bad boy on top.  Garnish with cilantro and green onion, and you have yourself a curry hash that will impress all your brunch peeps. ENJOY!

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Hey guys!  Before I get started on giving you all my secrets, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself!  My name is Elizabeth aka BB Cooks.  I am an Advertising Art Director, by day, and a wanna be chef in every other minute of spare time I have. My boyfriend, Jason, and I live in Easton PA with his son (9), daughter (7) and a precious puppy (3). Needless to say, our lives are pretty crazy!  No matter how insane it is around here we always make time to sit and have dinner together.  Food is where we come together and share our stories, our problems, our wins and lots and lots of laughs.

I have 2 very good friends that work at PURE corporate and once they introduced me to the products they carry I felt my brain start churning with ideas and we decided this would be a great way for me to share my love for food and my passion healthy living!  Whole health is at the forefront of my cooking and I can’t wait to share how PURE products have influenced my recipes.

 

Follow my instagram @BB_Cooks where you can find all the recipes from this blog as well as tons more drool worthy creations from my little kitchen.

 

When we think about granola, we think something sweet, right?  I started pondering a savory granola a few months ago and wondered what kinds of flavors would make it something I’d actually want to eat more than once.  My boyfriend is the kind of guy who would eat beef for breakfast, so the idea of eating a healthy, savory granola bar is right up his alley.  I’m not that person but I really appreciate a sweet/savory snack in the afternoon. I ran the idea past a few of my family members and friends.  I got a lot of stink faces, a few maybes and only a couple of enthusiastic “yeah I’d totally eat that!” Can we pull this off? YES—we can!  So with a bit of trepidation and an encouraging word I decided I would dare to do the impossible!

INGREDIENTS (Makes 12 bars or about 5 cups of granola)
– 2 cups puffed brown rice cereal
– 1 cup old fashioned oats
– 3 tablespoons PURE MILA Chia seeds
– 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
– 1 cup sliced almonds
– 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
– 3/4 teaspoon salt
– 2 teaspoons curry powder
– 1 teaspoon ground ginger
– 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/2 cup honey
– 1/2 cup natural almond butter (room temp)

DIRECTIONS
1. Lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with coconut oil
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cereal, oats, PURE MILA chia, coconut, almonds, pistachios, cranberries, salt, curry powder, ginger, and pepper
3. In a separate bowl, stir together the honey and almond butter
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands until combined
5. Pack the mixture into your dish and refrigerate for at least one hour, and then cut into bars or break into chunks

I’m not going to lie to you—cutting these into bars didn’t really want to happen.  I tried freezing the entire dish, cutting them and putting them back in the freezer.  I got about 6 bars out of it and the rest just crumbled into chunks.  My boyfriend, being a silver-lining kind of guy, took a pile of it and put it in a bowl with unsweetened almond milk and ate it like cereal.  He said it was the best granola he’d ever had and couldn’t wait to see what else he could put it on.  I had a container of plain yogurt in the fridge and thought, okay, this is going to go one of two ways.  Much to my surprise, it was FANTASTIC.

I packed up the bars that survived and shipped them to a friend, and the rest went into a giant mason jar where it lasted about two days before it disappeared.  The puffed rice added an interesting texture.  The curry—THE CURRY—I mean who would have thought!? If you are a fan of the sweet/savory combo this insanely good-for-you recipe is right up your alley.  I’ll try this again—maybe with more honey—to see if I can get the bars to stick together better but, for now, I’m very happy with out this turned out and think you will be, too!

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Hey guys!  Before I get started on giving you all my secrets, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself!  My name is Elizabeth aka BB Cooks.  I am an Advertising Art Director, by day, and a wanna be chef in every other minute of spare time I have. My boyfriend, Jason, and I live in Easton PA with his son (9), daughter (7) and a precious puppy (3). Needless to say, our lives are pretty crazy!  No matter how insane it is around here we always make time to sit and have dinner together.  Food is where we come together and share our stories, our problems, our wins and lots and lots of laughs.

I have 2 very good friends that work at PURE corporate and once they introduced me to the products they carry I felt my brain start churning with ideas and we decided this would be a great way for me to share my love for food and my passion healthy living!  Whole health is at the forefront of my cooking and I can’t wait to share how PURE products have influenced my recipes.

Follow my instagram @BB_Cooks where you can find all the recipes from this blog as well as tons more drool-worthy creations from my little kitchen. 

I was a vegetarian for 18 years and in that time I fell deeply in love with falafel.  I used to be able to find a boxed mix in the grocery store but lately have had a hard time.  I was having a craving the other day and decided I was going to take measures into my own hands… literally.  These are already pretty healthy but adding in the Mila Chia is gonna take these up a notch.  The Mila added a great texture and I’m pretty sure I’ll never make them again without it!  Don’t be intimidated by all the ingredients. I have a pretty well stocked spice cabinet so I had all of these but you can find them in most regular hometown grocers or online.  All you do is toss them in a food processor and whiz them around for a few minutes and DONE!  Add a side of pita bread if you like, and enjoy! Ok, let’s do this!

INGREDIENTS (Makes 18-20 falafel)
1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight (don’t use canned chickpeas)
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
1 cup parsley, chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper (cored & seeded)
5 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons PURE Mila Chia Seeds
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon chickpea or all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
canola/vegetable/avocado oil for frying

YOGURT SAUCE

5oz container of plain greek yogurt
1/3 of an english cucumber (grated on a box grater)
3 radishes (small dice)
1/3 cup cilantro (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons PURE Mangosteen juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Grate the cucumber and wrap in a towel or paper towels and squeeze all of the water out.  Add to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients and stir.  Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.

DIRECTIONS
1. The night before, soak the dried chickpeas in cold water. Make sure the water covers the chickpeas by 2-3 inches, as they’ll triple in size.
2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and add them to your food processor.
3. Add the onion, parsley, cilantro, pepper, garlic, cumin, salt, cardamom, chia seeds and black pepper to the food processor and pulse several times until it resembles the texture of coarse sand.
4. Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl and add the flour and baking soda. Stir together, then cover with plastic wrap so that it touches the top of the mixture to prevent it from drying out.
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to one hour.
6. Use your hands or an ice cream scoop to form the falafel into patties. If you find the mixture is too wet, you can add another tablespoon of flour. If it’s too dry and crumbly, you can add a teaspoon or two of water or lemon juice.
7. Heat a little less than a 1/2” of oil in your skillet over medium heat.
8. Once it’s good and hot place 1/2 of the patties in the oil about an inch a part.  Work in smaller batches if you need, depending on the size of your pan, so that you don’t overcrowd them.
9.  Brown on both sides and transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.  Keep them in a warm oven while you cook the rest.

YAAASS!  Look at what you just did!!!  Be proud of yourself.  No really… take a breath and be proud.  You just made something most people make with a box mix.  Like the first time you made a cake from scratch… life changing.  Serve with Pita bread, yogurt sauce, sliced tomato and lettuce.  You can even add tahini or a squeeze of lemon.  I added radishes to mine for some extra crunch. OH!!! And if you want this but don’t want to take the time to fry, I get it and this is a judgment-free zone, you have options!

My favorite way – the “FAWAFFLE.”  Yup, you heard me. Put that mix in a preheated waffle iron on high that you have hit up with a little olive oil spray.  Or you can spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray, place patties, spray again and bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.  Just remember to flip them half way through.

If you want to make a large batch of this mixture you can even freeze the mix for up to 3 months.  So that’s it guys!  Pretty simple… WHO NEEDS A BOX MIX!?  NOT US, THAT’S WHO.

 

 

 

 

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Hey guys!  Before I get started on giving you all my secrets, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself!  My name is Elizabeth aka BB Cooks.  I am an Advertising Art Director, by day, and a wanna be chef in every other minute of spare time I have. My boyfriend, Jason, and I live in Easton PA with his son (9), daughter (7) and a precious puppy (3). Needless to say, our lives are pretty crazy!  No matter how insane it is around here we always make time to sit and have dinner together.  Food is where we come together and share our stories, our problems, our wins and lots and lots of laughs.

I have 2 very good friends that work at PURE corporate and once they introduced me to the products they carry I felt my brain start churning with ideas and we decided this would be a great way for me to share my love for food and my passion healthy living!  Whole health is at the forefront of my cooking and I can’t wait to share how PURE products have influenced my recipes.

Follow my instagram @BB_Cooks where you can find all the recipes from this blog as well as tons more drool worthy creations from my little kitchen. 

 

Like a lot of people out there I want to make sure the food I eat is fuel and not something that is going to drag me down.  At the same time, I like to eat and I want it to taste good! The struggle is real for those of us with a sweet tooth who also don’t want to feel like we are taking the walk of shame every time we leave the kitchen.  This recipe for Banana Bread is exactly what we all need right now.  A comfort food that makes us feel good about ourselves and not like that second helping might as well get duct taped to our thighs ‘cause thats where its going anyway.

This recipe is packed with PROTEIN, is VEGETARIAN and REFINED SUGAR-FREE.  Yup… you heard me.  And you may not believe me now, but is certainly doesn’t look, smell or taste like it’s good for you.  But go ahead—eat that second slice.  Have a “close your eyes” moment where you sit in the corner and ENJOY.  You earned it!

INGREDIENTS
1 2/3 cup unbleached flour
1 scoop (heaping) PURE Vanilla Bean 360 Shake
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil (room temperature)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
3 large bananas (mashed)
1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a medium size bowl mix together flour, 360 Shake, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3.  In another bowl, beat sugar and coconut oil, on medium speed, until well blended. (We recommend a bowl with a fitted paddle attachment if you have one.)

4.  Add eggs in one at a time, beating well.

5.  Add mashed bananas, milk, and vanilla all at once and mix until well blended.

6.  Using a rubber spatula, gently add dry ingredients to banana mixture. Mix until just blended.  Try not to over mix this as it will cause the bread to be rubbery and not fluffy.

7.  Fold in the chocolate chips and set the batter aside to rest for 10min.  This will ensure that the flour has a chance to relax and will result in a lighter texture

8.  Add batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes.  Check the bread at about 40 minute by sticking a butter knife or toothpick in the center.  If it comes out dry – its done!  If not check every 5min for doneness.

9.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing – ITS GONNA BE HARD – JUST DO IT!

Note:  This bread is gonna get DARK.  The 360 Shake, oil and the brown coconut sugar are the reason. If it feels like its getting TOO dark – cover with foil and move the bread to the 1/3 of the oven.

My kids DEVOURED this bread.  Who are we kidding… I DEVOURED this bread!  It was everything you’d ever want it to be.  Soft, not too sweet, full of banana flavor and the dark chocolate just takes it to that “treat yo self” level.  This is an awesome recipe to get the kids involved too.  My little girl was all about mashing the bananas and stirring the dry ingredients together.  They love to bake with me and I love showing them that eating well doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor or that sense of indulgence!

 

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Hey guys!  Before I get started on giving you all my secrets, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself!  My name is Elizabeth aka BB Cooks.  I am an Advertising Art Director, by day, and a wanna be chef in every other minute of spare time I have. My boyfriend, Jason, and I live in Easton PA with his son (9), daughter (7) and a precious puppy (3). Needless to say, our lives are pretty crazy!  No matter how insane it is around here we always make time to sit and have dinner together.  Food is where we come together and share our stories, our problems, our wins and lots and lots of laughs.

I have 2 very good friends that work at PURE corporate and once they introduced me to the products they carry I felt my brain start churning with ideas and we decided this would be a great way for me to share my love for food and my passion healthy living!  Whole health is at the forefront of my cooking and I can’t wait to share how PURE products have influenced my recipes.

 

Follow my instagram @BB_Cooks where you can find all the recipes from this blog as well as tons more drool worthy creations from my little kitchen.

Millions of Americans are already doing the most important thing they can do to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19: social distancing.

Hunkered down in our homes, however, many of us are longing to do more to help healthcare workers, struggling business owners and their employees, cultural institutions and performers, and, of course, friends and loved ones we can’t visit in person.

The good news:  There’s no shortage of opportunities for each of us to help in substantial ways. There are many places, from arts organizations to local businesses—that aren’t as directly involved but are essential to our way of life—that all need help now.

At PURE, we continue to support DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and stand behind our Veterans as we support this COVID-19 Relief Fund. Whatever donation you are able to make, we will fully match dollar for dollar up to $5k in our efforts to help out those that are desperately in need during these times.

Plus, we’d like to hear what you are doing to help in your community. Please send us your ideas and any stories you may have (link to our social channels).  We would love to share them with the rest of the PURE community.

So, join us in doing what you can to lend a helping hand! We’ve compiled a list of ideas and resources—eight suggestions for making a difference during the COVID-19 crisis—and most don’t require that you leave your home.

Help Healthcare Workers Get Equipment
One of the most critical problems during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the widespread shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE)—masks, isolation gowns, face shields, exam gloves—designed to keep healthcare workers safe while treating others.

Monetary donations to local hospitals and clinics will help them purchase protective equipment. But you might be unsure about where supplies are needed most urgently. Greg Forrester, president and CEO of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD), points to two groups that specialize in procuring and distributing the equipment and other basic medical commodities: Direct Relief and Americares which you can donate to directly. (Both are on National VOAD’s vetted list of nonprofit groups supporting COVID-19 response efforts.)

And if you or your company have a  supply of personal protective equipment or other crucial medical equipment, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an online form where you can detail your proposed donation. Long-term-care facilities and homeless shelters also need PPE, including hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and disinfectant wipes. If you have extra materials, Rachel Reeves of the National Center for Assisted Living recommends calling those in your area. (Search “assisted living centers near me” online to arrange to have them delivered safely.)
Feed & Assist Healthcare Workers

Those on the frontlines of this crisis need to be fortified with good food, and a number of groups are collecting funds to feed doctors, nurses, EMTs, and others from restaurants, many of which are now only serving takeout. The great news is that a donation will support local restaurants as well as those healthcare workers who are putting their lives at risk every day.

Feed the Frontlines NYC has raised enough money through the end of March to buy more than 25,000 meals for local healthcare workers and bring 30 laid-off restaurant workers back to work in the process. (It has sister initiatives in Boston, Toronto, and Los Angeles.) Frontline Foods is a similar organization in more than 15 cities around the country. Off Their Plate is doing the same in five cities. And this GiveInKind page lets people send meals from local restaurants to hospital workers in the Chicago area.

Even some of the world’s most renowned farm-to-table restaurants are getting in on the action. The Herbfarm outside Seattle used a GoFundMe campaign to raise more than $120,000 and has delivered some 4,000 multicourse meals to healthcare workers. And Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York’s Hudson Valley lets contributors sponsor “Hospital Boxes” packed with enough locally sourced organic food to feed 10 hospital workers while helping local farmers and purveyors of artisanal food.
Get Food to People in Need

More than 10 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks, and that number is likely to rise in the weeks ahead. But emergency food sources are diminishing.

How to help: Donate money or food directly to local food banks. You can find ones nearby using this tool operated by Feeding America, a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. (If you want to contribute food, call to find out what they need and how to deliver it safely.) Feeding America also has a COVID Response Fund, which will distribute funds throughout its national network.

Food banks are also in dire need of volunteers to sort through supplies and put together food boxes, Forrester says. If you’re not at an increased risk for complications from COVID-19 (in other words, you’re under 65 and don’t have an underlying medical condition) your presence is welcome. Just be sure to bring the mask, gloves, and other protective gear you wear when you go out.

Pay for Work Not Done (If You Can)
The coronavirus pandemic has separated many of us from people who help our lives run better: babysitters, elder-care workers, house cleaners, dog walkers, piano teachers, hairstylists, and others. Whether they work in your home or are connected to a local business, many of these people get paid only when they actually work.

If it’s possible to continue paying them—even if only partially—try to do so. Paying domestic workers even when they can’t come to work during this crisis helps ensure their safety as well as our own right now.

In some cases, they may be able to continue working for you. Tutors, coaches, and music teachers can offer their services via Zoom or FaceTime. Personal trainers can provide a custom workout routine and motivational email reminders. Your hairstylist can talk you through a trim or hair color touch-up during a virtual consultation.

Put Your Own Skills to Work
Are you a web designer?  Finance whiz? Yoga enthusiast? Consider offering your services free, remotely. Ask friends to spread the word, or post on local social networking sites like NextDoor.

Web designers are much in need right now. Many brick-and-mortar stores have to shift to an e-commerce model. Businesses may be in need of people who can set up websites, write copy, and photograph products.

Many small businesses also need legal help to access funds from the federal stimulus package. In New York City, the City Bar Justice Center has partnered with many law firms as well as Lawyers for a Good Government to create a platform where businesses can seek legal assistance and lawyers can volunteer to help. This program began in New York City on April 5, and Lawyers for Good Government plans to roll out similar programs nationwide.

With many bank branches closed, notary services are also needed, according to the National Notary Association (NNA). Some states, such as Virginia, Texas, and Florida, had previously enacted laws to allow remote notarization, while others, such as Colorado and New York, have implemented emergency measures to temporarily allow notaries to work virtually. According to the NNO, virtual notaries will probably need to register with one of several online notarization technology platforms—the group provides a list here—to comply with their state’s regulations.

If you’re a certified financial planner, you can offer pro bono help to those who’ve lost their jobs. The Financial Planning Association and the Foundation for Financial Planning are working to connect planners with clients in need. Go to their websites to find out how to get involved.

And last, if you’ve done fitness coaching, offer your own online class. Yoga, stretching, meditation, Zumba, hip-hop, tap dance—all can help those with cabin fever feel better. Many fitness instructors are using Instagram Live or YouTube streaming as a way to connect with audiences in real time. For example, several instructors who teach at the Alvin Ailey Extension are streaming free dance and fitness classes daily.

To start your own virtual session, the National Academy of Sports Medicine has guidance on things like how to create workouts people can do at home and how to incorporate wearable fitness trackers and social media to motivate an audience.
Support the Arts

Across the U.S., institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles have closed their doors, and many have had to lay off staff. The American Alliance for Museums estimates that museums are losing some $33 million a day, and it predicts that 30 percent of them will never reopen without help.

Keep in mind that donating to nonprofits can be a tax benefit later. And memberships offer perks you can use when the museums reopen, such as free guest passes, early access to new exhibitions, and invitations to special events.

Performing artists—musicians, dancers, actors—have been particularly hard hit by the fallout from the pandemic.

Spotify, MusiCares, The Jazz Foundation of America, and Blues Foundation have all set up funds to support musicians who’ve been affected by the crisis. And many performing artists who survive on gigs are scheduling virtual events on Instagram Live, Facebook Live, StageIt, and Twitch. While concerts are often free to watch, audience members have the option to donate to the artists and buy merchandise through the platform.

For example, on April 11, Facebook Live will stream Human to Human, a 12-hour concert series with musical performances from Matt Nathanson, Walk the Moon, Jewel, Rick Springfield, and others. Viewers can tune in free and make donations through Facebook’s “Donate” button. All proceeds will benefit PLUS1’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, MusiCares, and Sweet Relief.

Theater buffs can make donations to Broadway Cares in support of The Actors Fund, which provides access to emergency financial aid and medical insurance. The Dramatists Guild of America is a national charity that supports playwrights, composers, lyricists, and other theater professionals; it’s accepting donations here.

Donate Blood
The American Red Cross told Consumer Reports that as of April 1, nearly 13,000 of its blood drives were canceled across the country due to concerns about the coronavirus, resulting in more than 375,000 fewer blood donations.

So if you’re healthy, see if you qualify as a donor, then find a location near you to schedule an appointment. A Red Cross spokesperson says that staff at all locations are following strict standards for safety and infection control. And they’ve added additional precautions, including taking the temperature of staff and donors before they enter a site, following social distancing requirements, and providing hand sanitizer.

If you’ve recovered from COVID-19, making a plasma donation to the Red Cross could be especially valuable because it contains antibodies that might help fight the virus. It can then be used to help critically ill patients as well as frontline healthcare workers.

Read about the safe way to donate blood during the coronavirus pandemic.

Don’t Forget Animals
It has been reported that COVID-19 is putting an immense amount of stress on animal shelters across the country. Animal lovers can call their local animal shelter to find out what’s needed. Many shelters are facing reduced staff and volunteer support. If you can, consider fostering. Fostering puts shelter animals in safe and loving homes, helps shelters conserve their space and resources. Animals also offer people comfort and companionship, which is so important right now.

The COVID-19 crisis may also leave some pet owners unable to care for their animals. The ASPCA recommends that people check in on friends, family, and neighbors who may need additional assistance during this time. Learn more about how to protect pets during the crisis by going to the ASPCA website.

* Sources include: The Washington Post and Direct Relief, an organization that coordinates with public health authorities, and U.S. businesses and non-profit groups to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to COVID-19.

 

There have been a lot of mixed messages swirling around the internet about how groceries should be handled, including some potentially dangerous recommendations. Here are the safety guidelines put together by Toby Amidor, R.D., a registered dietitian and a food safety expert, to follow when at the store and once you get home.

At the Store:

• Stay home if you’re sick: If you’re showing any symptoms of coronavirus or another illness, or caring for someone who is sick, then stay home. Ask a friend or neighbor to go food shopping for you, order online, or see if your local market delivers.
• Buy what you need: There are no nationwide shortages on food, according to the FDA. That said, you may find that certain foods at your supermarket are temporarily low before they can restock. Food production and manufacturing are done throughout the country and, currently, there are no major disruptions reported in the supply chain. The FDA is closely monitoring our food supply chain by being in regular contact with food manufacturers and grocery stores. As such, there’s no need to stockpile food for months; only purchase enough food for a week or two. Fresh produce and dairy tend to last shorter periods of time, so compliment them with frozen and canned produce and shelf-stable milk. (See: The Best Staple Foods to Keep In Your Kitchen At All Times)
• Keep a safe distance: Go to the grocery store when there are fewer people in the store and keep six feet away from other shoppers and store clerks.
• Sanitize shopping carts: Many stores provide sanitizing wipes as you enter the store (or you can bring your own). Use them immediately to wipe down the handles of the cart before using it.
• Sanitize hands before handing produce: Consider using PURE’s Skin Defense, before and after selecting produce items and avoid touching multiple produce items when making selections.
• Make wise decisions when choosing produce: Choose produce that’s not bruised or damaged, according to the FDA. When buying pre-cut, bagged, or packaged produce (think: baby spinach), choose only those that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice. When you’re packing fresh fruit and vegetables at the checkout counter, keep them in a separate bag from raw meat, poultry, and seafood. (These recs stand even when COVID-19 isn’t a concern.)
• Sanitize hands after paying: Whether you’re using the credit card machine or using self-checkout, both get touched a lot by human hands. Although this is an area that local retailers are cleaning more frequently, it’s not a bad idea to sanitize your hands after touching it.
• Minimize bringing objects and purses into stores: The fewer items that come into contact with humans in public areas, the better. That means you should minimize touching your phone (consider writing your shopping list on an old-fashioned piece of paper), and only bring essential items into the store only essential items (like your credit card, shopping list, and keys). Sanitize everything before heading home.

For Home Deliveries:

• Ask for curbside drop off: In order to avoid human interaction, ask the delivery person to leave the groceries outside your front door or other location of your choosing outside of your house.
• Use your own pen: If you must sign for the delivery (though many places have forgone this step), then make sure to use your own pen and have the delivery person leave the slip on the packages and not hand it to you.
• Tip your delivery people. Remember, delivery folks are at the front lines delivering to many people (some who may not be able to leave their homes) so don’t forget to tip them. You can often ask to leave the tip on the credit card when you pay for the groceries upfront—but you can also leave cash in an envelope outside, or drop it on your doorstep when you see them. Just remember to stay 6 feet away, and don’t hand it directly to the person.

At Home:

• Wash your hands properly: Once you’re home from the market or have handled delivered food or food packages, the first thing you should do is wash your hands using soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. You should also wash your hands after removing food from any packaging.
• Clean and sanitize touch points: Any place where people touch often (like door handles or doorbells) should be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
• Wash reusable grocery bags: If you use reusable grocery bags, toss them in the wash or wash them with soap and water between uses.
• To wipe or not to wipe food packages: COVID-19 can live on cardboard surfaces for up to 24 hours; however, the USDA says that there’s no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of the virus. If it does make you feel safer, feel free to do so, just make sure the sanitizing wipes or cleaner you’re using doesn’t come into contact with the food. (If it does, it can potentially make you sick from ingesting the chemicals.)
• Put away your groceries: You do not want to leave your groceries outside, in your trunk, or in the garage for more than two hours (or 1 hour if it is higher than 90°F outside) as that can lead to food-borne illness, especially with foods like dairy, raw meats and poultry, and others that need to be refrigerated or frozen. Those should be put away immediately.
• Wash and prepare produce: You should not use soap, detergent, chlorine, or bleach to wash produce. These are all cleaners that are not meant to touch food and can ultimately get you sick. (Yes, even if you rinse really well; just the residue of these cleaning items can have negative effects if ingested.) The FDA recommends washing your hands properly with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce. Cut off any damaged or bruised areas before eating or handling. Gently rub the produce while holding under plain running water. Use a clean vegetable brush to clean firm produce like melons or potatoes. Be sure to rinse produce before you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife or peeler onto the fruit or vegetable. Dry produce with a paper towel or clean cloth to reduce bacteria that may be present. If you’re washing cabbage or lettuce, remove the outermost leaves. In addition, you don’t need to wash produce labeled “ready-to-eat,” “washed,” or “triple washed” as you have more of a chance of contaminating it in your own home. (This is a long-time recommendation from the FDA. If you’ve been washing this kind of produce anyway, now is the perfect time to stop.)
• Clean and disinfect your kitchen: Regularly clean and disinfect countertops and surfaces in your kitchen and dining area.

Always Follow the 4 Key Steps to Food Safety

These safety tips should always be followed (COVID-19 or not) to protect against foodborne illness.

1. Clean surfaces and your hands before and after handling food.
2. Separate raw and ready-to-eat foods.
3. Cook foods to proper minimum internal temperatures.
4. Chill foods in the refrigerator or freezer.

 

Toby Amidor, R.D., is a registered dietitian and a food safety expert. She has taught food safety at The Art Institute of New York City culinary school since 1999 and at Teachers College, Columbia University for a decade

 

 

So, you’re home. And so are the kids. With all of the changes everyone is going through right now, one thing hasn’t changed: the need to eat! Whether you’re over-snacking or trying to make a positive change in your diet while having more time around the house, doing all we can to make sure our immune systems are running in top form is top of mind for most of us these days.

So next time you venture out for the highlight of your day—a run to the grocery store (ha!)—make sure you toss a few of these powerful immune-boosting ingredients and foods into your cart. You’ll not only add some flavor to your day but also some extra peace-of-mind that you’re giving your body what it needs to stay strong and healthy during an unsettling time for all of us.

Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is a staple for surviving cold and flu season, and not just because the warm comfort food is a nostalgic throwback to mom taking care of you. According to studies done by the University of Los Angeles California, this soup has an anti-inflammatory effect and calms down inflammation in the upper respiratory tract that takes place when you develop a cold. The university also noted that the soup helps relieve nasal congestion.

Ginger
When it comes to treating a common cold, ginger is one of the best foods for relief. In a review published in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers summarized that ginger’s potent anti-inflammatory properties were key in the root’s powers to combat a cold or flu. Because inflammation can affect your body’s immune response, anti-inflammatory ginger can play a key role in boosting your immunity.

Green Tea
Both green and black teas are packed with flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Where green tea really excels is in its levels of epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, another powerful antioxidant. EGCG has been shown to enhance immune function. The fermentation process black tea goes through destroys a lot of the EGCG. Green tea, on the other hand, is steamed and not fermented, so the EGCG is preserved.

Papaya
Papaya is another fruit loaded with vitamin C. You can find 224 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C in a single papaya. Papayas also have a digestive enzyme called papain that has anti-inflammatory effects. Papayas have decent amounts of potassium, B vitamins, and folate, all of which are beneficial to your overall health.

Kiwi
Like papayas, kiwis are naturally full of a ton of essential nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts white blood cells to fight infection, while kiwi’s other nutrients keep the rest of your body functioning properly. Green tea is also a good source of the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, and is also found in PURE products Daily Build, Metabolic One and Sleeptrim.

Poultry
When you’re sick, chicken soup is more than just a feel-good food with a placebo effect. It helps improve symptoms of a cold and also helps protect you from getting sick in the first place. Poultry, such as chicken and turkey, is high in vitamin B-6. About 3 ounces of light turkey or chicken meat contains 40 to 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of B-6.

Vitamin B-6 is an important player in many of the chemical reactions that happen in the body. It’s also vital to the formation of new and healthy red blood cells. Stock or broth made by boiling chicken bones contains gelatin, chondroitin, and other nutrients helpful for gut healing and immunity.

Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are full of nutrients, including phosphorous, magnesium, and vitamin B-6. They’re also incredibly high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E is important in regulating and maintaining immune system function. Other foods with high amounts of vitamin E include avocados and dark leafy greens.

Garlic
Garlic is found in almost every cuisine in the world. It adds a little zing to food and it’s a must-have for your health. Early civilizations recognized its value in fighting infections. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthTrusted Source, garlic may also help lower blood pressure and slow down hardening of the arteries. Garlic’s immune-boosting properties seem to come from a heavy concentration of sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin.

 Spinach
Spinach made our list not just because it’s rich in vitamin C. It’s also packed with numerous antioxidants and beta carotene, which may increase the infection-fighting ability of our immune systems. Similar to broccoli, spinach is healthiest when it’s cooked as little as possible so that it retains its nutrients. However, light cooking enhances its vitamin A and allows other nutrients to be released from oxalic acid.

Almonds
When it comes to preventing and fighting off colds, vitamin E tends to take a backseat to vitamin C. However, vitamin E is key to a healthy immune system. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it requires the presence of fat to be absorbed properly. Nuts, such as almonds, are packed with the vitamin and also have healthy fats. A half-cup serving, which is about 46 whole, shelled almonds, provides nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin E.

Tumeric
You may know turmeric as a key ingredient in many curries. But this bright yellow, bitter spice has also been used for years as an anti-inflammatory in treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, researchTrusted Source shows that high concentrations of curcumin, which gives turmeric its distinctive color, can help decrease exercise-induced muscle damage.

Shellfish
Shellfish isn’t what jumps to mind for many who are trying to boost their immune system, but some types of shellfish are packed with zinc. Zinc doesn’t get as much attention as many other vitamins and minerals, but our bodies need it so that our immune cells can function as intended.

Varieties of shellfish that are high in zinc include:

• crab
• clams
• lobster
• mussels

Note that you don’t want to have more than the daily recommended amount of zinc in your diet. For adult men, it’s 11 milligrams (mg), and for women, it’s 8 mg. Too much zinc can actually inhibit immune system function.

The PURE Immunity Line-up
Keep in mind that eating right ­­­­­will give you the foundation your immune system needs to fight off potential illness. In addition to including these immune-boosting ingredients into your new day-to-day routine, go a step further by using some of PURE’s top immunity-strengthening products as an added layer of defense.

Immune6 

• Gives your body the vitamins and fortification it needs to sustain health and well-being.
• Excellent source of Vitamin C, an antioxidant which can contribute to healthy immune function.
• Excellent source of Vitamin D3, which supports both bone health and the immune system through enhanced muscle strength.
• Excellent source of Selenium, which neutralizes free radicals and supports a healthy immune system.
• Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) may boost the immune system and offers antioxidant properties.

Probiotic 

• Supports good digestion*
• Promotes a healthy immune system*
• Encourages an optimal balance of friendly gut bacteria*
• Helps prevent overgrowth of yeasts and pathogenic enterobacteria*
• Assists in nutrient absorption*
• May help relieve occasional intestinal distress and discomfort*
• Contains inulin and acacia, prebiotic fibers that support the colonization of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract

Silver 

• Patented SilverSol nanotechnology allows for safe internal usage to boost the immune system.
• Supports respiratory maintenance. Helps maintain sinus clarity

Skin Defense 

• Bolsters the body’s external immune fighting capabilities.
• A high concentration of stabilized hypochlorous acid (HOCI) kills bacteria, viruses and fungi without harming cells important to the healing process.
• Works with a non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing formula. Antibiotic-free, steroid-free, alcohol-free, and environmentally safe.

Fusion 

• Fusion contains all four PURE superfruits: goji berry, acai berry, noni fruit, and mangosteen fruit.
• All superfruits are recognized for their health-promoting properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM seeks to promote harmony and balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

*Nutritional Source: healthline.com

 

We’ve all seen the grocery stores over the last several days: barren canned-food and toilet paper aisles, cleared-out meat bins and near-empty frozen-food refrigerators. But what’s notable right now are the abundant fresh produce sections—stands full of color and ripe-for-the-picking goodness.

Although it may take a little extra effort right now to cook fresh at home, focusing on good health and nutrition has never been more important.

With so many of us hunkering down at home, now may be the perfect time to put that extra muscle into mealtime and find out just how much better we feel when we level up our healthy eating game. Another huge plus when you raid the fresh produce section? You’ll be a lot more likely to find everything you need on your next grocery run.

Give these fresh recipes a go:

Jeweled Asparagus & Wheat Berry Salad
This Zesty Wheat Berry Salad Will Help You Reach Your Daily Fiber Quota
Serves: 4

Ingredients
Salad and Asparagus

• 1 3/4 cups raw wheat berries (4 cups cooked)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 small lemons, very thinly sliced into rounds
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 bunches asparagus (2 pounds), ends trimmed
• 2 cups parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 cup dill, roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• 3/4 cup toasted pistachios, roughly chopped
• 3 scallions, green parts only, thinly sliced on the bias

Dressing

• 3/4 cup tightly packed cilantro leaves and stems
• 1/2 small shallot, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine wheat berries, 10 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until wheat berries are soft, 45 to 60 minutes. Drain well, and let cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss sliced lemon rounds with 1 teaspoon oil on the prepared baking sheet, and spread in a single layer. Roast until lemon slices are caramelized, watching carefully toward the end and flipping halfway through, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool, then finely chop 8 slices. Keep remaining slices whole.
3. Increase oven to 400°F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until bright green and crisp tender, about 10 minutes.
4. To make the dressing, in a blender or food processor, pulse the cilantro, shallot, lime juice, honey, cumin, and coriander until finely chopped. With the motor running, pour in the olive oil in a slow stream. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Scrape the dressing into a medium bowl. Add the cooked wheat berries, chopped roasted lemon, parsley, dill, pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and scallions. Season with salt, and toss to combine.
6. 6. Arrange asparagus on the bottom of a platter. Spoon wheat berry salad over asparagus. Garnish with remaining roasted lemon slices. Drizzle with olive oil, and serve.

Healthy Chicken Tenders
You Won’t Believe How Healthy These Homemade Chicken Tenders Are
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 2 cups cornflakes, finely crushed
• Dash of black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut chicken into 3- by 3/4-inch strips. In a shallow dish, combine egg, honey, and mustard. In another dish, stir together cornflake crumbs and pepper.
2. Dip chicken strips into the egg mixture; roll in crumb mixture to coat. Arrange chicken strips on an ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake about 12 minutes, or until outsides are golden and chicken is no longer pink.

Nutrition facts per serving: 212 calories, 23g protein, 23g carbohydrate, 3g fat (1g saturated), 0g fiber

Healthy Chicken Tender Dipping Sauces
Ditch the standard ranch dressing and stir up one of these healthy chicken tender dipping sauces. (Or pair these healthy chicken tenders with one of these mash-up sauces you’ll want to slather on just about everything.)

• Homemade Honey Mustard = 1/4 cup Dijon mustard + 1 teaspoon honey
• Kicked-Up Ketchup = 1/4 cup ketchup + pinch chili powder
• Zesty Sour Cream = 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream + fresh lime + fresh cilantro
• Spiced Mayo = 1/2 cup low-fat mayo + 1 teaspoon dried dill + 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Healthy French Fries
How to Make Healthy French Fries That Taste Just as Good as Fast Food

Serves 4

Can everyone please stop hating on fries as an “indulgent”, “cheat-day” food?

A small potato packs about 130 calories, no fat, 18 percent of your daily vitamin C intake, and more potassium than a banana. Any potential to turn them into an “unhealthy” choice comes with how you cook them. Many restaurants double fry French fries to make them extra crispy. For this riff on healthy French fries, you’ll score the same result by boiling the sliced potatoes for 2 to 3 minutes (to release moisture), then draining, tossing with olive oil, and baking. As a result, these healthy French fries have less than one-third the fat you would get from a medium order at a fast-food joint.

For a bonus fiber boost, keep the skin on the potatoes. It contains at least 50 percent of the root vegetable’s fiber.

The secret ingredient for these healthy French fries: Parmesan, which makes these fries taste decadent. It also adds a hint of salt, so you don’t have to shake on more of the seasoning before you dig in.

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 medium baking potatoes (1 1/2 pounds total), scrubbed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; brush with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. Set aside.
2. Cut the potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining olive oil; toss to coat. Sprinkle potato wedges with the salt and black pepper, tossing to coat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake in a 450° F oven for 12 minutes. Turn potatoes; sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes more or until tender and golden.

Nutrition facts per serving (8 wedges): 155 calories, 4g protein, 22g carbohydrate, 6g fat (1.5g saturated), 3g fiber

Flavor Twists on Healthy French Fries
If you’re in the mood to mix things up, skip the Parmesan and try these three takes on the classic side dish.

• Chili: Prep the healthy French fries as above, adding 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon paprika when you sprinkle with salt and black pepper. After baking, top each serving with 1/2 cup low-sodium canned chili or one of your favorite homemade chili recipes you can whip up in your slow cooker or Instant Pot
• Garlic: Prep the healthy French fries as above, adding 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder when you sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

Sweet Potato: Prep the healthy French fries as above, substituting 4 medium sweet potatoes for baking potatoes. Instead of salt and black pepper, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Bake in a 425° F oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until brown and tender, turning once.

Grilled Romaine with Cherry Tomatoes, Charred Corn, and Avocado Cream Dressing
You’ll never want to go back to whatever it was you were eating before!

Everything tastes better on the grill, including vegetables. The best part about cooking on an open flame is the nice smoky finish that adds a depth of flavor to any food. This salad features, ruby red cherry tomatoes and sweet corn. And mixing those two with grilled whole romaine and topping the whole thing off with a creamy avocado dressing will change the way you look at salad forever.

Deconstructed Grilled Romaine Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Charred Corn, and Avocado Cream Dressing
Serves: 3 to 4

Ingredients

• 2 ears corn, shucked
• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

For the dressing

• 1 avocado, pitted with skin removed
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• 1 garlic clove

Directions

1. Heat a grill or oven burner to medium-high heat. Place shucked corn directly on the grill or lay flat on the oven burner. Once kernels are evenly charred (but not burnt), turn the ear of corn. Repeat this process until both ears are charred (about 10 to 12 minutes). Set aside to cool.
2. Place lettuce on the grill (or grill pan in the oven) and char the outside (about 1 minute on each side). Set aside to cool.
3. While corn and lettuce cool, make the dressing. Add avocado, lime juice, salt, yogurt, oil, and garlic to a food processor, and blend until smooth.
4. Once the corn is cool enough to touch, cut kernels from the ear. Combine corn with cherry tomatoes and toss with dressing (or dollop dressing on at the end to control the amount). Place corn and tomato mixture on top of the lettuce and enjoy.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad
Carbs don’t count when they’re tossed with so many veggies, right?

Ingredients

• Coarse salt
• 1 package fresh mushroom or chicken prosciutto or spinach filled tortellini (recommended: Contadina or Buitoni brands) available on dairy aisle in most markets
• 1/2 pound fresh baby spinach
• 1 (15-ounce) can baby artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
• 1 red roasted pepper, drained and chopped
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, cracked from skin
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice, the juice of 1 wedge
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, a couple of splashes
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped or 1/2 teaspoon dried leaves, eyeball it
• Black pepper
• A handful sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Bring 5 or 6 inches of water to a boil in a large pot. Salt boiling water and add pasta. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until pasta is just tender and the tortellini are floating like buoys. Drain tortellini, then cool the cooked pasta by spreading them out on a large plate or a cookie sheet in a single layer.
2. Coarsely chop baby spinach. Combine with artichoke pieces, roasted red pepper and red onion. Chop garlic, then add salt to it and mash it into a paste with the flat of your knife. Transfer garlic paste to a small bowl and add lemon zest, lemon juice and vinegar to it. Whisk in oil, thyme and pepper. Add pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the salad. Dress salad and gently toss. Serve or refrigerate.

 

 

 

 

 

Within the last week, most major U.S. companies, restaurants, bars and other small businesses closed their doors (at least temporarily) with the onset and spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). What this means for the U.S. economy as a whole is unnerving and uncertain, but one thing that seems certain: the growth of direct sellers in the already strong gig economy may soon be on the rise.

KEY POINTS OF THE GIG ECONOMY

• The gig economy is now composed of 60 million workers, and it is now an ever-bigger slice of the American workforce.
• By 2027, the majority of workers in the U.S. will be contract workers.¹

No matter what they’re called—freelancers, independent contractors, business owners, or flex workers—the people who make up the gig economy now total nearly 60 million, and they are becoming an ever-bigger slice of the American workforce.

The rise is owed to these four main trends: blockchain systems, F500 utilizing more contract employees, an uptick in fully remote companies and more robust networking among freelancers.

In fact, a recent survey commissioned by online freelancing platform Upwork and Freelancers Union shows that the freelance workforce is growing three times faster than the overall U.S. workforce and that the majority of people will be working independently by 2027.

This change has major implications for how the American workforce will look in the years ahead, the role corporations will play in this new landscape, and the technologies that are helping to drive the marketplace shift.

So, for those gig workers who are a part of the direct selling market, what impact will the recent COVID-19 have on their business? Although daily life changing for all of us right now, direct sellers have a distinct advantage to keep their businesses going strong.

The good news for gig workers, says Trinia Hoefling, author of “Working Virtually: Transforming the Mobile Workplace” (2nd edition). Is that they are no longer are they constrained by their location—they can access opportunities that fit their skills and interests anywhere in the world.

Pros of Working in the Gig Economy
The gig economy offers an abundance of opportunities to earn extra cash or a full-time living. It can open the door to your creativity or provide a way to achieve your financial goals. Here are some other pros of working in the gig economy.

Flexibility
Working in the gig economy provides freedom and flexibility that other income opportunities may not. Those who choose to pursue gig economy employment and make a career out of freelancing have the luxury to determine their own hours, work location, clients and sometimes even rates. They’re able to shape their entire professional career around their personal preferences which enables them to pursue some of the aspects of their lives that may not provide fiscal reward. From mothers who want more time with their children to individuals who want to travel the world and maintain enough income to foot the bill, freelancing enables many professionals to pursue their passions and accommodate their preferred lifestyle.

Working in the gig economy allows you to become your own boss and live by your own rules. With the advancements to technology, you can connect to clients around your city or even the world. No longer do you have to punch in and out. With this type of employment, you can simply complete a task on your own time or log into an app to market your skills to clients. You’re in complete control of your time clock and the tasks you wish to complete.

Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy and author of The Rideshare Guide , says, “The flexibility is by far the best part about working in the gig economy since you can literally work as much or as little as you want. I’ve worked all sorts of jobs over the years but it wasn’t until I started driving with Uber and Lyft that I realized just how flexible the gig can be.”

Alternative Career Choice
When Washington D.C resident Charlie Heck lost her government job, she turned to the gig economy for supplemental income. Instead of heading back to work, she started pet sitting and walking dogs for high-end clients in Washington D.C. during her downtime. She established clients for her multimedia freelancing gig, which lead to a full-blown small business. She adds, “It was quite a balancing act in the beginning but through the trust I established with my pet clients, a few eventually became multimedia clients and connections as well.”

Like Heck, many professionals are choosing to transform their part-time gigs into full-time sources of income. According to MBO Partners State of Independence In America 2018, 3.3 million independent workers made over six figures. Depending on your skill set and the side gig you choose to pursue, working independently can offer significant monetary rewards.

Variety of Work
Working in the gig economy gives professionals the opportunity to work on a broad spectrum of projects and clientele. Instead of working with one boss on a regular basis, your projects require you to juggle multiple clients and deadlines and often encourage your creativity. This gives gig workers the ability to enhance their skills and continue to stay current with the industry they work in.

If you enjoy tasks and projects that’ll challenge your creativity and problem-solving skills, the gig economy may be the best place to exercise your talents.

Working in the gig economy also gives you the ability to build your portfolio and resume. It allows you to connect with people you may not have otherwise connected with in your professional community. It opens the door to endless possibilities you may not have been aware were available.

The PURE Difference
Now may be the time to turn your focus toward a life with an enriching side hustle. Working in the gig economy can be a great way to earn some extra cash or even create the career of your dreams.

At PURE, we believe in you, and in a concept called Whole Health. Our passion is helping people achieve Whole Health so that every man, woman and child can enjoy a lifetime of head-to-toe health and happiness. Find out how you can deliver Whole Health to others through nutrient–rich products while earning income and other rewards. It’s all up to you—visit livepure.comto join us today!

1. https://serraview.com/gig-economy-impacting-corporate-workplace/