GrassRoutes Travel on Your Green Life!

The GrassRoutes girls are at it again! Last night, GrassRoutes Travel CEO and Founder Serena
Bartlett made a debut on Your Green Life, singing the virtues of lovely Oakland. Follow Serena to the Dimond District for a bit of history, and to the best places to eat in Temescal. Serena introduces some of Oakland's coolest hang outs, proving that you don't need to go far to "get away". If you missed last nights episode, don't fret, the segment will be aired again this weekend on Saturday and Sunday at 6PM on Channel 20, Cable 13. Or you can see the show online after the weekend at www.yourtv20.com/greenlife.

Green this Pantry: Agave Nectar Banana Bread

Just as we treat our planet with care, we should be equally careful about the way that we treat our bodies. Sometimes in today's fast paced world, it's hard to get the right foods. Lots of us or so busy with our jobs and responsibilities, that we "take what we can get" in terms of meals, whether it be a quick dinner at the drive through or a preservative laden frozen dinner. Those of who've overeaten processed foods know that weight gain, a cold, and even acne are some of the health problems that can come as a result. Additionally the food that's better for our bodies tends to be farmed, produced and packaged in ways that are better for the planet as well.

In the spirit of good-for-you food, I'm sharing one of my favorite recipes: Agave Nectar Banana Bread! In the recipe I substitute agave nectar syrup and extra ripe bananas for sugar, and I use whole wheat flour instead of regular flour for added fiber (I also have this theory that the closer a food is to it's natural form, the better it is for you).

The syrupy consistency of the agave nectar makes breads and cakes super moist. Agave Nectar is naturally sweeter then sugar and it's lower on the glycemic index, so it won't make you crash and you can use less of it.

Whole Wheat flour adds fiber and makes the bread hearty.
These bananas will be ripe enough to use in a few days.

Recipe for Moist Agave Nectar Banana Bread

1/2 cup Agave nectar
1/3 cup grape seed oil(you can use vegetable or olive oil as a substitute)
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup Mashed very ripe bananas
1/2 Cup all purpose flour
3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Optional: A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or ground ginger

Preheat oven to 325
In a large bowl, beat oil, agave. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in banana's, vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Blend in chopped nuts. Spread into greased 9x5 loaf pan.
Back 55-60 minutes. Cool on wire rack 1/2 hour before slicing.

Who Needs Raid When You Have Red Wine?

It seems that during certain times of the year, for those who keep a healthy stocked fruit bowl, fruit flies are unavoidable annoyance(especially if you tend to stick to organic varieties). Before you grab a bottle of Raid, I have news for you, you don't need to douse your kitchen in chemicals to run the bugs out of your kitchen. Instead set out a little saucer of red wine for a day or two. Fruit flies will go straight to the wine like moths to a bright light. This little trick also works if you have a roach problem. In that case, put a bowl of red wine(the cheap stuff of course) under your kitchen sink before bed. At night the roaches will literally drink themselves to death inside of the bowl. In the morning you will have a bowl full of roaches to dispose of, but it's better then having them in hiding in your kitchen. I don't have a trick for ants yet, but I'll be sure to report back when I do.

Pesticides in Your Produce

The other day an exterminator made a visit to my apartment. Apparently of few of my neighbors had some pesty visitors, and though I have never seen a cockroach in my abode, my landlord insisted on professionally de-bugging the entire complex. I am not a fan of pests, but I am even less fond of clouds of chemicals being dusted over my belongings. I voiced my concerns to my landlord, but to no avail. On Tuesday Morning I returned to an apartment coated in pesticides. An informational sheet left behind by the exterminator told me not to be surprised if I experienced symptoms comparable to a seasonal flu. Within half an hour my nose was clogged and I had horrible sinus headache. My symptoms eventually subsided, but the whole experience made me wonder what kinds of toxins lurk in the non-organic produce I consume. As fate would have it, the universe answered my question when I stumbled onto foodnews.org, an environmental website that is completely dedicated to organic food culture. The site's opening page shows a guide that ranks the 43 fruits and vegetables according to pesticide load. Surprisingly peaches and apples carry the highest pesticide load, while onions and avocados carry the least. In addition to reaffirming my commitment to organic food, the foodnews.org guide gave me yet another reason to eat lots of guacamole.
Avocados carry a low pesticide load when compared to other non-organic fruits and veggies, perhaps it's all that thick skin!

Renu Yoga: Stylish, Earth-Friendly and 100% Breathable

Renu is a green new clothing line offering stylish get-ups for yoga enthusiasts. The company is committed to using only certified organic American milled fabrics like cotton and silky bamboo. If you've ever touched a piece of material made from bamboo then you know why I am so thrilled. Fabric made from bamboo has a luxurious texture like no other material. Renu Yoga test's every piece of cloth that it gets to ensure that all products meet the companies earth friendly standards. Environmentally responsible dyes are used to add color and flair. Each piece of clothing is hand-stitched with care at Renu's LA headquarters. The result is comfy, chic, and 100% sustainable. Renu's breathable, flexible garbs make it easy to get the most out of your yoga practice. They also offer stylish tops for everyday wear. Check them out online at http://www.renuyoga.com/.

Namaste!