Latham contributes to Well + Good NYC on Agave

Check out this interesting article on Well + Good about Agave nectar. There has been some recent data that bursts the agave bubble. Check it out for yourself and you decide- is agave a healthy sweetener or should we be cautious? Click here to read on!

Spicy Chickpea and Lentil Soup- Yummy on a Chilly Day

For those who are snowed in or at home with the kids for the snow day (in NYC) or those who just LOVE to cook, here is a great winter recipe and staple in my seasonal diet in the chilly North East. I cook this and other fun recipes with my son.

Spicy Chickpea & Lentil Soup

This soup is said to have warmed the Berbers duing the cold winters in the Atlas mountains. Serve with a small side of brown rice and keep yourself toasty during the winter. If you don’t have time to soak and boil the beans, (which none of us busy ladies seem to have time for) you may opt to use canned chickpeas and frozen fava beans. But remember- fresh is best, so plan ahead and soak those bad boys overnight and use the dried beans over the canned. This is one of my favorite dishes. It will warm you to the core!

3 tbsp olive oil

2 onions sliced

½ tsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground tumeric

1 tsp ground cinnamon

pinch of saffron threads

2 14oz cans of chopped tomatoes

2 tsp agave nectar

¾ cup brown or green lentils, rinsed

7 ½ cups vegetable stock or water

1 generous cup dried chickpeas soaked overnight, drained, boiled until tender

1 generous cup dried fava beans soaked overnight, drained, boiled until tender

1 small bunch cilantro

1 small bunch Italian parsley

salt & fresh ground pepper


Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the onions and stir over low heat for 15 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add the ginger, tumeric, cinnamon, and saffron, then tomatoes and agave. Stir in the lentils and pour in the stock or water. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer about 25 minutes until lentils are tender. Stir in the cooked chickpeas, bring back to a boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Stir in the fresh herbs and season to taste. Serve piping hot.

Karen's Body Beautiful: Deeeelish!!

Those that know me well know I'm OBSESSED with skin and hair care products. Back in the day I would travel all the way to Fort Greene Brooklyn for the handmade aromatic potions from Carol's Daughter. I even made my own lotions and potions for skin care for a while. Over the years my taste and knowledge for quality of ingredients expanded and I learned about eco-friendly skin care that was also natural. I stumbled upon Karen's Body Beautiful in Brooklyn and have been in love ever since. Her butter love pomade is good for skin and hair alike, my hair is in locks and I consider it the best lock butter ever! Her hair nectar is a great potion for managing tangles in curly tresses- like my son Fulano has. Each product has its own scent profile and not the typical tootie fruity alcohol based commercial scents either. The Sweet Ambrosia is their best seller and I can't wash my son's hair without it. It's a powerful detangler. I live for her products now! Check them out for yourself!

Tips for Common Discomforts in Pregnancy: Gas

I help a lot of moms deal with the common discomforts of pregnancy, and gas is definitely on that list.

A few suggestions for decreasing gas during pregnancy include:
Avoiding foods that contain sulfur including cauliflower, cabbage, oinions- these foods cause gases to form while being digested and the pressure results in odorous gas and discomfort in the mother. They can also cause heartburn later in 2-3rd trimesters.

Chew your food slowly and completely. When you swallow air from rapid eating pockets of air are trapped and cause disturbance in the form of gas. It will either be released from belching, or flatulence.

Try eating small meals. Eating smaller meals will allow your digestive system the break it needs.
Drink well between each meal.

Try fennel seed after meals. Fennel is helpful in stimulating proper digestion and is a galactagogue as well, meaning it helps to stimulate milk flow in lactating moms.

When I was pregnant I focused on eating leafy green vegetables, nuts (those without skins) cashews, pine nuts, and soaked brazil nuts, I ate a lot of raw fruits and vegetables and found that the fiber just moved through my system very well. I didn't suffer from bad gas.

Latham contributes to Well + Good NYC- Stinging Nettles

Healthy hair is something we all aspire to. Check out my advice in Well + Good NYC for a boost of sheen, and vitality for your hair. It's winter and we could all use a pick-me-up and stingling nettles can do the job. This potent plant will boost your Iron levels, and winter proof your hair in no time. Click here to go to Well + Good and learn more about this awe-inspiring plant.