We applaud Oprah Winfrey's 21-day cleanse to jump-start her inner makeover. Vowing to forgo caffeine, sugar, alcohol, gluten and animal products, Oprah hopes to become a conscious eater. Easy for Oprah--along with the 21-day cleanse came master vegetarian chef Tal Ronnen! If only the rest of us had it so easy. For those of you who would like to join Oprah in the 21-day cleanse, the question is: How to do it without a gourmet chef providing three square meals, and snacks, a day?!

At Care2 we have long advocated for conscious eating, and we have a host of recipes to show for it. We have selected some of our most satisfying, cleansing favorites to share with you, whether you're joining Oprah for 21 days or not. You can even cheer Oprah on by signing the Care2 petition.

Creamy Vegan Potato Leek Soup: A delicious creamy soup made without dairy, but sure to satisfy.

Fresh Corn Soup with Healing Spices: An updated healthy chowder without the cream that can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

Green Gumbo: A vegan version of the traditional stew with spicy Cajun spices, tomatoes, and greens.

Vegan Pink Mashed Potatoes with Ginger and Cardamom: This designer root vegetable is tasty and easy to work with--and so lovely!

Eggless Egg Salad: Great tasting tofu substitute with protein but no cholesterol.

Root Vegetable No-Pasta Lasagna: Layers of root vegetables take the place of pasta for a wheat-free delight!

Colorful Whole-Grain Supper Salad: Complete meal in a bowl.

Red Bean Cakes with Creamy Coconut Sauce: Rice and beans with a zesty twist.

Berry Sauce and Berries with Vanilla-Almond "Cream": Luscious ways to enjoy your favorite berries.

Healthy Chocolate Pudding: This no-milk pudding gets its sweetness from dates and figs rather than refined sugar.

Enjoy, and happy inner makeover!

xoxo,

La Frog/Ribbita

Can't Stand the Heat? Get Out of the Kitchen!

It's too hot to cook, and definitely too hot to turn on the oven. But we've all got to eat and why settle for cold sandwiches when there is a grill sitting there in the backyard just waiting for a little love.

Try some of these recipes, invite some friends over and you've got a party!

Spice up your summer cookouts with this Mexican barbecue sauce made of citrus, chiles and tequila.

Marinate chunks of your favorite tropical fruit in this rum and juice concoction, skewer them and throw them on the barbecue for a fabulous fruit kabob summer treat.

The portobello mushroom is the star of this veggie burger recipe, with a nice, meaty texture and great rich taste.

Five scrumptious vegetarian pates to delight the palates of your summer party guests.

You can eat your delicious summer berries plain or top them with this yummy berry sauce or vanilla cream.

Enjoy!
ribbit xoxoxo
La Froggie

Being green isn't just about driving a fuel efficient car or recycling your cans and bottles, it's about non-toxic ways to live your life, keep your home clean and keep you, your family and your pets healthy. Care2 has a ton of great information on this, and here's just a sampling:

Top 10 uses of baking soda in the home

You won't believe how much this natural ingredient can do!

No more static cling!

Commercial fabric softeners can make you sick. Here are some non-toxic alternatives.

Safe and effective tick spray

Ticks can be a real problem, but not for you!

Remove stains and pet odors from rugs

Commercial carpet cleaners and fresheners can contain synthetic ingredients that can harm you and your pets, so try this instead.

xoxo
Care2.com

There are so many things to love about summer, and a few things to hate: Sunburns and bug bites definitely top the list.

Sunscreen and bug repellent are smart ideas. Even smarter, choose natural formulas without any harmful chemicals.

Safe Sunscreens

Keeping the Mosquitos Away

But these things aren't failproof, and sometimes we simply forget to use them! So what to do with a wicked sunburn or a nasty case of poison ivy?

Favorite Sunburn Soothers

Cucumber Body Pizza for Sunburns or Itchy Skin

Summer Itch Relief