Dear Spicebox Travels readers,

My goodness, it has been a very long time since I last posted.  I haven’t forgotten about you! I’ve been busy developing and promoting a new series of healthy cooking classes on the San Francisco Peninsula/Silicon Valley.  As it so happens, my series coincides with National Nutrition Month, which is a national campaign created by the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to promote healthy eating.  I like their theme this year, which is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.”  This highlights the point that no matter how “good for you” a food is, it’s not going to stay in your life if it doesn’t taste good.  In fact both of the  cooking schools I’ve partnered with, Draeger’s and the Palo Alto Adult School, each advised me not to name my classes  “healthy,” because that label doesn’t usually attract a crowd.  Why not, I thought? But then I realized that if someone used the phrase “health food,” I myself might think of bland, good-for-you, but not tasty food.  So instead, I’m offering classes on cooking fresh, seasonal food that is full of interesting flavors, colors and textures, using a lot of herbs and spices, the Spicebox Travels style.  And do you know what? This food, by being real (not processed), mainly plant-based and with a liberal dose of herbs and spices (which themselves have health benefits) is healthy, without even trying.  So chew on this idea– focus on flavor— and celebrate National Nutrition Month.

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If you or your family or friends live in the Bay Area, please consider coming to one of my classes:

Thursday 3/13 6:30-9 PM.  Krazy for Kale (Hands-On).

Palo Alto Adult School, (650) 329-3752, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Registration required.  $50

Monday 4/28 7-8:30 PM.  Food Is Your Medicine! (Lecture with Patricia Santana, MD and Cooking Demonstration).

San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA 94070

(650) 591-0341. No registration required.  Free.

Wednesday 5/14 6:30-9 PM.  Better Than Chinese Takeout (Hands-On).  Palo Alto Adult School, (650) 329-3752, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301.  Registration required.  $50

Wednesday 6/18  6:30- 9PM. Superfood Your Summer! (Hands-On).  Draeger’s San Mateo, 222 East Fourth Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401, www.draegerscookingschool.com.  Registration required and open in April.  $75

Wednesday 7/23 6:30-9 PM.  Mediterranean Picnic (Hands-On).

Draeger’s Menlo Park, 1010 University Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025, www.draegerscookingschool.com.  Registration required and open in April.  $75

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The full schedule and registration information are available at The Doctor’s Spicebox on Facebook.  Please check it out, and feel free to give the page  a “Like” and share it if you could.  Thanks so much! Here’s to a month of delicious food!

To your health!