Articles Written by Beth Funari

Early this summer I took a lovely two-week trip to Northern Spain. We traveled to Mallorca, Valencia and Barcelona. Each spot was filled with its own brand of enchantment. There were so many things that I loved about Spain  - the architecture, the late leisurely lunches complete with cava (and often dessert), the opportunity to stumble upon the most charming restaurants and bars in little alley ways and the laid back Euro attitude of course. (Naps at 4pm every work day?  Hey sure, sign me up.)  I was also pleased with many of the environmentally friendly efforts I noticed in Spain. I struggle with dubbing these efforts "environmentally conscious" because it seems to be almost organic, as though the Spanish (and many other European countries for that matter) feel there would be no other way to live. However, we know this isn't really the case.  There is a consciousness behind Spain's efforts. Just a few examples - in 2006 Spain made wind energy their primary source of power, and in 2007 Spanish Socialist government made plans to provide citizens grants to make their homes more environmentally friendly. Here are some of the more pedestrian observations I had in Northern Spain...

Today July 11 has been named World Population Day 2013 by the United Nations. Each year the United Nations focuses on what they consider an important global issue. In 2012 the UN spotlighted the need for universal access to reproductive health services. And, in 2011 the focus was on their 7 billion campaign and reflected on the growth of 2 billion the world experienced between 1987 and 2011. This year the UN's focal point is the issue of adolescent pregnancy. The UN is calling on government officials to take action to help young girls make "responsible life choices and realize their potential." According to the UN Population Fund roughly 16 million (!) girls under the age of 18 give birth each year and another 3.2 million have what are deemed as unsafe abortions.

GPB reader Aaron C. asks "Why is farm raised fish bad? I see so much of it at the market. " Good Q,  Aaron. Here's the deal... When most people think of fish they think "healthy." And, yeah fish is an excellent source of lean protein and packed with nutritious omega 3 fatty acids.But depending on where and how your fish is sourced you might be getting a dose of some not-so healthy stuff as well. It's not always easy to break down the labels. The term farm raised actually sounds appealing - perhaps it evokes images of Americana agriculture - until you find out what it really means. What does farm raised mean? Farm raised fish is commercially brought up in tanks, net pens, or other enclosures.

This week New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's new mission to require food composting made headlines. The plan to begin collecting food scraps across the city has been called ambitious by some, though other cities like Seattle and San Francisco have had success with food compost programs. The intention of the proposed program is to decrease residential food waste.  Initially the program will be voluntary but Bloomberg's administration is hopeful that within a few years it'll become mandatory. Sanitation officials said more than 5 percent of households in the city would be on board voluntarily by next year, and more than 600 schools will take part as well.

Okay, okay so the "best ever" probably falls into the hyperbole category. But I'm telling you guys even if you loathe vegetables and would rather spend June enjoying warm weather favorites like tacos, italian ice and margaritas (I'm getting my fair share of those too!) this asparagus really is tasty enough to almost forget you're eating healthy. Need a few more reasons to try it? 1. It's asparagus season in Pennsylvania and the tri-state region. 2. This recipe is so simple! It's almost embarrassing that I'm calling it a recipe. 3. It contains cheese (sort of ). Read on for the recipe!

I spent last weekend soaking up the loveliness that is Napa Valley. We stayed in the charming town of Yountville and enjoyed it to the fullest. Napa is gorgeous all year-round but the spring and fall months tend to be the busiest. If you're in need of lots of some wine and relaxation I'd consider it for your next vacation. Here are some of my recommendations: Explore One of my favorite things to do when traveling is aimlessly wander and see what I stumble upon. In Yountville its super easy to do just that. The town is small and walkable. I took a jog my first morning there to take in the beautiful hills and quaint shops.  I happened upon parks, a greenhouse, and shops opening for the first wine tasting of the day (yes, at 8:30am!)

Where Does Our Food Come From, Really? Do you ever grab a (reusable) cup of Starbucks  and wonder about the lives of the farmers who harvested the coffee beans that make your caffeine fix possible? Have you ever taken a bite of a banana and pondered a typical Costa Rican banana farmers day to day work that allows Americans to enjoy this oh so versatile fruit? It's okay if the answer is no. In Kelsey Timmerman's latest book  Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy he addresses these issues and more. We talk a lot about organic food, the local food movement, avoiding GMOs and farm to table dining these days. I often feel optimistic that our country is making strides towards an environment in which we can identify where what's on our plates came from. But the reality is America imports twice as much food now then it did ten years ago. Kelsey Timmerman calls himself a curious person who began to wonder about where the food he ate to fuel his life came from.

The National Bike Challenge officially began May 1st. The challenge is essentially a nationwide effort to increase bicycle ridership through camaraderie and good-natured competition. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) is organizing the initiative for Philly. So how does the National Bike Challenge work?

Not only is today the first day of May we're also just five days away from Cinco De Mayo. (And who says you can't celebrate all week long with delicious Mexican fare and margaritas?!) I enjoy Mexicali cuisine so much I sometimes wonder if my Italian/Irish blood doesn't have just a bit of Mexican in it... Anyway, if you're looking for an easy, healthy Cinco de Mayo recipe this is for you. Yes it's essentially a salad but the colorful, festive ingredients keep your taste buds interested without loading on a lot of fat via cheese and sour cream- like some typical Americanized Mexican dishes. (Though you'll get a dose of good-for-you fat from the avocado.)  The addition of tortilla chips adds a nice crunch and  makes the "salad" feel a little more fun. Click through for the recipe!