When I stumbled upon Ashley’s McLaughlin’s blog Edible Perspective years ago, I was first drawn to the stunning photography. Ultimately, her sunshiney personality, amazingly creative recipes, and down-to-earth writing style hooked me in.

To date, Ashley’s recipes are some of the healthiest and most delicious recipes I’ve tried from any food blog – and I’ve visited a lot. The girl taught me how to make almond butter for goodness sake! Stop by Ashley’s blog for a wealth of information on gluten free and vegan cooking, as well as desserts that always fall on the healthier side – my favorite kind.

Why did you start your food blog?

Edible Perspective started after making a cross-country move to Colorado with my husband, Chris. When we first moved out west we were lucky enough to stay with Chris’s brother and wife for a few months as we furiously hunted for jobs. To return the favor to them, I cooked our weeknight dinners and decided to document my creations along the way. It was at this time when I finally decided to pick up Chris’s clunky dSLR camera and put down my trusty point-and-shoot. I never imagined what it would evolve into!
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I love introducing new friends, especially when I know they’ll hit off. Diets In Review readers, I know you’ll love one of my dearest online friends Holly Whitleff, who runs the healthy, inspiring, ever-delicious blog The Healthy Everythingtarian. So many good things to say about this girl I hardly know where to start!

Let’s begin with food. Holly has always approached food practically and healthfully, avoiding any fad diet trends or overly-complicated ingredients or equipment. That’s why I’ve always loved her blog: Healthy, simple food inspiration can always be found. Apple cheddar tart, anyone? Plus, she’s one of the most entertaining online writers you’ll read.

I had the extreme pleasure of speaking with Holly recently about her blog, her life and her practical approach to health. Here’s what she had to say.
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Today “gluten free” is all the rage, but what’s the science behind it? Let’s look at the three most common reasons why people follow gluten-free diets.

1. Being diagnosed with celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder in where the body triggers an attack on the intestines every time gluten is eaten. This destroys part of the small intestine that absorbs vital nutrients and results in malabsorption. For these people, eating food that contains gluten can cause significant pain. While the disease affects only 1% of healthy, average Americans, 97% of those affected have not yet been diagnosed.

2. Having a gluten sensitivity. While this sensitivity shares many symptoms with celiac disease, it fortunately does not share the same likelihood of intestinal damage.

3. Trying the latest and coolest ‘fad’ diet that received rave reviews for achieving (insert your favorite health claim) Lose Weight! / Eat Healthier! / Improve Skin Quality! People want to improve their health however they can, so why not give this a chance?

Why would someone choose to adhere to a gluten-free diet if they don’t have to? What is “gluten” and when did it get a bad reputation? Let me explain.
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It happens this time every year. Just as sure as spring rain comes, so does the ambition to look good in a bikini. Is it just us or is the pressure a bit overwhelming?

Looking good in a swimsuit isn’t a bad goal. In fact, it can help us shed unwanted pounds and even shape up quicker than we would otherwise. But being healthy and fit should always trump what size your clothes are, or in this case, your swimsuit.

For most, the goal isn’t looking like Heidi Klum when we hit the pool. The goal is to feel good about ourselves in a swimsuit if we happen upon the beach or a pool this summer. The key to getting there? Setting realistic goals and mapping out a plan to get there.

We asked health and fitness expert Stephanie Mansour of Step It Up With Steph to share five diet tips on how to get bikini ready quickly and effectively while keeping a healthy perspective on body image. Here’s what she had to say.
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Gwyneth Paltrow, Academy Award winning actress, online lifestyle guru, and husband to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, has just released a cookbook called It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That WIll Make You Look Good and Feel Great. The release accompanies recent reports of Paltrow’s health and marital woes.

After experiencing stroke-like symptoms in the garden of her North London home, tests revealed Paltrow had a vitamin-D deficiency, thyroid issues, congested liver, hormonal imbalances and a benign tumor on her ovary. Her doctor suggested she go on a 21-day elimination diet to help rid her body of toxins.

In an interview with SELF Magazine, Gwyneth said, “My doctor, Alejandro Junger, recommended that I cut out basically everything: dairy, sugar, gluten, anything processed. I was like, ‘What the f*** am I going to eat now?’”.
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