David Hasselhoff, famous for talking to a car and running on a beach, is 60-years old and has never looked better. OK, that’s not entirely true, but the actor/German pop star looks pretty svelte for a senior citizen.

Hasselhoff had a resurgence of fame in the late aughts when a series of drunken scandals landed him in the news. But today, the Hoff has cleaned up his act and is riding the health wave. A long time exercise fanatic, Hasselhoff has sworn off alcohol and adopted a balanced diet and lifestyle.

In an interview with The Daily Meal, Hasselhoff said that his usual breakfast is chock full of fruit, along with a more conventional breakfast. He described, “Three poached eggs, wheat toast and sliced tomatoes,” as typical. “On Sundays, I splurge and enjoy bagels, lox and cream cheese, capers, onions, and tomatoes,” he said. The Hoff also admitted that if he ever craves a snack, carrot sticks, mushrooms, and celery are his staples. For dinner, it’s all about grilled chicken, fish, and sauceless pasta for Hasselhoff, who also drains five quarts of water a day.

Hasselhoff’s early afternoon power nap gives him the energy for his daily workout, which helps ease anxiety and stress.
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Today, people in 192 countries are banding together in peaceful demonstration to celebrate Earth Day. Founded in the twilight of the hippie movement, the first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and is now the largest secular holiday in the world. Due in part to events like Earth Day, we’ve learned a lot about our environment and what we need to change to keep the blue marble spinning a while longer.

The word “green”— now an adjective, noun, and verb—is synonymous in our culture for expansive and minute efforts in environmental sustainability. Not surprisingly, there are a number of “green” diets. In celebration of Earth Day 2013, we’ve compiled nine eco-friendly diets that will help you reach your weight loss and fitness goals while reducing your carbon footprint.

The Kind Diet

The Kind Diet is a book by actress and vegan Alicia Silverstone that illustrates the benefits of a plant-based diet. Silverstone uses the book to show that a vegan diet can not only help your body, but help animals and the planet, too. The diet is beneficial because it allows you to progress in stages and preserves animal life on Earth. However, the drastic change to a plant-based diet may be too extreme for some, as no meat, dairy, or animal products are allowed.
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I have been a vegetarian for about 14 years. I know it makes me healthier and it gives me great energy. I also know it’s not a magic bullet for weight loss and good health. You can do it wrong.

For example, vegetarians can start out as carbitarians. Pasta is an easy dish that pleases most everyone, making it a staple for new vegetarians. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables seems to be easy enough but what else do vegetarians eat? Where does the protein come from?

If you give up all animal products (making the jump to veganism) it can become even more confusing. You may start to rely on overly processed vegan substitutes that can be loaded with extra sugar or chemicals to make up for the missing animal ingredients.
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When I think of vegan food blogging superstars, I think of Kathy Patalsky. Even if you’re not a vegan eater you will absolutely fall in love with the dishes Kathy dreams up on her blog Happy Healthy Life. Expect vibrant and nutrient-packed smoothies and breakfasts, inventive entrees and good-for-you desserts. 

I started following Kathy a few years ago when I got into vegan baking myself, finding it a healthier alternative to many of my favorite desserts. Thankfully, people like Kathy have blazed the trail in making healthy food actually taste good. For that reason I highly recommend you follow her kitchen creations on Healthy Happy Life (also known as the Lunchbox Bunch) where she just released her first cookbook, 365 Vegan Smoothies.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kathy about her blog and her approach to a healthy life. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you start your food blog?
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The first time I tried sunflower seed butter was at a farmers market in Portland, Oregon several years back. I had just passed by the third strawberry stand lining the market’s north side when I stumbled upon a tent with a middle-aged gentleman pedaling exotic-looking nut and seed butters. One of the butters was made of sunflower seeds. Despite my initial reservations I dipped my toothpick in, gave it a lick and walked away with a half pint.

That’s the kind of thing that happens when you visit a bustling farmers market. You try new exotic flavors and discover little gems of health like sunflower seed butter. Thanks Portland. I owe you my love of yet another nut butter for that one.

Since trying sunflower butter that first time I’ve experimented with making my own nut and seed butters at home in order to venture outside the peanut butter realm. Almond, cashew and chia seed nut butters are all delicious but I’d yet to try my hand at sunflower seeds. That is, until now.
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