By Lisa Truesdale 

Fall is the season of plenty. Planted in spring and nurtured all summer long, a colorful bounty of crops pours into farmers markets across the country, making it easier than ever to eat a wide variety of local, seasonal ingredients.

(Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free)

This is a wonderful summery snack that will help entice your kids to eat more fruit. My kids are CRAZY for it, and never leave a bite. We had a lot of fun taste-testing, and sampled a wide variety of vanilla yogurts. Our personal favorites are Brown Cow Vanilla Bean, or Whole Soy & Co. Vanilla. Use a broad spectrum of colorful fresh produce in your medley to cover your bases for phytonutrients (flavonoids, carotenoids - you know, all those plant derived compounds that are the backbone of a healthy diet). I've chosen fruits that are easy to make into perfect little mouthfuls, but you can use whatever fruits your children are particularly fond of. For this strategy I broke out—drum roll please—toothpicks! Kids love skewering the fruit.

(Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Sneaking tomatoes into hummus is a good way to increase your kids' Vitamin C and Lycopene intake. But because sundried tomato hummus can be a strong flavor for kids, I've come up with a milder tomato hummus using organic canned diced tomatoes, which also means that you may make this dish year round, even when tomatoes aren't in season. And when you make your own from scratch you can be sure to use a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, such as olive oil rather than the mystery "vegetable oil" found in most store bought hummus. So take the extra two minutes to whip up fresh, all natural and preservative-free hummus for your kids.

(Gluten-free)

Corn tortillas are a light and healthful alternative to bread. They are usually made with no more than corn, lime juice, and water. For those of us trying to reduce trans- and saturated fats in our kids' diets, as well as sodium and sugar, this snack is a perfect solution. Unlike most store-bought taquitos, which are fried, these fresh taquitos combine whole grain cornmeal, with lean protein, and the uber-healthy monounsaturated fat from avocados (guacamole). For those kids with more adventurous palettes, try adding a little minced onion or chopped cilantro to the mix.

Think casseroles are stuck in the 1950s? Think again. This one-pot meal is heavenly, good enough for the Greek Gods themselves. I devised the recipe around the natural aphrodisiacs wine, onion, carrots, and celery, adding lamb, rosemary and mint, to give it a decidedly Greek flavor. It's supremely delicious without the feta, but if you can eat dairy, try adding this robust sheep's milk cheese for an extra bit of zing.

Looking to add something new to your repertoire? We've got the perfect recipes to woo a new love, mend a broken heart, treat yourself, keep the flame alive & fill your family with love. So this Valentine's Day, dare to try something new. Make a romantic brunch for one! Fill your diet with natural aphrodisiacs like bananas, chocolate, honey, peaches, oats, onions, carrots, celery, and alcohol (in moderation, too much has the opposite effect). Rev your libido and mix it up this V-day, with some healthy comfort foods and great new natural products. After all, variety is the spice of life!

Thanksgiving is a food-centric, hedonistic, gustatory orgy. We gather and we eat for upwards of four hours, all the way from pre-dinner snacks to post-dessert dessert. But a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is literally one of the most allergen-laden meals possible. Whether this is your first allergen-free Thanksgiving or your twentieth, the following tips will help make it festive, mouthwateringly delicious, and safe.