Marc Piperno

Nutrition, lifestyle choices, and our environment affect our health overtime - for better or worse.

This year’s event is set for Sunday, October 20 at Jones Beach State Park and Sunday, October 27 at Suffolk County Community College. More information at MakingStridesWalk.org or 1.800.227.2345.

I have always heard fantastic things about Naples, Florida and now I know why. We visited there for a few days in March, and it was a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

Dating back over 2,000 years ago, the traditional name for Halloween was All Hallows’ Eve. It was a secular holiday linked to the celebration of death, the supernatural and the transition between seasons. Known as the night before All Saint’s Day, Irish and Spanish cultures would celebrate the faithfully departed with feasts, bonfires and sacrificial offerings.

Nothing is as important to our sense of well-being as the comfort of our home. Our home is an extension of ourselves, a reflection of who we are, what we enjoy and how we choose to live. Whether large or small, simple or grandiose, we can put our very own stamp on our home and make it as unique and distinctive as we are.

The school year has begun and the summer sun has been replaced with a crisp autumn chill, which means Halloween is just around the corner! Fall is filled with scenic foliage and wonderful aromas, but it’s Halloween that gets everyone excited!

When that slight briskness in the air comes to town and I have crunching leaves under my feet, the only thing that I crave is the warm flavors of the season, especially cinnamon and maple. So, when that day comes, I’m rushing home to make this absolutely amazing and addicting Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon-Maple Glaze.

With those warm days of summer behind us and the air becoming crisp and cooler, it’s the time to turn on our ovens and make some love the old fashioned way…Bake a pie!

One of my favorite things about traveling outside the United States is the ability to leisurely dine. Three to four-course meals served over a few hours, a carafe of wine, outdoor setting – you really can’t go wrong.

I am a carnivore at heart. There is nothing I appreciate more than a quality steak, or a good burger. I tried the vegetarian route when I was younger (for a few weeks), and it quickly became clear to me that meat was going to remain a staple in my diet. As I get older, I search for high quality cuts and stick mainly to primarily grass-fed or aged. Quality over quantity!

This newly tried salad is the coolest and most quenching during warm days. Now in season, watermelon among other fruits, plays a beneficial role in keeping our bodies healthy and functioning. Look for the really lush green ones with a good spherical shape—these are full of nutrients and help quench your thirst.

Now that September is in full-swing, college students have commenced and returned back to school. Bedding, cleaning supplies and kitchen necessities are just a few of the many things that need to be on the “Back-to-School” shopping list.