Review by Meghan Mast
“We are the air, we are the water, we are the earth, we are the Sun.” David Suzuki uses this simple idea to frame a thoughtful and beautifully written book. The Sacred Balance is a gentle pleading with humanity to re-acknowledge our place in nature. Our existence is undeniably reliant on nature; therefore the survival of the environment is directly linked to our own survival.

Something as simple as the air we breathe owes tribute to trees and plants that provide oxygen. Without air, humanity would perish. Yet we continue to rip down trees. Before the European settlers came to what is now the United States, North America was covered by approximately 3.2 million km squared of forest. Today, only 22,000 km squared remains. By clearing forests we are robbing future generations of air, and consequently of life.
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Review by Meghan Mast
Today’s consumers should have no difficulty finding organic products in ordinary grocery stores and other surprising sources. Now organic coffee is even available at 7-Eleven. Although the increase in organic food availability is a huge improvement, a new issue has emerged. Even food grown organically has environmental repercussions when it has been transported across the continent and across the world. The most eco-friendly products are not only organic, but also local. However, is it even possible to buy only local food?
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By Meghan Mast

Food literature often provides dark insight into what we eat. In her new non-fiction narrative, Barbara Kingsolver breaks this trend and shines a real, but hope-filled light on food. Instead of focusing on the harm of pesticide-plagued food, Kingsolver fills the pages with a beautiful re-dedication to the joy of eating good, fresh food. “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” is sure to reawaken jaded palates through vivid descriptions of tantalizing foods.
Who would choose a cardboard-tasting microwave dinner after glancing over the scrumptious recipes featured throughout the book, such as the Sweet Potato Quesadillas or the Disappearing Zucchini Orzo?

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Review by Meghan Mast
Finally. Here is an environmental book written by a Canadian with Canadians in mind.
Heck, it’s even endorsed by David Suzuki. Beginning as a popular little column in Toronto’s NOW magazine, over time (and extensive research), Ecoholic expanded into the ultimate book for earth conscious consumers.

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Review by Meghan Mast

Say the word chocolate and numerous adjectives come to mind. Succulent, smooth, tempting and aphrodisiac barely touch the surface. In their book, Troth Wells and Nikki van der Gaag provide 50 worldwide chocolate recipes that offer a wide variety of foods from the familiar “Dark Chocolate Brownies,” to the more unusual “Chocolate and Chicken Quesadilla.”
Interspersed with recipes are colorful pages detailing the history of chocolate, the process of making chocolate, the injustices of the chocolate industry and the importance of buying fair trade chocolate.

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