Laura Stricker

People looking to make the switch to living a naturally healthy lifestyle often find the wealth of information available confusing and overwhelming. Two Toronto-based women are trying to change that.
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer, cofounders of The Healthy Shopper, a coupon book filled with natural and organic products, started Naturally Savvy in March 2007. Naturally Savvy is an information-based website on the basics of natural health.
“Our goal is to educate people on the benefits of natural and organic products,” Donsky said. “We use easy to understand terms that speak to the general public in a non-fear based, purely educational way.”
The Naturally Savvy website is designed in a user-friendly, interactive way, complete with naturallysavvytv, which includes videos on everything from the Whole Foods Market to the differences between natural and organic versus conventional meats. There is also a blog written by dentists, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between. Visitors to the site can browse through many delicious – and healthy – recipes and sign up for the Naturally Savvy monthly newsletter.
Also featured is a section on Natural Nutrition, where people can send in questions to the Naturally Savvy nutritionist, Lisa Tsakos.
“Lisa is one of the smartest people I know in her field,” Donsky said.
Naturally Savvy only features content that has something natural about it, and works only with companies that have similar beliefs as her and Boyer,” Donsky said.
“Everyone and everything mentioned on our site has a natural component to it,” she said.
“We work with companies who are true to our beliefs.”
Donsky and Boyer have many plans for Naturally Savvy, as well as for other projects. They are currently working with a literary agent and writing a book together.
“We want to be the number one source for trusted information,” Donsky said.
The two health connoisseurs are also hoping to expand into the media, whether it is through radio or television – anything that will get Naturally Savvy more publicity, she said.
For people who want to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but are not sure how to begin, Donsky has some simple tips.
She suggests starting by taking one or two products that get a lot of use, such as milk, and substituting it with something natural or organic. Donsky also recommends buying organic fruits and vegetables.
For cleaning products, she suggests gradually replacing chemical ones with natural products. When you run out of a certain cleaning product, Donsky says to replace it with something natural.
What is important to remember, she added, is that trying natural cleaning products requires patience.
“Your expectations have to be altered,” she said. “Chemical products tend to work faster than natural ones, so you need to be patient.
Natural products might take a bit more patience and experimenting. It’s all about finding the right product that works for you.”
To get started on the path to a healthier lifestyle, visit the Naturally Savvy website at www.naturallysavvy.com. For discounts on natural and organic products, visit Donsky’s and Boyer’s other site, The Healthy Shopper, at www.healthyshopper.ca.