On the blog a few months ago, I wrote a whole post calling out “superfoods” because of their endless health claims, from curing allergies and candida to detoxifying the body and aiding in weight loss. And instead encouraged everyone to think of single ingredient foods as “superfoods,” such as pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, legumes, slow burning grains and dark leafy greens.
Read MoreLiving in today’s plant-based world, it is not surprising to discover tofu in every grocery store in North America. But what you might find surprising is that tofu has been around for centuries! Apparently, the first written record of tofu dates back to 950 A.D. For such a humble, versatile, ancient food why is it still such a mystery? According to the Economist and Forbes magazine, 2019 is the year of the vegan, so it is about time we dig deep into tofu and explore exactly what it is, how it is made and whether it is healthy or not.
Read More“Low fat,” “no-fat,” “plain,” “flavoured,” “Greek,” “grass-fed,” and the new kid on the block “Icelandic” are all words that describe a variety of yogurt that can be found sitting in the dairy cooler of your local grocery store. It is ironic how complex yogurt can be considering it originated as a way to preserve milk before we had refrigerators. Yogurt is a great way to get a good dose of bone-building calcium into our diet and is also a good source of protein – making it a great snack for kids and adults. But some yogurts may be more like ice-cream with the amount of sugar added to them, so let’s take a look at how to pick the best yogurt for you and your family!
Read MoreLet’s talk turkey! Before making your purchase of a brightly packaged bird it is important to know where your food comes from and all the people involved in the process. A few months ago, I pulled on my rubber boats and trekked out to Island Bison Ranch to tell you the story behind their farm. Today I’ll introduce you to Rossdown Farms and Natural Foods in Abbotsford. Full disclosure - I thought I was heading to their turkey farm but it ended up being their processing plant, which opened my eyes to the production of poultry.
Read MoreAs a retail dietitian, I’ve situated myself in an optimal environment to learn exactly where our food comes from and to understand all the people involved in the process. As a consumer of food, which we all are, it is our responsibility to know this information, but starting down this inquisitive path can be overwhelming, especially when reaching out to local farmers and asking them some difficult questions. So, I will start us down this path! Meet farmer Marc from Island Bison Ranch.
Read MoreDuring the colder, winter months our bodies crave comfort foods – foods that ‘stick to your ribs,’ making you feel full and satisfied, but why? Unfortunately, the verdict is still out on this one; but some say it’s related to our serotonin levels, which are at their lowest during the winter months. Serotonin is a brain chemical that regulates mood, appetite and sleep. So, eating a carbohydrate-rich meal or snack will increase your brain’s production of serotonin making you feel better…at least temporarily. Now what to do when you’ve eaten too much?
Read MoreWhen I was 10 years old, my grade 5 schoolteacher told me that the secret to a healthy, long life is oatmeal and what was her evidence? Well, her mom, who was 101 and still healthy and strong ate oatmeal every morning! Almost 20 years later and I still remember this story but now that I’m studying nutrition it’s time to explore this phenomenon – is oatmeal really the secret to becoming a centenarian? Oatmeal is a great way to start your day. Homemade quick rolled oats with melted brown sugar and a tad of cream just makes the most delicious bowel of oatmeal; however, you might find yourself hungry again in no time! How can this be? Doesn’t oatmeal have a ton of fibre?
Read MoreSo, you’ve read Vegetarianism 101 and are trying to eat meat only from farms who put their animals first – awesome! But this new way of living is lot of work (tell me about it). Eating out is a pain in the butt, and time, which no one seems to have, is going into planning meals weeks in advance. So, what’s my secret solution? Well, I’m not eating meat. Now you might be wondering…how am I getting enough protein? Well, here’s everything you need to know about protein. Also, just wanted to say thank you to a couple of readers who’ve asked me this question and gave me the idea to write about it today – thanks!
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago, some friends and I tried to attend the Gluten Free Expo that was taking place in Vancouver. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to learn about the up and coming ‘gluten-free’ products we could offer future clients. However, after waiting in line for an hour and a half, we were told we only had another hour and a half to go! So, we decided to get a refund and some brunch. According to the apology email, we were sent a couple of days later, over 20,000 people tried to attend this particular expo! What should we take away from this?
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