Your Ultimate Guide for Healthy Living

Most of us think of Vitamin C as a cold and flu preventative. But what if I told you that having optimal amounts of dietary Vitamin C is crucial to maintaining healthy and youthful skin? It’s true! Vitamin C doesn’t just bolster immunity, it also makes us beautiful! An important role of vitamin C is its action as a co-factor in the formation and maintenance of collagen. Collagen is the structural protein that forms the connective tissues of the body, including the skin. Think

Did you know that dry sinuses dramatically increase the likelihood of attracting the bacteria responsible for sinusitis. Additionally, having dry sinuses may result in thicker mucous that is less effective in trapping and removing airborne allergens. When these allergens stay in the sinuses they may contribute to inflammation and sinus pain. While a doctor’s visit may be necessary there is also much that can be done with diet, supplementation and lifestyle. If you have a sinu

Asparagus. The sight and taste of this pungent dark green vegetable brings back so many memories. When I was a child I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house in Southern Ontario. My cousins, sister and I would spend all day, every day, outside playing and exploring. Of all the wonderful ways we spent our time, one of my favorite activities was scouring the road side for wild asparagus. If we looked carefully we could search out a precious stalk or two. We would snap th

A versatile vegetable stock that works with any recipe. Makes about 10 cups of stock. Ingredients 2 large onions roughly chopped 2 celery stalks roughly chopped 2 large carrots roughly chopped And whatever other odds and ends from vegetables you have collected during the week. I add pepper ends, broccoli and cauliflower stems, mushroom stocks, tomato ends, potato peels, parsnip peels … you name it, toss it in! 2 bay leaves Fresh herbs (I love a handful of fresh parsley and

As a yoga instructor I spend lots of time talking about awareness or mindfulness. During a yoga practice it is essential to draw your attention inside, tune into strong and subtle sensations in your body, notice the language of breath and adjust your practice based upon the specific needs of yourself. One of the most powerful aspects of yoga is that the lessons learned on the yoga mat often weave themselves into our lives. Mindful eating is one of these examples. What does ea

A single dietary change that will make a HUGE impact on your health and well-being is to eat real food. It sounds simple enough. But what is “real” food? Holistic Nutrition classifies real food as whole, live and natural. Whole foods are foods that have been processed and refined as little as possible. Whole foods are extremely close to the form that you would find them in nature. These are foods that your great-grandparents would recognize, grow, and eat. An example of a wh

Looking to use up some leftover sides? Potatoes are easy to re-purpose into a delicious hearty potato salad! Healthy food doesn’t need to be complicated and this is a perfect example of how a few minutes can turn dreary cooked potatoes into a sensational savory salad! Take last night’s leftover baked potatoes and chop them up into bite sized pieces. I like to leave the skin on for extra fiber and nutrients. Jazz them up with chopped celery, fresh or frozen peas, and a sprinkl

Get up early. Open the back door and tip toe through the chilly wet grass to the edge of my small but fruitful garden. Watch quietly as a goldfinch sweeps down for a bite to eat at the feeder. Soak up the beauty that is red and yellow ripening tomatoes, long dark green cucumbers, slowly climbing pole beans, long stretches of red and curly kale, round crispy heads of cabbage and fragrant basil and oregano. There is nothing quite like a healthy garden at the peak of productivit

I have a confession to make. I love a good cup of coffee! And not the responsible “no cream, no sugar and just a hint of almond milk” type of coffee. I’ll take it sweet and creamy, thanks. While there are some excellent benefits of the occasional cup of (hopefully organic) brewed coffee, most people consume far too much. Tim Horton’s is even putting out commercials that suggest our love of (Tim’s) coffee is part of our Canadian identity! As a nutritionist, I am aware of the n

Want a healthy alternative to your morning cup of coffee? There are many ways to enjoy Matcha Tea. This is a simple and delicious way (and my favourite!) to prepare it. To read about the many benefits of drinking this antioxidant rich tea check out Mad About Matcha! Matcha Tea Ingredients 1/2 tsp matcha 3 tbsp boiled water 1 cup milk or dairy alternative Directions Boil a small amount of water and let sit for 5 minutes In you favourite coffee mug stir 1/2 tsp of matcha into

Spiced Millet Pudding is a wonderful variation on traditional Rice Pudding. It can be eaten as a breakfast or as a desert. It is easy to make, keeps for a week in the fridge and can be eaten hot or cold. For nutritional information and benefits of millet check out All About Millet Spiced Millet Pudding Ingredients 2 cups cooked millet (for cooking instructions go to Stovetop Millet) 1 cup dairy or non dairy milk (coconut milk adds a wonderful flavour!) 1/4 tsp ground card