~ real food, balanced living ~
Here we are at the onset of summer. The season of warmth, abundance and discovery.
My husband and I marvel at the rate of growth and the pace of change as we walk our little garden together in the morning.
Sometimes we have to crouch down low, turn ourselves upside down on the ground or slide branches sideways to get a full view of the beauty around us. Each day holds a new wonder and we do whatever we can to put ourselves in the middle of it….
I don’t normally take my dietary cues from Starbucks but when the temperature climbed upwards of 100F earlier this week, I was reminded of a little discovery I made last year.
It was a glorious late spring day when I found myself out and about (that’s oot and aboot for my American friends — see how much I’ve learned in the short time that I’ve been living here? Who knew that the way I would pronounce these two small words would be akin to having a maple leaf stamped on my forehead. I do feel compelled to note for the record however that I’ve never actually heard a Canadian say oot or aboot – not even a Maritimer – but I get that there is a slight difference in emphasis and I’m happy to go along with the chuckle. Canadians can be kind that way, wink)….
Summer officially begins on Friday in this home.
It’s the boys last week of school and we are cruising through it with the usual mix of chaos and excitement.
Just beyond the end-of-semester projects, presentations and ceremonies, await the pool parties, UEFA Champions League finals and midnight chip runs to CVS. Yup, the first week of summer is about to descend on us in all of its glory and the boys can literally taste it.
The tradition at our sons’ school, like many others, is for the parents of the Grade 11 class to prepare the food for the Grade 12 graduation reception — (I say this with a huge lump in my throat knowing that next year, we will have our own Grade 12 graduate and it will no longer be possible for me to keep denying the inevitable. Please tell me I am not the only mom who has trouble with this…)….
Gastrointestinal discomfort, or tummy trouble, is one of the most common health conditions I encounter in my nutrition practice.
Some of the more familiar symptoms include: bloating; cramping; heartburn; gas; constipation and/or diarrhea. The associated discomfort levels can range from mild to debilitating and the causes, consequences and potential cures, are equally diverse.
What I want to talk about today are some of the founding principles and practices we can put in place to help lay the groundwork for gastrointestinal health….
This year marked our first spring planting season at our new home.
I was intent on growing herbs and getting a vegetable or two into the ground. So with a deep breath and a huge leap of faith, I kept my ambitions low, stayed focused and started small.
My husband built me two wood boxes and with that, our adventure was underway. …
I’ll admit to feeling a little torn between lovers these days.
It’s a spring thing, you know.
With each passing day, I find myself surrounded by new and ever-growing possibilities. …
In simple terms, our metabolism is the rate at which our bodies utilize calories. The higher our metabolic rate, the faster our bodies expend calories.
Our metabolism may be influenced by a number of variables including our age, gender and genes – factors which may seem completely out of our control. The good news is that there are certain things we can do to help maximize our body’s calorie burning potential and improve our global health.
The strategies I set out in this feature are science-based. To be sure, I know of no magic pill, pouch or bullet that will do for you what exercise and sound dietary choices can. …
The best part about the limited variety of produce found at my neighborhood Safeway is that it requires me to make the occasional trip to Whole Foods. (I say occasional because no matter how narrow a mission I set out on, my grocery bill is anything but lean by the time I walk out the door).
On this particular visit, the first display that caught my attention was a stunning pyramid of blood oranges. California grown and still very much in season, their soft orange skin streaked with red blush appeared like little globes of sunlight beckoning me to take them home. Some neighboring golden beets, freshly pulled from the spring soil, decided to hitch a ride and jumped into my basket too. …
In my last nutrition feature I talked about the importance of sleep and discussed dietary/lifestyle strategies for achieving it. The piece generated some good discussion in the comments section so if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, be sure to drop by to take advantage of that information as well.
One of the most common concerns I encounter in my nutrition practice is low energy levels and fatigue. Whether it’s difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, the classic afternoon slump, crashing early evening or low energy levels persisting throughout the day, fatigue can strongly impact our work productivity, mood, motivation and the quality of our interactions with others. …
Our youngest stumbled upon his first four-leaf clover when he was barely six years old.
We were getting out of the car and walking across a stretch of indecipherable greens when he looked down and said, “Mommy, look, it’s a four-leaf clover.”
Just like that. …