It's been quite awhile since I've written any sort of Blog post.. I guess I haven't had much to share! First, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I'm very excited for what 2017 will bring and I have some exciting plans and goals for this year.

I have a really great, halarious, and yes.. even a little embarrasing story to share with you with pictures that show each moment.. so you'll want to read this one!

A few months ago I decided that I should update my pictures on my website and get some professional photos of me in the kitchen.. in my element. I figured this would really help potential clients be able to see what I do and see me in action. Great idea, right?! Hmmm... where to start.

Well, let's just say I had been pretty anxious about this from the moment I starting thinking about doing it! I've never been one to love gettting my picture taken. I mean sure.. travel pics, selfies with the kiddos in my life, photos with my hubby, friends, and family.. all that I love! It's those "posed" pictures that just look "fake" as my husband would say that I get nervous about, especially if it's just me and for my website and business to promote myself. Promoting myself in my business has never really come easy for me! 

The day of the shoot I was super nervous and nothing seemed to be going quite right. As I was steaming my shirts and aprons all of the sudden the power went off and I realized shortly after I had blown a fuse. Ofcourse we didn't have any extra fuses.. so I ended up having to plug the fridge into an extension cord and go without kitchen lights for a photo shoot that I was doing IN THE KITCHEN! Luckily we have other lighting in the kitchen and the photographer also brought his own lighting.. But while it was happening it was a little stressful. 

We started setting up and I suggested I could make a Green Smoothie for us and that way it would occupy my mind and I hoped it would calm me down. This would also give me some of those "in action" shots that I had thought were such a great idea. I started making this smoothie and added anything and everything I could find to put in just to make it last as long as possible and keep me focusing on something else. This really helped! I started feeling much better and the photographer was showing me the first few photos that actually were looking pretty good! We were both just getting "warmed up" as he said. 

Well, you're probably using your imagination at this point as to what happened next. All serious like, I turned the blender on. 

Pretty much as soon as I turned the blender on it exploded. Seriously, Exploded!! In literally seconds my entire kitchen and I were completely covered in Green Smoothie. 

I was a little shocked.. and luckily for me I had every single moment captured!!!! LOL!!! What more could I possibly do than just Laugh!!! 

After all, accidents happen.. right?! But how did this happen? This blender is the most amazing blender I have ever used and just happens to be my absolute favourite kitchen appliance I have ever owned. Ofcourse I had been telling all of this to the photographer. All of the sudden after some good laughs I look over and I see THE spoon. NOoo....!!!!!!

In this picture I am ready to cry. I have realized at this very moment that this "explosion" did not happen by accident at all. I noticed a bent spoon on the counter that clearly had shot out of the vitamix.  Even though I hate to admit this, I quite obviously had somehow left this spoon in the blender and this is what had caused this green smoothie expolosion. What an amazing start!! 

So there you have it. My embarrasing, hilarious, and somehow "Great" story. All I could do was laugh and move on even though at this point I felt like calling the whole photoshoot off and calling it a day. I'm sure the photographer must have felt the same.. but definitley didn't show it. We moved on. We laughed as we cleaned it all up and got ready to start again.

Surprisingly the end result of the photos turned out really good in my opinion. We got some great shots that I am now excited to use on my website and most of all I realized that nothing always goes as planned and that's okay. Being nervous and anxious can really cause some damage.. Mostly just to my ego this time though. LOL> What halarious story would I have to share if this didn't happen?! 

I've included some pictures that were taken after the Green Smoothie explosion just to give this story the classic happy ending. :) 

 liquid and become an oatmeal like consistency. You add whatever flavouring and toppings you like and this is what keeps it interesting! Do I have you interested? 

So, Here's what you do! This is a great snack or breakfast for everyone in the family, including a great school snack. 

What You Need:

glass mason jar or glass container with a lid 
1/2 cup oats 
1/2 cup milk of choice (I like using Fresh Almond Milk) 

Optional: 
1 TBS chia seeds + 1/4 cup milk (3/4 cup milk in total for this recipe with chia seeds) 
1 tsp maple syrup 
pinch of sea salt 
sprinkle of cinnamon

Take all of these ingredients, add them to your jar, and stir. Then leave them for 8-10 hours and let them set. If this seems like too many ingredients for you to get out that night.. just go with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup oats, stir them together and let sit overnight. Done. Flavour it and add what you like the next morning. 

Now, the Fun Part! The next morning you can Dress Them Up!! Pick and Choose from these toppings or whatever you think might be good and make your own "oat sundae" for breakfast! 

Toppings to Mix and Match: 

Fibre: hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, sesame seeds, walnuts, pecans

Antioxidants: Blueberries, Pomegranate Seeds, Strawberries, Blueberries, etc. 

Smoothie Layer: Yep you can also add your favourite smoothie to it! Why not?

Superfoods: Goji Berries, Cacao Nibs, Cacao Powder, Dried Mulberries, Bee Pollen, etc. 

Natural Sweeteners: Raw Unpasteurized Honey, Dates, Date Syrup, Banana, Coconut Sugar, Coconut Nectar, Green Powdered Stevia 

Who knew we were just talking about Oats here?!! In the next few weeks I am totally going to experiment with these, I'm thinking some recipes that might be kind of "out there" but why not? Maybe a Matcha Green Tea Overnight Oat Recipe.. as I am obsessed with Matcha lately, or maybe a coffee one, made with Dandyblend.. I will let you know how these go!! You can keep this super simple, or you can treat it just like an ice cream sundae or smoothies.. and get the kid's involved too! Totally up to you!

Looking forward to your comments and feedback and would love to know if you happen to give these Overnight Oats a Try!! 

It's been awhile since I have posted, and I am so excited to share this delicious recipe for my Butternut Squash, Mung Bean, and Split Pea Stew with Miso. This stew is full of nutrient dense ingredients and I am so happy with the outcome I just had to share it with you. Here are a few key ingredients to this soup and why it's so healthy:

Miso is fermented soy bean paste and is great all on it's own with a little hot water or added to soups and stews. It adds a saltiness and thickness to soups that make them so satisfying and comforting, and not to mention the health benefits! Miso can be found at your local health food store. 

Arame is a sea vegetable (seaweed) which adds a salty favour and is detoxifying and rich in minerals. Arame is immune supporting and has been proven to help fight against cancer. 

Ginger is great for digestion, immune supporting, and has both antioxidant and anti-infalmmatory effects. 

Butternut Squash contains 145 % of your daily recommended Vitamin A and is one of your top sources for alpha and beta-carotene which is great for eye health. 

Tamari is my favourite healthier soy sauce alternative because it is fermented it adds many health benefits and contains little to no wheat, especially if you buy the wheat free tamari. This is great for anyone who is gluten intolerant or avoiding wheat and gluten. 

I've been doing a lot of cooking lately for clients and am just getting busier with the holiday season approaching so the best kind of meals for my hubby and I are big one pot meals that can stretch us throughout the week. I like to freeze some for later and also have it ready in the fridge in containers to take to work for lunch or possibly even another dinner depending on the week. You can easily change the flavour of this soup each time you have it by adding some curry powder or chilli powder to switch things up and serve it with a hearty salad, quinoa, or brown rice. The days that I am cooking for 2 clients in a day are days that I don't particularly feel like cooking and sometimes it can be scary what I come home to when I leave the meals up to my hubby. Maybe he does this on purpose to get out of the cooking?! I'm not joking, there have been some VERY creative meals that he has served such as his Raw Kale with Fresh Ginger Salad (this consisted of exactly the description.. no dressing, raw kale broken up, and fresh ginger sliced into chunks!!), Omelettes which he added fresh strawberries to and ended up being more like jam in an omelette,  Orange and Ginger Omelettes, and yes.. these really happened. ;) He really likes his ginger!! 

I have donated my Flourless Zucchini Brownie Recipe in support of Daily Bread Foodbanks and is a  Community Wellness cookbook full of 100 whole food recipes! Donate a minimum of $10 to get your free copy today! This is by far one of my all time favourite dessert recipes. 

Well if you make the stew or the brownie recipe please let us know what you think! Also if there are any Blog topics that you would like to know more about and have an idea for an upcoming post please feel free to comment below! Thanks, We Love hearing from you!

Spring is in the Air!! 

Each and everyday that the sun is shining and I don't have to pull out my winter coat, hat and mitts I am so grateful! I have to admit there have been some days that a winter coat has definitely been needed but I absolutely refuse to wear it anymore!! How about you?

With Spring here and Summer right around the corner I thought I would share some ideas to maintain and boost your energy to enjoy these longer spring days!! 


Tips of How to Eat To Maintain and Boost Your Energy:

1. Stay Hydrated!! This is SO Important and I think we can all use a constant reminder of this! We are made up of 70% water and we use water in all of our bodily functions so you should drink 1.5-2 liters per day and more when exercising to maintain and boost your energy
2. Have protein and fibre with each meal and snack (veggies with hummus or tahini, yogurt with trail mix and fruit, kale chips with cashew cream) 
3. Avoid Processed and Refined Sugars and Flours: WHITE bread, rice, and pasta, refined cereals, crackers, chips, waffles, pancakes, muffins, cakes, etc.
4. Avoid sugar: processed and refined white sugar, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, pasteurized honey, jam, chocolate, pre packaged treats, gummies, candies, etc. 
5. Choose natural sweeteners such as raw, unpasteurized honey or pure maple syrup
6. Eat Smaller Meals More often
7. Good quality proteins: quinoa, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, lean meats, wild cold water fish
8. Foods high in fibre: vegetables and fruit (leave the skin on them), whole grains, nuts, seeds, leafy greens
9. Avoid stimulants: These cause ups and downs in your system, highs and lows in blood sugars and hard on your Adrenals! Stimulants: caffeine, sugar, nicotine, energy drinks, etc.

I had some pretty amazing news yesterday from a client of mine that I am just thrilled to share!

I have been working with a particular client since last year. In the Spring of 2013 she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer which was shocking news to her and everyone around her. A few months later I was recommended to her by one of my clients. Since then I have been providing Personal Cooking for her and sharing any advice, books, and knowledge that I thought might be helpful. She was doing regular chemotherapy treatments, seeing a Naturopath, and also taking advice from her Medical Doctor when we first met. 

There were many days working with her that I would be cooking and she would ask me my opinions on everything from supplements to food and diet (mostly if her occasional healthy sweet treats were okay to have..lol) which I always answered that I thought it was most important that she feels balance in her diet. This may mean different things to many people as we are all unique and everyone has a diet that works for them. In Nutrition school we learned about the 80/20 rule. This rule is about eating healthy, nutritious foods most of the time (80%) and having foods that may not be the most nutritious but make you feel good on special occasions (20%) of the time. This rule works great for my lifestyle and I never feel bad when I indulge in that decadent chocolate, wine, or even sometimes a poutine that satisfies that craving because for the most part I am getting an abundance of very nutritious food. 

Since sugar was and is a major craving for this client I suggested to stay completely away from any refined or white sugar and to use small amounts of natural sweeteners as well as natural sugars found in fruit and vegetables for treats. Some would have said to completely stay away from all sugars as there have been studies saying that sugar in any form feeds cancer but In my opinion I think that quality of life is so important during this time and I didn't agree with depriving her of something that she seemed to have control over and that brought her great pleasure on occasion. 

It's that time of year.. Summer! My favourite season. Cottages, Biking, Swimming, Fresh and Local Produce, Camping, Social Events with family and friends, and Picnics at the beach!

I'm planning a couple of camping weekends this summer as well as some family gatherings and am already thinking about some yummy food to bring. Of course there's always room for your traditional family favourites and treats but I've put together some ideas to stay healthy and energized for all of your summer events. 

Dried Fruit: whether you dehydrated fruit yourself or buy it, it's a great snack and addition to your granola, trail mix, cereal, or adding to a snack for a picnic or camping. May as well take advantage of all of the fresh, seasonal fruit that we have in abundance right now! 

What is in your Gut?

Did you know that 60-70% of your immune system lives in your gut? We all have a combination of "Healthy Gut Bacteria" and "Bad bacteria" in our system. The key is to make sure that the Healthy bacteria takes over the bad bacteria to make sure we stay healthy and strong. To keep the healthy bacteria thriving and the bad bacteria from taking over, we need to be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies. Having a healthy gut means a healthier you.. so here's what you should know:

What are Probiotics?

Lately we are surrounded by it.. "High in Probiotics, Great Source of Prebiotics and Probiotics...  But what does that mean anyways? 

Probiotics are organisms such as yeast or bacteria that are believed to improve health through whole foods and supplements. We have over 500 different types of bacteria in our Digestive System that work to keep the intestines healthy, assist in digesting food, as well as strengthening our immune systems. Probiotics are especially helpful when taking antibiotics, as the antibiotics are wiping out both the good and the bad bacteria in our systems to fight infection. 

What are the Best Sources of Probiotics?

This Mother's Day I can't think of a better way to spend quality time with your Mom than learning about healthy and delicious ingredients as well as having an experience to remember and continue to use in your path to a healthier lifestyle!

 In my upcoming Workshops and Cooking classes you can learn more about Smoothies and Juicing, adding more Raw Foods to your diet and why this is so health promoting, and how to make a Thai Inspired Meal taste delicious without processed and refined ingredients and satisfy your cravings with all of those delicious and authentic flavours! All of these classes are gluten-free, dairy-free and plant based. 

My classes are unique in a way that they are interactive, small class sizes leaving lots of room for questions, interactions, and learning, and I use a very hands on approach to learning. In these classes you will learn about beneficial ingredients that you can add in your everyday meals, budget saving tips, time saving preparation techniques, and most of all how healthy food can taste so delicious! 

My Upcoming Classes For MAY: 

"ONE MAN'S FOOD IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON"

This is a perfect explanation of how one person can be fine with a certain food and another person reacts in a variety of symptoms and has a sensitivity to a certain food. Wheat and Dairy are the 2 Main triggers that seem to be in every meal lately. You may not notice any problems or sensitivities with you or your family but its a good idea to lower the amount of each of these and try not to include them in every meal. There are a variety of other food sources that provide calcium and other nutrients that are more absorbable and less acid forming. 

OTHER COMMON FOOD SENSITIVITIES:

Other common allergens and food sensitivities are Soy, Eggs, Corn, Sugar, peanuts, shellfish, citrus fruit and tree nuts. There are many more but these are just more common ones. The reason this is being addressed is to avoid any future intolerances by reducing the overall load of particular foods and adding variety into your diet. Food sensitivities and intolerances occur when one eats more of a food then his/ her system can process efficiently. I am going to focus on some of the main ones that are found in a lot of common, everyday meals. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGIES:

Skin rashes (can show up as Eczema, Psoriasis, hives, red bumps, etc), vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, bloating, mood swings, headaches, migraines, wheezing, runny noses, irritability, asthma, hyperactivity in children, etc. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

We all know that it's more expensive to eat healthy foods than junk food. Junk food costs less at the grocery stores, fast food places, and restaurants. Eating Junk is so much cheaper than fresh Organic and Local food, But my question to YOU is:

Will it be more expensive for your health in the long run if you don't eat healthy?

Our health is our happiness, without health, we really have nothing. So let's do what we can to Stay Healthy on a Budget!! 

I'm going to share some tips that I use to save money eating healthy and also staying within my budget. 

THE LIST

• Write a List and Only buy What is on the list! I know this may seem like an easy one, but not everyone does it! Or they forget their list at home!

FARMER'S MARKETS

• Shop local and organic, so that you buy what is in season most of the time. You are going to find the best seasonal deals and you'll find lots of delicious food at it's freshest since it wasn't transported across the country to get there!
• If you're unsure of where a farmers market is near you it's easy to find them online or try calling your local Chamber of Commerce.