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summer picnic tips

Inspired Summer Picnic Tips

EAT, entertain, lunches By May 16, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

We love lazy summer picnics filled with giggles, soft blankets and sandwiches with crusts cut off.  SO we’ve come up with a few inspired summer picnic tips to enchant your family as you lead them into the lazy days of summer.

1.  Head to a fabric store and use pinking shears to make cloth napkins so the edges won’t fray.  It’s great for the environment and you can design themed, beautiful picnics at a low cost.
2.  Use individual jars for salad and dressings so you can shake and serve.
3.  Don’t forget baby wipes and hand sanitizer.
4.  We have lots of printables on our pinterest pages so you can do nature walks and scavenger hunts.
5.  Bamboo plates always look stunning and are earth friendly.
6.  Ditch the tech and opt for old-fashioned entertainment like cards, etch-a-sketch and throwing a ball.
7.  Make a picnic playlist for every summer and your kids will have years of happy memories associated with the songs.
8.  If you have little ones, include a few favourite dolls or stuffies with tiny dishes.  Enchanted.
9.  To help teach responsibility and respect, throw a garbage bag and some plastic gloves in the basket and do a mini garbage cleanup of the site when you are done.  Picking up litter of others will instill many lessinons in your children.
10.  Opt for tealights in mason jars for twilight picnics.  It will be both safe and beautiful!

Enjoy – and don’t forget the bug spray!  Add your ideas below!

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10 simple ways to nourish your body

eat, EAT, family meals, LIVE By May 1, 2013 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

This may sound easy and intuitive to some and overwhelming and foreign to others, but regardless, we all want to feel our best. So if you already practice these, make these 10 Simple ways To Nourish Your Body a mainstay in your everyday. If you are new to these, then start incorporating them one at a time into your day. I promise your body will reap the benefits. It’s the small but daily decisions in your life that lead to the biggest transformations.

Here’s my top 10 hit list on how to Nourish Your Body.

1) Drink warm lemon water upon rising. 

This quick flush and detox alkalizes your body and sets your digestion up for the rest of the day.

2) Eat more greens

Incorporate greens into every meal. Salads, green juices, stews, pastas, eggs, soups. Throw in the kale, chard, spinach, arugula, watercress. The greener the better. Just eat more.

3) An avocado a day keeps the doctor away

Avocados are my god. They are loaded in vitamins, minerals and fiber and contain the healthy fats our bodies thrive on. This is the fat we so need. This is the fat that speeds up our metabolism; the fat that lowers the bad cholesterol; the fat that keeps us satiated so we don’t cave at 4 pm and eat whatever is in front of us.

4) Make dinner your lightest meal (An Avocado Will do)

This allows the body to actually refresh, rejuvenate and repair during sleep. Most the time we wake up tired because our body didn’t rest, digestion takes up so much energy. Try at first eating half of what you normally do. Never eat until you are full. You have eaten to much.

5) Exercise

Move your body. Movement heals everything. If you are tired, it invigorates; if you are upset, cranky, endorphins help you overcome that mood; if you are confused, it helps gain clarity.

Do yoga, run, bike, take a class, whatever it is, it will heal.

6) Body Brush.

Everyday before jumping in the shower or upon rising, dry brush your body in swift  circular motions. This flushes toxins, gets lymphs moving and is a great skin smoother.

7) Cook

When you cook your own food, you know exactly what’s in your food. You have the control of how sweet/salty it is. Once you get in the habit of cooking, you won’t go back to eating out every meal. Pack lunches; have breakfast at home. Make restaurants the occasion.

8) Notice Habits

Become aware of the little things you do everyday. Are they helping you? Are the just habitual? If they are, then break the habit and see how liberating it is.

9) Omega 3’s

Get more Omega 3’s into your diet. Their anti inflammatory properties help you now and prevent future degeneration issues. Eat salmon, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, oil supplements.

10) Take Pleasure, be Passionate 

Do what you love. If you don’t know, make it a priority to discover your inner smile. Ignite and feel your spirit in your every step.

 

Alyssa Bauman is a holistic nutritionist, health consultant, speaker and writer who is on the crusade to empower healthy eating. The more you eat well, the more you want to eat well. 

Foods Alyssa can’t live with out: Coconut Oil, Raw Cacao, Her Green Go-Go Juice, Avocado and lemons.

Check out www.nourished.ca for easy, yummy, healthy recipes that will nourish your soul and your body. Sign up for monthly nourished newsletters for transformative advice and nutrition tips.

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Sweet Potato Puree

baby, EAT By April 17, 2013 Tags: , , No Comments

sweet potato baby pureeSweet Potato (also known as the yam) can be orange fleshed or ivory-white, though color is no particular indication of sweetness. Sweet potato puree provides a tummy satisfying starch as well as chill-beating vitamin C. Orange fleshed varieties are rich in beta carotene, the stuff which turns Flamingo feathers pink and, if eaten all the time, gives babies a ruddy glow. If your baby seems to have acquired a golden tan, lay off the orange colored food!

We like to freeze the puree in ice cube trays and pop the frozen cubes into labeled baggies or containers in the freezer.  This allows you to always have an assortment of ‘cubes’ on hand.  The recipe can also be prepared with a variety of other veggies (even canned pumpkin).. wink

Suitable for 6 months onwards.  Makes 2 cups


Sweet Potato Puree

You will need:
1 pound Sweet Potatoes

Peel the potatoes and chunk into bite sized pieces and put into a pot with enough boiling water to cover. Return water to boil, reduce heat, loosely cover, and cook 20-30 minutes or until perfectly soft and tender. Drain – not too thoroughly – reserving a little of the cooking water. Mash (or use a food processor) to a puree with a little of the cooking water.

Alternately, you can use a steamer…

Serve and enjoy!

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Disney’s New Diabetes Resource

Disney, EAT, family meals, holidays, ROAM By April 9, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

If  your kids are living with Type 1 diabetes, you’ve got a few extra challenges.  We’re very excited about a Disney’s New Diabetes Resource from one of our favourite Disney sites.  Disney Interactive has partnered with Lilly Diabetes to launch an online destination dedicated to help families affected by type 1 diabetes on Disney’s family lifestyle site Lilley Diabetes. Combining Lilly’s knowledge of diabetes with Disney’s robust parenting network has created a unique and powerful diabetes resource.

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Tropical Peach Breeze Smoothie

EAT, snacks By April 8, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

After a fruit-filled tropical March break, the family is completely hooked on two things: peaches and coconut water!  Getting back into the school routine wasn’t easy, but breakfast is proving to be less stressful (and more healthful) than it was prior to the vacay. With a chill still in the Canadian air, I had resigned myself to using expensive, imported fruit.  But then I was given a revelation: canned peaches are amazing!  Their nutritional value is not only on par with fresh peaches, but they actually have 1.5 times more antioxidants and their Vitamin C levels are 3.5 times higher than fresh.  California Cling Peaches are canned within 24 hours of delivery to the cannery, which ensures that the peaches maintain superior taste and nutritional value.  The way to find them is to look at the various peaches in the stores to make sure they say Made in the USA – those are the California Cling Peaches.  With this new information, I found a recipe that has quickly become a stable in the house (and at the office!).

Tropical Peach Breeze Smoothie

1 can 14 oz / 398 mL California cling peaches (slices)
½ cup coconut water or plain or vanilla almond milk
½ cup Greek vanilla, honey or peach yogurt, preferably 0%
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp ginger
tsp nutmeg
Honey or agave syrup (optional)

Prep: 5 min Total time: 5 min

Directions

Drain peaches reserving 2 tbsp (30 mL) juice. Place peaches, reserved peach juice, coconut water or almond milk, yogurt, vanilla, ginger and nutmeg in a blender. Blend until smooth. If you wish sweeten with honey or agave syrup.

Makes about 2 cups (500 mL) for 2 smoothies.

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Grilled Havarti with Bacon and Peach Sandwich

EAT, lunches By April 8, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Sometimes the school lunch marathon throws me for a loop.  No nut butters.  Make it healthy.  Ensure it’s not going to be wasted..  Grilled cheese is always a hit and you can even cut it into fingers and keep it warm in a thermos.  But how do you make it healthier?  And ensure it will be devoured.  1) Bacon.  2) Peaches.  The flavours combine beautifully and this is one lunch they won’t dare trade!  Using California Cling Peaches allows you to prep this sandwich at any time of the year and also helps you stick to your budget! The canned peaches also retain their flavour, colour and firmness when used in recipes – just check to make sure they say ‘Made in the USA’ on the can to ensure you’re getting the true California Cling Peaches.

Grilled Havarti with Bacon and Peach Sandwich

4 slices of your favourite sandwich bread, such as sourdough or Italian
4 tsp butter
4 thin slices Havarti cheese
4 crisp-cooked slices of smoked bacon
1 or 2 canned California Cling peach halves in fruit juice from concentrate or water, very thinly sliced and patted very dry (Cling peaches are available in slices, halves or diced and are packed in either light syrup, fruit juice or water.)

Prep: 5 min Cook: 8 min Total time: 15 min

Directions

1. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Lay half the cheese on unbuttered side of two slices of bread. Top with bacon, a single layer of peach slices, then remaining cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
2. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes a side. Serve diagonally sliced in half.
Makes 2 sandwiches.

 

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Strawberry Mini Panini Recipe

It’s World Nutella Day! Strawberry Mini Panini Recipe

EAT, snacks By February 5, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

We all know that breakfast is important, but did you know that today is extra-special?  It’s World Nutella Day! In honour of February 5th, here is a strawberry mini panini recipe.  This delicious celebration was started by two fans in Italy in 2007 and has spread, like Nutella on toast, worldwide.  In a throwback to the brand’s Italian roots, Nutella is sharing a Nutella and Strawberry Mini Paninis breakfast recipe. These delicious paninis are filled with fresh strawberries, creamy ricotta cheese and, of course, Nutella.

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Go-Go Green Juice

Go-Go Green Juice

EAT, snacks By January 4, 2013 2 Comments

The new year is a perfect time to start each day with a shot of health.  We give this Go-Go Green Juice to our kids too, and if yours don’t like the colour, calling it ‘Monster Juice’ can help.  If all else fails, add frozen blueberries and call it a milkshake!

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Apple Cosmopolitan

EAT, entertain By December 29, 2012 Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

Spiced apple cocktail makes a great cold-weather apple cosmopolitan. Serve ice cold. Thread a dried apple chip onto the cinnamon stick garnish if you’d like.  We also have a ton of mocktail recipes if you’d prefer!

Serves: 1 Prep time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

Ingredients:
½ cup President’s Choice Spiced Apple Cocktail
2 tbsp (25 ml) Vodka
2 tbsp (25 ml) Calvados or Applejack or other apple brandy
1 cinamon stick Ice cubes 1.

Method:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add apple cocktail, vodka and Calvados. Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick. Makes 1 serving

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