Naomi's Nutrition

Hockey Life

2012-02-29T10:27:00.001-06:00

Watch this 6 sec video of Kelly #22 and I guarantee you will get a good chuckle!

40 years of Saving the Land.

2012-02-29T08:56:00.000-06:00

Land Over Landings, is pleasedto invite you to a celebration of People or Planes Day inthe City of Pickering, at 10 a.m., March 2,in Brougham, in recognition of the historic events of March 2, 1972.

TheBrougham Hall will be open from 11am to 3pm on both Friday,March 2 and Saturday, March 3.

WHO: LandOver Landings salutes PEOPLE OR PLANES .

WHAT: Tomark exactly 40 years since the expropriation of tens of thousands ofacres of north Pickering by the provincial & federal governments for a cityand an airport that was never built, and that we are determined will never bebuilt. A passing of the torch to the next generation of defenders of theseprecious acres of Class 1 farmland, waterways and habitat, and the threatenedheritage houses currently under demolition orders from Transport Canada.

WHERE:Brougham, north Pickering, intersection of Brock Road & Highway Seven.Plenty of parking everywhere.

WHEN:Friday, March 2 Procession @10 a.m. from the Brougham Hall (east side,between Hwy 407 & Hwy 7). Come early to join the procession & get asign (or bring your own!). Follow the procession back to the Hall for speechesby POP members, Q & A, and a wealth of displays and artefacts.Refreshments. Open House at the Hall Friday & Saturday 11-3.

WHY:Because after 40 years the lands have become an oasis in the midst of sprawl,the last, best and biggest expanse of class 1 farmland on the edge of thelargest urban centre in the country. Because we owe a debt to the future tosave these lands, which remain under threat, particularly since the summer'srelease of the Needs Assessment Report stating Pickering remains "a primelocation for an Airport". It wasn't in 72 and it isn't in 2012.

On March 2^nd, 1972 the provincial and federalgovernments expropriated thousands of acres of NorthPickering land for an airport and a satellite city, and Pickeringwas changed forever. But most importantly, in our opinion, agrassroots organization of unprecedented size, creativity and passion rose upto save the land -- People or Planes. POP (as it came to be known) mounted a passive resistance campaignthat became the hallmark for similar groups around the world, bringing togetherfarmers and businessmen, artists and scientists, little old ladies andhippies, in response to a clarion call fromone-time Pickering resident, the late great Scott Young, father of Neil Young,who wrote: "I hope that opposition to this affrontagainst common sense eventually will be nationwide, the largestsingle protest movement in Canadian history. It should be. It canbe." IT WAS.

On March 2 we celebrate POP and Forty Years of Saving theLand with a reunion of many of theoriginal POP members, all of whom continue to be active in environmentalmovements wherever they now live, including Brian Buckles, Bill Lishman andPickering's own Lorne Almack, recipient of last year's Civic Award for LifetimeAchievement.

Pickering has a proud and well-earned reputation forsupporting green initiatives. Recognizing this grassroots community group for40 years of saving the land, and continuing to work towards a green future,brings honour not only to People or Planes, but to all of us.

Joinus for the outdoor media event at 10 a.m., Friday, March2. Visit the Brougham Hall to meet POP members, peruse awealth of displays and artefacts, and meet the authorof Dying for an Airport. www.landoverlandings.com

Nutrition for Runners!

2012-02-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

Naomi McBride, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, RHN

naomi@iovw.ca,

Performance Nutrition for Marathon Runners

A. Energy Requirements are 20 times greater than at rest.

Concept 1: Diet-----Food Ingested------Nutrition-----breaks down into 6 nutrients

1. Carbohydrates (CHO’s) 2. Proteins 3. Fats 4. Vitamins 5. Minerals 6. Water

Concept 2: Total Calorie intake based on a Healthy Diet is 50-60% CHO’s; 20- 30% Fats; 15-20% Protein.

B. Not all CHO’s are created equal; I break them into 2 categories, fibrous and non-fibrous.

C. On a daily basis how many CHO’s does a Marathon Runner require?

Concept 3:

Training

Daily CHO req

Bodyweight

( kg)

Recommended Needs CHO (g)

2hours of moderate intensity or

3-4 hours or slow long distance

7-8g per kg Bodyweight

i.e.: 8g

480g

Performance Carbohydrates: examples

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Pre work-out	Post work-out
Steel-cut oats	Sprouted grain chicken wrap	Yams	Sliced apple	Trail mix
Rolled Oats(porridge)	Long grain brown rice	Baked Potatoes	Sliced pears	Almond butter sprouted grain bagel
10 grain pancakes	Rice pasta	Quinoia	Sliced pineapple	Pomegranate smoothie

A complete meal must be ingested within 1.5 hours after the post workout snack to encourage recovery. Hydration is the key essential to muscle recovery and must be immediate after a training run, ie water, young coconut water, diluted pom juice and water, premade green smoothie, etc.

A complete meal contains all the essential macro nutrients, carbohydrates, protein and good source of fats.

Fats are 20-30% of the diet; MCT’s are best for performance and provide long term energy. Examples of different types of fat are:

Coconut oil & products

Nut Butters

Small amount of real butter

Fatty fish & eggs

Sprouts (plant based oils)

Nuts & Seeds

Hemp hearts, Hemp oils

Fish oils

Krill & cod liver

Olive oil

Ghee

Omega 3 s

Udo’s choice

There is 3 primary functions of fats; ready energy source, necessary for absorption of vitamins A,D,E and K, which improves Ca absorption into the body necessary for your bones, and as well protection to the body.

D. Proteins are 15-20 % of your diet—the building blocks

Break fast	Lunch	Dinner	Pre-workout	Post-workout
eggs	Chicken	Legumes	Sliced Fruit with nut butter spread	Whole food smoothies
Quinoa breakfast	Wild canned Salmon or tuna	Fish	Nut butters	Whey or Hemp protein smoothies With Maca
yogurt	Sardines	Turkey	Nut & seed bars	Almond butter sprouted grain sandwich
Whole food smoothies	Sprouts & seeds	Wild game meats	Vega product	Beef jerky

Reducing calories while training for a ½ or full Marathon is decreasing your overall performance, ensure you receive the right amount of fuel for your training and see your times improve.

Naomi McBride, RHN.

Inside Out Vitality Within

Coaching Families to Eat Better

905-925-9049

Learning a Healthy Lifestyle: Posting Before and After Losing 10 lbs Pictures

2012-02-14T10:06:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my client Debbie,

She is making huge headway in her new lifestyle and I am very proud of her and all her hard work!

Inspiring to us all!

Learning a Healthy Lifestyle: Posting Before and After Losing 10 lbs Pictures:

Me Before Picture Me 10 lbs Lighter Cool! I see a difference already. Not as much roundness in my face and midriff rolls ...

Sick Kids!

2012-02-10T15:34:00.002-06:00

"Let food be your medicine" Hippocrates.

If you're a parent you have likely at some point in time had a sick child. When your child is sick, it can really stir your fears, deep seated ones. Ones we like to keep locked tuck away in a place we rarely visit. Depending on how sick your child is, sometimes that door can be unlocked and the fear can set it. This fear can really screw up how you handle a sick child and sometimes it can make you react at lightening speed.

I have deep belief that when the body is ill, it has the amazing ability to heal itself given the right tools.
Three weeks today, my sweet Riley came home from hockey and told us he wasn't feeling well, this rarely happens and he lied down on the couch and fell asleep. Seems normal enough, I suppose, I took his temperature and I as I suspected it wasn't high enough for me to treat. In typical Riley fashion, each year when he catches a bug, he develops a low grade fever and typically a day or 2, that is the end of it. I wasn't concerned at all.
On Monda, he still wasn't better and developed a really nasty cough so he stayed home. It was determined by the good ol' doctor he had a cold. Ok, I thought, I will let him rest at home, no hockey or football training for the week. By Wednesday he was climbing the walls and wanted to go to school and hockey. I was not convinced he was better, as this cough was really nasty so he stayed at home until the following Monday. He went to school and to hockey practice. After hockey practice, it looked like death was knocking on his door. He was a very sick young man.
Here is the deal with Riley, he has never been on antibiotics and when he does feel ill, it typically clears up within a day or two. He was home for an entire week! YUP, next day, Doc confirmed Pneumonia. I was very confused how does this happen? Riley hasn't even had an ear infection, throat, sinus,or respiratory infection. How does he go from being super healthy to super sick with Pneumonia?
I know how, but I will leave that for a later discussion.

Riley is a really busy 11yr old, whom has some really big dreams, and doesn't want to be held back by anything.
Since he isn't the only boy in the house naturally Kelly developed a fever too! Double Whammy! Just my luck and opps my FEAR! Oh shit, is all I could say!
Again, I believe the body knows how to heals itself given the right tools! I do need to thank Lisa Formosa, a homeopath, I have had to good fortune to learn from. " Let food be your medicine."

Garlic Poultice, Carrot & Ginger Juice!

The Garlic Poultice works wonders. This is the first time I used it and I couldn't believe the results.
I followed a simple recipe---

4 cloves of garlic chopped
folded in paper towel
soaked in warm water for 5 minutes
squeezed off excess water
rubbed olive oil on Riley's chest *Kelly, I placed the poultice on the bottom of his feet.
placed on his chest for 5 min intervals for an hour.

Both go to the Dr on Monday and viola, both are clear, no fluid in the lungs. You would never even know Kelly was sick. Riley on the other hand you can tell he had the crap kicked out off him but none the less, he is much better, though it has taken time.

I strongly recommend Carrot Juice with ginger & spinach for the lungs. I love my Jack Lalanne juicer!

I was really worried, as Kelly's temperature was high enough for him to be taken to the hospital. It was an hour by hour deal with him and I was unnerved! 2 days, 2 nights up all night hour by hour checking his fever, I used Kids Advil when his temp reached 104.5, yea I know what your thinking............it would stabilize, then on the 2nd night I used the garlic poultice, 5 min intervals for an hour and again each hour during the night. The next day he woke up happy, went to the Dr and nothing.

I truly believe the garlic poultice worked and I would recommend everyone to use it when you want to draw out the infection naturally. Of course, always see the Doctor, they are the professional's in illness.

Today's unnatural processed food can make your body weak against germs, and today's real natural food, herbs can heal the weak body.

Amazing eh?

23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

2012-02-03T10:13:00.000-06:00

New Me and a New You.

2012-01-15T18:28:00.002-06:00

This past week a lifelong friend of my husband's passed away at the tender age of 38 with a rare form of leukemia. His name was Glen. When I first meet Glen I was greeted with tenderness, openness and calm soul that appreciated the human spirit. He innately saw the good in everyone he meet, he was non-judge-mental and showed respect, dignity to all. Every-time he dropped in our home or called for my husband he always took the time to say hello and ask how we, the family were doing. He, himself was a real family man and proud of it. Each time I see his beautiful wife she is smiling, you could see how he and she desired to make each one of another happy and full-filled. They lived life, traveled and share 2 wonderful boys together. Glen really knew how to make you feel special even if you met him only once. When he passed, it really hit a raw emotion. When he was diagnosed, I think many of his friends and family believed he would beat this terrible disease as this is Glen, a vibrant, healthy, free spirit always smiling, strong, courageous happy man that of course would be better in no time. Glen lived in a way that we all would like to live. He believed you skip work to spend time with family and loved ones and not too live to work and he lived life. You could never imagine such a authentic spirit would ever fall to a disease any disease. Just doesn't seem possible.

This raw emotion is GUILT!

Guilt can be a silent killer and I have been living with guilt each day for a long time. I am not sure when it crept into my life but it is here with a vengeance and it has taken up permanent residence in my spirit. I first recognized it when Glen passed away as we haven't seem him since he has been sick. The routine of life just got in the way. The guilty feelings about Glen brought on many other situations that I feel guilty about.Some simple and others more complex. Guilt about not waking up earlier enough, guilt about not exercising enough or at all, guilt about not spending more fun time with my husband, guilt about not calling my girlfriends on a regular basis and seeing how they are doing, guilt about giving up on dreams that I have, as I am busy with a routine. A routine that can be changed.

I don't feel guilty about everything, I feel insanely proud of my kids and a the tremendous effort, work and commitment I put into their lives to ensure their success. I don't feel guilty about parenting them and not befriending them, this I am proud of, however I believe there most be more. I feel guilty that I don't live, enjoy or love enough and make better use of my time. Life is really precious and can be short.

Glen and his lovely wife Anna have inspired me to live life more and to let go of my guilt and enjoy the everyday routine of my life, change what needs to be changed, don't procrastinate, reach out and grab a hold of the journey and start really living and enjoying the life I have.

Glen lived his life and I am sad to see him go but his spirit, his smile and his kindness lives on.

God Bless him!

New Me and New You.

2012-01-11T15:12:00.000-06:00

Feeling good about my goals. Sadie, my dog and I have gone for several walks, a few around the neighborhood and 2 @ Cullen Gardens in Whitby. Cullen Gardens is a beautiful place to go for a walk. There is many trails that meander off the main trail both good for everyone. If you get a chance on the weekend too take your fitness outside and would like to feel the fresh air against your skin head over to Cullen Gardens. You will be happy you did.

I have added a 4th goal to my New Me. This one is really simple. I am going to add broccoli to our family diet 3 times this week. The benefits are plentiful, we all know that. I find over the holiday season I tend to eat less vegetables and by early January I feel it!

Off the top of my head I have 2 recipes in mind, broccoli salad made with a olive oil/lemon dressing and steamed broccoli as a side dish. Really doable. Now that I think about it the 3rd way I will have broccoli this week is I will add 1/3 of a cup to my green smoothie drink!

Try one or more!

Have a great hump day,

Naomi.

New Me, New You!

2012-01-06T15:23:00.000-06:00

Every year, we are reminded this is the time to renew our commitments to our health, wellness, spirituality and our careers.
I am not sure about you, but I have found everyone loves to give us advice on how to do this, more so at this time than any other time. More gym memberships are sold than ever and by mid-Feb many people have fallen out of the gym routine. It is clear many of us want to improve ourselves.
I always want to make changes and stick to them at this time of year too!
2012, I going to be realistic with my goals. Having 1 son in university, 2 playing rep hockey and rep football, being self-employed with 2 business and no family around to help out there isn't a whole lot of time to dedicate solely to myself.
So my goals are going to be simple. I believe if I can achieve them, you can too. If you would like, follow my blog as I write about the simple changes I make and you can do them with me. The first goal I have is to write for my blog every week by Friday or more.I find writing very calming to my soul, something my soul needs more of.
The second goal I have is to walk my dog every day. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Saying, thinking and doing it are 3 very different things. Since I love being with my dog, walking her is peaceful and rewarding for both of us though I believe more for me than her.
The third goal I have is to lift weights 5 days a week, right here in my home. I have everything I need. Now it is time to use them. I am a much happier, calmer and energetic person when I work-out! Again, soothing the soul and enhancing the spirit.
As the weeks go on, I am sure I will have more goals to set, act on and achieve.
Feel free to follow and join me in 2012 as I create a New Me, and maybe a New You!

University of Toronto Athletics - TOP PLAYS OF 2011 FALL SEASON - FOOTBALL

2011-12-13T11:24:00.000-06:00

University of Toronto Athletics - TOP PLAYS OF 2011 FALL SEASON - FOOTBALL

http://www.vegacommunity.com/profiles/blogs/vega-sport-performance-system-top-5-key-benefits

2011-11-17T13:46:00.000-06:00

http://www.vegacommunity.com/profiles/blogs/vega-sport-performance-system-top-5-key-benefits

Seth's Blog

2011-11-07T12:58:00.000-06:00

Seth's Blog

Sports Nutrition-Carbohydrates.

2011-09-23T18:16:00.001-05:00

It is very important to fuel athletes much differently than we as parents fuel ourselves.

For many years a low carbohydrate diet has been the norm for anyone who is watching their waistline.

This heavily promoted diet amongst celebrities, fitness trainers, popular media and now the common everyday individual has created much confusion over what is a necessary carbohydrate versus an unnecessary carbohydrate.

As such, all carbohydrates have fallen into a red, stop, do not eat category.

In order to change such an idea, one mush understand the difference amongst carbohydrates and conclude they are not all created equal with equal value in our diet. All carbohydrates have same number of calories per gram but they do not have the same nutritional value.

Athletes must consume 60 percent of their diet from real, alive, grown from the earth carbohydrates.

Depending on the age and intensity of the athlete's sport energy requirements could range from 4000 kcal- 6000 kcal per day. They need the fuel! Their bodies are no different than a finely tuned sports car! You put garbage gas in it, it will not run optimally. Same with body.

Keep highly processed carbohydrates out of the athletes diet, ie, white bread, pastries, refined cereal's, sugary muffins, sugary cereal bars, candy, and all products that contain high fructose corn syrup. Read all labels.

Add to the diet, real fruits and vegetables grown in season. Apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, plums, potatoes, squash, variety of peppers, cucumbers, green leafy lettuce, etc. Use whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, steel cut oats, oatmeal, sprouted grain bread, rye bread, and use spelt or whole wheat flour for baking instead of enriched white flour.

Ensure breakfast is hearty and predominately carbohydrate based with some protein and fat.

Most importantly let's teach our athletes carbohydrates are the source of fuel they need to perform their best every- time and all the time.

Naomi. aka Sports Fan Mom and Nutritionist!

www.iovw.ca

Sports Nutrition for the Athlete Kids.

2011-09-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

Like many of you I am busy with family, work and commitments. Many of my commitments are related to mine and my kids sports. All three of my kids play a high level of competitive sports either hockey, football, track or all 3.
My eldest son, Jaiden is playing football for U of T and is considered an elite athlete.
As a nutritionist and personal trainer for the last 20 years, I have developed a sports nutrition diet for my 3 sons.www.iovw.ca
It is not an accident Jaiden is an elite athlete who understands the importance of fueling his body with real food and training specifically for his sport.
His younger brothers are following his foot steps at a quicker pace.
He and his brothers to date, have not needed any antibiotics. The younger two who are now 10 and 9 have not even had an ear infection, virtually unheard of. How, because from birth they have been following a carefully crafted nutritional program designed to give them optimal health.

How does a busy mother keep fueling their athlete when many of us are taxiing them to arenas, football fields in the same day, weekend tournaments, hours in the car, heading to an 1.1/2 practice right after school, well many
sadly cannot. Especially when right after practice the first thing your athlete sees the pizza stand or the gatorade in the vending machine and beg you for it. Many times, parents find it easier to feed them the pizza or let them drink gatorade. When you are a kid there is a time for fast food pizza, but don't rely on it for refueling your athlete!

Achieving an elite athletic level requires passion from the athlete and commitment from the parent to get them there, nutrition is a huge factor in the equation as well as training for their sport.

I believe all of us parents want to do what is right for our athletes, however hectic schedules, lack of energy, convenient fast food chains everywhere, fancy marketing campaigns with misleading food facts and labeling make it very challenging to stay committed to real food nutritional plan for our kids.

I can help, it is what I do, 20 years and counting, ask anytime.www.iovw.ca

My Garden Project

2011-08-12T17:33:00.000-05:00

Several months ago, I volunteered for an intervention! You are probably wondering why would I volunteer for an intervention!
This isn't just any intervention, it is special.
You see, even though I am a nutritionist that does not mean I am amazing gardener or cook for that matter.
Yes I can cook well, but I cannot for the life of me keep flowers or plants alive.
Back in April I attended a wonderful event in Toronto at Food Share and viewed digital stories of everyday people making a difference in their communities by gardening. The stories unfolded and describe how people from many different backyards, traditions and cultures can connect via gardening vegetables, fruits and herbs.
I was so impressed.
As I was sitting at my table I expressed to one of the volunteers of the Durham Food Policy Council, I would love to have a suburban backyard vegetable garden but I kill plants!! Elaine and Sandy laughed and stated they could help me and intervene and make sure my vegetables stay alive, happy and healthy!
I started laughing when Sandy told me all I need to do is talk to my vegetables daily and they will thrive!

This week we ate tomatoes, cucumber and anxiously waiting for peppers!

Delish!!

Win Marathon! www.winmarathon.com 2012

2011-08-11T12:10:00.000-05:00

Registration is open for next year, May 27, 2012, same great route!! Sign-up today!

Fuel for Runners!

2011-05-18T09:57:00.000-05:00

Whether you are running a full marathon, 1/2 marathon, 10km run, fuel up with a good breakfast each day prior to the run. You need energy ( I call it fuel) to get you through. Try this recipe!

Crunchy Hot Oats;

Fuel your day with Breakfast, reap the rewards, a Personal Best Time!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. of organic coconut oil

1 cup of Steel Cut Oats

3 cups of water

¼ cup walnuts

¼ cup chopped apple

Dash of cinnamon & nutmeg

1 tbsp. of Canadian maple syrup

Directions:
Save time and start the night before. It is real easy and will save you 15mins. In a pot add 1 cup of oats and cover with water, place on stove-top covered overnight. Early in the morning, add more water, coconut oil, heat, stir for approximately 3-5mins. add cinnamon & nutmeg while stirring. When cooked top with apple and walnuts with a drizzle of maple syrup.

Your body needs fuel for long runs. If you happen to finish a long run and are ravenous, your body is telling you, you didn't consume enough carbohydrates prior to the run and it consumed fuel from its muscle stores, vital muscle your body needs and depleted essential minerals within your muscles. Take care and make sure you are getting the right amount of carbohyrates ( fuel) prior to race day. Your want a personal best (PB) train as well as fuel -up!

Good Luck!!

April 30th!

2011-04-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

Well the day will be here tomorrow. I have lost 12lbs in total, my goal was 15lb. I should have made my goal but I am not going to beat myself up. I have been working out 5 days a week and watching most everything I eat.
I am going to rant here for a bit about stress.
I am stressed, why someone may ask? Well, I am not happy right now. I currently have had a horrible experience at my part-time job and it has interferred with all that is wonderful in my life for several months. When I started noticing I was being treated unfairly, I tried to shake it off, then eventually you can't anymore and you have to address the elephant in the room, so I did.
This is always a risk. Some people don't like to see what is really happening and bury their heads in the pillow.
I on the other- hand cannot bury my head in the pillow as the pillow feels like a rock that is rolling down a hill and is going to hit me in the head unless I stop it. The only way I know how is to address the "elephant in the room." Sometimes it is better left alone.
Retaliation is real people!
I don't know about you guys/gals but I am confused when someone who is your "boss" wants to suppress you or your spirit. In my case, it is really my spirit. Misery loves company and the more that suppressive person can make you feel miserable the better and more satisfied they feel with themselves. SAD, but real and it happens everyday to good people.
Stress is a de-motivator/ hormone killer for sure!!
I handle stress with a big bowl of popcorn!
I love stove topped popcorn popped in olive oil and topped with butter. This has been my food weakness for weeks!
I still haven't been drinking wine. Congrats to me. I feel much better.
My skinny jeans are fitting again and I am looking much better. I can see the muscle's in my legs and arms now and it is only a matter of time before I reach my goals.
I have lost 6 inches on my waist and 4 inches off my chest.
I actually fit into a very nice blouse last week and was shocked. Most blouse's don't really fit around the girls but this one fit nicely.
Life is full of ups and downs and managing thru them is the only way we can be successful achieving our weight loss goals. Much easier said than done, but doable.

I am proud I am able to stay committed. I still have a ways to go and I am on the right track!!

Earth Week

2011-04-18T05:55:00.000-05:00

Let's celebrate Earth Week each day doing something wonderful for ourselves and Mother Earth.
Today I am going to celebrate by voting for one of our hometown heroes.
Watch these short stories in celebration of Earth Week and vote for your favorite one!

http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/

Ciao, Naomi

I have lost 12lbs

2011-04-16T07:12:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update, I have am down 12lbs!

I feel great! I am waking up earlier with more energy everyday. Exercise and of course eating well, has me back into my old jeans. So I went and bought new ones!
A new pair of jeans can make anyone feel HOT!
I have 3lbs to go until April 30th, and I still need to add 5lbs of muscle. I am happy with the weight loss however I lost so much muscle, that I need to work to add it back, then I will have a healthy body!!

Have a great day!

Digital Storytelling

2011-04-16T07:07:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Saturday,

I am so excited as I am heading downtown to learn how to share my stories thru digital storytelling! How I deliver my nutrition experiences is about to change! I am eager to learn about digital storytelling as I believe people like videos & images better. check some of these videos out.
http://www.toronto.ca/foodconnections/video.htm
We live in such techie world, I have to catch up with the times! I was pretty proud of myself when I create this blog. ( it only took 4 months!!)

Have a great Saturday, ya'all!!

Every Day Heroes!

2011-04-14T06:50:00.000-05:00

Check out this short videos of individuals promoting awareness and change. I am a proud supporter of video 8, The Dinner Plate Project, by artist Heather Rigby. Promote local agricultural, sustainability and choose locally grown food.

http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/

Naomi.

Energy Drinks

2011-04-05T21:17:00.002-05:00

Energy Drinks,

As any Mom or Dad we all try our best to educate our children and teenagers about making good food and drink choices. I believe we all want our kids to eat & be well. I find it frustrating when I see a commercial about energy drinks during my kids TV program or when I am at the grocery store and at the checkout counter there is a display of energy drinks.
While as parents we realize these sophisticated marketing campaigns are designed to influence our kids thus our pockets, our kids don't realize that and can become seduced into believing these drinks give us more energy.
I was having a brief conversation with a fellow hockey Mom on the weekend and this subject came up, so I thought I would write about it. In the conversation there was mention of Pepsi and Coca-Cola adjusting its products in order to supply the demands of the healthy shopper. To prevent greater profit loss, these companies need to adapt. Whatever products they do market and sell to the consumer will never give anyone real energy. Buyer Beware.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/rapidpdf/cmaj.100953v2.pdf

I guess, we can do the best we can, which sadly means at some point I am the bad guy when I say No to the energy drink. Well since I am Mom, I am up for being the bad guy when it is worth it!

Win Marathon

2011-04-02T10:49:00.000-05:00

Performance Recovery Drink,

Sunday is typically the long run training day for runners. Many of these runs can and will use many nutrients from the muscles, fat stores and minerals from the bones in order to finish the long run.
The endophorins kick in at the half way point in your long run and keep you going however the body still requires energy from the body to finish. Replenish your body with this smoothie.

1/2 C of water
1/2 C of pomengrante juice
1 scoop of hemp protein
1 banana
1/2 C of chopped mango
1 small scoop of greens +
.5gram of powered vitamin C
2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!!

Detoxing and St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-23T16:56:00.000-05:00

I completed my detoxification plan, I drank lemon water with a tablespoon of real Canadian maple syrup with a dash cayenne pepper for 3 days, on fourth day, I intended to add only green vegetables to my diet, however that didn't happen.
My family was invited to an annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner and off we went. Now how could I pass up homemade cabbage rolls? My friends Mother labors in the kitchen for hours preparing her famous cabbage rolls only for special occasions such as this. As well for dinner, was Irish Stew, sourdough bread, and more. You would have to insane to decline such as feast.
And isn't that was life is all about, great company enjoying a real homemade feast, celebrating a great holiday and keeping tradition alive? I'd say so.
A real labor of love in those cabbage rolls!
Well I fell off my detox plan, but the very next day, I was right back on that horse.
Instead of freshly squeezed lemons, I am eating as protein with as many vegetables I want.
I am making my green smoothie in the morning and off I go!
I am considering making every Wednesday a day off from food and only drinking my lemon water thru-out the day. Anybody want to try it with me? I think it would be good for all of us.

My next step is planning a small herb garden for my backyard. I am wondering where it is going fit!

Day 1 of Detoxification

2011-03-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

As the Spring Equinox fast approach's us in 2 days I have decided to start my spring detoxification today.

I had a great Monday evening with my Husband's and son's hockey team as they won their semi-final series against Ajax. The boys played really hard over the past 6 games and deserved to win. The team celebrated together after the game with a late dinner and some drinks. I decided to have a draft beer and really enjoyed it as it went down. The emotions of all the parents were fairly high and many of us were enjoying a pint or two.
When I woke up on Tuesday morning, I felt like I got hit with a baseball bat in my head. I did not like how I was feeling at all. It is amazing when you haven't had any alcohol for awhile how sensitive your body reacts. First thing, Tuesday morning, I drank my trusty lemon water but instead of one glass, I had 2! It took all day for me to feel better. I didn't like that one bit.

I have decided to follow a detox plan that I have been successful with ,years past. I only recommended this plan under the supervision of a health professional. I am following the Master Cleanse detox for the next 3 days and will introduce green vegetables on the 4th day in the juice form. Over the years,I have adapted my program to suit my lifestyle. I have been detoxing over the past 18 years and most work. However,I believe the best step for anyone who is looking to purchase or start their own detox program is to first eliminate alcohol, caffeinne, sugar and any processed food first. Do not waste your money on any kits until you have cleaned up your diet. Then and only then, ask a professional for what detox plan is suitable for you and your lifestyle. After you clean up and eliminate processed foods from your diet then you can reintroduce some much need good bacteria back to your diet. After this, then consider a more intense detox program.

14 years ago, I followed the Master Cleanse for 21 days, and had many positive effects and I some point I will write about those effects, most being spiritual.

Wish me luck!!

Down 9lbs!

2011-03-11T08:26:00.000-06:00

I was running a wee bit late Wednesday morning and as I was heading out to boot-camp, I jumped on the scale and viola I am down 9lbs!
My jeans are starting to fit again and I am not squeezing into my bra's. (thankfully).
Again, most of the weight loss can be contributed to restoring harmony in my precious liver!
So I haven't drank any wine in 3 weeks, I wake up in the morning feeling energized and feel like I can take on any challenge. I am having reactionary dying off effects, like I have a pimple, I don't normally have any skin problems and there has been changes in my bowel movements, which, before I had no problems with, but now I am going 2-3 times before I even leave the house in the morning!!
One question that keeps coming up is how do I feel about detoxing and detoxing products.
Well, simply put, I will kick start my detox program on Monday by eliminating more foods, fluids and negative situations from my life first before the spring equinox. In my opinion, we know what we need to do, and I am going to listen to that little angel sitting on my shoulder telling me the obvious.
I am on the right path to restore my health and improve my lifestyle and plan on stepping it up!!
Ciao!!!

A good night's sleep.

2011-03-07T08:13:00.000-06:00

I really enjoy the book store, I like the strolling through the isles and reading the titles of books in the arts, sports, travel, business, gardening, cooking, self-help, health and the latest releases.
There is some fantastic books to read.
I couldn't help but notice the number of books dedicated to eating well, living well and simply being well.
With so many fabulous reads, I would strongly recommend heading to the bookstore to purchase something you will enjoy reading in bed for these last final days of winter.
Saying that I wonder what will happen to the concept of crawling in bed and reading a good book now with the e-readers such as Nook or Kindle but in my opinion how can a e-reader feel warm and fuzzy?
Either way, reading is a great nighttime activity that I am going to start enjoying again. The bonus is, I will end up with a good night sleep. They say a good night's sleep is a good way to start feeling better about yourself!
If you are wondering what book I bought it is called " Sexy Hormones" by Lorna Vanderaeghe

The Dinner Plate Project 1min

2011-03-01T19:40:00.000-06:00

Milestone

2011-03-01T13:09:00.000-06:00

Woo-Hoo, I did it!! I have gone 2 full weeks without any red wine!!

This may seem like a simple accomplishment however it is a milestone for me. A real turning point in my lifestyle. It is not the wine that is problematic, it is at what time of day I drink it. It doesn't matter how many health promoting qualities red wine has if you are not consuming it the way it is intended, it isn't going to be good for you!
I look forward to the day of preparing a feast for family and friends and enjoying a glass of red wine while enjoying the meal and the company.
The health promoting quality in red wine, the resveratrol, an anti-oxidant component that is found in the seeds,skin and flesh of the grape, can be found in fresh locally grown vegetables and fruit.
So, if you are anything like me, drinking a glass of red wine, is for enjoyment not for its health promoting properties! That is just a nice bonus!
I am a work in progress and will continue to work towards my goal of losing 11 more lbs by April 30th by making significant yet small changes to my lifestyle.
I will keep in mind one glass of red (6ounces) has 150 empty calories. Today there is no room in my plan for empty calories!

Naomi's Nutrition: Down 5lbs!

2011-02-25T12:53:00.000-06:00

Naomi's Nutrition: Down 5lbs!

Down 5lbs!

2011-02-23T12:55:00.001-06:00

I feel amazing today! I started changing and re-adjusting my lifestyle habits Feb.1, 2011 and I am down 5lbs. I have lost 2.5 inches off my waist and still going!
I will fit into my beloved jeans soon. We all deserve to look great in our favorite jeans!
I haven't had a glass of red wine since last week and I can keep going. I also, don't feel like I am making changes that will be challenging to keep up. I am still enjoying my life with family & friends and don't feel deprived at all.
I am eliminating sources of negativity, much like cleaning out the pantry. Lightness of being! After all, February is National Heart Month. Research has proven woman suffer and die of heart disease more than any other disease, your heart and our emotions are directly linked. Even if, you eat well and exercise daily, if you are holding on to negativity and anger, that stress causes more heart complications than a bad diet!

Spring is in the air, and here comes Maple Syrup Season!!

Family Day Pancakes!

2011-02-21T12:08:00.000-06:00

I am so happy we can stay home today for awhile at least and enjoy some family downtime.

The McBride's are normally on the road, heading from one event to another, whether it is work, practices, games, paper-routes, fundraising,etc, it seems like time at home together is really missing especially meal times.

Breakfast meals are my favorite meals of the day, and in my opinion it is ditto for my kids.

Family Day started off at the McBride's with a nice hot pancake breakfast made with love, care, tenderness and some spelt flour, eggs, kefir and homemade blueberry sauce. Pancakes are always a favorite for my boys, even the picky eater. It is nice to sit and enjoy this time together and not feel rushed to head to work, school or hockey. I could really use the rest from the hustle and bustle, and I bet my boys could too, but they are heading to Iroquois Park to play a game of shinny! Well at least they won't be hungry!

Happy Family Day to all of you!

Breakfast Smoothie to Go!

2011-02-17T07:30:00.001-06:00

I don't know about you, but I always feel to rushed to sit and really enjoy breakfast. I make an effort to ensure I allocate time to consume a good breakfast, but I find myself completing house work before I head off to work and as usual doing so, means I am not prioritizing myself. I wake up in enough time to have a healthy start to the day but some things just get in the way. As such I find smoothies a great alternative!
As well all know, Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and must not be skipped!

Here is my recipe: ( makes enough for 2 large or 4 small glasses)

In a blender add:
1/2 C of orange juice
1 C of water
1 scoop of hemp protein or whey
1 scoop of greens
1/2 C of frozen pineapple & mango
2 tablespoons of Liberte Kefir

and blend together for 2 minutes and put in a smoothie cup ( you can buy them at Supercentre) and off to work you go!

A glass of red wine!

2011-02-16T09:31:00.000-06:00

Down 4lbs!! 11 more to go. I am so thank-ful I lost weight, considering the weekend.

I have been doing some research on how many calories are in a glass of red wine.
A 6 ounce glass of dry red has 150 kcal and 7.2 carbohydrates.
A 9 ounce glass of dry red has 225kcal and 10.8 carbohydrates.

I don't know about any of you, but I typically start with a 9 ounce glass. On the weekend it is pretty easy to consume 2 or 3 glasses over the course of the evening. Looking back, my red wine drinking habit excelerated after my injuries in 2008. Hence all the weight gain.
I justified this bad habit easily too. Starting a business with my husband, 3 kids all playing rep football, as well as 2 playing rep hockey, working part-time on my nutrition business, working part-time at RBC, driving across STW Ontario every weekend and never having enough "me time." So my " me time" became having a glass of red wine in the evening after everyone else was settled in. I often commented to myself I deserve a glass of wine especially after I all I did for my family. It became such a bad habit that I no longer had the energy to wake up at 5.30 in the morning to work-out anymore. Even though I had some injuries I could still go downstairs and ride my spin bike, but I got in my own way!
When your turning 40 and your hormones are adjusting, drinking wine in this fashion, is not a good thing. I wasn't consuming a home cooked meal with my red wine. I already ate dinner 3 hours before my first glass.
This bad habit created cascading hormonal issues for me, elevating my blood sugar levels, therefore creating an increase in my stress hormones " cortisol" & fight or flight hormone "epinephrine" too fast and for too long.
Staying on this path would have serious effects on my pancreas, liver, kidneys, heart and my endocrine system, never mind the weight I put on.
I am happy I caught this in time. Now I am focusing on stress relieving measures like exercise, boot camp, yoga, eating more protein through out the day and letting my liver naturally detoxify by not drinking wine at all during the week and this weekend coming.

Today I am making a commitment to myself to allow my liver and body to gently detoxify for the next 14 days simply by not drinking any red wine.

The Weekend!

2011-02-14T11:23:00.000-06:00

Well, I must say I fell off the horse this weekend and the only option I have is to get right back on. After all I am only human.

I did enjoy my weekend with some great friends. We went to the movies, shared some popcorn and enjoyed some drinks after words. I do believe this is healthier for me than avoidance of socializing all together. I find at times when I am strict with my diet, I like to avoid all situations where I may be tempted by indulgent food or drink. However, I must be able to find a healthy balance between the two. I had a great weekend and for me that is what matters. Today I am back on the horse, eating my 6 meals, and even though it is Valentine' Day I will not be eating chocolate. Small sacrifice for my goals. Indulging on the weekend is good enough for me.

Have a great Valentine' Day!!

Reflection

2011-02-10T21:27:00.000-06:00

I have been doing some thinking regarding my recent past lifestyle & dietary habits. I find it interesting that when I am consistently working out I am very strict with my diet. I tend to throw that all way when I don't work out. I have been wondering why that is, as one would think it would be the exact opposite. I have always been fortunate, in that I put muscle on very quickly which burns the fat however when I am not working out the fat just grows and in places that I don't need it too!!
It has all become very clear to me now, when I stopped working out, I was missing the awesome endorphins exercise gave me. Of course, it was easy to stick to my lifestyle back then, because I was feeling happy most of the time and investing in my health was easy. Clean eating was second nature, it gave me energy, empowered me, I woke up easily in the morning, and I couldn't wait for my next workout! The combination of the exercise and clean eating is like having 2 legs, they go hand in hand. Duh!

After my first injury, I simply took my great health for granted and didn't appreciate what I had and slid down a slippery slope. Luckily I caught myself. I have re-focused my intentions and have a goal. I feel much better now knowing I am following a plan. Right now it is one foot in front of the other and I know these steps will take me to where I need to go!

Weigh in Day

2011-02-09T07:46:00.000-06:00

All I can say is last week's hard work paid off this week, I am 2lbs down. Good news I am heading in the right direction.
I believe it is much more beneficial to weigh in only once a week. As woman typical will fluctuate day by day within in a pound or so. Hormonally there is a certain time of month for each individual woman you can retain as much as 5 lbs which can be devasting to us.
If I continue to lose 2 lbs per week I will shed 16lbs by the March Break which is 6 weeks before my goal.

Would that be awesome?!

Ginger Tea for upset stomach's.

2011-02-07T17:48:00.000-06:00

I was pretty worried about Super bowl Sunday and staying on track but it turned out I didn't need too.

I was not feeling well, so I could not eat all day. I instead turned to an old wise remedy for my stomach pain.
Ginger tea with grated orange peel. I recommend anyone with any type of stomach distress, try it. It worked for me. I simply peeled the ginger root and placed in cheesecloth with the grated orange peel and boiled in a 1 quart pot of water and sipped on through out the afternoon, in bed! I still watched the Super bowl not in high def but on our old box TV but I still saw the whole game. Way to go Packers! Today I feel much better, and still on track.
I will weigh myself Wednesday and see where I am at. I will weigh myself each week, same day, same time.

Trip to the Health Food Store

2011-02-03T20:53:00.000-06:00

Going to the health food store is something I find fun. I don't find clothes shopping or shopping for stuff all that entertaining but I do enjoy shopping at the health food store. We are all different!
Right now my favorite health food store is Healthy Planet in Pickering. Great prices, selection and not too far from home.
In my opinion supplements are necessary for health and need to be used to compliment our daily diet.
I haven't been using alot of supplements lately, and it shows!! ha.
I really enjoyed looking at all the new products, I could spend hours and lots of money. One day, but right now I need to focus on my plan. So I bought really good protein powder from New Zealand, greens product, raw apple cider vinegar, essential fatty acids, probiotics, vitamin C with bioflavoniods, and CLA!! That is all I could buy for now, but I will be back.
If you are ever in the area, drop in, it is a great place to buy supplements at great prices.
Ciao,
Naomi!

Feb.1 Day 1

2011-02-02T18:53:00.000-06:00

Feb.1 is my day 1 towards my goal of losing 15lbs adding 5 by April 30th.

On Day 1, facing yourself not only in the mirror but also on the scale, the body fat measurements, measurements in inches around the shoulders,chest, hips, waist and thighs is not easy. However it is critical to know where you are starting and what you are starting with in order to map out a route to the end of your destination. Mine is April 30th, 2011, 15lbs of fat lighter and 5lbs of muscle. I am sharing with you my weight today, which is very hard for me to do. I have always avoided scales as they do not define how beautiful I feel however they can be a great tool for you to focus on your goal weight.
This morning I weighed 155lbs.
April 30th I will weigh 145lbs, 15lbs of fat gone and replace 5lbs of shapely sexy muscle.
On Day 1, I started my day at 6.30 am with hot lemon water, which encourages and supports in gentle daily detoxification. I started my new regime with riding my spin bike before I had breakfast or any food for 75mins. Getting up earlier was hard, the bed was warm, my mind was playing tricks on me. Saying things, like I am not that bad, my husband doesn't care if I am a little heavier, no surprise there, I'm too tired to get up, I have a long day ahead of me, blah, blah, blah.........distractions!!! I got up focused and headed downstairs after my lemon water and jumped on my spin bike! 75 minutes later I was drenched and feeling accomplished.
For breakfast, I consumed one slice on toast with almond butter and 2 soft boiled eggs and one full glass of water. Off to work I go, feeling like Super Woman on Day 1. I ate a couple of natural almonds for a snack, drank hot water, which I consider tea, curried squash soup for lunch and 1/2 can of wild salmon.
As I was enjoying my lunch & it occurred to me, I need to buy supplements, protein powder, greens, and more efa's. I have also let my supplement intake slide too. Being serious about my goal, it is not only what I eat, but the supplements I take. It also occurred to me I will have to keep a journal to be successful. Every morsel of food I eat, everything I drink, will need to be recorded. This is going to take discipline. I understand why so many people don't make it, changing your lifestyle is not easy, though worth it. Those darn mind games are really annoying. One small step at a time!!!

Day One Down.

Me, Losing Weight!

2011-02-02T17:31:00.000-06:00

I have decided to share my story about my personal journey to lose weight and get back into shape. My goal is to lose 15lbs of fat and add 5lbs of muscle by April 30th. 13 weeks until the day, which happens to be my birthday. A great day to achieve my goal.

Like many of you, I have had some good years and not so good years. In September 2008, I ran a half marathon, was mountain biking, lifting weights, road cycling in Texas, swimming, weekly yoga classes and eating healthy. I was following my bliss and as such I was in great physical shape. After running a personal best in a 10k race late Nov.2008, I suffered a serious achilles tendon injury at the gym while performing walking lunges with 65lbs on my back. Sadly, that was the beginning of several injuries and I got stuck in some bad habits. As such, I lost precious muscle and put on some fat. At first, it wasn't so bad as I went right to my Ta-Ta's and my husband was loving it. Then I became lazy with my diet and didn't think a glass of wine or two would hurt. HA!!

2 1/2 years later, my injuries have heeled and I need to back into shape. Given where I am in my life, north of 40, it is not going to be as easy as it has been after babies were born. It may be a little more challenging as I am older, much busier and have a low functioning thyroid. This means I will need to dig deeper to achieve my goal. Which is completely doable.

As a nutritionist, I will keep my meal plans to natural foods, local, when possible, alive and as real as we can buy. I am going to write about going to the grocery store, my meals, supplements and talk about some recipes. I also will write about my workouts and how they make me feel. If you would like to comment, please feel free.

Follow me weekly with my ups and downs and what I do to achieve my goal.

I welcome your comments and would love to hear your stories!!

Naomi

Ginger Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

2010-12-15T18:22:00.000-06:00

Like many people other people out there in Canada land, we feel like we have been born in the wrong climate but in the right country. I for one would not want to live anywhere else. We are blessed to live in such a great country. Saying that does not mean I am happy about the cold!!
I am semi watching what I consume these days and I am cutting back on the many savory dishes I make, for a lighter meals. The thought of having a salad for dinner did not seem appealing to me at all so soup it is. What is so wonderful about soup it is easy to make, hearty and warm!!
Into the fridge I go, to see the ingredients I have on hand. I have zero desire to step outside, so whatever I have will have to do. To my surprise I find ginger root, an onion, 3 sweet potatoes, carrots and parsley. Perfect!
In 15 minutes I have prepared and made a warm and delicious Gingered Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup.
So easy, sautee the onions for 2-3 minutes in a small spoonful of coconut oil, add the diced ginger, then the carrots and sweet potatoes add some cumin, tumeric and continue sauteing for a minute or so. Then I add a carton of organic vegetable broth that I just happen to have on hand and bring to a boil, then simmer! I cover the pot turn off the heat and 10 minutes later I use a hand immersion blender to blend it all together.
Serve in bowl and top with a dollop of plain yogurt and chopped parsley. Even the picky eater had a bowl!
It may be cold outside but I am sure warm now!

Enjoy!

2010-12-15T18:02:00.000-06:00

I have just recently read this article from a friend about Cuba's organic farming. I found it very interesting. When you have 5 minutes please read.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/cuba_organic_food.cfm

It is very enlightening!!

Picky Eaters

2010-11-25T10:01:00.000-06:00

As many of you know I have 3 amazing sons, ranging from 18 to 8 and they all have different likes and dislikes regarding food.
I have been involved in the fitness industry in various capacities for 25 years and have learned many things regarding nutrition over this time. One solid concept is " What is fuel for one, is poison for another". Each individual has specific innate nutritional requirements that is built into our DNA and the body knows best. Don't mess with it's formula, it is like messing with mother nature and we all know not to do that! But we do like to help her along the way!

I have been blessed that each of my 3 sons have chosen me to be there Mom and this is no easy job as any Mom can attest too. With it, my primary goal is to build a strong healthy immune system for each of them taking into consideration they each like different foods! Talk about challenging, add on top of that, they go to school, play sports, have sleep overs, etc etc. Even harder now!
The job gets damn near impossible when you have a kid that is a picky eater or has a food allergy!
So what does a dedicated Mom do? She tricks her picky eater!!
Yesterday, I wanted my protein eating son, to eat some much needed carbohydrates and fat.
I sneak fat into this boys diet every day, real fat like cultured butter, organic coconut oil, fat from fish, full fat natural yogurt, avocados,supplemental fat, ie fish oil. Since this son is a protein eater, I don't mess with the formula however I do sneak in keys ingredients to assist him along the way.
Yesterday, I tricked him with banana bread. All my boys love banana bread but not all of them will eat bananas!
I want my boys to consume slow releasing energy producing carbohydrates ( trick one) so I use spelt flour instead of pastry or white flour and instead of lard, margarine or butter I use coconut oil, for sweetening I do not use sugar instead I use real maple syrup, I subsitute milk with natural kefir and add the almighty salba!!
Ironically, I also use 5 ripe bananas, how is that for trickery!!!!

Truth be told I am not a keen baker, in fact I am not that good at it but I do it for my kids. A fellow nutritionist, Lorene Sauro is a dear mentor and former pastry chef has spent much time developing recipes for healthy baking. I have been lucky enough to have been taught by her in a class room and in a kitchen! You can too as she has published her first book last year, " A Pastry Queen Goes Green"

Kids love homemade baking and you can actually make it healthy and tasty. Store boughts are made with inferior ingredients and really have no place in diet especially if you want to build a strong immune system for your kids.

Sometimes we, Moms, have to resort to tricks to get our kids to eat well, not all kids are the same and if we listen to the ques we can figure out ways to give them a diet that it highly nutritious.

So far I think I am doing a good job, only one of my kids has taken a full dose of antibiotics and only once!!

Good Luck to all the Moms with Picky Eaters!!

Wild Salmon on Sale at Sobey's!

2010-11-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

Seasoned Wild Salmon with grilled pineapple and rice!!!

I love salmon and would eat it everyday if I could fish it myself, and sadly I cannot! My love of salmon started when I was very young,when I lived in the mountains of B.C. My Dad and I would fish for Pacific Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Pike, Haddock, Halibut during the fall and go ice fishing in the winter. I really don't like fishing, I didn't then and I don't fish now. I really thought it was torture to ice fish. Tell me how is it fun sitting on a log over a hole drilled into the ice waiting for a fish to bite in -40 below weather!! I did, however, like spending time with my Dad. He used to take me and my sister to the river to see the Salmon swimming upstream. I would marvel at the beauty of the salmon swimming over each other to get to the lake and mate. Not only would you see the salmon, we would occassionally see a Grizzly Bear as well. The Grizzly Bears normally stay close to the dump where the food is but during salmon season they like to venture out to the lakes and rivers for some yummy grub. I don't blame them!!
If I knew how it important it is to fish I would have paid closer attention. Most grocery store fish is imported from fish farms and you would be surprised at the conditions the fish live in. Northern Pacific coast wild fish is the fish you want to buy!
Wild Salmon is so good for you and during this time of year I strongly recommended consuming it.
Jay my husband is not a big fish eater and when we first got married I would make separate meals for us. Over time he has develop a likening for salmon and halibut but last night I wowed him and now he is a lover of this salmon dish!
I served seasoned wild salmon over white rice topped with grilled diced pineapple and chopped parsley. I seasoned the salmon with sliced lemon wedges, cracked black pepper, ground chili pepper,ground ginger and Himalayan salt, baked in the oven on low heat for 10 minutes then broiled for another 5 to seal the juices. Mean while I boiled long grain white rice and added a tablespoon of coconut oil. While boiling I cored and diced a pineapple, and grilled it in my cast iron skillet and chopped curly parsley. When the salmon was finished I served the salmon over the rice with the pineapple and parsley on top.

Simple but a crowd pleaser!!

Curry makes the heart grow fonder!

2010-11-17T18:23:00.000-06:00

Curry makes the heart grow fonder!

It might be windy, cold and damp outside but it is sure warm in my kitchen.
It is the time of year when we start craving warm comforting food. When you have a schedule like we do, out most nights of the week at a hockey arena, football field, volleyball, etc our family dinners are suffering. So when we get a night off the idea of spending time in the kitchen creating something magical for my family is what I love to do.
When my boys say , " Dinner is really good Mom, thank-you" this is music to my ears!
This makes all the effort worthwhile!
This morning when I woke up I knew I was going to make a comfort dinner to remind everyone in the house how wonderful it is to come home to a delicious smelling meal and cherish this pleasure together.
This evening I prepared and served " Spicy Curry Chicken with Chickpeas atop long grain white rice"
The two most valuable ingredients of this dish are the curry and spiced dark rum!!!
Simply adding curry though is not enough, in order for the curry pop in the dish you must dry heat the curry in an cast iron skillet for 2 minutes then add vegetables. The vegetables I used were sliced carrots, grated ginger, diced peppers, onions and garlic sauteed in butter! Yes, marvelous butter!
The spiced dark rum is used in the sauce cooking the chicken. Now the spiced rum is not all I used, I also added 1 cup of coconut milk. When I was ready I added all the ingredients including potatoes and simmered.
Tonight, I delighted the palate of my boys ( I am including my husband in this) with a caribbean flare comfort dish.

It might be cold outside but everyone is warm in here!

Hearts of Durham Fashionable Encounters Fundraiser

2010-11-15T19:35:00.000-06:00

Last night I was fortunate to have an nice evening out at the Green St. Mansion with a few girlfriends.

The event was hosted by the Hearts of Durham women and they were raising funds for Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health. Having just finished the "Do the Math Challenge" I appreciate this worthwhile fundraising event. What I find so relevant is the connection of poor nutrition and mental illness. After eating only food from the Feed the Need food hamper for a week I did experience several different symptons. The primary 2 were the headaches and the lack of energy. After the week was over, I did feel sad or lack of better words, depressed. Living on a diet like this for along time I feel how it would be problematic. Of course, this is no comparison to a person living with a mental illness.

Green St. Mansion served a delicious 3 course meal. A crisp light and tasty Green St Green Salad with shaved fennel, greens and a lemon vinaigrette. I could consume a huge bowl of this tasty salad on its own. Then we were served Caramel Chicken with ginger calvados caramel carrots, dessert was yummy as well as a chocolate lovers dream, Belgian white chocolate cheesecake. All the while enjoying our meal we were entertained by with fabulous fashions from our local shoppes, Stella and Dot, Dezire and Churchilss-Crossing for men.. Many of the models were beautified by Xpressions Salon and have donated a 20.00 gift certificate for your next chemical and cut service. The fashions were desirable, definitely worth checking out.

I highly recommend dining at the Green St. Mansion and enjoying an appletini. Last night they kindly donated $3.00 for each martini purchased towards Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health.

Until next time, Naomi