Nothing says Happy Holidays like good food, and nothing says happy eating like a good good cookbook. In no particular order, these are some of my personal favourite cookbooks that are tried and tested in my own kitchen. I assure you this list includes a cookbook for even the fussiest of eaters on your list and something for every single diet type. Or if you are looking for a little inspiration for your own wish list – voila. Happy shopping! 1. &nbs […]
The holidays are my favourite time of year. They are a time for celebration, tradition and some cheeky indulgence. Life is all about balance, and I certainly don’t expect people to deprive themselves over the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you need to go off the rails. Balance is a daily, weekly and monthly measurement, and it is important to keep in mind that there is some balance in balance. For instance, convincing yourself you can splurge for the month of December because you are eati […]
To eat bread, or not to eat bread? One of the biggest questions in today’s nutrition community. In fact, it is a topic that we have been debating for years, and I’m sure that it will continue for many more. Historically speaking, bread has been a staple in the human diet for many years. A staple food that people have been eating for generations, made of four simple ingredients; flour, water, yeast and salt. It is a wonder that one simple food, could be oh-so controversial.To be honest, […]
I often hear the comment that healthy food is expensive. Perhaps, sometimes it can be, but I want to take a moment to put something into perspective for you, in a very simple example. I often recommend organic eggs to my clients, however I often receive the response; “But they are sooo expensive”. Yup, they are about $6. You know what else is $6? Your last coffee break. For fun, let’s do a shall comparison, shall we?​1 dozen organic eggs =$5.991 Grande Vanilla Latte = $5.19 […]
More and more, I’m finding my clients are looking to include more than plant-based foods in their diet. This is amazing, and ensuring that we are eating more foods made from a plant, and not foods made in a plant, is a great way to improve your health.Eating a well balanced diet can be achieved by a variety of different diet types, however one key factor remains – we must eat a balance of macronutrients. Whether you are vegetarian, paleo, flexitarian or simply looking to eat […]
When trying to lose weight and eat clean, the questions of when to eat, what to eat and how much to eat are plenty!What should I eat?​How often should I eat?What times should I eat?How much should I eat?How much protein?How much fat?How many carbs?How many meals?How many snacks?And the list goes on…I get it, it’s confusing. But the simpler that you can keep it, the easier it will be. The “3 for 3” formula is a very simple tool that you can use to help ensure your body is […]
The concept of the importance of eating fat in the diet is difficult for a lot of people to wrap their heads around. I find this is one of the most common and re-occuring conversations I have with clients in my practice, and call it “fat-phobia”. For years, especially in the 70s and 80s, we were trained to think that removing fat from the diet was the best way to go for our health and for weight loss. Low-fat, non-fat and fat-free products lining the grocery store aisles and selling like hot cak […]
So, you’ve prepped, you’ve trained and you’re ready to go for the big race! Now, only one question remains: to carb load or not to carb load? Unfortunately, although it may sound appealing to eat an extra large plate of pasta or a pizza, it is not going to make you run any faster or any further. However, proper nutrition and hydration will have a big impact on your run, and your pre-race meals are a chance to top-up your tank. The goal of pre-race nutrition is to top up your gl […]
CrossFit. One simple word, and the fitness camp divides. I’ve always been a really active person. Growing up I played a variety of competitive sports at Regional and Provincial levels, and in CEGEP and University, despite my 5’4 stature, I played basketball. During this time, there was all sorts of training involved. Most of it sports-specific drills, lots of running, and a bit of weight training here and there. It wasn’t until I graduated form University that I realized I needed to find a […]
Running, especially any distance greater than 5KM, requires a significant amount of time and dedication to training. With this amount of exercise comes an increased demand on your body for constant tissue repair (muscles, ligament and bone) and refuelling your energy stores. Therefore it is important to think of yourself as an athlete not just an exerciser!What you eat before and after your training runs and your races can have a huge impact on your performanc […]
Great tunes, a disco ball and a sweaty workout with some of the funniest (and nicest) people you’ve ever met – what’s not to love? These are just a few of the reasons that Wheelhouse Cycle makes the #redsrecommendations list as my favourite spin studio in the city!The truth of the matter is that I never really liked spinning. In fact, I took a spinning class about 8 years ago, hated every minute of it and was pretty much scarred for life. Or at least that’s what I thought. The first time I met W […]
Many times on my blog and in my social media I have shared how I love, and I how important I find it, to shop local and support local suppliers. Whether I am moving to a new city, or travelling to a new country, there is nothing I love more than discovering the shops, restaurants and ‘it’ food places. When we moved to Ottawa I was a little concerned that a smaller city like this one wouldn’t have the best food scene. Luckily for me, I was happily surprised, and can confidently say that […]
Food is fuel. Much like a car runs on gasoline and is held together with various nuts and bolts, our bodies run on food held together by a variety of nutrients derived from your food. Learning the basics of macronutrients is a wonderful step in the right direction to helping get your nutrition on track. In grade school, we are taught the basics of the four food groups; fruits & vegetables, grain products, milk & alternatives, and meat & alternative. In my opinion […]
Hi, my name is Stephanie, I’m a nutritionist and I don’t eat perfectly all of the time.(GASP!)Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about nutrition and eating a balanced diet; I eat real food, I shop local, I eat organic and I do my very best to make the best possible food choices whenever I can. However, there are moments when I throw a little caution to the wind. Why? Because I know I eat well, I like wine, and I want to live my life.When I really began to consider my food choices and put my dietary dec […]
Food has become complicated, there is no two ways about it. I’m not one for counting calories, and although I am a big advocate for real-food-first, I realize that is not always the first step for everyone on their nutrition journey. I know it was not mine. When I began the become more health conscious and aware of the types of foods I was putting in my body, the first change I made was reading the labels on my food. At first I found them confusing, but once I understo […]