Healthy Life Lessons

Oh rice and beans how I missed thee! Grains and legumes may be humble foods, but I love them and I am so glad Passover is over. I'm not sure why, but I have never made curry with kidney beans before. When making vegetarian curries, I always use chickpeas. I've heard this curry (Rajma), described as chili's Indian kissing cousin. All I know is it is easy and yummy. But then again, I tend to LOVE the flavours of Southern Asian food...in another life I must have lived in that region of the world. Then again, I also love the flavours of cuisines from all regions of Asia, so it's hard to know what part of that continent I may have originated from in my past life. Anyways... 1 tsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced Large knob fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped 1 tbls chili powder* 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp salt Cayenne pepper, to taste (optional) 1/2 cup cider vinegar 2 fresh tomatoes, diced (about 1 cup) 1 can...

I am definitely not myself right now. Between my grandma being unwell, my stupid leg/back pain, the crappy weather we have been having and my two practicum placements officially starting next week, I'm stressed. I am completely sick and tired of sitting on a yoga block and playing detective with my physiotherapist to figure out what is causing my pain. I have 2 MRIs booked for June, both in the middle of the night. Yes, in Canada we get these tests for free, but we have to have them in the middle of the night. They also won't do a back and pelvic MRI at the same time, so I have to be up all night 2 nights in a row! This alone is stressing me out, seeing as I have a history of insomnia and I have to be very careful about maintaining my circadian rhythms. I am also worried about driving home from the hospital in the middle of the night seeing as I am falling asleep before 10pm most nights. This has been a seriously miserable winter and spring. I have ALWAYS hated Toronto ...

Big A requested decorated gingerbread cookies and carrot cake cupcakes for the girls' party on May 14. Because the next few weeks are crazy busy, and I don't know what's going to happen with my grandma, I decided to make these this weekend and freeze them for the party. I absolutely ADORE gingerbread cookies, so hopefully there won't be many leftovers or I will likely devour them all myself. This recipe happens to be vegan, but you can use butter in place of the Earth Balance, if you prefer. I use fruit puree, not only to cut down on the fat, but it also keeps them soft and chewy, which I like. In fact, I can't stand crunchy cookies at all. Biscotti is about as appealing to me as raw potatoes. If you like your gingerbread really crisp and crunchy, just omit the fruit puree and double the amount of Earth Balance or butter. If I was making these for adults, I would cut down on the sugar and add a few tablespoons of fresh, grated ginger for more kick, but these a...

My grandma Ruth (aka G.G. Ruth - "Great Grandma Ruth" to my children and my brother's children) is not doing very well. This is not shocking since she is 92, but at the same time it is very hard to accept. She is my only living grandparent and, although throughout my lifetime she has lived in New York, she has always been a significant part of my life. My mom's mom has always been a unique combination of intelligence, strength, grace and determination, especially for a woman of her generation. She has a history degree from NYU and, until this past year when her short term memory began to quickly deteriorate, she could debate American and international politics with anyone. She loved watching sports like baseball and golf and she was an avid reader of literature and the New York Times. Ruth also loves film, theatre, music, travel and fine food, and she enjoyed these things in abundance with my grandfather, Joe, before his death in 1989. Joe was the love of her life,...

Poor Little A! Her birthday is April 22 (Earth Day), which also happens to fall on Good Friday this year and smack in the middle of Passover. Who doesn't want to be able to eat cake on their birthday? Especially when you are turning 2!! Little A still loves everything related to birthdays - "Happy to you" - as she calls them. So I knew she would be thrilled if we could serve her a cupcake with a candle for her to blow out at my in-laws on Friday. But I was puzzled as to how I could come up with a Passover-friendly recipe that would fit the bill. Well my friends, with a little ingenuity, I did it! Even if you don't celebrate Passover, these are wheat/gluten-free and good for any occasion. 4 tbls coconut oil, softened 2 large eggs 2 egg whites 1 cup sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 tbls pure maple syrup 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 2 cups quinoa flour 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup regular or mini chocolate chips Using electri...

I apologize ahead of time for this post, but if you read this blog you already know I love toilet humour. Do you remember the Colon Blow skit from SNL? Well I think I've found the real thing. A few weeks ago I picked up a box of Kellogg's new Fibre Plus cereal. Personally, I am not a big cold cereal fan. I don't find them very satisfying (i.e. even if I eat half the box I'm starving again in an hour) and generally speaking, the ones that taste good, like the above, are full of sugar. But Adam LOVES cereal - particularly the sweet ones - and who am I to tell him what to eat? Okay, I do tell him what to eat. But he only has cereal for breakfast a few days a week, opting for a healthier choice of oatmeal the other days. Unfortunately, the girls love Adam's "Cookies in a bowl" as I have come to think of them. They took one look at the new cereal box and had to try some. They opened the box last Monday and devoured it by Friday. Adam didn't even ge...

One of the reasons Adam gets so hungry at Passover is that he can't snack on his Clif bars or Optimum bars while he's at work. So I created this recipe to give him something tasty and satisfying to nibble on. For Adam, having chocolate in these babies is a must! This makes a lot, because I wanted to have enough for him to take to work and to have some at home - these are a big hit with the girls too, but you can easily halve the recipe. If you are not observing Passover, you can use peanut butter instead of almond butter and any kind of unsweetened puffed grain cereal in place of the quinoa. These are a great, nutritious, high-protein snack anytime of year and much cheaper than anything you would buy in the store. 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Heaping 1/2 cup almond butter 4 heaping tbls coconut oil 6 cups puffed quinoa (or other cereal) 1 lb (about 4 cups) mixed dried fruit and nuts of choice (I used currents, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews and almonds) Slowly...

Oh man, it's been a tough week. I have been fighting the nasty cold going around and despite predictions for sun and mild temps, the weather, for the most part, has been chilly and damp. Fortunately, a deep-tissue massage on Monday and some oregano oil have improved my cold. Today I am headache-free, my energy is back and I'm not coughing. I actually feel sorrier for Adam who I woke several times this week with my snoring from the congestion, and once, at 2am by sneezing in his face. Awful, I know! It is also sunny today and feeling a bit warmer. I am thrilled that Sunday is my last day of class. I mean last day of classes period. Just my practicum and major case presentation left in this Masters degree! Instead of feeling some relief, however, I am completely tied up in knots. I think taking on 2 practicums might have been biting off more than I can chew. D, from the general therapy clinic where I will be working, sent me over 14 files to review last week about policie...

I am digging the shirataki noodles. They are so easy to prepare and yummy. They are also good for Passover since they are made of yam starch. They are also carb, wheat/gluten and calorie free making them great for diabetics, those with allergies and anyone watching their caloric intake...or anyone wanting a great, healthy meal! This dish turned out so yummy I wanted to cry. Why? Because Adam and the girls hate avocado and Adam doesn't eat seafood, so I will only be able to sneak it in as a lunch when I don't have to worry about pleasing the rest of the family. Geez, how can anyone hate avocado?? You can substitute your own favorite veggies or protein (tofu, chicken, edamame, etc.) here if you prefer. 1 ripe avocado 1 large knob ginger Juice of 1 lime 1/2 tsp peanut or canola oil 2 Japanese eggplant (the long, skinny ones), sliced into circles 1 red/yellow/orange sweet bell pepper, cut into thin strips Half bunch broccoli, cut into florets and lightly steamed 2 cloves garl...

Now I realize that if you are extremely religious/observant to the point where you only eat products that say "Kosher for Passover" on the label, than my holiday recipes may contain ingredients that you are unable to use or find in K for P versions. These recipes are better suited for those who, in the spirit of the holiday, like Adam, simply avoid grains, legumes (soy products, lentils, beans and peanuts) and leavining agents like baking soda and baking powder. Even if you don't celebrate Passover, they are also great if you need to avoid wheat/gluten. If you are very strict with what you eat for the holidays, my advice is to stick with whole foods - meats, eggs, dairy, nuts, fruits and veggies, and consume only whole wheat or spelt matzos and matzo meal products. The more processed K for P products on the market are usually full of crap. 4 tbls coconut oil, melted 1 small jar organic baby food apples, apricots or pears* 2 eggs 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup agave...

The words I would use to describe my youngest daughter are: Monkey, Imp, Mischievous One, Daredevil, Pig-Pen, etc. She is adorably affectionate, regularly showering Adam, Big A and I with tight hugs and lots of kisses. But she really is a rascal. What is most interesting is that she has a great sense of humour. I assumed that a sense of humour was something you develop, influenced by culture and socialization in combination with one's personality and intellect, but I swear hers' is innate. Long before she could say a single intelligible word, she was funny. And she knew it. And she milked it for all it was worth. Today, like most Sundays, I got home from teaching my spin class at the JCC, showered and then hung out with Little A while Adam went to collect Big A from Hebrew school. Little A put on Big A's Elmo bike helmet and then asked me (ordered me) to push her around in the laundry basket. Unfortunately, she got cranky very quickly because apparently I don't ...

I dread Passover every year, from a gastronomic perspective. Sure I like a good gefilte fish as much as the next person, but I hate not being able to cook legumes (peanuts, lentils and beans), whole grain pasta, rice and oats and I miss using some of my favorite condiments - like soy sauce, rice vinegar, miso paste, etc. I don't keep Kosher for Passover, but Adam does, so really it only effects my dinners. Adam, however, is observant Ashkenazi-style for the whole 8 days, and as a relatively health conscious individual with a large appetite, he often suffers. He says he lacks energy and feels constantly hungry and dissatissfied. Not this year! I have promised him that this will be the best Passover of his life. I have a slew of new recipes that are guaranteed to knock your matzo balls off, thanks to my new favorite health food store "Herbs and Nutrition" around Bloor and Bathurst. If you live in the Toronto area, check it out! Great selection and prices. Since dis...

2 tbls coconut oil 1/2 cup agave syrup, maple syrup or honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp ground cinnamon 180g bag organic puffed quinoa* 1/2 cup chopped, slivered or sliced almonds 2 tbls sunflower seeds 2 tbls chia seeds 3/4 cup raisins or chopped dried fruit of choice Melt coconut oil in large bowl. Add syrup, vanilla and cinnamon and stir. Pour in dry ingredients and mix well. Spread out mixture on non-stick baking sheet and bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes, stirring at least every 5 minutes. Careful not to let it burn. Remove from over and let cool. Once cool, break up any clumps that are too large and add fruit. Store in airtight container. Serve with milk, yogurt and fresh fruit, if desired. *If you can't find puffed quinoa, you can use about 6 cups of rolled quinoa flakes and it will be more like granola.

Do you want to improve your physical fitness, save money and do something good for the environment? Hey, why wouldn't you? Buy a bicycle! Bicycles are an underutilized, underappreciated form of transportation in North America. Many Asian and European countries do a much better job of taking advantage of what bicycles have to offer. There are also a lot of options these days for toting your kids with you a la bicyclette. So it can be a family activity. I am loving my bike so much today. I had a meeting with D., the director of the general therapy clinic where I am doing one of my practicums. Her head office is quite a ways north of where we live. By car it's 30 minutes and by public transport it's almost an hour. Last time I drove and ended up paying $14 for 90 minutes of parking! Besides, Adam had the car today. So I decided to ride up to our meeting. I admit that given the distance (12km each way), I wondered if I wasn't nuts when I started out today. I gav...

1 cooking onion 1 large knob ginger, peeled 3-4 cloves garlic 1 tsp peanut or canola oil 1 can crushed pineapple, with juice 2 tbls low sodium tamari or soy sauce 1/4 cup rice vinegar Crushed red chili flakes, to taste (optional, if you want heat) 1 lb ground chicken (or ginger) 4 red and green bell peppers (2 of each or whatever), diced 1 can tomato paste Throw onion, ginger and garlic into food processor and finely chop. Pour oil in large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, ginger and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring to make sure nothing burns. Add pineapple and juice, soy, vinegar and chili (if using). Let everything come to a boil and simmer until liquid reduces. Add chicken and peppers (peppers will get soft and sweet if you add them now, if you want them to remain crunchy, add at the end). Once chicken and peppers are almost fully cooked, add tomato paste. Cook another 5-10 minutes over low heat. Serve over brown rice or quinoa. Serves 4 as a main ...

The girls go nuts for kale chips so when my friend Carol mentioned she made beet chips when I saw her at a baby shower last weekend, I was intrigued. I decided to try this myself. It took 2 tries to get the cooking time and temp right - she had warned me about that. They burn easily so long, slow cooking is better. I cooked them for 40 mins at 325F last night, but they ended up just being roasted (soft and chewy). Today, I spread them back out on some baking sheets and cooked them again at 275F for another hour. They are now crisp, crunchy and perfect! Let's just hope the girls like them. The best time and temp depends on your oven and how thinly you slice them. I cut them by hand, so they were thicker than if I had used a mandolin or food processor attachment. The thinner you make them, the lower a temp I would use and, obviously the less time they will take to cook. 2 lbs beets, peeled and thinly sliced (I used a combo of candy stripe and harvest gold beets) 2 tsp canola ...

I replaced the eggs in these with "chia eggs". You can do the same thing using ground flax seeds. Just combine 1 tbls chia or flax with 3 tbls warm water, to replace each egg, and set aside until ready to use. I have been avoiding chia for a while because I first tried it in my oatmeal - the same time I added the dreading pumpkin to it - and I thought the glutinous texture was revolting. But the nutritional profile of chia seeds is impressive (protein, fibre, omega 3 fats, antioxidants, etc.) so I decided to try using them this way. Turned out yummy, so I think I'll stick to my chia in baked goods and leave it out of my oatmeal! Don't be scared by the zucchini. It adds nutrition and moistness but you can't taste it. The oranges, blueberries and ginger provide all the yummy flavour. 2 tbls chia seeds + 6 tbls warm water (or use flax or use 2 whole eggs)* 4 small zucchini, ends trimmed and cut into 4 pieces 2 navel oranges, washed and cut into quarters 1 knob f...

I'm not sure what's going on with me at night lately, but my dreams have been even more cuckoo than usual. Two nights ago I was being stalked by a psycho and the dream was so intense, I woke up soaked in sweat. Last night Adam and I were getting married. Again. And we were having a huge wedding. I had knowledge that this guy at the wedding - not sure exactly who he was - was going to kill himself the next day. So I spent the whole wedding trying to figure out what I could do to stop him. This must have been an intense dream too because I woke up with my pillow covered in blood (ick!) due to having bitten my tongue badly. Ow! The girls have been amusing us lately with the things they say. Little A's new favorite thing is, when there is conflict, mess or any other event that may lead to punishment, she points at Big A and says, "Big A do it!". Wow, they learn fast! She is also still trying to pin her flatulence on others. Sunday she ate raisin bran for bre...

You would have to be living under a rock to not have heard (or already witnessed) the fact that the cost of food, fuel and other essentials is skyrocketing. But fear not, you do not have to resort to living off of Walmart brand potato chips and cola (you won't be living long if you do!). Healthy living is still possibles on a tight budget. Here are a few tips: Food Inconvenience yourself - Sorry, but it is much more economical to avoid convenience foods, even things like pre-cut fruits and veggies. Set aside some time to slice and dice what you need for your meals for a few days. Involve the kids and have them do some age-appropriate tasks (wash the produce, spin and tear lettuce leaves, pack everything into containers, etc.). Plan ahead - Plan your meals for the week so you know exactly what you need. Do one big grocery shop, stick to your list and avoid impulse buys. This will also help you avoid waste, which is really throwing away money. Comparison shop - Even if you hate...

Boy do I have egg on my face! After my last post where I waxed poetic about Big A's supportive social network at school, it all fell apart the next day. When I picked her up yesterday, she was acting pissy. I asked her what was wrong and she explained that two of her closest friends had ignored her all day and when she had asked why they were ignoring her, they ignored her. As if that wasn't bad enough, then her other best friend gave out invitations to her birthday party and did not give her one. Earlier in the week Big A had been very excited because this girl had told her that she WAS invited to the party and told her all about what they would be doing at this party. My heart broke. Ever since she told me about what happened, I have had a lump in my throat and I have felt sick to my stomach. Adam and I gave her a big pep talk last night about how sometimes people are mean for no reason and that she should find other friends and always remember to be nice to others because...