Healthy Life Lessons

  We humans have a tendency to assume that there are only two types of people: lucky and unlucky.  We also tend to assume that if we can't see a person's challenges, they don't have any.  We'll neither of these assumptions, of course, are true.  Certainly, some people are more fortunate than others, no doubt about that, but all of us are vulnerable to misfortune, whether its an illness, loss of a loved one, or a tragic accident. Shit happens and it happens often indiscriminately. So why do some people seem to flourish and progress even in the face of adversity, while others flounder and fall?  Well, a lot of it is resilience and perspective.  I will tell you right now, getting stuck in the 'why me' of it all is never helpful.  Life is not fair, but ruminating over that gets you nowhere. I suppose this is one of the messages Dennis C. Miller is trying to get across in his autobiography. Moppin' Floors to CEO . Miller is ...

  Toronto feels like a sauna/steam room right now.  Gross! While others frolicked in the weekend heat and humidity, I hid indoors.  Yesterday I took the kids to see Finding Dory.  It was cute, but I kinda miss seeing adult movies.  I've probably seen a half dozen or less in the 10 years since we became parents.  The heat is supposed to break tomorrow, thank goodness, but today is going to be horrid. Anyways...lets talk nutrition. Just so I don't receive any death threats over this post, let me start by saying I am well aware of the fact that many people suffer from life threatening allergies to various foods, including gluten, wheat and dairy products.  I am also well aware that people with Celiac disease cannot eat any gluten without dire consequences.  Others suffer from lactose intolerance, which I know all to well since, until my pregnancy with Little A, I had it myself.  Eating more than just a very small amount of dairy would ...

Today I'd like to talk to you about sexually transmitted diseases (STI).  Sounds fun, huh? Perhaps not, but its so important we do so.      People tend to think of STIs as something only young people are at risk of, this isn't the case. Apparently, seniors in North America have the fastest growing rates of STIs! Behavioural trends among young children are also concerning.  Researchers have found that oral sex is common among kids as young as aged 11-12, and that they don't consider it sex, nor are aware that it puts you at risk of STIs!  This is super scary stuff, especially as a mom of 2 girls! Its also concerning to me from a professional perspective since untreated STIs can cause infertility. In addition HPV can cause cervical cancer! Basically, it is important to practice safe sex regardless of your age, gender or sexual orientation. No glove, no love baby! Unfortunately, there is so much stigma around STIs that many people avoid gett...

  I don't regale you with all the challenges I continue to have trying to feed the kids, because, really, things haven't changed much.  Both girls still have appetites like sumo wrestlers (especially Little A), so quantity isn't an issue, but there are areas where each of them could be doing a lot better.  For Little A, its with her vegetable eating.  She'll eat cucumbers, grape tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, sweet peppers and corn.  That's about it. And only a tiny bit at any given meal, at best.  Fortunately, she is pretty good in other respects.  She loves fruit, eggs, and cheese, in particular, so it could be worse. Then there's Big A. This kid makes me want to tear my hair out over food (not to mention almost everything else!).  She just wants sugar and carbs.  The only savoury foods she likes are pizza and hotdogs (sigh!). Ironically, however, she is better than Little A with veggies, even enjoying kale sa...

Its officially summer!  Not my fave though and they are predicting a particularly hot and humid one, which really doesn't make me happy. In fact, this past weekend was a scorcher and today is supposed to be even worse. Thank goodness I will only be outside getting to and from the office.  I just hope I get air conditioned buses and subways...its certainly too hot for cycling today! No matter what life throws at you, you have to appreciate the little pleasures.  Here are a few of mine right now. First off, I always have to be comfortable.  No stilettos or uncomfortable clothing, especially not when I am coping with uncomfortably hot weather!  I found this dress by Mondetta , a workout wear company, and I love it! Its like wearing workout clothes, but has the fit of a dress you can wear to work.     It comes in a few colours, but I always gravitate towards neutrals like grey. It is so comfortable to wear on a super hot day!! Speaking of wor...

Happy Friday! Do you have any plans for Father's Day this weekend? Frankly its going to be stupid hot this weekend so I am going to want to do nothing but hide in air conditioned spaces, but unfortunately, I have to work and we have errands and a Father's Day BBQ on Sunday with Adam's family planned, so I will have to brave the elements. Lately, many parents have been speaking out about the way toys are gendered and pushing stereotypes onto our children.  I agree, its ridiculous and its high time to let go of this crap.  I am not saying there are no differences between males and females.  We know that there are and many are biologically based.  But there are also lots of misconceptions about 'maleness' and 'femaleness' that are due to our very antiquated gender stereotypes, and unfortunately, these are still being shoved down our children's throats. But kids aren't the only ones who face this crap.  Adults do too.  Believe me, I see it often...

I have another weight-loss book review for you today, but first a warning: if you are easily offended/ don't like swearing, you might just want to skip this one. Eat Sh*t & Die(T) is self published by Max Cunningham. I have no idea who he is.  There is no bio in the book and a Google search got me nowhere except to the book website . Twitter account, and Facebook page . Is he a personal trainer? A life coach? A dog walker? I am not sure. But he does say in the book that he is not a doctor nor a nutritionist.  It seems like he's just a guy for whom this diet approach worked well for so he wants to share his secret.  What diet approach, you ask? Intermittent Fasting (IF). Nothing new, actually, but also an approach that is gaining credibility among some experts.  You may recall I reviewed the 5:2 Diet a while back and actually had no major issues with it. Like all diets, its really effective if you follow it consistently, the question is can you (and be ...

Welcome to another week!  If another Monday isn't depressing you, then likely the events over the weekend are.  The gay nightclub shooting in Orlando has us absolutely horrified.  There are just no words.  When is all this hatred and violence going to stop?? Not sure how to segue from that to a recipe, but here you go... I love making massive egg white omelets or scrambles.  There is so many ways to flavour them and they provide a huge hit of high quality, low calorie protein.  Don't get me wrong, I am happy to eat yolks.  Its just I try to keep my whole egg consumption in line with the recommending 6/week max.  I often make fried or hard boiled whole eggs, but for an omelet or scramble, I stick with the whites and make honking huge ones, using a full cup of egg whites.  Believe me, if you want to quash hunger, these are great! The ways you can dress them up are limitless...with Mexican, Italian flavours, Greek, Japanese or Korean......

  Good Friday morning! Though I'm excited to start this beautiful day and welcome the weekend, I feel like ranting.  Yep, I'm still going on about the loss of my favorite morning show, Canada AM. They've announced the new show that will replace it: Your Morning. One of the hosts will be Anne-Marie Mediwake, a seasoned journalist, along with Ben Mulroney, who has years of experience as an entertainment journalist (!).  I actually really like Ben Mulroney. He's bright and seems quite down to earth (for the son of a former prime minister).  But my greatest fear for my morning television viewing seems to be coming true: they are replacing Canada AM with an entertainment show! No, say it isn't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joining Mediwake and Mulroney, are Melissa Grelo, Lindsey Deluce and Kelsey McEwen. Grelo also has a journalism background but she is one of the co-hosts of The Social , sort of like Canada's version of The View, but with a focus on social ...

  There are many theories about addiction.  Some feel that anyone can become addicted to particular substances which have particular chemical properties.  Some think that there is an 'addictive personality type', or that it is hereditary.  Nowadays, I think most experts believe its a complex issue that likely has multiple causes and is a combination of genetics and environment. I'm no addiction expert, as a therapist its not a presenting problem I see in my client population very often.  The only exception is what some people might call, 'food addiction', but, honestly I don't think its an addiction so much as a dysfunctional coping strategy.  Likewise, I don't believe that all people who misuse alcohol or drugs have an actual chemical dependence.  Again, its often just a dysfunctional coping strategy.  We all use certain consumables or behaviours to self-medicate or numb ourselves from time to time, whether its a tub of ice cream after a br...

Its a beautiful Monday morning! Hopefully it won't get too hot.  Yesterday was rainy but okay, however, Saturday was way too hot and muggy. So... One of the trendiest flavours these days is salted caramel.  Not that I care about what's trendy. I usually find trends silly and pretentious, but in this case, it can be quite delicious. I've always appreciated the sweet/salty combination. This is a variety of granola I haven't made before, so it was also born out of my ongoing obsession with kitchen experimentation.  This one is definitely a success! It is also low-sugar/refined sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan. I kept this nut-free and added freeze-dried apple and mango, and raisins, but you can add whatever you like.  Pecans would be delicious, as would chopped figs, apricots or dates. Salted Caramel Granola 2.5 cups unsweetened apple sauce 1/3 cup coconut oil 2 tbsp. coconut sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 droppers full of English Toffee or ...

I am feeling a bit bereft this morning. Just last night I found out, only because Adam had heard earlier in the day, that my favorite morning show, Canada AM aired for the last time today.  Not much notice they gave viewers!?! It is the only morning show I've ever liked. I hate the American ones, and don't like the other Canadian network shows either.  But I've always loved to start my day watching Canada AM. I love the various hosts they have and no matter who is on (they've changed a lot over the years) they always manage to have great chemistry, and you can tell they are actually friends off air. Its a great mix of high quality news coverage as well as human interest stories.  As a matter of fact, Adam has been on the show a few times as a foreign policy expert! Apparently, they are going to be replacing it with something younger and hipper.  Sigh! I am neither young nor hip so I'm not so sure I'm gonna like it! I started watching the show back...

We were thrilled to receive a whole box of Gomacro Macrobars recently.  We got one of, I believe, every flavour, except peanut butter chocolate chip - thankfully because the girls each grabbed immediately for those! As usual, the girls divided them up on the assumption they were going to eat them all, but then decided to give Adam the apple walnut variety, because that wasn't to their liking.  A few they both wanted, so I cut them in half for them to share, and without their knowledge took a sliver for myself. The bars are organic, gluten-free and vegan.  What's cool is they are not all the same size nor do they have identical nutritional info.  I say that's cool because I always wonder how other manufacturers make every bar, regardless of flavour, exactly the same calories, fat, etc.? Gomacro Macrobars range from about 57g to 65g.  Calories range from 200 to 260.  The bars don't have a ton of protein, so I would classify these as a 'snack' or 'ener...