Healthy Life Lessons

Who knew that what you choose to drink your water from can be such a complicated issue? I was not a water drinker as a kid (preferring juice and diet pop) until I was about 17 and the doctor suggested that my IBS symptoms could be due to the fact that I was dehyrated (I was already working out every day by then) and was not drinking enough water to move my high fibre diet through my system. Many years later I discovered my tummy troubles (intense pain and bloating) was due to my morning bowl of cereal with milk (except when I'm pregnant or breastfeeding, I am extremely lactose intolerant). Anyhow, when I finally started toting a water bottle to the gym, it was the soft plastic kind that makes any fluid it touches taste "plastic-y". It always bothered me and I worried that it was toxic. So, like many other people, I eventually switched to the hard plastic Nalgene bottles which have no smell or taste. I figured this had to be healthier. Ha! Then it was revealed that ...

I have started to feel a bit discouraged lately. Dr M hasn't had time to review our revised ethics proposal but she said she hopes we can get everything going by mid October. I'm worried that we won't get approval from the ethics board at the hospital. And then what? Doubt and anxiety that I will ever achieve my dream of being a psychotherapist have re-emerged. But one thing is for sure: I cannot go back to a job I hate. It will kill my spirit and destroy my soul. Now that my mat leave is over, the only income I have coming in right now is my one weekly spinning class at the JCC...so really nothing. This is the first time since I was an undergraduate student that I have not had a fairly steady income...and I really don't like it. I have decided that if the research project at the hospital doesn't come through, I am going to try and get a job. Actually, I am trying to see if I can start a business. My business idea is something I have been thinking about fo...

My friend D broke her ankle recently. She had surgery but will probably have to have more. As a result, she is going to be off her feet and off work for a long time. I brought her some whole wheat penne with basil pesto and grape tomatoes a few weeks ago but I thought I'd bring her these when I go to visit tomorrow. She is a very picky vegetarian who doesn't like a lot of healthy foods and loves chocolate. I thought these would be a good compromise. 1 lb carrots, steamed and cooled, pureed in food processor or blender 1/2 cup (or one small jar baby food) prune puree 1/2 cup sugar or Splenda 2 large eggs 1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup milk or water 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Whisk together wet ingredients in large mixing bowl. Stir together dry ingredients in smaller bowl and then add to wet ingredients, just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill...

Nothing says fall like pumpkin and to me, pancakes are the ultimate comfort food. If you aren't a big fan of ginger, you can omit. In fact, you can play around with all the spices and add your favorites or replace them all with 1 tbls pumpkin pie spice. I LOVE all the "sweet" spices so I add a lot. 2.5 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup oat bran 2 tbls baking powder 2 tbls sugar (or 2 packets stevia) 2 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp cloves 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling!) 2 eggs or 4 egg whites 1 tsp vanilla 2 tbls grated fresh ginger (optional) 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger (optional) 3-4 cups water Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add wet ingredients to bowl (start with just 2 cups of the water so batter doesn't get too runny) and whisk together. Ladel batter onto greased skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden on both sides. Makes 8 large or 16 small pancakes. Serve with plain maple...

I've known for a while that my kids are not the least bit scared of me. Sure, Little A cries if I yell, but she cries if Big A yells or anyone else for that matter too. Big A, in particular, has no fear of me nor, as I've complained before, does she have any respect for me. And I take full responsibility for that. I simply suck at discipline. Adam is much better than I am, which is probably why Big A prefers him. I end up negotiating and then usually being manipulated, which means that I am also not consistent with my threats and repercussions. I try...really hard, but what I've recently realized is that I'm scared of my kids. I end up doing whatever it takes to avoid tantrums and defiance from Big A and screaming fits from Little A. In my defense, this is partially because I am alone with them in the mornings and there is a limited amount of time that I have to wait out or ignore bad behaviour. Sometimes I simply have to get the ball rolling somehow...anyhow ...

I thought this would make a comforting fall meal...too bad it's hot and humid here today! Oh well, it's delicious anyways. 2 spaghetti squash 1 tsp olive oil 1 large onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp dried, or 2 tbls fresh basil 1-2 tsp hot chili flakes (optional) 2 zucchini, diced 4 portobello mushrooms, chopped 1 lb ground turkey (or chicken) 1 large can crushed tomatoes 1 bunch rapini, ends trimmed and chopped For squash: Cut squash in half, remove seeds and roast in oven, cut side down at 350 for 45-60 minutes, or until skin is tender. Scrape out flesh with fork, so it is in spaghetti-like strands. Mound on 4 plates. Season with salt and pepper. Sauce: In large skillet or saucepan, add oil and saute onion, over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic, fennel, dried basil (add fresh basil at the end), chili flakes (if using), zucchini and mushrooms and saute until tender. Add turkey and stir occasionally until meat is just slightly pink. ...

Well Little A was sent home with her first "daycare fever" yesterday. The daycare teachers scared the #%*$ out of me though, because on the phone they said she had a very high fever of one-hundred-and-seven and she was shaking. I knew it couldn't really be 107, but even if it was 103, it was serious. I raced down there thinking I would pick her up, get big A and subway it down to the Hospital for Sick Children (our car was in the shop) but when I got there her teacher said, "I was wondering why you seemed so upset on the phone and then I realized you must have thought I meant 107, but I meant 100.7 (though she admits sayiing 107 and repeating it 6 times to me on the phone!). So she was clingy and grumpy but not lethargic or anything. Sigh! I took her, walked over to Big A's school, picked her up and went home. At home Little A nursed for over an hour and basically insisted that Adam or I hold her all night until we put her to bed. Advil got rid of her fev...