Healthy Life Lessons

Recently I was sent samples of a new health food product called Karmaffins .  Actually, they were hand delivered to me by Tim Sinclair and Paul Do, two of the earnest men behind their development. Karmaffins are gluten-free, refined sugar-free and nut-free muffins that come in four flavours: 1. Apple Cinnamon with Chia Seed 2. Belgian Chocolate with Banana 3. Smoothie Berry with Coconut 4. Orange Cinnamon and Mango Now, I hardly ever buy muffins, cookies or cakes as I prefer to make my own.  Most of the commercially produced muffins you find in bakeries, coffee shops and grocery stores are no better than cake and just empty sugar, fat and white flour calories.   Even many of the ones sold at health food stores, while usually made with whole grains, still contain lots of sugar and oil. Nevertheless, I know not everyone likes to bake, like I do, and everyone loves a good muffin for breakfast or with a cup of tea.  So I appreciate these products because...

  I love this combination of flavours, although if I'm honest, I would eat just about anything in a tahini sauce.  This meal went perfectly with Freekeh, but it is also perfect with brown rice, bulgur, or any other grain really. Moroccan Spiced Chickpeas and Veggies 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 1.5 cans cooked chickpeas) 2 red onions, thinly sliced 4-6 small zucchini, cut into 3 pieces, and then quartered 1-28oz can diced tomatoes 3-4 cloves garlic 1/4 cup red wine or pomegranate vinegar 1 tsp harissa Morroccan spice blend (optional) 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste Place everything in a large, skillet set over medium heat and simmer until onions and zucchini are tender (30-40 minutes).  Turn heat down to low if liquid is absorbed before veggies are done. Tahini Sauce 1/2 cup tahini Juice of 2 lemons 1/2 cup white wine vinegar 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp ground cumin Assembly: Cooked grain of choice 1...

I love grains.  Obviously.  I could never be on any diet that doesn't permit them.  I would literally go nuts.  I thought I was aware of most existing grains, even the more exotic ones, but I recently discovered a new one: Freekeh!  Okay, I guess it's not a new grain, as it is wheat, but it's young wheat that is dried and roasted. Here's some info about it: Freekeh (Pronounced Free – ka) has been appearing in recipes from as early as the 13th Century. It is a grain based food that is made from green wheat that has been dried, roasted and then “thrashed” or “rubbed” to make the flavour, texture and colour uniform. The result is an earthy, smoky grain that has a distinct flavour.  Freekeh is a delicious side dish and a great alternative to rice and other grains. Freekeh has up to four times the fibre of brown rice and provides more protein than mature wheat and most other grains. It is also a source of both prebiotics and probiotics and contains iron, zi...

Our lovely neighbour gave me some beautiful fresh beets from her organic delivery box this week.  I was just going to roast them up for dinner one night, but then I decided to go a little wild and experiment. I put coconut in the frosting, which I know is not traditional, but I was basically just going through the pantry looking for any ingredients that are white and yummy.  Unfortunately, I forgot that Little A does not 'do' coconut, so she wouldn't even try them.  Big A liked them, but it was Adam with whom they were really a hit.  I'm pleased because he is not a big fan of healthy-tasting junk food.  He prefers junk-food tasting junk food.  That being said, I doubt you could pull off serving these to someone used to white flour, white sugar products.  But frankly, I think everyone should try to adjust their tastes away from such things.  Anyways, you knew this wasn't Paula Deen's blog, so what did you expect?  I omitted any sugar and add...

I have always loved helping others.  I have always done various forms of volunteer work since I was a kid - my favorite experience being a companion to seniors in a hospital when I was a Brownie .  I also got a credit in high school tutoring children with learning disabilities, an opportunity that taught be a number of valuable lessons.  I'm not a saint.  Really, it's somewhat self-interested actually, as helping others makes me feel good. Unfortunately, as this blog documents, I lost my way.  I fell away from what is true to my heart and ended up in a career that was utterly meaningless to me.  I remember my anger, frustration and resentment of having to spend my days doing what felt like nothing more than helping other people (or companies and organizations) make more money.  If there was some sort of social value involved in the project, I was basically detached from it.  "Why would I ever care about this?"  I always wondering. ...

                                                                    Image Source For much of my life I have struggled with anxiety .  In fact, following Little A's birth, it got so severe that I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which I have described here .  Essentially, I had serious insomnia, constant intrusive thoughts (mostly disturbing ones about something bad happening to the girls or other loved ones), and a racing mind.  I was unable to listen to any music with lyrics for months because no matter what it was, and how much I liked or disliked the song, it would get stuck in my head and repeat like a broke...

My spicy chili almonds have become a staple snack for Adam while he is at work. Replacing his more processed snacks with this healthier option has helped him get his cholesterol back down to safe levels. But just as importantly, he loves them. When he returned his empty almond jar to me this week, I decided to mix things up and try a new seasoning option. These still have a kick, but they are also 100% oil free! Oh, and there's nothing better than a wee bit of wasabi when you have a stuffy nose. Makes these a perfect snack for cold and flu season. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy when you munch on them! Ginger Wasabi Almonds 4 cups almonds 2 tbls soy sauce/tamari/coconut aminos 1/2 tsp wasabi powder 1/2 tsp ground ginger Pinch of Japanese 7 spice (optional) Salt, to taste Toss everything together in a large bowl. When almonds are well coated, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes. Make sure they don't burn!! Ke...