Healthy Life Lessons

Its been a quiet week for me  with my counselling practice.  Adam has had many evenings of work engagements or working late, and finished off the week with a trip to Winnipeg, so that's meant less available work time for me.  Most clients want to see me after 5pm, after work, but the girls' after school daycare closes at 6pm, so if Adam isn't available to pick them up, its usually a no go for me.   I also had a daycare board meeting Wednesday night so my evenings were pretty much not open for appointments this week at all. Fortunately, my mother-in-law stepped in to pick up the girls today so I was able to book a few sessions, and tomorrow I've got a bunch more clients lined up.  Saturday afternoon, the logistics of the girls' activities (gymnastics, swimming, playdate and birthday party) are so complicated, we actually have to borrow one of my in-law's cars so I can shuttle Big A in one direction while Adam shuttles Little A in the...

Clearly photographing food in a glass bowl is not the best idea...no pun intended! This was another recipe I made for the first time for our New Year's Day party.  They are yummy as a snack, or you can throw them in a salad.  Super delish! Savoury Roasted Chickpeas 2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained (or 3 cups cooked) 1 tbls olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp Herbamere seasoned sea salt (or regular sea salt), or to taste 2 tbls nutritional yeast Toss chickpeas with oil and spices and roast at 400F for about 45 minutes, or until crispy.  Keep in an air tight container in cool dry place or fridge for up to 1 month.

Here are some of the tasty things I've been eating lately... My Smokey Tomato Soup, along with a Vanilla Spice Plantain loaf cake. My absolute favorite Mutsu (sometimes called Crispin) apples and Chocolate Chunk Quest bars. Warm kale salad with strawberry, red onion dressing (which I forgot to photograph) with this soft sheep's milk black peppercorn cheese diced into it...oh yeah!   Roasted kabocha squash...because delicata squash has disappeared from the entire city of Toronto! But it was actually pretty awesome, especially with cinnamon. How about you, what yummy things have you been consuming??? This post is linked with What I Ate Wednesday's host, Peas and Crayons .

Oy its a cold one today!  At least we aren't having the snow storm like our friends east and south of us... Recently a client who I am counselling about improving her health told me she and her fiancé made soup together for the first time, rather than buying it, and they couldn't believe how easy it is.  It is...really! In fact, here are 3 reasons you should make soup instead of buying it: 1. Healthier - Not only is the soup you buy usually full of salt, but it often also has added sugars and starches, not to mention weird preservatives.  The canned kind also contains BPA...blech! 2. Cheaper - The good quality soups can be $10/litre!  Making your own is much, much more economical!! 3. Efficient - Its hard to make a small quantity of soup.  Make tons and then eat all week, or freeze for future meals. This soup is very warming from the smoked paprika, cumin and the kick of cayenne, if you can stand the heat!  You can replace the chickpeas ...

Personal hygiene is something that is not always so personal.  If you emit bad odour, chances are others are going to notice! The hygiene habits of others comes to my attention on a daily basis simply from using public transportation.  Already vulnerable to motion sickness, I instantly become nauseous if I end up near someone with bad body odour.  Blech!  Sometimes I may not be near enough to someone to smell them, but I am often amazed by how unclean people look.  Hair greasy, full of debris, and clearly unwashed for a lengthy period of time.  Clothes that smell worn and musty.  Ugh! Of course, when I feel disgust, I then wonder if I am not just being elitist.  After all, for many people, regular bathing and clothes washing is a luxury.  Often poor hygiene can be an early sign of mental illness. But sometimes there just seems to be no excuse.  I am only at the gym once a week to teach my spinning class, but lately every time I ...

TGIF!  Happy Friday everyone! Despite the chilly temps, its actually been beautiful and sunny here all week.  Its amazing what a positive impact the sunshine can have on your mood. Nonetheless, even when the sun is out, I've noticed that for the past few years, I have had a cloudy feeling.  I've been very introspective and tried hard to determine the source of my angst.  I've explored every aspect of my life: health, relationships, parenting, career, spirituality, and while my life is not perfect, its pretty awesome...so what's going on? I kept wondering and not finding the answer. Until recently. It suddenly dawned on me where this existential angst and sense of foreboding is coming from...not from anything in my life, specifically, but more to do with how our society is evolving.  I feel sad, frustrated, and concerned about where our world is going...and I am referring to the usage of technology and portable devices. I know I now probably sound ...

I brought this dressing for the dinner we had at my brother's house last weekend.  My husband and children may hate avocados, but the rest of my family loves them and they adored this dressing and demanded the recipe. This delicious, healthy dressing kicks your everyday salad up a few notches.  It is absolutely amazing!  I have nothing more to say. Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing 1 ripe avocado, pit and skin removed 1/2 cup cider vinegar Juice of 2 limes 1-2 cloves garlic 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste Handful fresh cilantro Throw everything in blender or food processor and go!  Dressing is very thick, feel free to thin out with water if you wish.  Keep refrigerated for up to a week. I have posted this recipe in Urban Naturale's Healthy, happy, green and natural party blog hop .