UnDiet...Week 37

Hello UnDieters!

This turkey is breathing a sigh of relief that this is a Tofurkey house!

For all of my Canadian friends, this weekend marks Thanksgiving, one of my favourite feast days. I love thanksgiving because there is no other celebration, recognized across different faiths and cultures, that is solely focused on gratitude. We give thanks for the love we receive from others, the blessings and abundance we have in our life and the beautiful food that we feast with. 


In fact, this is a great intention to set for the whole week. So, UnDieters, in keeping with our theme of evaluating how and why we eat, this is a week to give thanks. Each time that you are about to put food to lip, take a 30 second pause to reflect on how that particular food got to your lips and give thanks. Nothing formal, nothing out loud...just a brief pause to connect yourself with your food.


Whether it was the turkey who provided its life as nourishment, the warm sun that helped the pear to ripen or your roommate who took the time to prepare a simple dinner because you are both far from family - give thanks for the conditions that aligned to help nourish your body at this moment.


What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? The miracle that is my son, the amazing people I am proud to call my friends, colleagues and family and that through my work I get to help people live healthier and happier lives. And some good food. 


Thanks to you for continuing to read!
Desiree

UnDiet...36

Hello UnDieters!

Now that the days are darker and a chill is creeping into the air, I always feel an intense desire to stay closer to home. I find that all of that outward energy and exuberance that spring and summer bring with them softens as thoughts turn inward for a bit of mental hibernation. Fall and winter months find us looking for warmth, comfort and maybe some time to reflect. So for this week, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on our motives for picking up our forks. 

This week, before you put a bite of something in your mouth, I want you to ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?"

Be honest with yourself. If the answer is no, consider how would best meet your needs right now. Do you need a nap? A cry? A chat with a friend? A bath? A hug? Something more interesting to do than sitting on the couch? If you can think of something that might be more constructive to your mental and physical state than eating, then do that instead. However, you might find that the scoop of leftover mac and cheese may be just what the doctor ordered. So go ahead and enjoy. The goal this week is simply to be more present about what drives us to fill our bellies.

See how this week changes the way you think about food - is it simply fuel? Soul nourishment? Entertainment? Comfort? Punishment? How can you give food its rightful (and joyful) place in your life? Warm up a mug of tea, lounge on the couch and think about how you can truly eat well.

Cheers,

Desiree

UnDiet...Week 34

I think it is time for another measure up post, don't you? Let's talk protein. The stuff of nutrition myth and legend, every health professional has an opinion on protein. We eat too much, we don't eat enough. No animal protein...nothing is better for you than animal protein! 


Let's set the record straight on just one meaty issue: portion size. Rummage through your junk drawer to find a deck of cards. Got 'em? Good. Take a good hard look at that deck and imagine it is a piece of chicken. There is your serving size. If the deck starts clucking at you, put it down. Walk away. Consult a physician.


Before you pale at the thought of starving on such scarce flesh, remember this: whether you are a vegetarian or a meatatarian, veggies and grains should be the centrepiece of your dish. They provide the fibre, the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Protein is a compliment to these nutrients. Getting enough protein helps support stable blood sugars and a strong immune system. Even the average North American vegetarian gets more protein than they need (us poor vegetarians...where could we possibly be getting all that protein?).


So this week, instead of slapping a huge hunk of meat on your plate, serve yourself a smaller portion. Or "extend" meat the old fashioned way: add slivers of chicken to your stirfry, combine grass fed beef with lentils, veggies and breadcrumbs into a meatloaf or add some lentils to a soup or stew. Be sure to get a good source of protein at every meal...just don't gorge yourself on it!


And while you're at it...try and eat more veggie protein too. It comes loaded with fibre and we all need more roughage. Go hug a lentil, already.


Cheers,
Desiree

Eat, Drink and Be Happy! Feast of Fields

Beyond this gate...food geek heaven.

This Sunday, my husband and I went to our first Feast of Fields. Where on earth have we been, you ask? Out of town! Literally every year for the last four on the weekend FoF has taken place. So this year, we were so excited to finally be around to bask in the sun and eat and drink the best that BC has to offer. And yes, it made me happy. Very happy. 

The lovely Antonio Cerullo dishing out organic tomato and natural pastures bocconcini skewers.

Feast of fields is literally just that; volunteers hand you a wine glass and a napkin and you stroll through the field, stopping at tents, sampling gorgeous food and drink. You could spot the FoF veterans as they came bearing their own cocktail plates with the handy wine glass hanger so they could eat and drink without juggling the spoils. The sun was blazingly hot on Sunday so I have to admit I did not sample as much drink as I might have liked lest I disintegrate into a bumbling, dehydrated mess. FoF was full of people I work with; not a great idea to start slurring your words in such company!

Smart people with their sun hats. I was not smart.

Feast of Fields is the signature fundraiser for Farm Folk City Folk, a wonderful organization that promotes local agriculture and strives to bring together farm folk and city folk to get people talking, collaborating and working towards a more sustainable food system. 

This really says it best.

Some of my favourites at the Feast included Summerhill Organic Wines....

And the delicious caramel apple tarts from Cocolico. The tomato chips with creme fraiche from Bishops were divine as was the ceviche from Lolitas...so my husband tells me!

A little bit of food...a little bit of drink...and keep on walking....

T Tea Company...LOVED the iced teas!

The lovely ladies from Krause Berry Farms, today's host, were grilling up fresh corn. In a land of little nibbles, the corn, drug through a large dish of butter was about as perfect as you could get.

The Vancouver Club brought these delicious ginger snap ice cream sandwiches....

Victoria spirits was there with their delightful gin, straight and in a refreshing muddled cucumber cocktail. And Terra Breads had some gorgeous local food pizzas.

More, please!

But for me, the hands down winner of the day was The Pointe at the Wickininnish Inn from Tofino...

Because THIS is what they brought with them....

 It was so delicious, that I had to have seconds....They managed to make a sweet thing savoury and complex. I was hooked. So now I will just sit back and dream of next year's feast. I might have to try and make it to two. My friend Lori was there filming her Good For You, Good For the Earth show. Be sure to tune in to see more from FoF.


Go Be Happy,
Desiree

UnDiet...Week 32

Stressed? Just gaze at this sunset and take a deep breath.

Hello UnDieters!


I hope you all enjoy this last blissful weekend of summer. Get outside and hike, bike, walk, swim and run. Pack a picnic and lounge at the park or grab a book and sit on your deck and ponder life. Next week, it is back to traffic, busy schedules and (perhaps) stress. 


Do you know what is the perfect antidote for a stressful life? Good clean living! When we get stressed out, the first thing many of us do is to stop exercising, start eating "comfort" food and then we end up even more lethargic and energy deprived. However tough it is to keep up with our self care, it is even more vital the crazier life gets because eating well and exercising builds our body's resilience and helps us cope with a stressful stretch. 


This week, we should all help make sticking to our eating plans easier. Take a lazy morning to plan out a couple of go-to healthy meals. Then saunter over to the grocery store, grab your supplies and after the sun goes down, have a glass of wine and make a few big batches of food to carry you through the week. This way, when life is crazy, trying to eat well doesn't have to be. 


Some great ideas for big batch cooking to make the week easier:


- Make and freeze some whole grain muffins, with lots of fruit, nuts and seeds for breakfast on the go.
-Make a batch of steel cut oats Monday night and portion out for the week with some dried fruit and hemp seeds. Just a splash of milk in the morning and heat!
- If the days are already cooling off where you are, make some delicious corn soup, a zesty chili or a roasted tomato stew. Fill lunch sized containers for the week and freeze a couple of portions for your emergency food stash. Serve with whole grain crackers and cheese.
- Cook a big batch of barley or brown rice to have for evening dinners as that is usually the meal component that takes the longest.


Check me out on The Fresh Sheet this month as Heather and I will be sharing our favourite lunch ideas to make brown baggin' it easy and fresh.


Enjoy the sun,
Desiree