All posts tagged: #Food

The Top 5 Not So Obvious Foods That Are Making You Bloated

Feeling gassy, bloated and just down right uncomfortable?  I’m sure there was one point over the holidays you’ve wanted to change into your pyjamas to avoid the bulging bloated feeling in your clothing. I’m the first to admit that this was me after a big turkey dinner, some red wine and the platter of different desserts I taste-tested 😉  Oh boy was my tummy swollen! But it’s easy to chalk up your bloated feeling to overeating…and yes, that is a factor but what happens when this awful bloated feeling doesn’t go away and creeps up on you even when you’re eating healthy and balanced meals? We need to find out what is causing this so we can fit back into our pants! Pay attention to these not so obvious foods the could be causing your bloating. 1. Yogurt It’s played up for for its good-for your belly probiotics, but certain types of yogurt could actually be doing you more harm than good. That’s because dairy products contain varying levels of the sugar molecule lactose, which …

Enjoy Food. Don’t avoid food.

Over the course of the last decade plus, I’ve experimented with countless of different eating styles and diets – Atkins, Vegan, Vegetarian, Octo-Lacto, Pescetarian, Macrobiotic, Paleo, Juicing, Cleansing, high fat, low fat, Intermittent Fasting, Bulletproof, etc. To this day I continue to try new things and research how I feel and how it applies to my life. Each eating style certainly has their benefits but, in my opinion, there is NO PERFECT WAY TO EAT because each and every single person on this planet is unique. There are different body types, people have different goals, different lifestyles, food sensitivities, live in different climates, geography and food availability could be an issue, age requires different nutrients, and even weather play a part in our food needs. Having countless food options increases your chances to achieve optimal health, vibrancy, and your own fitness goals. Whether it’s too much of a particular type of food or too little of certain nutrients, the best way to harmonize the body is by creating balance but as many of us know …

NON GMO, Yes or No?

There is a lot of information out there when it comes to nutrition and some just darn right confusing. I often hear people say “if we listen to all the food that is bad for us, we won’t be able to eat anything!”. In my opinion that statement is being a little over-dramatic but since there is so much bad information out there I can understand why people feel that way. So lets unwrap one statement/label that we’re seeing a lot of lately. NON GMO. What are GMOs? GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. In short, fake food. Are GMOs safe? Surprisingly but no so surprisingly, most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world (the smart ones!), including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European …

The Scoop on Himalayan Pink Salt

Salt often gets a bad rap… I’m certain we’ve all heard someone say that we have to cut out sodium to avoid cardiovascular disease to be our healthier but, in actual fact, salt is an extremely important electrolyte and essential mineral for us.  One of the health benefits of sodium is the integral role it plays in enzyme operations, muscle contraction and also its importance for fluid homeostasis maintenance within the body. Some other health benefits of sodium include improved heart performance, nervous system regulation, and glucose absorption. Personally I’m an advocate of all quality food sources and I never believe in cutting anything out completely. What is bad food anyway? If we label something bad, we either feel bad when we consume it or we want it more. The solution to this is to learn about food and have deeper understanding of it by learning about the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to feel our best.  Ask yourself, “Are there better choices and how can I incorporate these sources into my diet?” As a Nutritionist, I opt …

What I’m Eating and How I’m Training

Over the past couple of months I have received a ton of messages asking what I personally eat on a daily bases especially now that I’m breastfeeding. So … I decided to share exactly what I’m eating to prepare for a photo shoot in October. Let me just start off by saying this shoot prep has been a lot different for me 1) I’m a very busy Mommy looking after a 5 month old 2) I am running a full time business with a lot of new expansions on the go, and 3) we just moved into a new home and no I do not have a Nanny. It has been crazy to say the least. For the most part, I eat relatively well and fuel my body with the right nutrients from the very best food sources. I will incorporate lean animal proteins, complex carbohydrates, vegetables and healthy fats with each meal. I snack on a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds (in moderation), whole grain crackers and cheese or …

Caribbean Fish Tacos

Right out of my Strong Like Mommy Ebook, These are so delicious, my husband and I gobbled them up and I’m sure if Jackson was old enough he would  have LOVED them too. You can also substitute fish with steak or chicken) – makes 2 or 3 tacos equaling 1 serving. 2 Tacos are about 318 calories with a macro breakdown of 31 gram of Protein, 29 grams of Carbs, and 9 grams of Dietary Fats which make for a great meal on plan! My clients will be the first to tell you that these tacos are delicious and fit into their weight loss plans seamlessly. To find out how you can be a STRONG GIRLS, check out our page or email me to find out more! Ingredients – Homemade Salsa: 1–2 medium-sized tomatoes ½ small yellow onion ½ small jalapeño pepper 1 small minced clove garlic ¼ cup cilantro ½ juice lime ¼ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper 1 tsp of your favourite hot sauce ¼ cup low-sodium vegetable broth Directions: Chop all ingredients …

“On-The-Go” Tuna Recipe

If you’re in a hurry and looking for a delicious meal to stay on plan, try my “On-The-Go Tuna Salad” from my ‪#‎StrongLikeMommy‬ ebook: Ingredients ■ 100 grams of low-sodium flaked white tuna (I use Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna) ■ 1⁄2 cup chopped celery ■ 1⁄2 cup chopped yellow and green peppers ■ 1⁄2 cup grated or finely chopped carrots ■ 1 chopped green onion ■ 1 tsp mustard ■ 1 tsp hot sauce ■ 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper  Directions 1. Mix all ingredients together with a fork 2. Scoop into 1-2 pieces of Rye Toast I love this recipe and is a staple in my diet giving me 30 grams of Protein, 16 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of Dietary Fats along with plenty of flexibility all fitting within the confides of my plan!

3 ingredient Macaroons! 

I love how this recipe has only THREE ingredients and one of them is coconut (my absolute fav!).  Coconut has been a superfood by many cultures around the world and the saturated fat in coconut is a fat that is rarely found in nature known as Lauric Acid. This type of fat is like a miracle ingredient because of all the health promoting properties.    Our body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoa properties which help with viruses like HIV, herpes, measles and the common cold and flu. Coconut is also amazing for our hair, nails, skin, metabolism and supports the health and proper function of our thyroid.  So while these macaroons are quick and deliscious they’re also a powerful package of nutrients.  Ingredients: 3 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut  3 egg whites  2-3 tbsp Maple Syrup or sweetener of your choice  How to make: Preheat oven to 300 degrees Spray a muffin tin with coconut spray  Mix shredded coconut, egg whites and syrup together until combined  Press mixture into …

Dieting and Food, Food and Dieting

“How many calories am I eating?”, “Am I eating at a deficit?”, “Should I carb load?”, “What are my macros?”, “Should I eat at a surplus?”, “Is this food bad?”, etc, etc, etc. Ai yai yai. When a client starts with me, I rarely share numbers (as in never) and am unlikely to strategize a diet with a Contest Prep-like approach because when it comes to weight loss for the masses (i.e. if you’re NOT an athlete), keep it simple. Embrace eating whole foods portioned for one’s goals is usually my first “go to” strategy. I also certainly arrange marcos strategically. Along the way, I will troubleshoot the program based on my client’s progress with adjustments, tweaks, or simply riding it out. I just don’t feel this information is necessary to share so early into a program for someone so new on their fitness journey because too much information can be overwhelming (“paralysis by analysis”). My most successful clients that truly understand the process do so because they are eventually connected with their body, the …

Healthy Eats – Chicken Fingers

What’s for dinner tonight? Chicken fingers are always a hit (and staple) in my house. It’s a no fuss dinner that I know the kids will eat. I’ve tried many different ways to make them at home and I think I’ve found my favorite to date. Ezekiel Crusted Chicken Fingers Set a few pieces of bread out to harden. Rip the bread into smaller pieces, place in a food processor (I used my Vitamix) and pulse into bread crumbs. I added 1/2 tbsp each of Cumin, Coriander, Ground Ginger and Fine Herbs. Place the mix into a large ziploc bag and coat chicken (that I cut into strips) shake n bake style. Cook for 15-20 min at 350 degrees and dinner is served. recipe courtesy of Coach Kim