Say it With Food

I must admit that I love a good food joke (even the 'corny' or 'cheesy' ones!). So when I see a comic that says: "I love you from my head tomatoes" I smile or even chuckle to myself. I also love to challenge our habits and get us to be mindful, so for me this applies directly to holidays.

As I'm sure you're aware, most of our North American holidays are celebrated with chocolate (or feasts). Yes, chocolate does have some health benefits, but that doesn't mean we need to eat a whole box! Start a new tradition that involves healthy (and fun) choices and perhaps even activities or exercise. If enjoying a special 'treat', do so in moderation and actually take the time to savour it and appreciate the person who provided the gift.

My inspiration for Valentine's Day this year came from Pinterest. I was so happy to see no-food gifts (like rulers, rocks, and pens) with sayings like "you rock", "you rule", "mr. write", etc. And I was inspired to pair real food with similar little sayings such as "you are the apple of my eye", "I go bananas for you", "we make a great pear", "you are berry special", "I'm nuts about you" (you could even cook fish for supper with the tag line "you're a great catch" - I could go on and on!). This way you can express your love (or like, or crush) and provide items that help that person to love themselves by keeping their heart healthy.

Do you have a healthy Valentine's tradition?

Have you started a new habit for holiday gifts?

Let me know how you're celebrating or keeping your heart healthy.  Perhaps you're taking part in an activity on Monday for Family Day; we're having Family In-Motion Day in SK.

Create healthy holidays!

XOXO
Steph Langdon, RD
something nutrishus counselling & coaching
www.nutrishus.com

Gadgets to Gather or Go?

Last year for Christmas I was treated to a Kitchenaid mixer - a great gift from my man and something I likely wouldn't have purchased for myself. 

I work with food, I love cooking, and I enjoy eating food.  So with Christmas in mind I'm starting to think of little gadgets I could ask for to help me complete or round out my kitchen.  I received lots of different items at my bridal shower in January, so I'm struggling to think of what I might be missing.  I think we even made my sister-in-law guess what the gadgets were for at her bridal shower!

It's the fine line between having items you may only ever use once and discovering that one piece that makes prepping that much easier and you wonder how you ever got by without it. 

From garlic peelers, banana guards, ramekins, food scales, pepper mills, food processors, and coffee presses to ninjabread men, there are so many items that can end up in your cupboards or collecting dust.  For fun gifts, I like items from Fred & friends because they can be practical as well as unique (ie ice cube trays and toothpick holders). 

According to TLC's Top 10 Must-have Cooking Tools, I am set.  They list:

• strainer
• wooden spoons
• thermometer
• peeler
• whisk
• kitchen shears
• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing bowls
• cast iron skillets and pans
• knives

So today, since it's Q's Day, I am asking:

What tool/gadget is a must-have in your kitchen?

Feel free to comment on an item you don't even know the purpose of or an item you know you could live without.

We use knives, cutting boards, and wooden spoons on an almost daily basis, but I probably don't need the citrus peeler that sits in my drawer.

Happy cooking!

Steph Langdon, RD
something nutrishus counselling & coaching
www.nutrishus.com 

Gift Q's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!
In my post yesterday I encouraged non-food gifts.  Since so many of our holidays focus on chocolate, I'd like to hear your creative (and clean!) ideas.  These small changes can help with your healthy living goals. 

Today I'm asking?

What non-food gift do you love to receive?

As always, post your questions, comments, recipes, answers, thoughts, goals, etc. and come back every Tuesday for Q's Day!

Happy Hearts,
Steph Wheler (Langdon), RD
something nutrishus counselling & coaching
www.nutrishus.com