Have you tried switchel yet? If not, I highly recommend it. It's a beverage that you may or may not have heard of. If you haven't, you likely will soon as it makes its well deserved comeback. Switchel may have roots in the Caribbean, which eventually made its way up into the Southern US states more than a few centuries ago.

Spring has sprung here on the West Coast! Flowers are poppin', all the shades of green are as vibrant as ever and I've officially changed my closet over!

It's usually around this time of year I feel a deep urge to update a few lifestyle habits, some of which include: cleaning and organizing my house from top to bottom (this usually takes a few months!), spending more time outdoors, getting my hands in the dirt, connecting more with family and friends and simplifying the foods I eat. I'm often compelled to do a cleanse during the Spring, which to me feels more like the "new year."

In honour of National Nutrition Month, I wanted to share with you 13 Easy ways to Improve your Health with FOOD. These are all simple practices that can easily be incorporated into your life. You don't need fancy equipment, spend hundreds of dollars on obscure ingredients or go on a diet (they don't work anyways).

I don't eat a lot of rice but when I do this is one of my go-to dishes. Rice is a staple food for many people around the world, especially countries in Asia. It is believed that Chinese fried rice started as a way to not waste food and use up un-eaten rice with the high heat from the wok killing off any unwanted bacteria.

Beet Kvass is a beverage that I make from time to time. It's flavour is slightly salty, sour and tangy, with earthy notes.  This nourishing, grounding and nutrient-rich drink makes my belly nice and warm. You know that feeling when you drink a lacto-fermented beverage (sauerkraut or kefir) and you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside? You can actually feel it doing something good in your body. I like consuming food/beverages that do that :)

Have I told you how much I love fermented foods? And I'm not talking about the Bick's Pickles or Sauerkraut that you'd find on the shelf of a supermarket that's been sitting there for who knows how long. I'm talking about real, traditional, lacto-fermented food and beverages that are teaming with bacteria (the good kind), lactic acids, vitamins, minerals and all the other good stuff.

What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural process that happens in the body to protect and heal our bodies from infection, damage and irritants. It helps us to eliminate damaged tissues or cells so that they can repair. Inflammation is necessary in many cases but if it sticks around for too long it can lead to serious health concerns.

Are you celebrating National Curried Chicken Day by cooking up our very own batch? I am...mainly because it's National Curried Chicken Day, I love Curry and I love Chicken. Done.

The holidays can leave many of us feeling a bit off track when it comes to the foods we eat. With the onslaught of parties, dinners, late nights, excessive sweets and increased alcohol consumption, it might leave us feeling heavier, sluggish, lower energy and feeding into a sugar addiction.

Meatballs are a staple dish I often have kicking around in my freezer. They're perfect for those busy nights when I don't have time to prepare a full meal from scratch and as my son gets older those nights seem to be more frequent. I'll often double up on this batch, cook what I need for the evening then freeze the rest for several more meals or snacks.  My boys seem to love them and everyone that's  tried them has given them 2 thumbs up!

If you know me well then you know that I love bath and body care products. Back in the day I had my own line of products called Omniscents. It was a fun hobby that sparked my creativity and deepened my knowledge of natural skin care products. I sold my products mostly around the holidays in craft markets, to family, friends and co-workers.

Why would I need a personal chef?

There’s a chance that you’re wondering how you could possibly justify hiring a personal chef. Well, I’m here to tell you how you can. Many of us lead busy lives. And, unless you’re a meticulous budgeter then you probably have no idea how much time and money you spend on food – especially prepared food.

Adding more vegetables to your diet doesn’t have to be complicated. And that step alone can vastly improve your health. Vegetables have LIFE FORCE and such varied nutrient profiles that by mixing it up you have the capacity to create a balanced and healthy approach to nutrition.

We’ve heard that soups heal. But, even after sipping at the fanciest of store-bought concoctions we are often left feeling the same as we did when we started – just fuller. The reason for this non-healing feeling is that most soups on the market are made with desiccated (dried) ingredients devoid of the good stuff along with other non-pronouncables.

Recently, I hosted my Rockstar Kitchen Navigator course, and I must say that it’s a great meal planning class for anyone! In class, you can find seniors, teenagers, vegetarians, meat eaters, you name it. They join us to increase their food consciousness by gaining cooking skills, adopting new recipes and learning to read important nutritional information. This course is one of my favourites because meal planning is at the core of my teachings. And, you may have heard me say this before, but here it is again…

Soaking beans & legumes is a process that will give you a nutritional bang for your buck! It is taking the food you eat and your health & wellness to the next level. Soaking, fermenting or sprouting takes a little bit more energy, time & thought but the benefits are well worth it.

Purchasing meat can be confusing when trying to decipher what all the different labels mean. In Canada there are no strict regulations when it comes to labeling meat (unless it has the "Certified Organic" label).