A Guide to Feeding our Future

Archive for the ‘The Educated Consumer’ Category

The Educated Consumer: Emergen-C Drinks

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

emergency box

Emergen-C drinks have been a valuable staple in my house for some time. During the winter months, when colds abound and folks feel run down, it’s nice to have in your cupboard as fortification. General recommendation is 1g vit c/hour, up to bowel toleranace when you are down and out. This is especially useful if the ‘bug’ you’ve caught leaves you exhausted and dehydrated. Those that find it difficult to get fluids in may find this a refreshingly pleasant drink. I have often used these when on training, you feel the 2pm lull. Everyone else around the table would turn to coffee to pick them up (only to crash an hour later). I would have one of these and be good for the afternoon. The small amount of B vitamins that the drink contained was enough to have helped with this added bonus! These are wonderful to have on hand if you suffer seasonal allergies as well, as vitamin C is a natural antihistamine. These can be found in most health food stores or the organic section of a grocery store. They come in several different flavours, but the super orange is my personal favourite.

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Beverages, The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Maple Flakes

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

maple sugar

Here is a nifty way to add more sweet to your recipes in a pure way… maple flakes. I have found these maple flakes in Qc, NB, and NS, thus I know that they CAN be found in some places that sell maple products and other specialty treats. Sometimes the trick is to know what you are looking for. This is 100% REAL maple syrup formed into flakes. you can use the flakes directly, sprinkled on oatmeal or over salads, etc. There is a ‘maple mill’ that you can purchase that grinds the flakes into crystals, which is handy as well. I found that they last quite a while since the sweetness of maple is more intense than that of other sugars. They make a lovely garnish over specialty hot and frothy drinks that we are making this time of year!

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Substitution Ideas, The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer – Cod Livers

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

cod livers black boarder

This month’s feature is Canned Cod Livers. As the weather gets colder and we start craving more fats, why not turn to healthy fats? This may not sound appealing, but it honestly makes a wonderful spread on crackers! The texture is like a cross between salmon mousse and liver pate. It will give you some much needed vit A & D, as the sun is at it’s lowest and making it’s way back to us …  Perhaps this is a ‘maritime’ suggestion, but it’s something that most of us in Canada and colder climates can benefit from! If you ever find your way to Newfoundland, I’d also suggest that you try Cod cheeks and tongues, though they don’t offer the same nutritional benefits as the livers. In the meantime, I wish you a happy holiday season, and these wonderful appetizers. Here’s hoping that you can find these delightful bites at a specialty fish market near you!

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The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Kombucha

By: Susan Kingston, RHN – Montreal, QC

kombucha

One of my favorite beverages, and a great substitute for pop at Christmas for the kids (and for beer as a matter of fact) is Kombucha. It comes in many flavors, and can even be used in a spritzer if mixed with coconut water, or as a great base for a punch. Kombucha is beneficial to health because it contains healthy bacteria, feeding healthy gut flora, aiding in digestion and detoxifying.

Find it in health food stores!

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Beverages, Kid-approved, The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Valen’s Sausages

By: Susan Kingston, RHN – Montreal, QC

valenssausage

For all of you meat eaters out there, that need to or just want to avoid gluten, dairy and additives, here is one of the best and tastiest choices you can make!

I love Valen’s meat products, as they are certified organic and from an ethically correct farm. You can replace meats laiden with hormones, antibiotics and additives by switching to Valens, and if you are in the Montreal area, you can even have it delivered to your door as I do! 🙂

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Meat, Fish and Poultry, The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Hillcreek Family Farm Oils

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

hill creek oil

For those living in the Maritimes, support local and discover a great product!

Hillcreek Family Farm is a small operation that makes quality oils. They are cold pressed and non-GMO. Produced right in the Annapolis valley, their oils are rich in flavour and nutrients.

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The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Lundberg Brown Basmati Rice

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

brown basmati

This month’s product is brown basmati rice by Lundberg. This company has a number of hearty grains bagged up with instructions for easy prep. Basmati is one of the most user friendly rices. It is whole without too much bulk and chew that many other rices are known for. As an added bonus, it smells like popcorn when cooking! Remember to pre-soak your rice before cooking!

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The Educated Consumer

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The Educated Consumer: Wholesome Blackstrap Molasses

By: Suzanne Brett, RHN – Victoria, BC

molasses

A great kitchen staple in our house is blackstrap molasses!  It may not be what most people believe to be a staple.  It may remind you of your grandmother.  But for me, it’s a necessity.

I’m not much of a baker; I’m more of a fermenter, food beautifier and a cook at home.  So, molasses makes the staple cut for me mostly based on it’s intensely high nutrient profile.  I literally eat a spoonful of it straight-up!  It’s not for everyone, I know, especially those who dislike the liquorice flavor.  Although, I DO highly encourage it. If you can’t handle it on it’s own, do use it in a bevie, granola, porridge or baked goods and reap the benefits.

Molasses is sourced from the sugar cane and blackstrap is a derivative of the 3rd extraction process.  This causes it to be quite a thick syrup with a powerful flavor.  Although most of the sugars have been removed in the extraction process, molasses’ nutrient profile still contains a great amount of Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, B12, B6, B2, Niacin and Iron.  It’s super wonderful for those ladies out there with menstrual cycle issues (esp. heavy ones) and for anyone experiencing symptoms of anemia.  This is also a great nutrient provider for the athletic type.  The high levels of electrolytes and sugars are magnificent for recovery and energy.

So, if you haven’t considered it yet, consider it now.  Get on the right track with ‘Wholesome’ an unsulphured organic molasses, which does not undergo a chemical extraction, merely a simple boiling method. I’m sure there are other companies out there that are also trustworthy.  Just be sure to do your research.

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The Educated Consumer

The Educated Consumer: Little Stream Bakery Products

By: Susan Kingston, RHN, NNCP – Montreal, QC

little stream

For those of you going gluten free, and trying to find substitutes for your bread, Little Stream Bakery is one of my favorites – especially when it’s impossible for me to find the time to bake.

Their products are organic, have a rich flavor, are always moist, are made fresh without detrimental preservative, and are tasty plain or toasted. Also made with sustainability for the environment as a priority. I caution against big brand names that are jumping on the gluten free bandwagon to capitalize on profits, because of the high preservative content. Look for this brand at your local health food store, or ask to have it brought in!

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The Educated Consumer

The Educated Consumer: Gluten Free Bouillon Cubes

By: Hollie M. Hunt-Last, D. C’Ed. ROHP/RHN – Moncton, NB

bouillon cubes

One of my kitchen staples are these wonderful boullion cubes. They come in  chicken, beef or veggie flavors but are actually all vegetarian. They contain no gluten, hydrogenated oils or MSG and yet are packed with flavour!

I add these to many dishes including rice,  soups and sauces. I may even  carry one with me occasionally for a hot drink in winter to have  instead of tea. I’ve tested many kinds of bouillion before and have never been so satisfied as I am with this product! I would love to see these on the shelves of all our grocery stores, but currently only find them locally at the health food stores.

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The Educated Consumer