Dinnertime is probably when I have my most sustainable meal of the day. At this stage “all you can eat” applies so I make sure to pack my bowl with nutritious contents that feed every cell in my body. Over the years, I’ve figured out a golden ratio that seems to have the most positive effect on my digestion, weight, energy levels and overall satisfaction! Read More »
Month: April 2016
Pop it Like it’s Hot
Who’s in the mood for Healthy Snacking? Humans of all ages love popcorn. It goes well with your favorite movies & TV series but it can also be fun to snack on at any time of the day… given of course that we tweak it a little to remove its shameful “junk food” label.
Spring Fever
Part of healthy living involves being present in the moment! And there’s no better time of year to indulge in the beauty of our surroundings than Spring time. Spring is the season of renewal and new beginnings. It’s an ideal time to set healthy goals and get inspiration from the natural world.
Spring is also my favorite season! Being born in May might have something to do with it or the fact that I live in Canada where winter often feels endless. Regardless, it’s the time of year that brings me the most joy. It’s when I get motivated to increase physical activity and where the added hours of sunshine impact my mood in the most positive way.
Taking long walks in Spring feels amazing mainly because of ideal temperatures, as oppose to Summer that can get extremely hot or Fall which is often too rainy (not to mention Winter – hibernation season), but also because of the added bonus of stunning scenery! When everything around you is blooming you get the notion of living in a fairy tale. I know I do 🙂
So get your sneakers ready, it comes only once a year!
Happy Spring everyone!
The Purrfect Breakfast
For many years breakfast was something I regularly skipped, even though many experts suggest it’s the most important meal of the day. That only worked for so long and over time I would be crashing at work long before lunch time. So I started experimenting with breakfast.
A lot of people go the traditional way when it comes to morning eating… Cereals, toast, fruits, eggs & bacon and sandwiches tend to be on the menu. For me, carbs equal instant snooze button! I don’t follow a gluten free diet, however, one thing is certain: if I have pasta or bread, a couple of minutes later I’m only good for a nap. Forget about feeling energetic or focused.
I tried different combinations of food until I figured out the one best suited for me. One that actually boosts my metabolism and allows me to tackle each day’s challenges head on. Read More »
Free Spring Water For All
I don’t wish to get into a debate over household drinking water or the effects of fluoride, chlorine and heavy metals present in our tap streams. But if you are like me and prefer the pure taste and benefits of natural spring water, I have good news for you!
A few years back I discovered an amazing website called findaspring.com, a wonderful community project where people mapped out most of the natural springs in North America, categorized on a map. So anyone can easily locate the nearest source in their area. Most of them are in Provincial Parks and State Forests but occasionally they can be found on the side of a rustic road. Best of all, they are absolutely free to use. Needless to say, it has changed my life.
I live in Montreal, Quebec and found at least 7 locations within 1 hour driving distance. I visited the Lost River Spring multiple times and not only did I stock up on gallons of some of the best tasting water I have ever tried, I also adored the whole road trip experience! It’s such a fun and rewarding activity.
Here are a few pics of my beautiful journey to Lost River Spring
Good Morning Rituals
Sometimes you wake up fully rested and rejuvenated from a good night’s sleep and other times, let’s be honest, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
Regardless of the scenario, here is a step by step ritual I follow every morning that helps me start the day right! Just to be clear, all of it is done before breakfast. Read More »
Can’t live without my coconut
On top of using it as a skin and hair moisturizer, I solely cook with organic coconut oil. Baking, frying, slow cooking, , you name it. In my household it’s the only thing that goes. I use a small amount of extra virgin olive oil to season salads and cooked vegetables but other than that, coconut oil is my healthy cooking partner in crime.
Considered a super food, Coconut Oil tastes amazing with everything and offers so many benefits! Check out this article for A List of Reasons Why You Need Coconut Oil In Your Life.
Coconut Oil is easy to find and readily available in all natural health stores, with more and more conventional supermarkets starting to integrate it into stock.
Make sure to buy Organic to reap all the benefits!
On top of it’s antibacterial properties, coconut oil is known to help balance hormones, aid in weight loss and increase energy. I have personally experienced these benefits when I made the switch a few years back.
Have you tried it?
You are what you eat
I’m not really big on diets, I merely prefer to live a healthy lifestyle and to fill my bowl with real, nutritious and colorful foods that bring me joy on a daily basis!
As a rule of thumb, I avoid processed foods as much as possible. I avoid GMOs, MSG, Aspartame, most conventional oils except Olive Oil and try to maintain my meals balanced between acid and alkaline, always leaning more towards alkaline.
I buy local and organic as much as possible and enjoy fresh produce from my mom’s urban balcony permaculture experiments.
Healthy food makes me happy and I’m here to share the contents of my bowl with everyone, hoping it will offer inspiration 🙂
Cheers!
Joyinabowl 