Herbalists and other healers have long championed the bitter taste of certain herbs and garden greens. Yet the majority of North Americans still shun these essential foods, preferring salty and sweet over the equally important sour and bitter.

Chile Pepper Medicine Turns Up the Heat

The mighty capsicum (botanical name for pepper) has been named 2016 Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association.

As our local markets bulge with the fall harvest, I feel a growing sense of urgency to capture the amazing variety and freshness that local food has to offer. Whether you’re an organics-obsessed foodie or enjoy hunting for the perfect pumpkin, autumn trips to market are bound to cause a twinge of the winter is-almost-here […]

Summer is the season for lighter fare and nothing says light and bright better than a colourful array of grilled fruits. They can be the crowning glory to any indoor or outdoor feast, and not only do grilled fruits make for a luscious dessert — they are perfect for serving as appetizers and side dishes, […]

It does my heart good to know that I’ve been serving my family Mediterranean-style meals long before I even heard of the Mediterranean Diet, which is praised as being one of the healthiest and most nutritious diets in the world. New research has shown that those who eat the traditional foods of Mediterranean countries are […]

The Science Behind Ingredients That Curb Our Cravings

Winter in Canada can often leave us wondering who shut off our energy supply and replaced it with the urge to load up on carbs. Up to 35% of Canadians report suffering from dwindling energy levels during the long dark months of snow and ice.

From ancient times, the spring season has been greeted with ceremony and rituals along with the gathering of all fresh, wild edibles, which were inevitably green (since most plant activity begins with green buds and shoots). In fact, all of the common greens we see in stores and markets today have their origins in wild […]

(Updated April 1st, 2021) Now that spring is here, it's great to be able to finally peel off all those layers and get out there to feel the sun and wind on our skin. People in our society tend to spend a lot of time sheltered from Nature in artificial environments. Nevertheless, we can't escape […]

When I was a kid growing up in rural Muskoka, we tried to be as self-sufficient as possible. This was not only because my grandparents enjoyed growing and gathering their own food, but also out of necessity. In those days, trips to the grocery store (and drugstore) in town were few and far between! Today, […]

The social aspect of eating has always been an integral part of my upbringing. I have great memories of sitting around the kitchen table for hours with my family laughing and enjoying the meal prepared for us. When going to school as a young girl, I had the same enjoyment of opening my brown paper […]

(Updated January 20, 2021) As the lazy days of summer wind down and we get back into our hectic work and school schedules, maintaining a healthy diet can be a challenge. As a holistic nutritionist the number one request I get from clients is how to make healthy meals quick, easy, and above all delicious. […]

(Updated Sept 1st, 2020) Now that summer is behind us, we begin to switch seasons into fall. As the leaves begin to change, we pull out our fall wardrobe and tuck away the summer’s old. Whether we realize it or not, we are also preparing ourselves internally for a new season, a time to let […]

From the Vitality Food Feature: FAVOURITE SUMMER STRATEGIES for Weight Loss and Easy Detoxing This is a new twist on a classic Greek salad, with extra protein added in the form of feta cheese. Ingredients 4 inch piece of cucumber ½ to 1 cup feta cheese (or grilled tempeh) 1 or 2 medium tomatoes 1 dozen black olives […]

Environment Canada is predicting a hotter than normal summer this year, which is welcome news for some. But for others, the heat and humidity is to be dreaded. Why? Because when environmental heat starts to cook our bodies, we find ourselves boiling over with anger, irritability, hot flashes, insomnia, skin rashes, and high blood pressure. […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Marvellous Meatless Meals'. Toppings can include any of the following: Ingredients Pizza sauce or tomato sauce Pepper rings or Sliced jalapeño peppers Sliced mushrooms or Zuccini Onion rings, Artichoke pieces, Sun-dried tomatoes Sliced kalamata or black olives Spinach Fresh basil leaves (or pinch dried herb) 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Marvellous Meatless Meals'. Everybody loves pizza and the good news is, you don’t need to weigh it down with meaty toppings to earn big praise at the table! If preferred, you can go gluten-free with a suitable substitute for the all-purpose flour. Makes 1 large thin crust, 1 medium thick […]