Heart Beets Natural Market- the New Kid in Town!

I have been trying to eat more healthy, clean, organic products, so imagine my excitment when this new store Heart Beets just opened down the road from us. Just beside the new diSavino's, it's around Winston Churchill and Dundas. So close, so convenient...

Here check out their website. http://www.heartbeets.ca/. It's really nice, big, bright and has some of my favourite products... and much cheaper than Whole Foods. Check them out!

My favourite packaged popcorn... on sale and so many flavours!

This summer, I haven't been very good at making my own granola. I love to add it to my yogurt for a snack. But check out the variety of healthy granola choices! And on sale!

I found this new brand I had never seen. And it's French 'La Fourmi Bionique', the bionic ant. I had to pick this flavour- Aprhodisiac.

Look at the story on the back, 2 little French twins from Montreal. Have to support my birthplace!

Here's some fun 'kid friendly' cereal. Oaty Bites by Nature's Path.

We tried this Gluten free Teriyaki sauce on our chicken and it was delicious!

Organic Garage - Health Food Store for less

Well thanks to my friend Robin who gave me the details about this place in Oakville, we actually went over and were completely impressed. Like the sign says. Healthier Food for Less. Robin's claim was that the items in this store were probably about 30 - 40% less than Whole Foods.  So Happy New Year... this is my new year's present for you. A new discovery for Healthier Shopping.

Check it out Organic Garage  - not as pretty inside (no designer looking vegetable displays) but a lot more affordable.

See what we found. Delicious pomegranate.

Squashes.

Green Beavers.

Lucy's gluten free cookies.

Lady Gaga's gluten free cookies too.

These new products. Amazing Good for you granola bars. Made in Waterloo by a Gramma I think? So they had a taste test and Mella and I tried all 3 kinds and loved them all.

Good for you 'clean' ingredients.

Low in calories and loaded with Fibre.



Whole Foods- what an inspiration!

During my last visit to Whole Foods I was struck by not only the awesomeness of their Whole Foods and 'Clean' Foods (to coin my friend Jenny's term). But just how amazingly colourful and brilliant they make everything look- and you might know, I am all about loving shinny, colourful things. It almost makes the expensive prices worth it!

The start of the experience....

This is where you come in... all pre-cut ready to eat fruits and homemade salsas and guacamole. We went on a Saturday, so we got the opportunity to sample delicious things... like the homemade salsa.

Look how they display their carrots. It's like a Tower of Beta-Carotene!!!

The prepared Whole Foods section is incredible, look at the gorgeous, healthy, good for you salad....

Doesn't this dish look delicious, and the list of ingredients... I just might make it myself one day... (or go back and buy it when I feel like a 'treat').

Then I got carried away in the flower section. I love flowers, Daisy Gerbers are my favourites. But with cats, I can't have them in my house anymore... they just terrorize them. Look at these gorgeous blooms.

So to all my friends and followers I give you each a bouquet of these virtual flowers!

Trip to Whole Foods – on a Quest for Healthy Lunch Meat

In my quest for healthy, ‘clean’ eating for me and my family, I am trying to avoid chemicals and preservatives in foods. One item that we buy for Melanie’s lunch (when we don’t have ‘leftovers’ for her Thermos) is lunch meat. I had heard before about not buying anything pink – like ham- because it contains nitrates which are bad for you. But check this link out that I stumbled upon commenting on the exact same subject.  http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/choose-healthier-lunch-meat-six-key-ingredients-avoid-040000758.html

Here’s a highlight of what I found most interesting and shocking!

 Q: What ingredients do you think we should be avoiding?

A: Make sure your food always contains ingredients that you know, and can pronounce! Here is a list of ingredients you should avoid:
Sodium nitrate/sodium nitrite: Increased risk of cancers, diabetes and heart disease
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): Possible carcinogen
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene): Possible carcinogen
Smoked/naturally smoked/smoke flavour: Could contain unlisted toxic chemicals.
Corn syrup: Glucose-heavy, and too much sugar can lead to diabetes, heart disease and other health issues
Aspartame: Possible health risks including delayed mental development and seizures

Also, be conscious of excess sodium. For example, Maple Leaf Natural Selections turkey has 570 mg sodium per serving, which is nearly half of our daily recommended intake (1000 to 1500 mg)! And keep in mind that food manufacturers are not required to list all the ingredients if they fall under spices and seasonings -- something to keep in mind when you're eyeballing the Cajun chicken or the honey-smoked ham. If you have common food allergies, check for wheat, soy, or milk products, which are sometimes added to deli meats. If you have digestive problems, it's best to avoid carrageenan, which is a common ingredient.

It’s just proof that people in Marketing get paid to ‘fool’ us really, if you don’t read the fine print and check the ingredients out you would think the Maple Leaf Natural Selections Turkey would be a healthy alternative- but look at the salt!!!!

So when I visited Whole Foods, I went to their ‘Deli Counter’, they seriously had only a few pieces of meat to choose from... and just like the article quoted above mentioned:

Look for roast beef or chicken at the deli counter, where you can actually see that they are cutting the meat from the animal. Avoid the pre-packed stuff if you aren't certain where it comes from, and if you don't see the ingredients listed at the deli counter, make sure to ask the staff.

So look what I found at Whole Foods... Whole Roasted Turkey, Beef and Ham.

And look at the ingredients...

I feel like I have to say 'Ta Da'!

How about, 'Feel good about what you put in your body!'. I should be Whole Foods next Marketing Genius!  So as the article mentioned, I ask the staff how long this 100 grams of turkey will last and she said '3 days Ma'am'. Alrighty then.... Melanie you are having a couple of turkey sandwiches in the next few days my girl!



Healthy Lifestyle Update

Today I went to my weight managament clinic and since I started on this journey 5 weeks ago I am pleased to report that I have lost 14.6 lbs.
I am so proud, I must say! What an awesome payback for all the hard work I have put into my journey so far. I printed all my daily food and exercise journals from http://www.myfitness.pal/ 
(look for me under 'superchantal') and brought them for the doctor to look at and they were 'impressed' and said to keep bringing them back every month. They said 'I show a lot of promise for a great successful journey' and to that I say.... YOU BET! I am stoked!
I owe alot of this to my most delicious breakfast item. Kashi Go Lean Crunch. Seriously, alot of what we all need to do to get our metabolism working well in the morning is to have protein and fibre in the morning. Well it has 10g of protein and 9g of fibre. The first ingredient in Go Lean Crunch is the seven-grain blend. Go Lean Crunch also contains soy protein concentrate, evaporated cane juice crystals, brown rice syrup, chicory root fiber, whole grain oats, expeller pressed canola oil, honey, salt, cinnamon and vitamin E. Nothing artificial, nothing 'unpure' like, bad for you fats, sucrose/glucose.

So you see me below, the new 'unofficial' Kashi spokesperson:

That's me in a late night Whole Food shopping trip buying my favourite cereal - Kashi Go Lean Crunch.

And that's Janice, my sweet girlfriend who thought it was great fun shopping at Whole Foods at 9:30 at night. We actually laughed at how much fun we were having at discovering new whole foods and reading food labels. She one of my friends who convinced me to start blogging about my recipes, ideas and nail art (that's coming soon!). Thanks Janice!