Italian Take-Away

The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating rather than a formal diet plan. It features foods eaten in Greece, Spain, southern Italy and France, and other countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. More and more research is showing that by following this way of eating we can lower our risk of certain diseases, improve our mood, boost our energy levels and keep our heart and brain healthy. It’s not a coincidence that these guys are living until they are over 100! As a dietitian and food lover I needed to do some research into this so-called Mediterranean diet, so I packed my bags and went to southern Italy for 3+ weeks (hard work – right?)

Eat Like Popeye before Donating Blood

June 14th is World Blood Donor Day, which means it’s the perfect time to donate blood. However, if you’re anything like me, your luck with being a successful donor might be low. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called the clinic to book my appointment then arrived on time only to be turned away because my hemoglobin was too low? Well, it turns out I’m not alone.

fruits & vegetables, Personal Journey, tipsJessica PirnakMay 31, 2014iron, vitamin C, donating blood

Turning 101 Years Old

When I was 10 years old, my grade 5 schoolteacher told me that the secret to a healthy, long life is oatmeal and what was her evidence? Well, her mom, who was 101 and still healthy and strong ate oatmeal every morning! Almost 20 years later and I still remember this story but now that I’m studying nutrition it’s time to explore this phenomenon – is oatmeal really the secret to becoming a centenarian? Oatmeal is a great way to start your day. Homemade quick rolled oats with melted brown sugar and a tad of cream just makes the most delicious bowel of oatmeal; however, you might find yourself hungry again in no time! How can this be? Doesn’t oatmeal have a ton of fibre?

Fibre, Personal Journey, tipsJessica PirnakApril 30, 2014cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, full, protein, oatmeal

Heart-Health Your Comfort Foods

You only have one more week to grab your local Choices Market February Newsletter and when you do check out page 9! In case you don't have time (since who does) I'll post the image here:

fruits & vegetables, Holidays, Personal JourneyJessica PirnakFebruary 23, 2014Choice's Market, Heart, Comfort Food

Vegetarianism 101

First of all, I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN. I want to clarify this right off the bat - this post is not about me converting you to something or selling you on a diet. I just want to share with you some information I’m discovered while investigating this topic for myself.

fruits & vegetables, organic food, Personal JourneyJessica PirnakOctober 6, 2013diets, Local, vegetarian, animal welfare

Mmmmilk

Reflecting on the last couple of years of being a dietetics student and pretending that someone asked me to pick one message to pass on I would automatically default to calcium. Despite the fact that I obviously view calcium as one of the most important nutrition messages, for some strange reason, I have not written anything about it! There was the one post two years ago on soymilk vs. cow’s milk but that hardly scratched the surface. So, let me finally explain why I think calcium is so important.

My Second & Last Restaurant Review

Remember when I told you I wouldn’t write another restaurant review after my post on Dark Table? Well…I’m breaking my own rule again by telling you my Fable story. A couple of weeks ago it was Reid's and my anniversary, in other words, the perfect excuse to dress up and eat amazing food, so we booked our dinner reservation at Fable.

Holidays, Personal JourneyJessica PirnakFebruary 17, 2013top chef canada, fable, restaurant review

My One & Only Restaurant Review

As you know, I don’t usually get into recipe or restaurant reviews but I thought I would make an exception for a restaurant I went to last week with some friends. I guess you could also say it would be a good restaurant to try out on Halloween, but it would also be appropriate any time of the year. Speaking of Halloween, can you believe it’s November next week? Wow! Where did October go?

Personal JourneyjessOctober 28, 2012Restaurant, The Dark Table

Taking Local to the Next Level

I buy most of my produce from Kins Farm Market because I believe they represent the next best thing to buying produce straight from a local farmer. Plus their story is inspirational! Twenty-two years ago when the Leung family moved to Vancouver they opened an 8-foot produce stand on Granville Island and now they are running a produce empire with 26 stores. But lately I’ve been getting frustrated with Kins because their lack of local produce has become apparent. So, I took local to the next level last weekend by taking a drive to Emma-Lea Farms.

fruits & vegetables, Personal Journey, tipsjessAugust 6, 2012Local