Locate your greens!

Although there ARE plenty of fresh and local fruits and veggies to be found at your local FARMER'S MARKET right now, where do you go to dine on them?  Making at home is great, of course!  But what do you do for a meal outside of your kitchen?

One of my go-to resources is on the Toronto Vegetarian Association site, under their listings page.  There are SO many choices these days, both in the city and in the surrounding areas.  (Bonus tips on how to incorporate more plants on your plate there too!)
They also have plenty of listings for many other products and/or services.  Even for RMTs... ahem.

Another great resource is the Happy Cow site (and app!).  They can help you locate eateries just about anywhere, complete with reviews!

Even the wine or beer you may (or may not) have with your meal has a website.  Barnivore.

Oh man, I am hungry.

Motivate!

SPRING (officially) has been here for several weeks now.  But this back-and-forth weather has certainly kept the blossoms at bay.  Hopefully, that will sort itself out very soon.
The delay of PROPER warmer, sunny, beautiful CONSISTENT weather has given us the opportunity to delay all of those "once the weather improves, I'll get out and be active..." plans.  Slowly but surely the bikers and runners are increasing in numbers.  Soon the outdoor team sports will be starting up too.  Eventually even the golfers will get their chance!
If you are one of those who has been delaying, delay no longer!  May is almost upon us.  As we know, the spring/summer months seem to fly by.  Now is the time to re-start those New Year resolutions, if they've faltered.  No shame in tripping up.  The only shame is not getting back at it again.

One more thing I know I am looking forward to with this imminent spring, is the beginning of local produce sighted at the farmer's markets!  SO many fresh and deeeelicious local fruits and veggies.  How much longer til the peaches?!?  Oh, and fiddleheads.  And BERRIES.  And, and, and....
I can not wait.

Social Media Types!

If you're one of THOSE social media type of people... check out the FaceBook page (and like it!).

You'll get more frequent updates, news, etc. there.  

This BLOG will still be used though, so check back!

Michael Robinson RMT on FaceBook

AVO-AVO-AVOCADO!

I'm not going to lie.

I have an obsession with the avocado.  I try to sneak it in to almost everything I eat.
Don't even get me started on guacamole!

So, it was with great interest I read THAT, "according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... researchers studied the diets of 17,567 adults and found those who ate half an avocado per day had lower cholesterol levels and better health overall than those who didn't.  They also cut their risk of metabolic syndrome - a collection of measures that together increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and stroke by 50 percent".  (VegNews July/Aug 2013)

My scientific mind wonders how much the avocado itself has to do with such findings but I figure it must play a part!  Good enough for me.  (But who can stop at just half an avocado?)

As a side note of interest, a study published in the journal PLoS One found a link between increased rates of sugar in our food supply and higher rates of type 2 Diabetes.  "Specifically, every 150-calorie increase per person per day - the amount in one can of soda - increases the rate of diabetes by 1.1%".
It seems like when you're getting your calories, a calorie from sugar is more damaging.

Summer fun... on it's way!

Here we are on the cusp of summer proper.

Have you been busy in the garden?  Started up with seasonal sports?  Just spending more time outdoors, period?

It IS the time of year for such things.
We all look forward to the warmer weather and sunshine.  (Or at least most of us do!).

As we become more active overall we can also notice the fruits of such activity - namely that stiffness in spots that wasn't there before!  It's probably a good sign, you're active!  It could, however, benefit from some personal attention.

Get that sore shoulder, back, legs, what-have-you in for some quality care!  An ounce (gram?) of prevention... as the saying goes.  Certainly cannot be underestimated!

As well, don't forget to protect yourself from too much of that sun.  And HYDRATE!  (see previous blog post for more on that).

Now get outside!

New Year, Love and More...

Well, I had considered a New Years Resolution posting but figured there were loads of those going around at the start of every year anyway.  So, I didn't.

Did you make a resolution?  Over a month into it now, have you stuck with it?  I know this time of year, regulars at gyms are probably appreciating the gradual disappearance of January "Resolutionists" - they are getting their equipment back!  

If you had made a resolution this year and it has fallen to the wayside now, my suggestion is to get back at it.  Forgive yourself if you've slipped up somehow.  Your intentions were most likely good!  The New Year is just an ideal time to take stock of where you are at in your life.  These changes, however, can be put into action at any time.  To slip-up is human.  To get back on course is sometimes the more difficult part.  If at first you don't succeed... 

Then along came Valentine's Day!  A little extra pressure to show those you care about, that you do care.  Don't we do that everyday anyway?  I suppose we should.  Of course we SHOULD.  Wether you decided to use the day to show your special someone(s) you care or not, we should keep in mind that being able to love yourself is just as (if not more!) important.  That old adage about "how can you love another if you don't love yourself" does make sense.  We show ourselves love by taking care of ourselves.  Nothing greedy or selfish but I think your body appreciates healthy foods and a bit of exercise!  Do it!  (And this can take us back to the original "resoultion" theme above).

On a side note, yet still relevant, I had heard of a study where it was proposed that your own immune system will react to and potentially repel you away from certain people.  I'd definitely like to learn more about that study.  If I find it, I will share!

Finally, here IS an interesting story on a study of Artificial Sweeteners by the CBC.  

Something to keep in mind if trying to limit calorie intake by these means.

"Diet pop and other artificially sweetened products may cause us to eat and drink even more calories and increase our risk for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, researchers are learning".

Your Mother Was RIGHT!

Eat your veggies!  They're good for you!

We're now in that post-awesome summer/early autumn local abundance of fruits and veggies.  *sigh*
It WAS a superb time of year to grab everything SO fresh and... um, well... local.

So, what is left?

We still have kale (that green leaf power-house!) and I hear reports from local backyard gardeners they're still getting tomatoes (even turning red?!) and eggplant... but I find that both hard to believe and if true, very short lived.

One thing we do have to enjoy is the blessed winter squash!  Like what?  Well, we have butternut squash, pepper squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash and my personal fave... PUMPKIN!

A quick look on the internet tells us these squashes are...

"a low-calorie, good source of complex vegetable carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

It is an excellent source of vitamin A, a great source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese, and a good source of folate, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B₁ (thiamin), copper, tryptophan, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B₃ (niacin) and vitamin B₅(pantothenic acid).^]

It is also a source of iron and beta carotene. Usually, the darker the skin is, the higher the beta carotene content".

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All of that beta carotene can give you a healthy orange glow through the winter, apparently.  Who needs the Caribbean?  Well, let's not go THAT far.

There are a MILLION or more recipes for cooking up these tasty treats to be found.  One of my fave ones involves roasted butternut squash and making them into a maple/walnut dumpling sort of heaven.  It's a little time consuming though.  
Instead, I'll leave you with another one of my favorites.  This one is quite warming and includes that pumpkin I seem to be using like it's going out of style lately (reference the amount of pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pies, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin curry, etc. coming out of the kitchen these past couple weeks!).

CHILI PUMPKIN CRANBERRY RISOTTO.... (from the PPK).... mmmmm.

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