Take your taste buds on a trip around the world

Many of us eat more international foods than we imagine. Although we might think we are enjoying North American food, the recipes we prepare at home and the ones we choose in restaurants often are melting pots of world cuisine. What ethnic foods do you enjoy? My family particularly enjoys food of Asian, European and[...]

Non-nutritive sweeteners

Every now and then, someone emails me a story that is circulating on the Internet or Facebook. One day, the information was about artificial sweeteners. I happened to have a can of diet soda next to me. After reading the article, I could imagine the can of pop sprouting legs and clawed hands and then[...]


Clean as you go

I admit it. I’m kind of a messy cook, but, in my defence, I can prepare food pretty quickly. But with my dark-coloured countertops, flour, sugar and other light-coloured ingredients show up much too well. Fingerprints magically appear on the stainless steel fridge and splatters of food materialize on the walls of the microwave.
Everyone inhabits[...]

Let’s try to waste less food


Have you thrown out any food recently? Did you find less-than-appetizing food hiding in your refrigerator? Was it in an opaque container that may have startled you when you opened it to view the contents? Have you happened upon food well past its “use by” date in your cupboard or refrigerator?
If you discarded food for[...]


Exercise and nourish your joints


I had spent many hours gardening one day last summer, and had awakened some neglected muscles. They were not happy after several hours of raking, shovelling and hauling heavy planters filled with soil around the backyard. On the positive side though, I burned quite a few calories.
According to a calorie expenditure website, an adult who[...]

Annual food safety reminder


Many of us have fond memories of family picnics and outdoor cooking from childhood. All you needed was a blanket and some food and you could set up a picnic on your lawn, at a park or even in the living room in the winter.
Today, grills are prominent features on most patios and decks. If[...]


Vacation food safety

Bringing along food for in the car 
can cut costs but keep it cold
“Remember that time when we were on a family vacation?” my teenage son began. He grinned at his sister.
My teenage daughter immediately knew where he was headed with this conversation. She became a bit embarrassed and retorted: “I was little and I[...]



Be sun savvy this summer 


On the nutrition and health side, exposure to sunlight helps our body manufacture some vitamin D. However, according to some studies, we need only about 15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen twice a week to make enough vitamin D.
Adequate vitamin D helps build and maintain strong bones, plus it may help protect us from[...]

How much do you know about digestion?

How much do you know about food and digestion? Try this quiz to find out:

1. What substance in our mouth helps mix and start the breakdown of food?
2. What action in the mouth helps break apart your food?
3. How many muscles are in the esophagus?
4. Two-part question: What part of the digestive system mixes up[...]