Pulse foods are healthy, economical and readily available from local producers.

Do you include pulse foods on your menu?

You should, these foods are high in both protein and fibre

Mom, I made lentil soup and it’s pretty good,” read the text message from my son. I smiled as I read the message from my formerly finicky 23-year-old son. “I made a ton by accident, though,” he added. I chuckled as I visualized my tall son stirring a giant pot of soup with a huge

Beans of any type are a healthy dietary choice and they can be used in many versatile recipes.

Spilling the beans

Dry edible beans are nutritious and have several health benefits

Have you ever been to a food festival? Every state has at least one food festival, and they often showcase the foods grown or caught in the region. Sometimes festivals also highlight the ethnic heritage of people in the area. Supporting your community and everything that makes it unique is a memorable way to connect.


Garden-fresh carrots can be stored a long time if precautions are taken.

Harvesting, storing and enjoying carrots

All carrots, in any form, are an excellent addition to any diet

Delicious, affordable and versatile, carrots are everything we could want in a vegetable. It’s no wonder this nutritious, subtly sweet root vegetable is loved by young and old and is one of the most popular root vegetables in the world, second only to potatoes. Carrots, whether red, purple, yellow or orange, are rich in fibre,

Any food consumed is part of a ‘diet.’ Choosing the right foods can, over time, ensure a healthy diet.

What is a healthful diet?

Try to meet the recommendations for fruits and vegetables, the food groups most often lacking in the diets of adults and children

Do you know anyone on a diet? Have you ever been on a diet? The answer to both of those questions for everyone is “yes.” Technically, we all are “on a diet.” According to the first definition in most dictionaries, a “diet” consists of the “kinds of food that a person, animal or community eats.”


Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and low in calories.

Tomato time

Enjoy your bountiful harvest — tomatoes are both tasty and nutritious

What does Jake have in his mouth?” my husband asked. I looked out the window to see the latest thing our dog had found. He was shaking something bright red. Oh, no! I hope he doesn’t have Carl the Cardinal, I thought to myself. A vividly coloured bird and his mate have been singing songs

Technological advances, coupled with our pursuit of convenience, have given us a lot more time to think about food in a different way.

Comment: Why are consumers going meatless?

The answer has something to do with the economy

We seem to be living in an era in which the pleasure of eating is quite simply overpowered by values-based narratives in food consumption. And this is happening at an astonishing pace. Vegetarianism and veganism are both coming into their own, allowing more people to “come out of the cupboard” to speak openly about and


No matter the season make sure exercise remains a regular occurrence in your life.

Health goals can come step by step

Set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timed

There are plenty of reasons to want to take steps to become healthier. Maybe we want to save more money, get fit or wear a smaller clothing size. Improving our health and having more wealth are great motivators, but unfortunately, such resolve often falls by the wayside. This year, I decided to get more exercise.

When the sun beats down and the mercury spikes, take precautions no matter the season.

Avoid falling to the heat

An unseasonably warm later summer and early fall means you’ll need to stay vigilant

I can’t handle hot weather. While some people are basking in the heat, my face turns bright red almost immediately. My kids pretend they don’t know me. Then I wilt in the shade and retreat indoors. Recently, we had a heat wave that sent temperatures soaring near or above 100 F (38 C) in some


Corn on the cob is delicious and nutrient packed.

Make some food memories with corn on the cob

Prairie Fare: Corn is used to make products like ethanol, plastics, matchsticks, glue and crayons... but it’s first and foremost food

I remember going out to our friend’s farm to help pick corn every summer when I was a child. I had fun harvesting the plump ears of corn in the cool temperatures of an early summer morning. After some training, I learned how to hang on to the stalk and then twist the ear toward

Take care with home canning to prevent dangerous food illnesses like botulism poisoning.

Follow the new rules

The old ways may not be safe anymore when it comes to canning

Sometimes, I feel like a broken record, especially when we reach canning season. I keep repeating things year after year, hoping that more people will hear about the current rules. But wait: Some (younger) people don’t know what a “record” is or how you might break one, other than in an athletic race. Maybe I