Healthy eating is often associated with blandness and lack of flavor, especially if processed foods and sugary foods are consumed regularly.   But in reality, you do not need to sacrifice flavor for better health. 

Dressings are a great way to enhance the flavor of foods or even mask the ones we least desire, but not all dressings are created equal.  Store-bought sauces and dressings are usually loaded with unfavorable ingredients, preservatives and chemical additives, which is why I prefer to make my own. 

The following are three simple and healthy dressings that can add a delicious twist to any dish and will guarantee to impress your guests as well!

B’s Favorite Dressing

I use this dressing on ...

I am frequently asked about multi-vitamins and what to look for in a supplement.  With so many different supplements saturating today’s market, choosing the right multi-vitamin can be quite daunting.  Hopefully the following guidelines can help you make the best decision for you and your family.

Food First

It needs to be said that supplementation is not an excuse for a poor diet nor is it a substitute for healthy eating habits.  As the word implies, supplements should be taken “in addition” to an already healthy diet that consists of high-quality, unprocessed whole foods.  Supplements should complement the foods that you eat, not replace it. 

In a world that has become obsessed with ...

I have met so many people who have expressed frustration with their attempts at trying to get their husband or wife to eat better, to exercise more, or to stop their destructive behaviors and lifestyle habits.  Interestingly, the most difficult people to influence and persuade are in fact the ones closest to us; moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives. 

The biggest challenge is that people have to WANT to change in order for you to help them.  Does that mean you should give up and walk away if they don’t want to listen?   No, it just means that people cannot be pushed or forced into a situation that they are not ready to accept, and it’s important to keep that in mind when ...

Given the large selection of waters available to us, from tap water to bottled water, I set off to find the best type of water for me and my family.  My initial quest was to find non-fluoridated water.  While many people still believe that fluoride helps prevent cavities, there is emerging evidence that this toxic compound can damage our health and lower the IQ of our children.

What I initially thought would be a simple task turned out to be quite complex.  Some of the information that I requested was either not accessible to the public, required written approval before being released or required the knowledge from upper management.  My motives were almost always questioned and I was met with a lot of ...

I stumbled across this amazing chocolate kiwi popsicle photo and just had to share this idea with you.  Although I enjoyed the banana nut popsicles that I made a few weeks back, they didn’t pass the kid test.  So back to the drawing board I go, attempting another healthy treat for my kids which I’m sure this time around they will not refuse! 

I always find that involving my children in the kitchen makes them more willing to try different foods.    So if you or your children don’t enjoy eating fruits, this is a great way to introduce different varieties and flavors. 

Using cookie cutters, you can have your kids cut up the fruits into different shapes and sizes and ...

A question that I get asked all the time is about losing belly fat.  Hands down, it is the biggest concern for men and women alike and I’m here to tell you that there is hope! 

The key largely lies in your diet, followed by the type of exercises that you do.  I know that’s not the magical solution most of you wanted to hear, but the truth is that everything else, from the ab roller to the slimming tea, is just hype and a waste of time and money. 

About 80% of what you eat determines your ability to lose those dreaded love handles and that trademark “mommy pooch”, while the remaining 20% is determined by your exercise and lifestyle habits.  What this means is that no amount of ...

Theo (my eldest)  trying my Banana Crunch Popsicle

As a parent, we always want what is best for our children.  When it comes to their diets, we also want them to eat nutritious foods, but what I’ve realized is that as they get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to control what they eat outside of home.  This is why it’s so important to engage in conversations with our children and educate them about health and nutrition so that they will be able to make the best decisions on their own.

I play an easy “question and answer” game with my children in the car when we’re on the way to school or activities.  For example, I ask questions like:  Is a donut healthy? Which ...

A very complicated and controversial topic these days is the consumption of cow’s milk and dairy products.  For years, we have been advised to consume dairy products to maintain bone health.  Nowadays, more and more health advocates are claiming the opposite, saying that milk is an allergen and can cause many symptoms associated with food intolerances.  Where does the truth lie?  Well, there are two sides to every story, and in the case of dairy, there’s even a third and fourth dimension, which need to be mentioned as well.   

A bit of history to start…

One of the problems with conventional and organic milk found in the supermarkets is the fact that the law requires milk to ...

Someone asked me a great question about green tea.  Is it really healthy to have 3 to 4 bags of green tea per day or is just a marketing campaign by tea makers?  Before we examine the pros and cons of frequent green tea consumption, I first want to highlight the differences between the various types of teas and how they’re processed, as the health benefits do vary from one tea to the other.

The Shades of Tea

Although there is a multitude of teas to choose from, there are really only 4 main types – black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea.  Interestingly enough, they all come from the same Camellia plant family and it’s the way that the tea leaves are processed after they have been plucked ...

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) has been gaining massive popularity over the years and for very good reason.  This near perfect food contains all of the eight essential amino acids (proteins) that we need, in addition to being high in essential fats, calcium and iron, vitamin E, and several of the B vitamins.  It is also gluten-free, high in fiber, and low in sodium; clearly earning its super-food title.

To me, the uncooked quinoa seeds look like miniature white lentils and once cooked, they sprout a curly white tail.  It cooks just like rice and I often use quinoa as a rice substitute or add it to soups.  Aside from the fact that it’s a nutrient power house, what I love most about quinoa is its versatility....