On the Fly!

There is nothing worse than being stranded without food in an airport (well maybe a few things!).

Even though I consider myself someone who is well prepared when travelling and always planning ahead – it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes you have to be creative and make do with limited resources. Whenever I am flying, I always bring food and never rely on what is at the airport or on the plane. I will do  my very best to avoid processed foods and empty calories at all costs. As these foods will actually put your body through more stress than the flight itself.

No matter where I am going, I always bring with me something to munch on. It can be as simple as some rice cakes with almond butter to a blender bottle with a packet of vega or sun warrior protein (which I shake up with water once I get through security) and of course some all-natural bars (lara, organic food bar or  trail mix). I try to keep it simple. However, as I said you can’t always plan ahead or bring enough food to cover more than one meal. Like last week when I was  sitting in airport lounge in Chicago because my flight was delayed and we missed our connection. So I had an extra eight unplanned hours on my side – yeah you heard me eight. I certainly didn’t plan on that one. I was hoping to be in sunny Arizona by noon.

After thinking I was doomed and going to have to starve for the remainder of the day, I took a walk through the terminal only to discover that the airport was surprisingly filled with goodies that I could indulge in.

First I came across a random salad spot  where I was lucky enough to build my own salad. Happy to not be tied to a plastic box of iceberg with cheese, croutons and creamy sauce – instead I got a spinach salad with chickpeas, onions, cucumber, carrots and cabbage. Then I found a little stand with all kinds of stuff from toasted organic soybeans, to coconut water (who knew?), to dark organic chocolate with acai and cacao nibs (always good to keep up those antioxidants when flying), to Mrs May’s organic toasted cashews. I have to say for a make shift meal – I did pretty well considering I thought that there was no hope.

Even if your airport may accommodate you – it is not worth going through the stress that you may not be eating for the next few hours. Yes I am that stubborn, I will not resort to anything with white sugar, white flour or anything that is fried. It’s not worth it.

What I learned from this lesson, is that it is still important to travel with more snacks and food than you had planned on. Even though I got very lucky and found enough food to satisfy my palette, you may also just need to be a bit creative when you are on the fly!

Holiday Helpings!

This may sound like a challenge, but you can enjoy delicious food this holiday without restricting  yourself (or indulging for that matter!). It is not about dieting and sitting across the table wishing you can eat something that you told yourself you couldn’t. It is about taking control. Make the right choices this year, because you can treat your holiday however you want!

Maybe this year, you offer to make some of the side dishes, desserts or goodies. Or at least have something small with you to nibble on that is healthy and tasty. You never want to be left without options that don’t suit your goals or your taste buds! You don’t have to give in to the 4-5 course rich and heavy meals and all the holiday candies, sweets, desserts that may be delivered to our door or are laying on your table. If you have to go for that “once-a-year” something, then treat yourself to a small piece and enjoy every bite. You never want to approach the holidays dreading the amount of food you are going to eat…just approach it with peace and let yourself know that you can still enjoy the holidays without guilt.

Here are a few more helpful tips:

If dinner is not at your house – have a small meal before you go (vegetable juice, smoothie, bowl of soup, veggies and hummus with crackers)

Bring a  flavourful and colourful holiday dish with you ( Citrus Wild Rice, Apricot Muffins, Quinoa with Porcini, Green Veggie Soup, Yam Pecan Tart)

Load up on veggies - if there is a salad or steamed veggies available – double your dose of them and leave only a small space on the plate for other things.

Wait before you have dessert - sip on herbal tea, let your tummy digest dinner before you indulge in dessert. Or better yet bring your own healthy and guilt free dessert – Ginger Date Cookies!

Get to the gym or go for a long walk - you will feel better  knowing that you can burn off some of those (extra) calories (even if you did cheat a little!)

Sip on wine if you must – watch the eggnog, beer and other rich holiday drinks. These all have calories that can add up!

Make time for bonding – have after dinner activities that are fun and keep you away from all-night nibbling!

Approaching the holiday dreading the amount of food you’re going to eat is no fun. So take control this year and give yourself the gift of eating good food, in moderation. If you must give in, to that second helping – do it with gratitude and pleasure not with guilt and disappointment. The only one who will be left upset in the end is you!

Date-Coconut Ginger Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups spelt flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp sea salt

1 cup chopped pitted dates

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup maple syrup

¾ cup coconut oil

1 tsp grated ginger

zest of organic lemon or orange

1 tsp pure vanilla

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in large bowl.
4. Toss in dates and coconut and stir to combine. Add the syrup, oil, ginger and zest and vanilla and mix just until all flour is absorbed.
5. Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them out (2 in).
6. Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden.

Marni’s Movie Night Series

Starting tonight, and for the next few weeks I am going to be showing a series of amazing and inspiring films about whole foods and our planet. These are select films that really demonstrate what it means to eat fresh, organic locally grown foods. It is one thing to hear this information from someone, but it is a completely different story when you see it. When you actually see what is going on behind closed doors you realize why this shift towards organic, natural and plant based foods is essential to human health and the sustainability of our planet!

If you truly want to start making small changes in your life and in your families life than come on out to  one of these films and see what what kind of relevance it may have for you.

I promise you that each film will be relevant to you in some way, as you will not only learn what it means to eat healthy organic and local foods, but learn how to increase longevity, boost your energy and help you lose weight. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to nourish yourself and become your own healer.

If you have been lucky enough to view any one of these films, please share your experience, feelings, comments, questions about the films below!

All films will be screened at 6:45 pm on a Tuesday evening in Toronto

To inquire about the evening or to reserve a spot please Contact Marni for more details.

The evening will include an interactive and dynamic workshop following the film. You will have a chance to ask questions about the film or anything nutrition-related in general. This way I can help you get on track with your health and wellness goals. There will also be organic snacks, organic popcorn, herbal tea and some goodies to take home!

Here are the films in order of viewing and their descriptions:

January 19th- Food Matters

Take small steps towards a healthier life and a healthier you! Food can be your best friend!  Discover how you can Detox, Lose Weight, Reverse Diabetes, Conquer Cancer, Beat Heart Disease, Ditch Depression and more using a nutritional approach. It’s not as hard as you think!

February 2nd – Fresh

How Fresh is your food? Fresh will take you on a journey by avid individuals, like farmers and business people across North America and show how they are re- inventing the food system. You will be offered healthier, alternative and sustainable solutions to protecting the future of our food and planet.

T.B.A - Crazy Sexy Cancer

Come and learn about what the power of food, more specifically what RAW foods can do for your health. You will learn what foods can help to prevent, treat and mediate the effects of cancer and make you feel great. A discussion on raw foods, smoothies and juicing will be apart of the evening.

February 9th – Future of Food

The Future of Food provides an excellent overview of the key questions raised by consumers as they become
aware of GM foods… This film draws questions to critical attention about food production that need more public debate.

January 26th - Food Inc

Learn about where your food is coming from and what it takes to get dinner onto your plate. After seeing this film you can’ t help to be inspired to make changes in your daily food choices.

My Favourite Vegetarian Meal!

This is a tough one for me, but I assure you – I do have a favourite vegetarian meal and so do you!

But first let me tell you about my favourite meal and then read on to find out why yours is important too.

Okay, so my favourite vegetarian meal is one that I like to create when I want something nourishing, warming and revitalizing. In which case I pretty much go for the foods that connect with this energy and make me feel amazing. My go to grain is usually quinoa, this is the best foundation for a wholesome dish. It is nutty, light, high in protein and digests immediately. Then I like to add in all of my favourites – starting with some baked marinated tempeh for it’s juicy and hearty texture, roasted sweet potatoes for some natural sweetness, steamed kale – a meal isn’t a meal without some greens, avocado – for it’s creamy and smooth consistency and then some chopped almonds for some raw crunch. Then to top this dish off I like to add in some tamari – natural salty flavour and tahini for a rich boost of calcium. This is my absolute favourite meal!

Now why am I telling you this, because I want to make it apparent that everyone has a favourite food or a favourite meal, maybe it’s a snack or a drink. Whatever it may be there is something that you have eaten that has made you feel amazing – and I want to know what that is – especially if it is plant-based!

So if you tell me, this is going to work out for you because I am having a contest in which you will have a chance to win a FREE Fully Nourished Cooking Class!

Yes you heard me, you can attend any one of my cooking classes for free!

Well… there are some conditions that this contest is based on.

The premise: Tell me your favourite plant based/vegetarian meal, snack or drink. It can be raw, cooked, gluten free, sweet, savoury – anything you like! Just nothing that comes from an animal (this means NO fish, chicken, meat, eggs, cheese).

The reason: I want to know WHAT about this plant based or vegetarian food item that made you feel happy, excited, proud, energized, nourished, balanced etc…You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to do this or have had this experience!

There is significance and purpose to this contest. Not only will I highlight the winning answer on my blog, but the winner will also get to come to any on of my vegetarian Fully Nourished Cooking Classes absolutely free of charge (value over $100). This contest will also demonstrate to people that plant based foods not only taste amazing but have an incredible impact on your health and I want as many people as possible to exploit and share their experiences!

So there are many factors that this veggie experience can be based on. It can be the taste, texture, smell, colour, flavour of the meal – it doesn’t matter to me. I just want you describe what it was and what it did to you that made you excited about healthy plants based food. This can be anything from a simple salad with pumpkin seeds to a coconut banana smoothie. Please share your story, your experience – the more detail you give me, the better chance you have to win.

I am giving you (my readers) one week to post your foodie delight in my comment section – share it on twitter, share it on facebook. And then after that week, I am going to pick my three favourite ones and post them and then you (my readers) will be the judge and pick your favourite one. Then I will contact the winner personally and invite them to come to any vegetarian cooking class of choice to have more amazing experiences eating delicious plant based foods.

I have one more question…are you ready?

Get posting!

This could be you!