Andrea has shared her love for food starting at a very young age where she would often enter baking competitions in her hometown of Brighton, Ontario and she has not slowed down since. Andrea attended the University of Guelph where she graduated with a degree in Applied Human Nutrition and later attended Liaison College to obtain a diploma in Culinary Arts. Andrea learned more about becoming a Professional Home Economist as she worked with Ontario Pork as their Nutritionist in Consumer Marketing and Communications. From working at Ontario Pork, Andrea moved on to create her own company, Lime and Lemon Media. Lime & Lemon Media is based out of the GTA and focuses on creating original marketing content for food and beverage companies. This includes recipe development, food photography, nutrition analysis, videos and event representation. 

I don't know about you, but popcorn is one of my all time favourite snacks. It's a whole grain and is loaded with fibre and protein, making it a healthy and delicious choice that you don't have to feel guilty about after eating a whole bag. Air popped, or stove top popped are my two favourite ways to enjoy it and take very little time and effort, but there are also lots of brands that offer lightly salted pre-popped popcorn without all of the added fat and sugar if you prefer the convenience. 

If you haven't ever popped your own kernels, I encourage you to try it out, you will be pleasantly surprised with just how easy the process is, and how delicious the outcome tastes!

All you need is a medium to large heavy bottom pot with a lid, some kernels, a little oil and a little salt or whatever seasoning you prefer. Nutritional yeast is great on popcorn, as is smoked paprika. The possibilities are endless, so get popping and comment below with your favourite flavor combos!

We are proud to welcome four new PHEcs this month! Not pictured below is Alyssa Hillstrom, P.H.Ec. 

Nazima Qureshi is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Muslimah Nutrition Expert dedicated to helping Muslim women live healthier and happier lives. She provides services exclusively for Muslim women in order to create a haven where they can feel comfortable and confident as she goes on this journey with them to a healthier lifestyle. Her philosophy is to live a healthy lifestyle that includes enjoying all foods as well as enjoying being physically active. She uses a non-diet approach, which always includes dessert!

She received her Bachelors of Applied Science in Nutrition and Food from Ryerson University and her Masters of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Toronto. She also completed her Physical Activity: Assessment and Promotion Certificate from Ryerson University.

Nazima loves developing new recipes with her own South Asian flair, enjoying the outdoors with her husband and daughter, and using baking as a form of self-care therapy.

...And make sure the rest of the family does too. Just 15 minutes in nature can cut stress levels.

By: Helen Lammers-Helps, Freelance Writer of www.hlhwriter.com
Article originally posted on www.country-guide.ca

By: Tamara Saslove, P.H.Ec. 

Have you ever really stopped to think about what you are eating and how you perceive it according to the different senses - Taste, sight, touch, smell & hearing? It can be a fun activity to do and it really allows you to discover what you love about the foods you eat, or what you dislike. For an assignment last year I had to pick a new food to try and do a sensory evaluation. I encourage you all to do a sensory evaluation of your own next time you try a new food and write it down so you can reflect on it and if you would like to share please send it to tamara@ohea.on.ca and I will post it on the blog. If you would like to read about my first sensory evaluation, read on below! 

I had the pleasure of enjoying an incredible meal at Daishō – one of the fabulous Momofuku restaurants. Everything was spectacular from the architecture, the atmosphere, the staff, the view and of course the food! The menu changes daily with a good variety of options to choose from. They encourage sharing plates, which is my favourite kind of meal! This way you get to try a bit of everything, including some more exotic dishes that you might not be willing to try on your own. I tried two new things tonight including a Peach Beer and Crispy Rice Cakes along with several other more familiar dishes.

We started out the night with a peach ale – I had never had a fruity beer before so I was unsure of what to expect. Also, I usually don’t like beer to begin with. I find it too strong and bitter and I get full and bloated very quickly from it. When it arrived it looked just like any of light pale ale. When I first smelled this beer, my whole nose was filled with a sweet peachy aroma. I was so excited to taste the sweet sweet peach that I was smelling. The first sip was pretty peachy but then it became a little bitter after a few sips, and less and less peachy. It was still enjoyable, but had it tasted as sweet and flavorful as it smelled, I would have enjoyed it even more. My boyfriend who is a beer enthusiast loved the beer and in his opinion it was “a great balance of sweet peach and hoppy goodness”. It definitely wouldn’t be my first choice of beverage if I return there, however it  is probably the best beer I have tried yet!