Snacks

Slow mornings are always the best for making something special for breakfast.  A few weeks ago, on one of these types of slow mornings, we had a craving for poptarts.  Not the gross, sugary, refined flour poptarts, topped off with bright pink icing glaze though.  But, for some reason the thought of homemade flaky poptarts, filled with real fruit just sounded so good. So, after some trial and error, we came up with this recipe.  It is gluten free and can also be made completel

We used to be skeptical of breakfast cookies.  Can a cookie really be healthy enough to serve for breakfast?  Thankfully we discovered that using seed or nut butter as the main ingredient for a cookie, creates a high protein and nutrient dense cookie that is healthy enough for breakfast.  Instead of using oats, which are very common in breakfast cookie and granola bar recipes, we wanted a recipe that would work for all of our clients, including the ones that can’t eat grains

We have a thing for matcha lattes over here.  And it seems that a lot of other people do too, seeing that matcha lattes are appearing on menus at so many different coffee shops and cafes.  The thing is that buying matcha lattes can get quite expensive and often have added ingredients, like sugar, that we don't love.  So, making matcha lattes at home is a great way to not only save money but also ensure that you know exactly what ingredients are used. Matcha is made from high

With the cold, gloomy weather in Toronto, we’re naturally keeping cozy with delicious warm drinks. Wellness lattes are becoming a popular drink of choice lately, and many health food restaurants and cafes are now selling a wide array of warm superfood drinks. Chaga hot chocolate, turmeric golden milk, and matcha lattes are all really popular, but we at Living Kitchen love to experiment with new flavours. A while back, I was on Pinterest and came across this recipe for a rose

As October is breast cancer awareness month, it’s an important time to think about this disease that affects so many people in our country and around the world. I have recently experienced the loss of a dear family friend from breast cancer, and many of you will have also, as it is the most common cause of cancer death in women. Breast cancer is strongly affected by dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors, and therefore taking preventative measures may help reduce the ri

Electrolytes are important nutrients for our bodies that impact the heart, muscles, and nerves. A lack of electrolytes can result in muscle cramping, delayed muscle soreness, and spasms, which can contribute to headaches that you may experience post-workout. When you sweat, you lose electrolytes, which then can be replaced by plant-based foods, and beverages. It's especially important to replace your electrolytes in the summer when the heat and sun cause additional water loss

Chocolate and peanut butter (or almond butter) is one of our favourite combinations, classic.  You really can't go wrong when the two flavours are combined, except when they are loaded with lots of sugar. We encourage all of our clients to reduce their sugar intake and eliminate it if possible, especially if they are going through cancer treatment.  Sugar is one of the main causes of inflammation on a cellular level, which makes cells more susceptible to disease, chronic cond

It's the height of summer in Toronto and sometimes the only thing that we want to do is drink something icy cold.  The only problem is that ordering lemonade at a restaurant or cafe is a guarantee for consuming added sugar.  And, although drinking unsweetened lemon water is still refreshing, it just doesn't have the same appeal as a classic glass of iced lemonade. The secret to finding that perfect glass of sweet lemonade (without the sugar) is to make it with a specific comb

What is the best type of green tea to drink to prevent cancer? Green tea contains a compound called polyphenols, specifically catechins, which protect the plant from fungus and bacteria when it is growing.  When green tea is harvested, the catechins remain in the tea that we drink, which is why drinking green tea has been linked with preventing cancer.  There are several different types of catechins found in green tea, with EGCG having the strongest anti-cancer activity.   Ho

Coconut Flour Savory Snack Bread (paleo and gluten free) 1/3 cup coconut flour 1 cup red pepper, diced 2 cups baby spinach, finely chopped 1 small clove garlic, minced 1 tsp dried Italian herbs 1/8 tsp sea salt 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 4 eggs Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Beat the eggs well, using a fork. 2. Wash and chop the vegetables. 3. Mix all ingredients together. 4. Pour batter into a parchment lined baking dish (a loaf pan or 8x8 square pan work well).