Happy New Year! The New Year is always a time for people to think about healthy habits- be it exercise, eating, mindfulness, etc.
 
As many people overindulge during the holidays they are looking for recipes to start the New Year that contain healthy ingredients.
 
With that in mind, I have partnered with California Prune Board to create a recipe to help you start your day in a healthy, filling, and nourishing way.
 
Some of the ingredients I’ve included are:
 

• Walnuts- protein and omega 3
• Almonds- protein and calcium
• Oats- fibre
• Prunes- fibre and potassium
• Molasses- calcium
• Hemp seeds- omega 3 and protein

 
This is a protein and fibre rich granola to help carry you through until the next time you eat- keeping you feeling full and satisfied and avoiding grazing throughout the day. Grazing throughout the day can lead both adults and kids to not eat their meals, in addition, the foods that people often chose to graze on are typically packaged, processed foods.
 
This granola also includes bone-building ingredients such as prunes! Did you know that prunes aren’t only a source of fibre, but they also help slow bone loss when you include one daily serving of 5 prunes (1). The prunes are a great way to add some natural sweetness as well.
 
So, with that I wish you all a very happy, healthy 2019. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
 
 
Prune Granola
 
2 cups                        Oats (I use Rolled Oats)
1.5 cups                     Walnuts/Pecans
½ cup                         Sliced Almonds
½ Tbsp                       Cinnamon
1 tsp                           Cardamom
1 cup                          Prunes
¾ cup                         Water
3 Tbsp                        Almond Butter
¼ tsp                          Salt
¼ cup                         Hemp Seeds
¼ cup                         Shredded Coconut
1 Tbsp                       Molasses
 
 

1. Process walnuts and pecans in a bowl until ground but not powdery.
2. Mix ground nuts, oats, sliced almonds, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, hemp seeds, and shredded coconut together in a large bowl.
3. Blend prunes and water together in a food processor until a paste forms.
4. Add in Almond butter and Molasses and continue to blend until combined.
5. Add prune mixture into oat mixture and stir to combine.
6. Press down the mixture on a silicone baking sheet.
7. Bake at 325F for 20 minutes.
8. Break apart into bite-sized pieces and store in an airtight container.

 
Looking for more recipes to start the New Year with? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future’s Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com
 
 
Resources:
 
1- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409740/
 

I am really enjoying one pot recipes lately. It is so convenient. This is one of my go to meals and it uses things that I always have around. This is such a quick and easy dish and also kid approved. If you enjoy heat add in a hot pepper or two. This recipe is adapted from the Oh My Veggies One Pot Curry Noodles.

2 Tbsp                Olive oil
1 Tbsp                Ginger, minced
4                         Garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp                Red Curry Paste
51/2  Cup           Vegetable Broth
1 can                   Coconut milk 
2 Tbsp                 Tamari or Braggs
1 package           Tofu
1                          Bell pepper, cut into strips 
2                          Carrots, cut into ribbons using a
                             vegetable peeler
1/2 cup               Green beans, chopped into bite
                            sized pieces
1/2 cup              Broccoli, cut into small bite sized
                            pieces
1 package           Rice noodles
1/2 cup               Cashews 
1                          Hot pepper, diced (optional)
1/4 cup               Cilantro (optional, to serve)


1. Add 1 Tbsp oil to pot. Cut tofu into cubes and fry. Set aside.
2. Add 1 Tbsp oil to pot, fry ginger until starting brown. Add in garlic and red curry paste and allow to brown. 
3. Add in vegetables and broth. Bring to a boil.
4. Turn down heat to low, add in coconut milk and tamari. 
5. Add in rice noodles and stir to soften. 
6. Add tofu and lemon juice. Turn off heat and let sit until noodles are softened. 
7. Top with cashews and cilantro and serve. 

Looking for more quick ideas for home cooked meals? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 
​

I’m a big fan of energy bites and wanted to create a bone builder bite that includes ingredients to help keep bones healthy, since November in Canada is Osteoporosis Month.
 
Here are a few of the reasons that I like energy bites:

• Easy part of a packed lunch for work or school
• Quick and easy to make
• Can be stored in the freezer
• Grab and go snack
• No packaging
• So many variations to choose from

 
For these bites I wanted to include some key ingredients:

• Prunes
• Almond butter
• Almond flour
• Blackstrap molasses

 
I think prunes are a great option to include in your diet, however, I find they are often forgotten about. Prunes help support digestive health, which is how most people think of them – but they are now starting to be considered a power food!
 
I was happy to collaborate with the California Prune Board to help highlight all of the nutritional and versatility benefits. They are a source of dietary fibre and are naturally sweet – always a bonus in my criteria for bite ingredients. In terms of bone health- eating just one daily serving of about 5 California prunes helps slow bone loss (2).
 
I chose almond ingredients because they are a good source of calcium (1).
 
As for the blackstrap molasses – this is a common food that I mention to my clients as a source of calcium, - 175mg per Tbsp (1). However, it’s not exactly something that is a common ingredient in most of our dishes. I was excited to include this ingredient in a recipe.
 
Pairing these bone-building ingredients made me arrive at this bite. I hope you enjoy….
 

Bone Builder Bites:
 
 
1 cup     Prunes 
 
1 cup     Oats
 
½ tsp     Cinnamon
 
½ tsp     Ginger
 
¼ tsp     Salt
 
2 Tbsp   Almond Butter
 
2 Tbsp   Blackstrap Molasses
 
½ cup    Almond Flour

1. In a food processor, process prunes until a ball forms.
2. Add in oats and spices and pulse for 30 seconds.
3. Add in almond butter, molasses and almond flour and process until combined –mixture will be crumbly but that is okay.
4. With wet hands, form balls and place on silicone baking sheet in freezer for 15 minutes.
5. Store in airtight container in the freezer.

 
 
Looking for more ways to add healthy snacks into your day? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future’s Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com
 
 
References:
1 http://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Bone-Health/Food-Sources-of-Calcium.aspx
2 https://www.californiadriedplums.org/nutrition/health-professionals/research/bone-health

This year I have taken gardening to a whole new level. Because harvest season has been in full force, I have been freezing herbs, fruits and vegetable. The hope is that I can make it through until next harvest season. I was very excited to try this recipe, but of course I have a hard time using a recipe without adding something to it. So I guess really this should be Grandma Cayo's Tomato Sauce with a twist. It's very easy to make, tastes delicious, and I have been using it in everything: a chip and dip sauce I make, over pasta, in curry dishes, etc. I freeze this in 2 cup portions in freezer bags so that I can lay it flat and not use up too much valuable freezer space. Anything that can make dinners easier is a win for me.







1 cup               Zucchini, grated
1                      Onion, chopped
6                      Tomatoes, Large, chopped
2                      Carrots, Large, chopped
4                      Garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 Tbsp          Sugar
1/2- 1 Tbsp    Salt (I used spicy Herbamare). 
1 tsp                Pepper
1 handful        Parsley, chopped


1. Add to large pot, bring to a low simmer.
2. Simmer until tomatoes are breaking down and carrot is soft.
3. Let cool, blend with blender (I use a hand blender).
4. Freeze in small portions, ready for use.

Have a family recipe you would like to have help putting a healthier twist on? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 

Smoothie bowls are a fun food to serve kids as they can add their own toppings to their liking. This is very easy to make and is even manageable on those crazy school mornings. My kids love lego and the name helped put even more fun into the dish. Smoothie bowls are meant to be thicker than smoothies, topped with whatever toppings suit you and eaten with a spoon. Enjoy.

1/2          Avocado
1              Handful of spinach
1/2 cup    Strawberries
1 can        Coconut water
1/2 cup    Mango
1              Banana
1 Tbsp     Maple syrup

Topping suggestions- *because smoothie bowls already have lots of fruit/vegetables in them I tend to go for more protein rich options for the toppings.

• nuts
• seeds
• nut or seed butter
• coconut shreds
• whatever you have on hand.

​1. Blend together.
2. Serve in a bowl with a spoon and top as desired.

Looking for more quick and easy breakfast ideas? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 

These gluten free and vegan muffins are so easy that my 2 year old did all the work except put them in the oven. Ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish. I have also made these with sunberries and they were also delicious.

1 cup       Almond flour
3/4 cup   Oat flour
1/4 cup   Tapioca starch
2 tsp        Baking powder
1/2 tsp    Salt
1/2 tsp    Cinnamon
1/2 cup    Maple syrup
1/4 cup    Unsweetened vanilla milk alternative (I used cashew)
1 Tbsp     Apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup   Blueberries

Turbinado sugar for topping.


​1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix dry ingredients together.
3.Mix  wet ingredient together.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in wet ingredients.
5. Stir until there is no dry areas left, but do not over mix.
6. Add in blueberries.
7. Scoop into muffin tin* and sprinkle with sugar (optional)
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean).
8. Let cool for 5 minutes in muffin tin, then remove and cool completely on a cooling rack.

​*I prefer to use a silicone muffin pan so I don't need to use paper muffin liners. If you don't have a silicone pan then be sure to use the paper liners.

Looking for ideas for after school snacks? Contact Jill, Nurture the Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com

I like this flour mix because it works well with everything I have tried so far. It's easy to mix and for gluten free I find it light and fluffy with a texture that has been pleasing to everyone who has taste-tested it so far.

4 cups    Brown Rice flour
2 cups    Sorghum flour *
1 cup      Potato starch
1/2 cup  Arrowroot starch
1 cup     Tapioca starch
1/2 cup  Corn starch
5 tsp       Xanthan gum

1. Mix everything together and store in a sealed container.


*I have subbed this with gluten free oat flour and it still worked well.

Looking for ideas of how to change your recipes to suit the dietary needs of your family? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com
​

I can’t imagine not sharing my meals with family and friends. It hasn’t always been the case for me, but since making it a priority over the years, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It can definitely be challenging when you’re busy, but it’s well worth it. I If you want to start making meal time a family event,  be sure to set reasonable, small goals. Going from 0 family meals in a week to daily just won’t happen. Start small, make a plan, and enjoy!
 
The other key part of the potential of food to bring us together is to be sure to give your attention to food. Put the phone down! Turn that TV off. Make eye contact and enjoy the company you have at the table. Meals are a great time to connect with your kids.
 
There are so many benefits for kids when you eat together as a family.

• Eating more fruit and vegetables
• Doing better in school
• Lower risk for being overweight
• Less risk of eating disorders
• Teens are less likely to smoke, use drugs/alcohol and get into serious fights

 
Overcome the challenge- get creative!

• Family meals don’t have to be dinner, sometimes breakfast or lunch works better.
• Get help- it involves the kids and let’s you focus on other aspects of getting the meal on the table. Give the kids jobs that don’t take a lot of attention from you such as setting the table, ripping up lettuce, grating, stirring, etc.
• Have a (loose) meal plan. Having some ideas for the week that you know you have the ingredients on hand for can really make a difference.
• Cut up fruit and veggies and have them ready in the fridge so that you can grab and eat and help get a meal on the table quicker.
• Use it as a time to connect in addition to a time to refuel- around our dinner table we answer three questions-
  • When were you kind today?
  • When were you brave today?
  • When did you fail today?
  • Lately there has been a fourth question from the kids- What was your favourite part of your day? Believe it or not, the answer is usually that meal together!

 
References:
https://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Menu-Planning/Your-guide-to-setting-healthy-living-goals
Ipsos Reid 2017 study conducted for Dietitians of Canada
 https://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Adolescents-teenagers/Family-Meals-with-no-TV.aspx 34 

​​Adapted from the Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month campaign materials. Find more information about Nutrition Month at www.NutritionMonth2018.