not just healthy

Sometimes what is "healthy" can be so infuriating. Protein is good for you. Protein is bad for you. Soy is good. Soy is bad. Green tea is good for you. Green tea is bad for you. Yes, even green tea! I've read it all, I swear, eventually leading me to think that we all need to live in bubbles because there is nothing left on this earth that won't harm us. What's wrong with green tea you ask? Green tea is quite full of fluoride by the way, which could be too much if you already drink water with fluoride in it, and can interfere with thyroid function.

The one food I have not yet found to be potentially harmful, in any way, is blueberries. And luck would have it, the local grocery store had bags of frozen Canadian organic blueberries mislabeled, and mistakenly priced too low, for two weeks in a row. Can you believe it? Yes, the freezer is absurdly full.

I've never understood a smoothie to be a "quick" breakfast. In the middle of winter, it takes a long time to gulp down something that is cold! Plus, it can take awhile to pull out multiple ingredients, and also get a lunch ready to take to work. A smoothie is a great idea if you still have time to sip it, say on a train ride, but not necessarily the time to sit at the table. Right now smoothies work for me because so far, Carter is the world's fastest breakfast eater there is. I need a breakfast I can continue to work on while simultaneously cleaning the table with a little ankle biter clinging to me singing, "Ma, Ma, Maaaa". Yea, it's cute, but you try eating breakfast!

I also try to eat a lot of "healthy" fats. How much is a lot? Well, I'm trying to eat 3-4 tablespoons of Udo's oil a day in my food, plus different nuts and seeds too. Like chia seeds, walnuts, and salba. In this smoothie I use hemp seed protein. It is unique because it contains a good swack of protein, omega 3's, and a bunch of other vitamins like magnesium and iron too. It's also super, super high in fiber. I'll admit, I'm not too keen on the taste, but the blueberries definitely help with that. I eat this magnificent breakfast almost everyday!


Beyond Blueberries Smoothie
(serves 1)

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
1 fresh or frozen banana
4 tbsp hemp seed protein powder
2 tbsp Udo's Omega 3-6-9 Oil
2-3 tbsp maple syrup
1 1/2 cups water

1. Add all the ingredients to the blender, with the water. Blend, stir, add water, repeat. Enjoy!
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lazy morning breakfast

Nearly every Saturday morning, I am completely useless. But today, I was wide awake at 7:30am. And while usually these mornings are dedicated to a bit of couch time and a workout - today we're taking our five year old niece shopping for Christmas presents! Jeff knows he can always get me moving if he makes me a cappuccino...in my favourite mug. I only have it once or twice a week, but I dream about it everyday... I love to shop with energy and panache. Otherwise, it just drags on forever; especially if it's not going well. So a blackberry smoothie was definitely in order. Blackberry Smoothie (serves 1) 3/4 cup frozen blackberries 1/2 cup frozen blueberries 1 defrosted, but formerly frozen banana 2 tbsp raw hempseed 1 tbsp Udo's flaxseed oil 1 packet stevia 1.5 cups water 1. Allow the banana to defrost enough to be able to take it out of the skin. 2. Blend all ingredients until the hempseeds are well blended. Add more water if necessary. Enjoy!
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60 second blueberry & hazelnut yogurt superfood

Actually, a yogurt parfait of sorts with all kinds of super healthy ingredients to get the body humming. We all know yogurt as a superfood unto itself, rich in calcium and probiotics. I buy it plain and organic; I simply can't bear to read the excessive grams of sugar added, or chemical sweeteners added to any other kind. I do like to take it a step further, by adding enhancing it with Udo's Oil, golden flaxseeds, blueberries, hazelnuts, and sweeten it with cinnamon and stevia. Udo's Oil, or flaxseed oil, can seem nearly impossible to use, especially with its strong flavour and thick consistency. It is, however, one of my favourite ways to make yogurt seem a little bit richer, but the flavour of the oil is not overwhelming with the addition of cinnamon. When I think blueberries, cinnamon almost immediately comes to mind. There is just something about the earthiness and spice of cinnamon, which makes blueberries sing with glee. If blueberries could get any healthier, it would probably be with cinnamon. Paired with yogurt, there is nothing better than cinnamon to sweeten it up. I do also like to use stevia (virtually calorie-free, and made from a root) in simple dishes, where it adds sweetness, but its potential bitterness is hidden in the mix. Hazelnuts are verging on my favourite nut. I love them in everything, especially toasted, in salads, or ice creams. They also have that ubiquitous fibre, and are a source of calcium. Mostly though, I find that when a meal or dish has some crunch, my appetite is more likely to be satiated, and my tummy is happy. Then, so am I. 60 Second Blueberry & Hazelnut Yogurt Superfood Serves 1 3/4 cup plain organic yogurt 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, or more 1-2 tbsp slightly chopped hazelnuts 2 tsp golden flaxseed 2 tsp Udo's Oil, or other flaxseed oil 1 packet powdered stevia, or to taste sprinkling of cinnamon, to taste 1. In the serving bowl, stir to combine the yogurt, oil, cinnamon, and stevia. Add more cinnamon to taste. 2. Sprinkle flaxseed, hazelnuts, and then blueberries over the top. À votre santé!
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Clinton St. Bakery, New York City

Brunch in New York is a big deal. Seriously, everyone goes out for Sunday brunch. Sure, Anthony Bourdain says brunch only exists as a restaurants way to use up leftovers (beware of omelettes with bolognese sauce), but what if the place kinda specializes in brunch? While Clinton St. Bakery doesn't only have brunch, they do also serve their blueberry pancakes at dinner. And while every other plate of food I saw looked divine, and tempting -- after trying the pancakes, there's no going back - even though Clinton St. has also had their biscuits, muffins, and their burger voted "the best". The first time I headed to Clinton St., it was because they have eggs benedict with Petrossian smoked salmon - on a biscuit! Now, that is how eggs benedict should be done (although Iberico ham, could be killer too), irregardless of fear about salmonella infestation. Now, these biscuits aren't just any biscuits, they are very light, buttery, and most importantly to me at that moment - big. Yum. The next visit, I ate the same thing. But Jeff ordered the famous pancakes. And so, I had to taste them, of course! It's a good thing he'd hardly eaten any of them yet, or I'm sure he would have reluctantly clung to his plate, like a lion that's guarding its prey. I once read somewhere, that the pancakes are so fluffy because the eggs are separated and then they beat the whites. I've tried it, it failed, and I'm still addicted to Clinton St. So now, I always get the pancakes. I'll even wait for the pancakes. When you go to Clinton St. Bakery (on Clinton St.), be prepared to wait at least an hour or more. The Lower East Side of New York will keep you entertained; there's an adorable pastry shop up the street with pear & chocolate turnovers, or check out a few vintage shops. Maybe one day, I'll venture onto the truffled fried eggs, or the lobster BLT. Sounds great. But perfect pancakes? With fresh wild maine blueberries and maple butter? Sign me up. Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant, 4 Clinton Street (btw. East Houston & Stanton), New York, NY 10002, 646-602-6263
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