Sweet Spot Nutrition

Thursday 4pm... we're almost there! (To the weekend, to winter break, to the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, I hope!) Anyone else running out of steam for cooking? I updated this post full of <15 minute ideas. What else would you add? http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/dont-feel-like-cooking/

Not food/nutrition related, but great insights here if you are adjusting after a heart disease diagnosis. https://myheartsisters.org//learning-to-live-with-heart-d/

New recipe alert. Meal planning yesterday and trying to find more kid-friendly vegetarian ideas. I had a big bag of little potatoes and I needed to use them up. Went hunting on their website and found this recipe. Fully Loaded Nacho Potatoes. Oh my goodness it was so good! Kind of like potato skins but less work. Too bad our avocados aren’t ready yet. https://www.littlepotatoes.com/recipes/fully-loaded-nachos/ #kidfriendly #blackbeans! #vegetarianfood #hearthealthy #sweetspotfood

@andreahardyrd posted eggplant Parmesan a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been hankering tor it since. A bit of a project but so worth it. Don’t you love Instagram for that? #sweetspotfood

I tried making farro for breakfast! Had been thinking about it since I wrote that big blog post about oatmeal and came across so many other things you could make porridge with. (http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/oatmeal/) Good once I added a little brown sugar. It’s mixed with cooked apples, pecans, cranberries, and light vanilla soy milk. #wholegrains #hearthealth #sweetspotfood

Something different for breakfast... fruit crisp! Went easy on the sugar, added some protein in the form of crunchy pumpkin seeds and Greek yogurt, and voila, breakfast! #sweetspotfood (Recipe from the Nourish cookbook. Apologies for the lighting. Winter in Canada = breakfast in the dark.)

This week on the blog, an interview with three Registered Nurses I know and respect, about COVID life. Some insights into life as a nurse right now, and on a personal level, how they're saying no to more and more social engagements. What are you saying no to these days that you might have done a month ago? http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/nurses-covid/

Emotional eating is the number one topic in my practice right now, and no wonder. Raise your hand if you're feeling BIG emotions these days. So this week on the blog, a quick primer as to how and why an Intuitive Eating approach can help. http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/intuitive-emotional-eating/

Doing our part for the local economy. #datenight #athome

Happy Saturday! Hope you're able to have a bit of a laugh despite the onslaught of bad news. The sun is out, here at least. Take care.

You guys, exciting news! I’ve been heads down making these (free) videos instead of written posts for a month and they’re finally done! The goal was to provide something comprehensive for people who’ve had a heart attack or other heart event this year but have limited access to the friendly cardiac rehab dietitians due to COVID. Feel free to share if someone you know is in this spot. 2020 has brought a lot of stress, but food stress doesn’t have to be one of them. ... http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/

Who needs comfort food today? Savoury pecan loaf. http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/recipe/savoury-pecan-loaf/ #ketchupontop #sorrynotsorry #meatloaf #nomeat #sweetspotfood

If you're following along with my free 3-part video series How to Eat Well For Life After a Heart Event, Video #2 is out! After 15 years as a dietitian supporting people with heart concerns, I brainstormed some of the most common challenges they run into with food and nutrition and how to avoid them. If you get my weekly(ish) emails, it should be in your inbox. If not, you can sign up here: http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/.

Decided we needed a self-care Sunday around here, so started with this Mixed Berry Cobbler. I clipped the recipe from the Tufts University health letter about 15 years ago, so hopefully they won’t mind that I’m sharing it (swipe). It says to cut off the crust but actually I use the whole grain ends/crusts for this, and just make sure that they are really well soaked with egg and milk. I don’t bother arranging them nicely on top. Just cut them up into smaller pieces and toss. #sweetspotfood

I'm recording the last of the "10 common pitfalls to avoid" in terms of well for life after a heart event, such as "A fragile foundation," "'Fake' whole grains," "Fear of fat," and "Measuring success in pounds." Do you want to take a guess at what the other six might be? It's coming out Monday. To make sure you don't miss it, sign up here! http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/

Practical ways to actually *enjoy* heart-healthier eating, from my new video, How to Eat Well for Life After a Heart event. (http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/) What do you think? What helps you hit that sweet spot?

Alberta folks: More on Mediterranean Style Eating, this time from Calgary's South Health Campus Wellness Kitchen - a FREE virtual cooking class. Who's in? (And will they deliver the food I wonder?) Sign up here: https://app.bookking.ca/ahlpcalgarypub/index.asp.

Exciting! The first video in my 3-part series "How to Eat Well For Life After a Heart Event" is out. Who says they can't teach this old dog new tricks? If you're on my email list you should have it in your inbox. If not, get it here: http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/

When you get snack ideas from your clients. Sort of. My twist on it. #finncrisp #ryecrackers #wholegrain #cheese #raspberries #yummy #sweetspotfood

You guys I'm really doing this! Progress is slow, but I've recorded (almost) the whole first video! Now just need to edit and record #2 and #3. This is just a 2-minute sneak peek. To sign up for the whole (free) series when it's ready: http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/. #hearthealthyeating #itsmorethanthefood

Kids are at school and I've been working on recording these videos instead of doing written blog posts. Will be a couple of days before I get to the FAQs. What questions do you think I should tackle? (Sign up here if you want the recordings when they're done: http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/free-video-series/. If you already get my weekly mails you'll get them. )

Portobello mushroom gravy to go with our roasted peppers, pan fried tofu, and brown rice. Do you think anyone would notice if I just ate all the gravy? #Ilovefall #coolweather #warmfood

FYI, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is hosting a free online public lecture for World Heart Day, Sept 29. The speaker is Dr. Dana Olstad, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. She is also a Registered Dietitian. Her primary expertise encompasses public health nutrition. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/world-heart-day-public-lecture-

A friend just sent me this picture... found it hiding in her garden. (Shared with permission.) What would you do with a monster like this?#adventuresingardening #zucchinifordays #yycgarden

This week on the blog, 3 ways to shop less often while eating for heart health. What are your tricks for stretching the time between shops? http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/shop-less/

Frozen grapes are the hot item around here. The green PC Organics grapes have been so plump and sweet that I bought two this week with a plan to freeze one and have it over the winter. Almost gone! Would it be weird to buy 4 or 5 containers of grapes this week? #fruitlove #snacks #dessert #sweetspotfood

I'm doing some continuing professional education and came across this great resource, in case it might be of use to you. It's a free self-care workbook "authored by scientist-practitioners with expertise in issues relating to coping with health conditions." Looks very good. Aimed at people dealing with health problems, but even if you're not. We can all use help coping these days. https://psychhealthandsafety.org/pcwhc/

Calgary folks... free virtual counselling. My family used this over the summer to help with COVID stresses. I like to say it's like the dentist - you go for prevention as much as for big problems. They have capacity. Take advantage! https://www.canlearnsociety.ca/new-free-counseling-sessions/

Decided to mix it up for breakfast today, in the spirit of getting more protein. (Salmon.) Plus goat cheese and tomatoes just picked. #septembermood #nomnom #breakfastideas #hearthealthy #sweetspotfood

Some light Labour Day reading for you. This week I'm moving over and letting my readers and social media followers have the microphone. I asked people with experience living with heart disease to share their best advice about how they adapted their eating habits. Not so much "what" to eat but how they did it. Here are their responses: http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/eating-advice-from-people-wit/

When you have a hankering for homemade granola but not the project of making a whole batch in the oven. Stovetop! Recipe in my 30 Minute Heart Healthy Cookbook. 10 minutes. Have you tried? #sweetspotfood

I upgraded my very old (ie ~4 years) phone. In theory better camera. Can you tell? I can’t really, but that’s mid-life eyesight for you. This is a frittata following the same general recipe in my cookbook, but using goat cheese, leftover roasted peppers, and herbs from the garden instead. Enjoy your day! #sundaymood #sundaymorningfood #frittata #sweetspotfood