Align’s E-Newsletter ~ March 2006 Issue
Welcome to the premier issue of the Align e-newsletter! Our monthly e-letter will keep you informed about what’s new in health and wellness, let you know about upcoming workshops and seminars, and provide valuable recipes and articles for your to pass along to your friends and family. Now that spring is upon us, it’s time to do some spring cleaning – of our diet, our lifestyle, and our minds. Read on for ways to make small changes in your daily life that will quickly turn into big results!
Introduction – Ange and Align Holistic Health and Nutritional Services
Hello! Let me tell you a bit about Holistic Nutrition. It’s about getting back to whole foods, being aware of what we put into our bodies, and paying attention to the signs and signals our bodies are giving us. Your body is a very smart organism, and, given the right materials, can fix itself and keep you quite healthy. When we give our body what it needs and listen to the signals, we can progress along the path to optimal health.
As a Nutritional Consultant, it’s my job to help you make changes towards a healthier lifestyle. Each person is unique, and as should be treated that way. Everyone is willing to make different changes, and I can help you decide which ones are right for you. It’s all about baby steps – baby steps allow a change to become part of your lifestyle; a habit for life. For you it could be one more vegetable a day, two more glasses of water, three less pop a week, or twenty minutes outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Believe it or not, these small changes add up quickly to better health.
What is a whole food? When I go grocery shopping, I only buy foods that come from foods. Like a broccoli is a food, I know how it is grown. But when I read a label (which I always do) and find something like aspartame or MSG, I ask myself – does this come from a farm or from a lab? Can I pronounce this ingredient anyways? Buying and eating real foods without the additives, preservatives, and artificial flavours and colours gives your body nutrients provided by real food and it does not have to deal with the man-made chemicals you do not require.
Ultimately, your body is made of cells, and they are made of the food you eat. Feed your body like the way you want to look, feel, and act. I don’t want to look like a jelly donut, do you? Visit my website www.alignnutrition.com for more about me and Align Nutrition.
Upcoming events you don’t want to miss!
Nutrition 101 – Back to Basics
This series of 6 workshops delves into the world of nutrition from the beginning. Learn about whole foods, nutrients and why you need them, label reading 101, defending against disease, designing the diet that’s right for you, healthy products for in and on our bodies, and our emotions and health.
Two new sessions
• Mondays 7-9pm April 3 – May 15
• Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 April 5 – May 10
• At Kinexions Holistic Health Studio –970 3rd Ave W Owen Sound
• Go to http://www.alignnutrition.com/workshops.php for more details and sign up to reserve your spot today!
Guilt-Free Entertaining
A Saturday morning where you learn the basics of nutrition, receive and make healthy entertaining recipes, and then eat the fruits of your labour for lunch? Who wouldn’t want to sign up now!
• Saturday April 8 ~ 10am – 1pm
• $45 per person ~ includes lunch and recipes
• At Kinexions Holistic Health Studio –970 3rd Ave W Owen Sound
• Sign up at www.alignnutrition.com, email info@alignnutrition.com, or call (519) 270-2794 to reserve your place.
Gourmet Garden Grilling
BBQing isn’t just about the beef! Learn new recipes that incorporate summertime cooking with eating whole, delicious foods, and good times with friends and family!
• Saturday May 13 ~ 10am – 1pm
• $45 per person ~ includes lunch and recipes
• At Kinexions Holistic Health Studio –970 3rd Ave W Owen Sound
• Sign up at www.alignnutrition.com, email info@alignnutrition.com, or call (519) 270-2794 to reserve your place.
Align Recipe of the Month
Berry Oatmeal Breakfast Squares
1 cup rolled or steel cut oats
1 ½ cups flour – try a mixture of brown rice, spelt, kamut, buckwheat, etc. Also can include ¼ cup hemp flour and or ¼ cup protein powder
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup plain yogurt – goat or cow
1 cup milk (rice, almond, or goat)
2 tbsp sweetener – honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, or apple sauce
1 egg
¾ to 1 cup mixed berries – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.
Preheat oven to 425o F and grease a 10″ square pan. Blend oats, flour, baking soda, yogurt, milk, sweetener, and egg. Stir in berries. Spread into pan and bake 10-15 minutes, or until fully set.
Adapted from Margo McIntosh, RHN, RNCP
Nutritional Value of Select Ingredients
Oats – A great source of complex carbs, high in protein, and fibre. They help normalize blood sugar levels, and are good for a sluggish thyroid. Oats are high in tryptophan, iron, and phytochemicals.
Whole grain flours – The risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer can be reduced by simple changing from refined to whole grains. They are high in chromium, vitamins, minerals, protein, and fibre that are lost in the process of refining.
Rice or Almond Milk – This is a great substitute for cow’s milk, which is allergenic to many and unfortunately these days may contain many chemicals. They can be used as you would cow’s milk, and are low in saturated fats. Enriched rice and almond milks have lots of required nutrients, including calcium. Worried about not getting enough calcium if you switch? Think about where cows get their calcium from – green, leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables are great non-dairy sources.
Honey – This is a natural sweetener that contains vitamins, minerals, and propolis. It is a great source of magnesium. A whole food, honey is an excellent replacement for brown or white cane sugar, which is detrimental to our health. Any sweetener, though, should be eaten in moderation, but when you do need to sweeten, try honey instead.
Eggs– A perfect food (you can make a whole chicken out of them!) eggs contain protein, unsaturated fats, vitamin A, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and are quite low in calories.
Blueberries – A king in the nutrition world, these berries contain one of the highest amounts of antioxidants of any fruit or vegetable. A great source of vitamin C and fibre as well, blueberries protect against age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, help improve vision, and normalize the bowels.
Look for more recipes at http://www.alignnutrition.com/recipes.php.
Enjoy your day and your life!
Happy spring to you! Remember, it’s a great time to get out and about and refresh yourself! I’ll leave you with a little quote to adapt into your life.
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it will land you among the stars.” ~ Les Brown
Our next e-newsletter will be joined by Sharon and the Kinexions Holistic Health Studio in Owen Sound. If you have comments or questions about our newsletter or services, please email ange@alignnutrition.com.
Yours in health and wellness,
Ange
