Health and Wellness Blog

During the month of March there are a lot of nutrition related activities taking place. Here are two of my favourites that I would like to share with you.

Check out Canadian food writer Sarah Elton's new book: Starting from Scratch: What You should Know about Food and Cooking. "Beginning with an exploration of taste and how it works, author and food activist Sarah Elton explains how ingredients have been on the move for centuries, resulting in the unique fusion of flavors we love today. She breaks down the science of food and cooking into bite-sized and easily digestible pieces of information that cover the chemistry of heat versus cold, fat versus acid, and salt versus sweet. Both practical and philosophical in its approach, Starting from Scratch demystifies food and cooking by boiling it down to the basics. Young chefs learn to make sense of recipes, measure and substitute ingredients, and stock a pantry, and discover that food is more than just a prepackaged meal. Using simple and universal examples, Starting from Scratch inspires children to eat better, try new flavors, and understand what’s on their plate. Even reluctant chefs will gain an improved sense of where food comes from and be able to join in on a conversation that continues from snack time to dinnertime".  

Even though the book's targeted audience are young adults, it makes for an interesting read for all of us. This title is still on order but you can already place a hold on it to make sure you'll get a chance to read it.

Another title to check out is the thought-provoking 2011 DVD  Food Stamped. This "informative and humorous documentary film follows a couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet on a food stamp budget which amounts to roughly one dollar per meal. Along the way, they consult with food justice activists, nutrition experts, politicians, and ordinary people living on food stamps, all in order to take a deep look at the struggles low-income Americans face every day while trying to put three-square meals on the table".

While this documentary makes obvious reference to the American way of life, the question of whether or not it is possible to eat healthy on a food-stamp budget applies equally to us in Canada.

Check out their findings and practical advice.

For more information on eating healthy on a budget and further reading, check out our earlier blog on the subject.