I don't know about you but I grew up eating raw cookie dough whenever we made baked goods. I can still remember my mom telling me to stop or else my belly would hurt. To this day, I still love licking the spoon of a raw mixture when I am baking. Do you do that too? If you also love raw cookie dough, this protein packed recipe is perfect for you! It's a great source of fibre and has WAY less sugar than your typical cookie dough. Ingredients: 1.5 cups chickpeas, drained and rinsed ½ cup peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. cinnamon 1-2 tbsp. hemp seeds 2 tbsp. honey or maple syrup Sprinkle of salt ½ cup dark chocolate chips Directions: Using a food processor, blend chickpeas, peanut bu

Are you going nuts trying to find nut-free alternatives to peanut butter and snacks that include peanut butter? Here are some options that you’ll love if you have a peanut allergy or are packing a nut-free lunch for your child. 1. Sunflower butter Sunflower butter is a great option if you’re looking for a healthy spread to put on your toast or crackers. The SunButter brand, for example, has approximately 7 grams of protein per serving, which is very close to the amount of protein in your average peanut butter. 2. Soy butter Soy butter is also a great substitute for peanut butter as it has a great, creamy consistency. It can be used a fruit dips and sandwiches and can even be added to baked g

On average Canadians spend around $200.00 a week on food, and of course that amount varies from household to household and across provinces. The Nutritious Food Basket is a survey that tracks the affordability of nutritious foods using a 67 item grocery list that contains nutritious food items. Based on the survey in 2015, the estimated cost for a family of 4 was $195.00 per week or $847.00 each month. Since 2010, there has been an increase in cost of 18.4% for the nutritious food basket and these increases continue to climb each year. In fact, the Canadian Food Price Report is predicting a 1-3% increase in food prices this year, with vegetables and foods purchased at restaurants expected to

The cold and snowy weather makes me crave soup! There is something so special about enjoying a bowl of soup cozied up inside on a cold winter day. There are a few reasons why I love soup so much: 1) It's the ultimate comfort food - I love hearing my soup simmer on the stovetop while I am doing things around the house (the aroma is also amazing). 2) One pot meal - soups can be so simple, throw everything in a big pot and let it simmer away! 3) Nutrient dense - you can add so many different vegetables to soup, packing it with vitamins, minerals, and fibre! 4) You can make large batches. Every time I make a soup I make a large batch and freeze some for a busy winter night. 5) It warms you up o

The new year can be a super busy time and the cold weather makes it difficult to get out of bed some mornings! Keep yourself healthy and pack energy boosting foods in your lunch to keep you feeling your best all day long. Today I am sharing an energy salad recipe. I call this an energy salad because it's full of energy boosting foods. Spinach - providing iron and other nutrients, that help with energy production. Beans - provide protein, fibre, and iron, all of which help keep your blood sugar levels stable and promote good energy. Apple - contains many vitamins and natural sugars, which can act as a mid-day 'pick me up.' Quinoa - contains fibre, protein, iron, and magnesium, which plays an

Happy new year! I am starting off my new year with the intention to look for the good in all situations and focus on the positive more. I like to set an intention each year and keep it on me (usually in my day planner) as a reminder of what I am choosing to try more of this year. Do you set intentions? If so, I would love to hear what yours is for 2018. In addition to setting a personal intention, I did some soup recipe testing for the cold week ahead! Over the holidays I got a delicious roasted red pepper soup from a local bistro (Ray's 3rd Generation Bistro in Alton), which inspired the recipe I am sharing with you today. This soup is easy to make, filled with simple and fresh ingredients,