Nutrition: Would You Eat 16 Packs of Sugar?

As the warmer weather approaches, we're going to be looking for ways to quench our thirst.  Let's be sensible and choose a low calorie, low sugar, low fat option such as water or milk!

I found this on youtube and it really made me think: how often do we chug down a can of pop without realizing what we're actually putting in our bodies?

Physical Activity: No More Excuses!

Along with a healthy diet, it is essential to incorporate physical activity into our daily lives. However, it is definitely easier said than done!


Health Canada’s recommendations for adults are to “be active at least 2.5 hours a week to achieve health benefits.”

I usually start an exercise routine but don’t stick with it for long; the main reason being, “I don’t have enough time”. After searching and asking around, I have finally found a solution to a lack of time (and money!): The 10 Minute Trainer by Tony Horton. The name might sound familiar; it’s by the same trainer that created P90X. I first heard about it through a friend and seen it on TV several times before I finally gave it a try. I’ve been doing it for a few months now and it is amazing!

The 10 minute trainer comes with five different workouts: cardio, yoga, lower body, total body, and abs. Each workout consist of 10 moves in 10 minutes; each one of them being extremely effective. I’ve tried out a lot of workout DVDs but have had difficulty sticking with them because I get bored and they are too long. The 5 different workouts allow me to change up my routine and so far I haven’t gotten bored of it. The best part is that after only 10 minutes I’m sweating and sore the next day!

One of the down sides of this set of workouts would be the difficulty level. However, Tony Horton does show modifications for beginners. The high intensity in 10 minutes makes it doable because you know it’ll be over real soon!

If any of you are wondering, I’m not getting paid to say any of this! I just wanted to share a great way to incorporate physical activity into your daily lives without spending a lot of time or money.

Now, if you don’t want to give this a try, I recommend that you find some sort of activity that will appeal to you. The key is to start small (10 minutes a day) and work up to it.

Happy Exercising :)

Recipe: Super-Easy-Anyone-Can-Make-It-Vegetarian Chilli!

One of my summer goals was to give cooking a shot and try a couple of new recipes. I decided to try vegetarian chili since it is so simple!

Vegetarian chili is absolutely fool proof and a great dish for students who are on a budget. Kidney beans are a great source of fibre and you can fit in a couple servings of vegetables too!



Vegetarian Chili

• 1 can of diced tomatoes (28oz)
• 1 can of beans (I chose kidney beans)
• One bag of mixed frozen vegetables (any variety you like)
• One small onion
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Crushed chilli flakes to taste
• Red chilli powder to taste
• Turmeric powder to taste (optional)

1. Cut the onion and garlic finely (and try not to cry!)
2. Heat the olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat.
3. Add the onion and garlic and allow it to lightly brown by stirring every so often.
4. Add the can of tomatoes and stir.
5. Add in the spices to your liking, I like my chilli spicy so I added about a teaspoon of each and 2 teaspoons of crushed chilli flakes. Be sure to taste as you go along!
6. Drain the kidney beans and rinse with water to get rid of the extra sodium (canned beans usually have added sodium) and add to the pot.
7. Add the frozen vegetables and stir.
8. On medium heat, cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Add half cup water and cook for another 10 minutes.
10. Remove from stove, garnish with cilantro, and enjoy!