Healthy Eating with President's Choice

Vacation is over and I got back home just 2 days before Passover. Panic. Somehow we managed to pull it all together; it was a total group family effort and I must say I'm proud of how diligently everyone worked to make it all happen. While I was away I received the newest Insider's Edition from " President's Choice .


I'm happy that we're focusing on healthy and conscious eating. President's Choice is expanding their Blue Menu line of healthier choice foods that now has over 400 items in the line. PC's Insider's Report has included a wealth of healthy tips created by the Blue Menu panel comprised of a dietician, a doctor, a chef and two working moms. The benefit to having these tips is that you not only learn how to read the packaging more effectively by having visual markers that tells you what there is more or less of in the product (i.e. less sodium, higher fibre, less fat etc.) The tips also tell you why it's important to have more or less of things.

For example: "Why Reduce Sugar? Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that occurs naturally in fruits vegetables, milk and milk products. Products with naturally occuring sugar, such as fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, while refined sugars found in processed foods like candy, soft drinks and syrups lack nutrients, have few nutritional benefits and are considered empty calories."

The tips in this edition of the Insider's Report have kept this edition around the house for a whole lot longer than other editions. I've had a chance to sample a couple of the products. Both Almond Milk and Quinoa are items that I normally have in the house so happy me. My morning generally starts off with a fruit smoothie and I love my smoothie with almond milk.

Take a banana, a few strawberries (fresh or frozen) pour in some almond milk; add 1 Tbsp of flax seed, a tsp of omega 3 oil and voila - refreshing and a healthy way to start your day.

I knew I wanted quinoa for dinner; great opportunity to try the black and white quinoa, something I hadn't tried before.

1 acorn squash, baked
1 pkg. PC quinoa
2 cups water
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion diced
1 cup dried cranberries (or craisins)
1 cup chopped mushrooms beet leaves chopped drizzle of blood orange balsamic vinegar

1. Turn oven on to 350 F 2. Cut acorn squash in half, take out seeds, sprinkle with a little olive oil and turn upside down on to foil lined cookie sheet. Bake until soft and carmelized (about 30-40 minutes)

3. In a medium saucepan cook 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of boiled water. When the quinoa comes to a boil, turn down to medium low and let simmer, covered for about 12 minutes. Take off the heat and fluff with a fork.
4. Add onion to warmed olive oil and cook until the onions soften. Add the remaining ingredients except for the blood orange balsamic vinegar.

Yummmmm. Go out and get some quinoa and experiment with it - you'll love it!!!