Amanda Hilton: wellness
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts

Organic Strawberries vs. Conventionally Grown Strawberries

Dirty Dozen #1: Strawberries

Amanda Hilton

March 19, 2022
(updated September 6, 2023)

Each year, the EWG (Environmental Working Group), produces a list of 12 fruits and vegetables (The Dirty Dozen) that contain the highest concentration of chemicals when grown conventionally, meaning with use of synthetic chemicals or GMO’s (genetically modified organisms). It can be difficult to digest the copious amounts of information out there about choosing organic foods and with the cost of groceries steadily rising, choosing organic can get expensive. As a nutritionist, I generally recommend when my clients are trying to make the switch to healthier, more nutritious foods, that they start by purchasing organic produce from the Dirty Dozen list. A small step like this can have a big impact on a person’s health while still being gentle on their pockets. See my previous post The Low Down on Organic for the full 2023 list of the Dirty Dozen.

Chemicals

The first item on the 2023 Dirty Dozen list is strawberries. These deliciously sweet berries grow close to the soil and their sweetness is very attractive to pests so it is clear why this berry usually pulls in at number one on the list, year after year. Large amounts of pesticides are used on conventionally grown strawberries to keep bugs away from spoiling the fruit. Because strawberries grow so close to the ground, there are plenty of pests with easy access and the berries will basically sit in the soil marinating in chemicals while they ripen.

If you like to snack on these berries all year round then you may be taking in even more chemicals. Large companies that grow conventional strawberries that are being shipped internationally, will use more chemicals so that customers don’t receive a container of smooshed or unripe strawberries that will be difficult to sell. Choosing to pick strawberries locally can be a better option since an extra dose of chemicals is not needed for shipping and the fruit is often tastier as they are picked at their ripest.

Top Dollar

Recently, I have switched from buying “fresh” organic strawberries to purchasing them frozen. At a whopping $10 for a container that my family of six will go through easily in 2 days, it just wasn’t feasible. For now, I’ll buy an extra large Costco size bag of organic frozen strawberry slices that the kids love cause they taste like “candy”. Frozen berries are picked when they are ripe and juicy, then flash frozen to retain their nutrients. In June, strawberry season, the kids and I will make a day of hitting the strawberry fields and picking a bunch to wash and freeze for the next off-season strawberry inflation.

Nutritional Highlights

Not only are strawberries super tasty and sweet but they have an added boost of fiber and vitamin C. Dietary fiber can aid with digestion and prevent constipation while vitamin C supports the immune system helping to prevent common cold and flu.

Recipe

Our children will eat strawberries fresh or frozen just the way they are, but another way they like to indulge on these sweet berries is with some Berry "Nice" Cream:

1 cup frozen strawberries
1 banana, frozen

Combine in a blender until smooth and creamy.
Divide into dessert bowls and add delicious toppings (unsweetened shredded coconut, dairy-free mini chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, drizzled almond butter - these are just a few of our favs)

Enjoy!

Dirty Dozen

Strawberries are number one on the EWG's Dirty Dozen list, follow along with my blog as I chat about the other 11 fruits and veggies that contain high amounts of synthetic chemicals. Also, check out my Instagram page @amandahiltonrhn for posts about our local organic community food share and for healthy organic meal ideas.





The Low-Down on Organic



The Low-Down on Organic

Amanda Hilton

March 11, 2022
(updated September 6, 2023)

Anyone who has stepped foot in a supermarket knows that organic foods are becoming more readily available for consumer purchase. But many consumers are still unsure of the organic movement and whether it’s really worth the extra cost in the long run. After doing a slew of research myself, I chose to switch my family to a mainly organic diet 5 years ago. I’m not going to lecture you on all the horrible results I discovered about pesticides, herbicides, hormones, chemicals and antibiotics because frankly we all know how bad they are. My hope is to provide you with some info about how you too can make the switch to choosing more organic foods so that your family can get the most benefit out of what they eat.

EWG list

Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) creates a list of the twelve dirtiest foods and the cleanest fifteen. The “Dirty Dozen” are the twelve foods with the highest amount of pesticide residue and the “Clean Fifteen” have the least amount of pesticides (these are often foods with an outer skin that is removed before eating). Since the cost of organic produce can often be more expensive than conventional produce, a great way to start your journey to reduce chemical consumption is to buy only the Dirty Dozen organic and the Clean Fifteen conventional. The EWG list for 2023 is: (drum roll please!)

Dirty Dozen                                                            Clean Fifteen

1. Strawberries                                                              1. Avocados

2. Spinach                                                                      2. Sweet Corn

3. Kale, collard and mustard greens                        3. Pineapple

4. Peaches                                                                      4. Onions

5. Pears                                                                           5. Papaya

6. Nectarines                                                                 6. Sweet Peas, frozen

7. Apples                                                                        7. Asparagus

8. Grapes                                                                       8. Honeydew melon

9. Bell & hot peppers                                                   9. Kiwi

10. Cherries                                                                  10. Cabbage

11. Blueberries                                                              11. Mushrooms

12. Green beans                                                            12. Mangos

                                                                                         13. Sweet Potatoes

                                                                                  14. Watermelon 

                                                                                  15. Carrots  


Grow Your Own

If the cost of organic produce just blows your mind, you could try growing your own fruits and veggies. Setting up a small garden in your backyard or at a local community garden and planting organic seeds in organic soil is a great way to cut down on the cost of eating clean. If you are having a hard time finding a source for purchasing organic seeds, Seeds of Diversity Canada www.seeds.ca has a resource list that contains a long list of mail order sources of heritage and organic seeds. If you're thinking, “I don’t have a clue about planting vegetables'', put your worries to rest, most seed packets come with planting directions printed on the package back, detailing best planting dates, the depth at which to bury the seeds, and the number of days from planting to first harvest. Keep in mind that your garden is similar to having children, you can’t just leave it to fend for itself and expect it to grow in abundance. Gardens need tender loving care. Daily watering and grooming are essential but all the hard work will pay off with the fruits of your labour.

Local CSA

If you are already writing off the idea of having an organic garden, because you are lacking the space or a green thumb, no worries, there are many Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) associations that offer organic produce at a great cost. Not only will you be supporting local farmers who strive to grow organic only, but you will be benefiting your family’s health too. As a Nutritionist and someone who loves trying new recipes, what I like about getting my CSA food share each week is the variety. Sometimes we get new foods that we haven’t tried (like when we got the yellow watermelon that my daughter fell in love with) or foods that we should be eating more of because of their health benefits but I would forget to buy at the grocery store since it wasn’t on my menu list (hello beets!! They make the best juice!). A quick google search will bring up your local CSA directory and you can choose which one best suits your family.

Animals Are People Too

If there is only one thing you are prepared to do to make the move to organic, it should be to consume organic animal products. Not only will you help your family to avoid nasty antibiotics and hormones that are sometimes added to animal products but, organic regulations have standards for animal care. Organic eggs come from chickens who are fed a diet of organic chicken feed without other animal by-products, are free-range (have access to the outdoors), and are not given antibiotics. Organic cattle are also prohibited from antibiotics and hormones as preventative treatment and are not permitted animal by-products in their feed, 30% of their dry matter feed comes from pasture grazing. Yes, organic milk, eggs, cheese and meat are more expensive to purchase but this is because it also costs the farmers more to care for and feed their animals. To save a bit of money while still adhering to an organic diet, you could try going meatless several times a week.

Although eating organic can cost a bit more, it can profoundly affect your long-term health. I always recommend that infants consume organic baby foods as they are more sensitive to pesticides because they have immature nervous and immune systems. If you need help transitioning to a clean organic diet for you and your family, send me a message at services@amandahilton.ca to set up a consultation so I can help you reach your health goals. Also, check out my posts showing our bountiful CSA weekly share @amandahiltonrhn.

Food Intolerances and Birthday Parties



Food Intolerances and Birthday Parties

Amanda Hilton

March 12, 2022

Birthday parties are tough for anyone with allergies or food intolerance. Due to food sensitivities and allergies, my children and I follow a gluten free, dairy free and low sugar diet and we are also vegetarians by choice. So, when we are invited to a birthday party, which happens often when you have four children, we need to make sure we are prepared.

Most hosts will have fruit and veggie plates available for snacking, which is great since my children are not at all picky when it comes to produce. But once the hot cheesy pizza hits the table or when it is time to serve up the cake/cupcakes, my children sometimes feel a bit isolated.

I leave it up to my teenage daughter to attend gatherings with friends and choose what foods she wants to put in her body. She is aware of what the consequences are if she eats something that her digestive system does not tolerate well. My youngest daughter on the other hand is too young to even really understand our limitations. And my youngest son is way too smart for his own good. He knows to ask if something is gluten free or dairy free.

Awkward But Necessary

To ensure that we are fully prepared before we go to birthday parties, I bake gluten free dairy free cupcakes and make gluten free, dairy free pizza (we do eat some goat and sheep cheese, which is what I often use for pizza) for us to bring with us to birthday parties. Do I feel incredibly awkward bringing my own food to parties?….YES, but I would rather feel that then have my children feel left out when all the other children are munching on pizza and cake and they wonder why they have nothing but broccoli.

School Days

Having a school aged child with food sensitivities is even more difficult. Special occasion days at school (Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.) mean that special treats can be brought in for the class to share. This is tough for my little guy! I ALWAYS make sure I send something, since once at the beginning of his kindergarten year, when it wasn’t our allotted snack day, my son had to go without because no one brought fruit or veggies. Everything had dairy and/or gluten. No worries, he had his lunch to fill his belly, but he didn’t feel so great about being left out amongst a room full of 5/6-year-olds.

Food allergies and sensitivities are a common struggle for many families. We live in a society where food is overly processed and what we once may have thought was a healthy snack (yogurt tubes, bear paws, gold fish, etc.) is really causing digestive distress in children’s little bodies. Food allergies can be severe which may cause anaphylactic shock and allergy testing is done to determine the severity. But, some foods may have a less severe effect on the body but still cause unpleasant symptoms such as eczema, gas, bloating, loose stools, constipation, nausea, behavioural disorders, and sleep disturbance…just to name a few. If you need help adjusting your child's diet or your own, due to food sensitivity or intolerance, contact me at services@amandahilton.ca to arrange a consultation to discuss the road to digestive recovery.










How I Get My Children to Eat Their Veggies



How I Get My Children to Eat Their Veggies

Amanda Hilton

March 9, 2022
(updated September 8, 2023)

How do I get my children to eat vegetables? Let me just start by saying….it isn’t easy! Like most things parenting, getting your children to eat vegetables can be a daunting task. It is something that is best if started early in life for it to be less difficult for you and your child but it is not too late to start now. I’m going to share with you my tried and tested ways that will help you get your children to eat their vegetables.

When I had my oldest daughter, my life was very different from what it is now. I was a single mother, a mature student, working part-time, and knew very little about nutrition. Yes, I started my daughter out on rice cereal and veggies like you read in all the baby books, but from there…convenience became key for this very busy mom. We relied on granola bars, waffles, hash browns, canned beans in sauce, grilled cheese, and pasta (lots of pasta). As time went on, our family grew and I learned A LOT about nutrition and parenting.

Seventeen years later and many years of school, research and trial-and-error as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and now mom of four children, this is what I’ve learned; starting children out on vegetables and not offering up all the processed junk, is KEY; being prepared is a lifesaver; getting the little ones to help can ACTUALLY be helpful and; there are sooooo many ways to sneak veggies into foods kids love.

Start at the beginning

Do my children always eat their veggies without a fight? Absolutely not! Dinner is challenging. But they do eat their vegetables because they know this is what they get, and they do not want to go hungry. Clients have said things like, “my four-year old won’t eat anything but [insert unhealthy food your child is currently obsessed with], what do I do?” Well, to start, you stop buying that food. You buy the food, you make the healthy choices and your child will have no choice but to follow suit. Starting little ones out on fresh organic produce without adding sugary sauces or condiments can help them to secure a taste and liking for a variety of vegetables. As they grow (which they do too quickly), continue to offer all sorts of vegetables, even ones that you may not appreciate. In our house, I’m not a big tomato fan but my youngest son will eat a pint of cherry tomatoes a day if I allow it. Variety is so important also, limiting sugar and processed foods is essential. Children don’t need added sugar in their diet and if you don’t give it to them at a young age, they won’t rely on it as they get older. Reserve “dessert” items for special occasions like birthdays.

Be prepared

I know we are all pressed for time these days with work, overtime, extra curricular activities, and everything in between but taking a bit of extra time on the weekend or an evening when you are not overbooked, to plan out and prepare meals, can be super helpful. Having a bunch of veggies already cut up or a big pot of soup made, can really cut down on lunch prep time. As for dinner, meal prepping is super important when it comes to healthy veggie-rich dinners. Taking an hour on the weekend after the kids are in bed and while you are having your cup of tea (or wine, depending on how your week has gone), you can make a meal plan for the week and even prep some of the food you need. This way, you are prepared for each dinner and not relying on take-away or frozen pizza.

Helping hand

Getting your little ones (big ones too!) to help out at the grocery store and in the kitchen can actually be helpful (sometimes). Allowing your child to choose a new vegetable while at the grocery store, if you are brave enough to shop with a cart full of kids, can be beneficial to getting them to try new foods. At home, having your youngster sitting or standing next to you, safely, to help with stirring and pouring can make them feel important and may give them incentive to try the end product knowing that they helped make it. Sometimes, my oldest child will make dinner all by herself and she loves it because she feels important. When the younger ones help, be prepared for a bit more clean up afterwards. You can use that time to teach them about tidying up and make it fun. Helping hands in the kitchen does require a bit of patience but the kids will be pros in no time and you will be able to sit back and let them make dinner for you!

Sneaky, sneaky

There are loads of books and info online that give you recipes to sneak food into your child’s meals. Butternut squash can be put into grilled cheese, veggies like zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower can be pureed into sauces for pasta, avocado (which is actually a fruit, but super healthy nonetheless) can be mixed into low sugar brownies or breakfast muffins. Do a bit of research and see what you can mix your veggies into so that your children are getting all that they need. Raw veggies are very important for proper digestion so continue to offer those up too. Fun food presentation or a side of hummus for dipping can also be helpful to get those veggies in their tummies.

Sometimes we need a bit of help and as with most things, results won’t happen overnight. But you too can get your children to eat their veggies (and even enjoy them too!). Send me a message at services@amandahilton.ca to set up a consultation so I can help you with meal planning or with any other health goals you may have for you and your children. You can also check out my Instagram @amandahiltonrhn for meal ideas that include lots of veggies and are kid-friendly. 





 

Fun Fact About Oranges



Fun Fact About Oranges

Amanda Hilton

March 7, 2022
(updated September 8, 2023)

A morning in our house is never uneventful. Just this morning, as my son was eating his breakfast, he turned to me and said in disgust, “what is this white stuff on my orange?” Usually, I would spend a good part of my morning removing all the white peel under the skin from his orange before I dare put it on his plate, but on this particular day, his dad made breakfast.

I took this as the perfect opportunity to pipe up in my best nutritionist voice “that’s the pith.” I had hoped to follow it up with a list of all the wonderful benefits of keeping this “white stuff” on the orange while eating it, but instantly 3 sets of eyes shot in my direction with looks of confusion. First my husband, “the what? Is that what it’s called?” followed by my son, “the piss?”, and then his little sister parroted, “the PISS!”

“NO, NO, the pith!” I say, and of course my daughter developmentally can’t get out the “th” sound yet so she just keeps saying “the piss, my orange has piss on it”. UURRGG! Lucky for me, neither my son or daughter know the meaning of their new word so it turns out to be pretty harmless, for now.

After several attempts at correcting them, I merely threw my arms up and walked away. Later that day, I’m telling my oldest daughter about the breakfast incident and she gives me a confused look too. She says, “is that what it’s really called?”

Well now, after two people have called me out on my orange peel “white stuff” word, I begin to wonder if that IS really what it is called. What if I opened a can of worms needlessly? Was my attempt to show my fruit knowledge actually an error on my part? Are my kids running around with “piss” on their oranges now, for nothing?

Now my imposter syndrome has been triggered and my only defense is to hit the books. I do my research and yes! I’m not a phoney, it IS called the pith! So, two things to end my chat about the pith of the orange:

1. Imposter Syndrome is real! I can not tell you how many times I have called myself out on something that I KNOW is true but forced myself to believe otherwise.

2. The pith of an orange, even though disgusting to children, is actually beneficial. It contains as much vitamin C as the sweet fruit itself and is full of fibre, calcium, and immune-boosting flavonoids. So, try to keep some of that goodness on your next deliciously juicy orange.

I never actually got to share that second tidbit of information with my children. I’m kind of actually hoping they totally forget the whole conversation, lol. Check out my Instagram @amandahiltonrhn for more tidbits of information about nutrition and overall health and wellness. Also, feel free to message me at services@amandahilton.ca if you would like to set up a consultation to discuss a wellness action plan. 
289.440.1958
services@amandahilton.ca
Facebook
Instagram