I've been wanting to write about food for a long time and a visual from a trip yesterday completed my thoughts.

To celebrate the return to school I decided to take the kids on a surprise trip to Marineland.  I even gave in and paid 8 bucks per child to have them feed and pat a Beluga whale.  As I watched the raw fish dangle and then drop straight into the belly of the whale, I silently sighed to myself, "That poor guy, he doesn't even get to sink his big teeth into that food, it just falls right into his gut."  Perhaps I should've been concerned with my child's fingers, but instead I was thinking how we forget that we are intended to enjoy the taste, beauty and power of food instead of constricting, ignoring or grouping food into "diet" categories.  Most of us have a complex relationship with food which I believe begins when we move away from eating what tastes good in our mouths, paired most importantly with what continues to make us feel good 10 minutes after we leave the table.  It seems so simple, but we know it's not because emotions and habits influence us and something what tasted good and had you feeling great can morph to a painful and bloated experience after the 2nd unnecessary helping.   

If I have one wish for my children, it is that they will grow up being aware that good tasting food is a gift to be enjoyed each day and that the enjoyment of that gift is intended to make them feel well, centered and strong mentally and physically. 

And so, I have created an evolving recipes tab on my website to celebrate those recipes that light up my eyes when I read the ingredients and those that have been tried and tested by myself and those of you looking for yummy foods that gave you great meal experiences.       

We have a second brain in our bodies and it's our stomach.  Mine told me 5 years ago that it could no longer handle the daily agony that had me doubled over at work and so I began relearning what foods could taste good and make me feel good at the same time.  It's a daily journey of discovery for me and one that I enjoy and find fascinating, so I read a lot of recipe books and health articles, watch snippets of cooking shows while in the kitchen, consult with a holistic nutritionist who keeps me honest and share "finds" with my friends and with you. 

I hope you see some recipes that delight you and please send me any of your tried and tested recipes that fulfill the yum and wellness factor, 

Sue
p.s. Remember those crackers?
At our "Nurturing Your Whole Self" fitness and fashion show at Joelle's, Two Girls Cooking introduced us to their special raw, organic, gluten-free vegetable crackers.  After the show and much love and hard work, their crackers can now be found in many natural stores, including the Goodness Me locations in Hamilton and Burlington.  These crackers are unlike anything I've tasted and are a super food and great snack/mini-lunch option paired with your favorite hummus, raw relish or on their own.

Flavours: 
Mexican Beet Fiesta - Spicy
Mr. Rutabaga Smith - Savory
Sweetie's Zesty Carrot - Sweet