Food For Thought - the Podcast

When do you feel like a relationship is being negatively impacted because of an impasse you find yourself at? Why are you at an impasse? Is it because you have both dug in your heels and you refuse to budge? The proverbial line in the sand has been drawn? Why is there no progress, no middle ground, no resolution? Tune in to this final episode of Season 4 where Jeremy and I take a look at why we ne...

We talk a lot about respect in our workshops, as part of Respect in the CAF, when we talk about creating an environment in the classroom that will be conducive to learning, so please let's be respectful of one another, our opinions, viewpoints and stories that are shared. But what I think we might still be missing the mark on is the very real issue of not only respecting diversity, but taking it t...

It might also have been aptly titled, 'why are you so angry?' but the fact is that anger is something that we have all experienced, in many quarters seems to be at an all time high and is something that a lot of people are uncomfortable with - either because they are on the receiving end of unjustified or ill-communicated anger, or are not super stoked about how it's the one emotion that they exhi...

Active living, physical activity, exercise - are these words the same, variations on a theme, and if not, how are they different? Join Charissa and Jeremy as they dive into the meanings, differences and translatable tips on how to get more movement into your life. Not only because of the decreased risk of conditions we have all heard about, but for some of the more surprising benefits that come fr...

If you think that taking care of yourself is selfish, then you need to listen to this episode and Nicole Emerson takes over the controls and we have a terrific conversation about self-care. We talk about what self-care is and isn't, how we can make it a priority, the role that work (and leadership) has in making self-care both more attainable and less needed (oh the irony). So listen and get some...

As the country (and countries around the world) start to loosen restrictions, there are people that are happy and some that are worried and maybe less happy. EVERYONE has been impacted by the last two years, and we know that the social connections, we have, we lost and we need to build or rebuild, are going to be key in how we cope moving forward -whatever that ends up looking like. So join the wh...

From the Gut Microbiome in our last episode, to the other half of the gut-brain connection, today we are talking about the Mind Diet! Join Cheryl Nickurak and I as we tackle the ways that we can protect our cognitive health, navigate allergies and still make choices that support local growers/producers while considering the environment! There's lots to cover and there are some fun recipes mentione...

It's Nutrition Month - the 40th Edition of Nutrition Month and we are going to be talking about some of the big themes this year and how they impact our choices, our health and the health of our planet as well as taking a look at the teeny tiny inhabitants of our gut - the gut microbiome, what it is, what it does and why we need to look after it. Join our Base Dietitian Cheryl Nickurak and I as we...

Ah sleep - for some, a nightly given, for others something they would gladly have more of and for others a wistful and elusive dream. Why is sleep so different, so difficult (at times) and so important? Find out all this and more as your HP Dream team dives into sleep - join, Heather, Nicole and Charissa as they discuss the need for, the benefits of and the effects of too little, sleep. It will be...

Whether you are in a committed romantic relationship or not, it's a good idea to make sure that we have people in our lives that we like to be with, are fun to hang around with, will (hopefully) keep us out of trouble and will be there when we invariably are let down, frustrated or in need of a good venting session. But it's not always easy, especially if your friends are in a hometown on the othe...

It's Bell Let's Talk week so what better subject to tackle than Mental Health. It is one of the biggest challenges resulting directly from the effects of the pandemic, and we need to do a better job of helping one another, supporting one another and calling out those that would mock or belittle the need for or those who ask for help. "Join the conversation" with Nicole Emerson and I as we talk abo...

It's that time of year again...not only are we rolling out a new season of our rebranded podcast, (hello everyone and welcome to Food for Thought) but many people are dusting off their annual New Year's resolutions. Too often they involve eating better, getting "back into shape" or something like that. We'll be tackling food in March, but for this first episode join Heather Gareau-Miller as we tal...

Here it is - the intro for our re-branded podcast! Everything you ever wanted to know about being the best you can be - mentally, physically and emotionally. From sleep to working out (smarter not harder) to stress and substance use, we are going to cover it all in Season 4. With new guests, old favourites, and your team Edmonton Health Promotion Specialists guiding the way, this is going to be a...

People drink for many reasons - do you know yours? There are both positives and negatives to drinking, the catch is that depending on your motivation for drinking - it can quickly become a slippery slope.  We know that stress and anxiety, which are a part of life, are reasons some people drink, and we also know that the pandemic has increased the stress and anxiety - which means that the risk for...

Drug use has been either hidden, villainized or both and neither helped to deal with the whys around why people used. With the legalization of cannabis there have emerged a number of new problems as people feel more comfortable being open about their use, or trying it for the first time.  Anecdotal evidence has long suggested there were medicinal benefits, but it is only now that we can start to d...

Gaming and gambling have literally gone viral as online versions of both have taken the stage. People can choose to participate in online gaming and gambling 24/7 and there are consequences to that - both in terms of potential financial cost, but the costs to mental health, relationships and quality of life.  It can be a fun way to pass the time, maybe connect with like-minded others or feel the t...

Join Edmonton's Health Promotion Specialists as they discuss what success could mean to you - if you choose to redefine it and picture it in a way that is drastically different from what society has us believe is success. Understand how the conversations that we have with ourselves and the different sources of influence that impact that conversation also impacts how successful we can (or can't be)...

Have you ever wondered why you keep setting goals and you keep not achieving them? Are you tired of "failing"? Maybe what you need is a little James Clear and his Atomic Habits to get you sorted! Join Edmonton's Health Promotion Specialists as they walk you through how getting your systems in order increases the chances that the success you redefined in Episode 1 is going to come to fruition. You...

If you still believe that there are good and bad foods and that you are good or bad for eating them, then join your Edmonton Health Promotion Specialists as they smash that notion into far left field.  We all have a relationship with food - some are just a little more dysfunctional than others. It doesn't mean that you are weird or messed up just that you need to go a little deeper than thinking i...

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have a do over or a mulligan? Well, when it comes to getting to the other side of that finish line - there are as many clean slates as you need! Sound crazy? Well it isn't so much crazy as a radically different way of stopping ourselves from beating ourselves up for making mistakes. Last I checked we were all still human and there is no one that hasn't made mist...

Are you tired of living feeling like you are being controlled by your food, your body image, or what the world is telling us that we should look like, be like, and eat like? If you are ready to have a different conversation with yourself and explore what your relationship with food is and how you would like to take back control - then check out the trailer and tune in for the rest of the series. ...

It's unlikely that you have not heard of the BMI, and it's even less likely that you don't have stories about how BMI impacted (mostly negatively) people's lives and careers. Listen to Nicole and Charissa talk about the interesting history and path that the BMI took from it's mathematical origins to a tool that has in truth, done more harm than good. It's the last episode before the rebrand, so si...

Could it be that it's really just as simple as counting your macros - those carbs, proteins and fats and you will soon be rockin' that beach body? Or is there something that "they" aren't telling you. Join Heather and I as we tackle this next myth - is it nutritional accountability or a bald-faced lie? Find out by hearing some real life numbers to see whether this is a dream come true or nothing m...

Join Jeremy Peressini and I as we talk about how the myth around being able to crunch your way to a 6-pack may have come to be and what we need to know about carrying on with trying to achieve the potentially impossible. What are the other things we need to think about when we are doing activity, whether that is living an active lifestyle or "working out"? What are our goals and how have they been...

Join Nicole Emerson and Charissa McKay as they look at and unpack some of the myths around weight loss. They will dig into why there is still this pressure to "lose weight" and why it is way harder than the social media influencers, pop culture and the diet industry would have you believe. you may not like the answer - but truth is often a hard pill to swallow. Thanks for listening - be sure to su...