My Wife the Dietitian

Food makes up approximately 20% of an individual's total fluid intake in a day. If your diet is primarily 'shelf stable' foods that are highly processed with more sodium content, your water and fluid intake requirements are increased. That's why today, we are discussing 'foods that are naturally hydrating' for your body. We discuss why we need these types of foods that prov...

“When a startled scallop scoots along the ocean floor, it rhythmically claps its shells—jetting water behind it—propelling itself forward with surprising bursts of speed, away from predators...." What does the restaurant menu item, 'surf and turf' mean to you? Do you automatically think of steak and lobster? In general, some steakhouses offer the seasonally available and fresh seafood...

Taken from a question from a client, "If I'm trying to lose weight, should I skip breakfast to reduce my overall calories in the day?" Great question, that I hear over and over again. It makes sense if you consider the popular phrase, "calories in vs calories out". The problem is, our bodies are not machines, and it doesn't necessarily work that way. Our metabolism and...

"The day when doctor's say take 10 cherries and call me in the morning" may not be far off, according to a recent Newsweek article.  Taken from the book  The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden, tis the season...summer season, that is, for cherries to be dripping off the trees. This fruit has some historical significance, and is quite beneficial for health, for several reas...

With 74 % of Americans being overweight or obese, weight loss drugs seem to be the magic pill and answer for so many. But, is it? Today, we delve into many varying health perspectives that could be influenced by GLP-1 medications and weight loss without a strategy. The idea that people may actually become malnourished, or 'skinny fat' over time with a future self lacking adequate lean mass...

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.....or gummy bear:)   Many of our favourite snacks, cereals, and food items contain food dyes that may be phased out over the coming years due to new regulations. With colours, such as red, yellow and blue, these food colourings give cup cakes their bright coloured frosting, along with flavoured yogurts, skittles, and even orange cheeses. With new FDA regula...

After a debilitating health condition developed in his thirties, Brian Bentow went on a journey of healing his body with food and nutrition instead of the medications that his doctor recommended for Crohn's disease. After following the autoimmune diet protocol for several weeks, without 'cheat days', Brian was able to heal many of the symptoms and helped restore some function to his life. With his...

What do you get when you put two pieces of sourdough, with cheese sandwiched in the middle? The classic toastie (or toasty) as our son spells it :) For our mid-week Nutrition Nuggets episode, we discuss this delicious comfort food that pairs well with lentil-veggie soup, or on its own as a gourmet sandwich meal. Looking through Jamie Oliver's cookbook, 15 Minute Meals, we discuss some variatio...

How can what you eat affect your body's hormones? Does diet influence inflammation in the system? Tracy Mann, RD has extensive knowledge and expertise on women's health and helping people manage hormone dysfunction, including women who live with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), the most common endocrine disorder in the world. We cover topics such as strategies to help manage visceral fat (belly...

" What are some healthy dips, so, I can snack on veggies and dip in the afternoon, " is a common question Sandra gets from clients, who are looking to improve their health and eat less 'processed & pre-packaged 'snacky and junky foods. Rob makes three incredible tasting and healthy dips, including Tzatziki, hummus, and guacamole. Today, we discuss the health benefits of these...

Come along for this ride!  Join us for a fun and lively discussion with pharmacist, Dr. Dean Elbe. Sandra and Dean were colleagues close to 30 years ago when Sandra first started out in clinical nutrition. Rob and Sandra have some questions for Dean and the conversation covers a broad range of topics such as GLP-1 antagonists (weight loss medications), grapefruit and medication interactions, caffe...

Bagels, cereal, and muffins are some common breakfast foods eaten regularly in North America, but studies show that including a source of protein at breakfast is the way forward if your goal is to lose weight. Today, we discuss why protein foods are important to include at breakfast, how they help with weight loss, and what foods to include to help ensure there's a good source of protein for y...

It's camping season and Rob and Sandra share some stories and laughs from past camping trips. Spoiler alert.....the bear didn't like the tofu! Listen in for ideas on what to pack, how to store food safely, and cook it efficiently. Also, some tips on what not to do. This one is sure to make you giggle! Check out these other episodes for some helpful meal ideas: Fiber and Protein Lunch Ideas...

Perhaps, you've nailed your healthy breakfast most days and dinners are working well, but lunch.....lunch, that midday meal, is still a struggle to take a break and stop working to eat something more substantial than a few crackers and hummus. To help with preventing late day cravings and overeating at dinner, including a substantial amount of food with protein, fibre, and veggies can offer an...

There are differences when cooking for a group compared to cooking for yourself or your family. Some challenges may include scaling of the recipes, accommodating diverse dietary needs and restrictions, space constraints, and ensuring cleanliness for food safety of the meals. There are some benefits to having a dinner party, potluck, or 'supper club' compared to going out to a restaurant. Rob and S...

"I'm not hungry in the morning.....", " I struggle with weight", "I'm not sleeping well..." If any of these statements resonate with you, tune in to today's episode. Rob and Sandra discuss a tried and true strategy that helps with many of the difficulties that people have with these problems. Episodes mentioned: Ep 16. Sleep Problems - More than Just Caffeine https://youtu.be/fBKdgiwM5hw?si=0H1lwB...

Today, we discuss "Why stress, under-eating, and burnout are crashing metabolism and energy" with dietitian and performance coach, Andres Ayesta, owner of Planos Nutrition. We examine metabolism, stress, and various extreme diets and how they can impact an individual's health goals in the short and long term. With over 12 years of private practice, Andres has many client examples, pl...

What's the difference between sugar and added sugars, and do they affect my body in the same way? This is a great question from a listener that we address today. I think we all know that there's a lot of sugar in the typical North American diet. Many of the foods that we buy from the store have an assortment of added sugars with various names and from different sources. Having too much tot...

Humans are a collection of their daily habits, which ultimately affect their health and long-term risk for disease. Sandra and Rob discuss the power of celebrating your small wins and how important it is to just keep improving with small, consistent, incremental changes. Resources: Stages of Change for Behaviour Change https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10170434/  Prochaska, James O.; Velicer, Wayne...

Farro....what is it?" The traditional grain of the Mediterranean," as the package exclaims. This whole grain can replace rice in many dishes, including salads, side dishes, soups, or even warm cereal. It is a hearty grain with a chewy texture and rich, nutty flavour, similar to barley or orzo.  Tune in to hear Rob and Sandra's take on this unique and versatile grain. Episodes mention...

Warm, or cold brew, stimulating matcha tea...is it really worth all of the hype with the hipsters? It does have some great benefits, but there are also some cautions to be aware of with this beverage. Listen in to some energizing information about matcha. Resources mentioned include: Fatty Liver Ep 39 How to Put Your Liver on a Diet https://youtu.be/79DNBWNEXYA?si=dadaUwPVXPBV7CyW Study on Green T...

Do you feel 'addicted' to coffee? Are you feeling anxious or experiencing stomach pain after drinking coffee, or worried about quitting it cold turkey? Tune in to our listener question about her coffee habit and what to do about it. This one will keep you buzzed and on the edge of your seat :) Episodes mentioned include: Ep 16 Sleep Problems - More Than Just Caffeine  https://youtu.be/fBKd...

Today, Sandra quizzes Rob on gut health, inflammation, and fats. These themes are all interconnected, and we discuss the role that certain types of fat have for our gut health and overall health. We talk about the biggest sources of fat in the average Canadian diet and if any of these foods are also included in the anti-inflammatory MIND diet. We link back these stats to reasons why (in general) t...

No time for exercise during the day? Working all day in an office and exhausted by the end of the work day and just can't muster up the strength to go to the gym? Use your office as a gym and take mini workout breaks with some simple movements in your workspace. Listen in for some creative movements that you can do, while in your office to break out of the sedentary routine. Check out these ot...

Break the fast! and eat regularly through the day for optimal energy, mood, focus and reduce cravings and binging later in the day. Today, we highlight a case study of Tammy (fictional name), who wanted an overhaul of her diet to help with her energy, reduce cravings later in the day and help with 'belly fat' that has been creeping up since starting her new job. Stay tuned for insight on s...