My Wife the Dietitian

We know that shift work can have detrimental ripple effects on health, but, have you ever considered the people working in the aviation industry? From watching movies about people travelling, it may seem like a glamorous lifestyle with so many perks to flying. The frequent changes to flight arrivals and departures, plus, shifts in travel schedules, and multiple flights in a week or even a day can...

What are some signs of dehydration? How can being dehydrated affect the body? Is the ‘gallon challenge’ really needed to get enough water in a day ? What are some practical strategies to get more fluid in your daily intake? These are some of the questions that Sandra asks Rob in this soaking wet episode. Episodes mentioned include Nutrition Nuggets 17 - How much water to drink?https://youtu.be/4Z3...

Is yogurt the new soda pop? This is a question that we've taken from a listener. Also, this idea had been bantered around at Sandra's pre-natal and baby groups recently. What is the key word on the Nutrition Facts label to look at when comparing and buying yogurt? We discuss what yogurt is, how it is used and why it's thought (by some) to be the new soda pop. Tune in for the sweet or s...

Sandra challenges Rob with a contest to see who has a greater number of plant foods in their breakfast. Aiming for the diversity of 30 different plants in a week to maintain a healthy gut biome, along with variety and balance in our diet, breakfast is a perfect meal to start out on the right foot. Tune in and see who wins :) Enjoying the show? Consider leaving a 5 star review, and/or sharing this...

Does a plant-based diet mean vegetarian? How can women include more plants and vegetables into their daily eating patterns without becoming fully vegetarian? Karen Hawkins, RDN from dietitiango.com discusses ways to help move women toward a more healthy, plant-based diet in a sustainable way. We refer to ⁠'Vegan for Runners'⁠ Ep 48 episode with Scott Fickerson on this episode and Ep 107 ⁠F...

Mom said "eat your veggies!" "My son doesn't eat his greens and I'm wondering if this matters and why they're important?" Taken from a listener question, this is an episode devoted to the colour green and why eating 'your greens' is so important. Also, we discuss some practical strategies to help incorporate more greens in the family meals. Enjoying the show...

What does spice have to do with it? The fusion of tastes from all over the world (and originating from Morocco), chef and co-owner/operator Bouchra Savard, of the Swept Away Inn, thinks that the taste of food depends on the right combination of spices. Food is celebration, and eating together with friends, family, and strangers who become friends, is what the Swept Away Inn prides itself on. Join...

"I don't eat frozen fruit". "Fresh is best and I won't eat frozen vegetables or fruits" These are common themes I hear when I am talking with clients. When it comes to produce, the more variety the better and this includes adding some frozen fruit and vegetables to the freezer to include more often, for all seasons. Rob and Sandra discuss five fabulous fruits for the fr...

An eating pattern or diet that works for you, may not work for your friend. There’s bio-individuality around body functions, behaviors and daily habits that affect our health. With the 'diet du jour' with social media trends, the ‘all or nothing’ thinking of starting a perfect eating plan and getting thrown off schedule, is a common issue that many people have when embarking on a new diet...

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are some favourite herbs that Simon and Garfunkel sang about in the love song, "Scarborough Fair". What about basil, oregano, mint and coriander? They didn't quite rhyme with the lyrics, but are just as flavourful and tasty to use in the kitchen. Tune in to hear about fresh herbs to grow and preserve for use to flavour your meals for taste and good h...

What's for dinner?!? A question that often gives women anxiety, if they haven't planned for meals or don't have supplies to make supper for the family. If there is a dinner plan, is it nutritious, do they like it, and will they eat it. Today, we talk to Szilvia Brennan from "Beyond Food Nutrition". In this episode, we also refer to " ⁠What's for Dinner⁠ ", which...

Little nuggets of goodness.....the almighty chickpea. Air fried, oven-baked or toaster oven roasted........all are home-baked methods to make roasted, crispy chickpeas. You can also buy them in a package, but, the flavour, texture and nutritional value is so great when you make them at home. Tune in for some spice suggestions to help flavour these crispy nuggets of plant-based goodness. Enjoying t...

People love the taste of meat and here's an excuse to eat more of it, especially, if you want to buck convention and be in a niche group with many social media followers. If it walked, swam or flew, this diet is for you. No plants allowed on the carnivore diet, no vegetables, no fruits, no legumes, nuts, seeds or dairy, as those all have carbohydrates and aren't animal based. Tune in to ha...

Topped with crispy tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado, and a squeeze of lime, tortilla soup can be the flavourful, comfort soup that you need to feel alive. Today, we talk about the many variations of this Mexican classic and discuss the various spices and flavourful ingredients that can make this soup so delicious. We reference Food Network's Marcela Valladolid and her clas...

Is diet soda better than regular? How about artificial sweeteners, sugar substitutes and alternatives to sugar? How do they fit into a healthy eating plan and lifestyle? We address these concepts, as we answer a question from a listener. Enjoying the show? Consider leaving a 5 star review, and/or sharing this episode with your friends and family :) Sign up for our ⁠newsletter⁠ on our website for w...

Feeling hungry and angry? Perhaps, you went out and it's been quite a few hours since you last ate and you are getting more irritable, anxious and angry. Maybe, you don't even recognize your hunger cues, as you've tuned them out long ago, after years of dieting and following certain meal plans. Or, maybe, you feel hungry at odd times, like just before bed or just going out to run some...

The first 1000 days (from conception to the child's second birthday) is a unique window of opportunity to shape a child's future health. Ensuring proper nutrition during this period is critical for influencing optimal growth, development, and the success of long-term health and prevention of disease. Prior to conception, the health of the male sperm is paramount for the pregnancy to be hea...

Will using plant-based meat alternatives be healthier than eating beef or other meat burgers? Are the veggie ground round products overly processed and filled with chemicals? These questions are derived from a listener question about using veggie ground round in her family's meals. We delve into some of the pros and cons of plant-based alternatives and meat. Enjoying the show? Consider leaving...

Longevity seems to be a hot topic. The 'blue zones' are five distinct areas in the world , where people live long with vitality and good quality of life. The Mediterranean diet is one of the most well researched diets to demonstrate a pattern of eating and lifestyle that offers many elements for health, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. There's al...

Restrict, reduce, decrease, limit and avoid are just some of the familiar words you may hear when someone is describing a "diet". The keto, paleo, intermittent fasting, low fat, low carb and caveman diets, are some of the common and popular diets that people are following these days, thanks to social media and many 'gurus' in the coaching space. Do you really need to follow a cer...

Does shopping around the perimeter guarantee a healthier grocery cart? What do those food labels with 'gluten-free' mean? Are foods with more than 5 ingredients really that unhealthy? Today, we bust some common misconceptions about diet and nutrition with our special guest, dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix. There's lots of great nuggets in this one! For more info on Bonnie, visit her website...

Life is busy and families find it difficult to connect over a meal with the schedules of the week. Today, we discuss the importance of eating together for family meals, for child development, physical, linguistic, social, psychological and nutritional health. Tune in for five reasons and ways to find time to eat together. Other episodes mentioned in this include E p 111 Raising Healthy Families wi...

Should you avoid all carbs? What's the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates? What about prebiotics for gut health? How can we include more 'resistant starches' in our day to day eating? We discuss all of these questions as well as other simple and complex information about carbohydrates. With this comprehensive conversation, we discuss what resistant starch is, what the...

Going to the grocery store can feel like a trip that breaks the bank. Without enough planning and making a list of essential staples that are needed, it's easy to go over budget for food shopping. In response to a listener question, we discuss 12 actionable strategies to save money on groceries. We also refer back to: Ep 8 Grocery Tour Ep 78 Budget Friendly Grocery Tips with Joni Rampolla, RD...

Heartburn is a common health condition that most people experience at least one time in their lives. Acid reflux aka heartburn, can turn in to GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) which is a chronic and persistent condition from ongoing heartburn. About 20% of the population require medication to help relieve their severe symptoms of acid reflux and require medications, such as PPI's (proto...