Posted in Health, Nutrition, Whole Food on May 2nd, 2012
Written by Sondi Bruner from her west coast kitchen. Spinach, kale, arugula, dandelion, chard, collards, mizuna, sorrel. Spring has definitely sprung and these are just a few examples of dark leafy greens that are starting to pop up at farmers markets all around us. You might have already heard that greens are nutritional powerhouses, and here are a few reasons why we love them:
Posted in Announcements, Health, Nutrition on Apr 4th, 2012
There is nothing more amazing to me than when you challenge a great big company, and they actually step forward and answer. LOVE that! And I haven’t had much luck- still no word from Chef Boyardee, Baskin Robbins, Pop Chips, or McCain. Loblaws Carlton, however, have proven themselves awesome! A couple weeks ago I had my first job interview in years. Yes, with Loblaws. And now, it’s my chance to prove myself awesome. In response to the amazing call out we had with all my friends and faves on Twitter- over 150 people shouted out “Hey @LoblawsCarlton- we want @meghantelpner in your kitchen!” And that very same day, they emailed me wanting to chat. I had a great conversation with the class coordinator who agreed to have me come in for an ‘audition’ style class. And it’s coming up!
Posted in Health, healthwashing, Nutrition, Smart Choices on Mar 15th, 2012
Dear Loblaws, I want to work for you. A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a media/blogger event at thew new fancy pants Loblaws over at Carlton and Church. This was one event I couldn’t miss. A few weeks prior, I had been sent a document from the Dieticians of Canada- setting out to debunk what they were calling “Nutrition Myths”. I couldn’t help but notice that many of the ‘debunked myths’ were perfectly supporting many of the document’s sponsors including President’s Choice, Dairy Farmer’s of Canada, General Mills, Hellmann’s and Lipton.
Posted in healthwashing, Nutrition, Organic on Mar 14th, 2012
We’ve been talking a lot about healthwashing on the Love in the Kitchen blog lately. When it comes to some of the moo-vers and shakers of healthwashing, the dairy industry is right at the top. When perusing the Dietitians of Canada “myth debunker” last week, I was a bit stunned to see myth #16 which reads: “MYTH: Cows’ Milk is full of hormones and antibiotics.” The next one down read: “MYTH: Pasteurization Destroys vitamins and minerals in milk.” I was curious to see who were listed as sponsors for this “myth” debunking guide so I flipped back to the front page. Lo and behold, the Dairy Farmers of Canada were a main sponsor. (And, another sponsor was Hellmann’s mayo- see myth #36: Mayonnaise should be avoided when following a healthy diet.” Don’t even get me started there).
Posted in Giveaway, Health, healthwashing, Nutrition on Mar 12th, 2012
Have you picked up your copy of Meal Plan Magic yet? Rave reviews are already streaming in and we’re only just beginning! Amazingly intelligent eating is spreading across the globe! It is “Nutrition Month” after all- which I am sure you can guess is something I think is a big load of hooeygoobleygoop. Either way- there are all kinds of Healthwashed events happening and I was invited to one that I can not wait to tell you all about. If you are not yet versed in the ways of Healthwashing- check this out. This week, as we kick off our awesome Meal Plan Magic program (you got your first plan, right?), we’ll be debunking all kinds of “nutritional wisdom” which is most often not wisdom at all, just sponsored propaganda. You don’t want to miss this jazzercise.
Posted in Announcements, Health, Nutrition, Online courses on Mar 11th, 2012
It is very possible you have been under a rock all weekend. Yep, totally possible and if so- you haven’t heard the BIG news from the Love in the Kitchen headquarters. We are kicking off a brand spankin’ new nutritional cheerleading service for all my peeps all over the world, 24/7. I got together some of my fave nutritionists, chefs and culinary nutrition experts to submit their meal plans, boy did they deliver! We are all about the importance of planning your meals- otherwise it is oh so easy to fall off track. And we don’t want that, do we my loves!?
Posted in Happiness, Health, Nutrition, Parenting on Mar 8th, 2012
Customers and clients are often shocked to hear that I discovered hidden food allergies through my fertility awareness practice. It can be tricky to imagine how these two things could possibly be connected, but it’s true. About a year into my fertility awareness practice I decided to go on a raw food cleanse for a week. The decision was not entirely unrelated tomy charting – fertility awareness was playing an increasingly important role in my mission to treat my body as well as I could. But improving the quality of my cervical mucus was certainly not foremost in my mind when I decided to do this cleanse!
Posted in Happiness, Health, Inspiration, Nutrition, UNdiet, Weekly Recap on Jan 20th, 2012
Last week- this whole book thing became very, very, VERY real to me. We shot my book! Yes we did. I had a whole crew in the kitchen with me. My amazing kitchen fairies, my editor and the designer from my publisher McClelland and Stewart, my photographer Catherine Farquharson and her assistant Nicki, Amy Lam, my make-up artist, and Ashley Denton, the food stylist. Wowza did we zip through loads of goodness. It was so much fun. Day 1 of the shoot was all about me in action- playing in the kitchen. Day 2 and 3 we shot all the amazing food shots. On Sunday, I invited some ladies over for a fantastic brunch and we rounded out the four day shoot with a visit to my home to catch my man and I just hangin’. The book is all written. Handed in my last chapters before I left for Hawaii. Now I just have to edit. I can’t believe I have to wait a whole 11 months before I get to show off the prize of all these efforts. Wanna to me a favour and start getting excited right along with me? Maybe these pictures from the first couple days of the shoot might help.
(And before you ask- all clothes from my fave store ever- Anthropologie)
Posted in Creed, Happiness, Health, Holistic, Inspiration, Nutrition, Wellbeing, Wellness on Jan 6th, 2012
It almost seems to me that these creed topics come up at some kind of exactly perfectly timed moment. I am going line, by line, in the order to which they appear. But somehow- it’s always just the right one. Yesterday, I had an appointment with a personal shopper at Anthropologie to pick out my ensembles for my book shoot that’s happening next week. Colour was the theme of the day, let me tell you! My parents had me in montessori school for pre-school. Part of the philosophy of the school, if you’re not familiar, is letting kids find their own way and their own path. Part of this means that parents are encouraged to let their kids pick out their own outfits. And did I ever!
I remember so incredibly clearly, walking into my parents room, my face barely coming up to the edge of their bed and modelling my latest ensemble for them, asking “Does this go?”. It never did, but looking at old photo albums, it is clear that my parents just lied to me and said “you bet!”. I can remember being asked by a boy in my class in grade three or four, why I had so many barrettes in my hair. I used to try and wear as many hair accessories as my little head of hair could withstand. I wore tap dancing costumes to school as my outfit of choice, and believed it a personal flaw if I ever had the same article of clothing as someone else. Wearing clashing, ridiculous, colour combos seems to have been born and bread in me. It’s just more fun that way. (And you’ve met my dad, right? Genetic maybe?)
Posted in gluten free, Health, Holistic, Nutrition, Recipe, Smart Choices, Vegan, Video, Wellbeing, Wellness, Whole Food on Jan 4th, 2012
I have weird collections. It used to be shoes. Now it’s foraged mushrooms, and sea weed. Everywhere I go, I check out the local sea vegetables. People now send me gifts of seaweed from their own fair shores too (feel free!). Nothing, however, has stolen my heart quite like Irish or Sea Moss (twin brothers from different mothers). This unsuspecting superfood has been my top of the charts seller since I started carrying it. Not an easy thing to find but an absolute smoothie essential, if you ask me. Also a top, top, top food to eat to help with all your daily detox efforts. Cleans up the thyroid, sheds radiation, strips the gut of excess mucous buildup and other fine jazz. Makes the drinks so silky smooth, keeps all the goods you throw in there in solution, and heals the gut and thyroid like nothing else. You have been asking for it and at long, long last- I have put together my how-to video for Irish Moss. Now, save your Q’s ’cause I now have your A’s answered. All in this video…
Posted in Cleansing, Health, Inspiration, Nutrition, Recipe, Smart Choices, Wellbeing, Wellness on Jan 3rd, 2012
We’re busy bees in the kitchen today- or more accurately, on our computers as we manage your Q’s with our A’s and all the deets and registrations for our Fab Detox. Yep. It goes on sale today at 10:00am EST and we have just 45 spots available. We sold out on our pre-registration in just 24 hours and we expect the same to happen today. Remember- $79 when you buy today, up to $89 if you hum and haw and wait until tomorrow (and there may not even be any left). Back in November we sold out in a crazy five hours! Now, on with the show. I cooked up a storm for our New Year’s eve dinner with three amazing brand new recipes that I will be sharing soon. For now, though, I will share a little post-holiday detox juicing loving. This drink is a treat and a half whether you are in post-holiday recovery mode, ready to get started on your Fab Detox adventure or just want some new smoothie or juicing inspiration.
Posted in Announcements, Happiness, Health, Nutrition, Wellbeing, Wellness on Dec 7th, 2011
It’s been quite the ride the past three months. The time has come to say goodbye to the kitchen and I wanted to take this last opportunity to share some insight and talk about my experience. After three months of cooking classes, workshops, detoxing, packaging 100 pounds of smelly Irish moss, messes made and cleaned up – there have been lots of laughs and days of full bellies here at the kitchen. Today, I can proudly say that I can bake a really good batch of gluten free muffins…among other things, and I have truly appreciated and loved every moment of being part of the Making Love in The Kitchen Team. Meghan has been our leader, fearlessly running the show while Alexa and I (currently known as thing 1 and thing 2 – an unstoppable team) have been behind the scenes cooking, organizing, prepping and observing. Words cannot express how much I have grown the past three months. After graduating from nutrition school in October, I never could have imagined feeling as prepared and excited about going out into the world to spread the word of health after my time here.
Posted in gluten free, Health, Nutrition, Recipe on Nov 14th, 2011
We’ve had loads of interns and extra special helpers pass through this here fair kitchen of ours over the last three years. What I have come to discover is that each and everyone is special in her own unique way (yes, they have all been women). They each have their own area of expertise and interest and all seem to develop a fixation on a certain thing. I feel sad to say that I passed along my secret crush on rice cakes to Jill. I hear her crunching all the time even though we all know they should be just a once in a while thing.
Posted in Health, Nutrition, Podcast, Whole Food on Nov 10th, 2011
Guest: Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete, bestselling author on performance nutrition, and the creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called VEGA. He is also a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion. I had the opportunity to chat with Brendan about his book, transitioning to a plant based diet, the balance of our diet and the environment and did my best to find out some personal nuggets.
Posted in Health, Healthy Treats, Nutrition, Recipe on Nov 1st, 2011
Everyone who spreads a little of my All Purpose Edible Body Butter on their hands, lips, cuticles, or face is always so excited by it- declaring it good enough to eat. I, of course, remind them that they can. That it actually is good enough to eat, meaning everything contained within it is 100% edible. Then I suggest they get an extra jar to keep in the boudoir. Everyone has a bit of a nervous giggle and then they get a second jar.
At my recent Edible Beauty Care workshop (next one, sad for you, isn’t until April), I decided to impress my guests by whipping up, on the spot, without first testing it, a warm smoothie latte that would, in fact, taste just the same as my Edible Body Butter, and using nearly identical ingredients.
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