Favourite Things for March

I can't believe March is almost over! Time seems to fly by. As I did for February, there are a couple things I've tried/experienced which I really liked over this month!

March is a teaser month- it's the end of winter (supposedly) yet, we still experience sub zero temperatures. But, these are a few things which made the beginning of spring that much sweeter.

1. Vegetarian Chili.


Easiest. Thing. Ever. Seriously.

All you need is:

1. 1 can of tomatoes
2. 1 can of beans (really can use any kind of beans, I like using bean salad)
3. Chili flavoring (usually pre-packaged, bought it for under $2 at Planet Organic)

All you do is mix all 3 into a sauce pan and stir until desired thickness. So delish and simple!

2. Running

I've been running now for almost a year and began training for my third 10K race. I usually run in the summer, but figured spring is all about new beginnings! I've joined a running clinic and have been pretty good in maintaining a set schedule. I've also been doing yoga twice a week as a cross training method.

3. Tomato and Avocado Sandwiches

Both are delish foods, and high in nutrient value. It's quite simple:

1. Toast bread
2. Scoop and core 1/2 of an avocado and spread on toast
3. Slice 1/2 a tomato and place on top of avocado
4. Enjoy!

Again, so simple and wonderfully filling.

Hope April brings in some more favorite things!

Organic Food in the Globe and Mail

Today's Globe and Mail had an interesting article about the recession and organic foods. Specifically, the article focuses on 'mom and pop' type organic food stores and how the recession has affected them. Enjoy!

Organic vs Regular Food

Over the past few years organic foods have been thrust into the limelight. Soon, organic food stores popped up everywhere, becoming almost as popular as regular grocery stores. Even in grocery stores organic and natural foods have become increasingly popular.

Foods which we have grown to love have jumped on the natural and organic train. Majority of ads focus their type on the natural benefits of their product. However, the prices for these items are sometimes double the regular price for their conventional option.





I'm not sure where I stand on this debate. I know it's not well liked to be a fence sitter on issues, but I am. I do believe organic apples taste way better than regular apples. I had organic yogurt covered pretzels and nearly died from splendor. However, foods with shells and peels I have yet to see a difference.

There are many articles about this issue. Grinning Planet is pro-organic article, reporting in detail the benefits of organic. Actually, majority of hits which came up on goggle were pro-organic. I couldn't find an article strictly supporting conventional foods. If you do find one, please let me know!

Foods which should be eaten as organic tend to be those without a shell or peel. If you do not prepare the food prior to eating (apples, strawberries, potatoes, etc) should be organic. The best thing to do it to buy something organic, along with its conventional option and do a taste test. If you don't like it, then don't buy it! But don't simply buy one over the other based strictly on others options. Do what is best for you and your body. You are your best investment, so invest wisely!

My Cambodian Veg Story

On Saturday night, I attended a birthday dinner party. The hostess knew I was a veg, and made a wonderful veg friendly lasagna. Upon hearing about my culinary choices, I heard the phrase, "Oh wow, a vegetarian? Now, WHY would you EVER want to be one? What made you decide to be one?" My favorite was, "Vegetarian, well that means you can eat this shrimp, right?"

My life as a veg started about 2 years ago. In May 2007, I traveled to Cambodia for a month, volunteering with several NGOs (non government organizations). We were warned that sanitation was not the highest quality and be weary about what we ate. During the beginning of the month (this time I was still a meatatarian) I ate some chicken, beef and pork. This all changed after 2 life altering experience. The first, happened during a visit to the Russian Market. Essentially, this market is hundreds of 'shops' huddled together in a small area. You can buy clothes, purses, jewelery and food. We walked through the market and came to the food shops. Now, when I say shops, I mean, we saw where and how food, especially meat, was prepared. I won't go into details, but essentially, I saw bare feet touching meat, meat laying out in the sun, flies and other bugs landing on meat, among other sights. This definitely turned my stomach.

The second experience happened during our visit to Angkor Wat. I was walking back to the tuk tuk (Cambodian mode of transportation) and saw recently deceased pigs, bundled together, on the back of a motorcycle. Gross! After this, I swore off pork and beef. I stopped eating chicken and fish this past summer, just to see if I could do it. And, I have! I mean, if someone forgot that I am a veg, then I may eat seafood. Majority of the time I love my veggies!

My Running Goals

In my 10k clinic, we were told to write down our short and long term goals. I thought if I published them on the web, I'd be held more accountable!

ULTIMATE GOAL: Run a marathon before I am married (17 months from now)

DREAM GOAL (what you need to do to get to ultimate goal): Complete 10k training without injury and without missing more than three clinics

PERFORMANCE GOAL: Run Mississauga 10k race in 50 minutes and without walking

EXTRINSIC REWARD: If I complete my performance goal, I will buy something cute from Lululemon :)

As of now, running 5km in 30 minutes.....9 weeks to go.....

My other love...running

Although this blog is dedicated to a veggie lifestyle, that does not always have to be about food. Regular physical activity is another aspect to living veg. For me, my hobby and exercise of choice is running. I have only been running seriously for about a year. I ran track and field in high school, but only short distances. In OAC my friend Megan and I tried our luck at cross country. Unfortunately, my undiagnosed asthma had another agenda, and prevented me from fully competing. Now, asthma is under control, and after running two 10K races, I have the passion.

On Friday I began my Running Room 10K clinic. We run on Wednesday and Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. This weekend had horrible weather (-20 at night, -16 Sunday morning) but I still ran!



The Running Room offers both walking and running clinics, ranging from Learning How to Run/Walk to Marathon & Triathlon training. My group consists of about 15 runners, with me being probably one of the youngest. So do not let age be your excuse! It's a great way to get out and remain accountable to yourself. You are your best resource, so you should invest in yourself!



Winter running has its pros and cons. You don't have to deal with smog and humidity, but you do deal with wind chills and ice. Dressing appropriately is very important. You need multiple layers.



These tops have an exceptional sleek, slim fit and work as a base layer or on their own. Spandex in fabric provides muscle support and ease of mobility. They come in a variety of colors and sizes.



This unisex jacket has Fabric zip toggle, which makes it easier to rip it off when you get too warm. There are also water beads off surface, 3 Scotchlite tapping on front and arms for 360 degree visibility (very important if you run in the dark) and underarm zippers for improved ventilation.



Finally, dry fit running leggings allow your legs to move easily, without tripping over yourself. It keeps warmth in, and are wind resistant. The head is another VERY important area to cover. Toques, ear warmers and baseball caps prevent heat from leaving your head. Now, don't feel like you need to break the bank. Some prefer Nike, while others go to Winners. It's all up to you. Remember, the fact that you're out there, putting one foot forward is WAY more important than how you dress.