by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 11, 2013 | Dessert, Detoxification, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Nutrition, Recipes
I first heard about chia pudding, where else, but among my colleagues, fellow students of naturopathic medicine and self-professed health nuts. Chia seeds are chock full of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. When placed in water and left for a while their fibre begins to form a gel, creating a “pudding”. I love pudding, but there are few things less naturopathic than the traditional store-bought pudding cups. Here is a great way to get your fibre, omega-3’s and to quench your cravings for soft, comforting pudding.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 8, 2013 | Cooking, Detoxification, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Nutrition, Paleo, Recipes
My family and I have been doing Natasha Turner’s Hormone Diet for the past few weeks. The diet mainly consists of eliminating all sources of starch (grains and root vegetables, mostly), sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods, and eating a whole foods diet. While we thought it would be hard – there are a lot of rules to follow – it’s not too bad. We’ve helped each other get through it as a family, taking turns cooking and preparing meals. And as a family, we’ve become healthier: I feel lighter, more energetic and have experienced less cravings for sweets or “unhealthy foods”. I also find that my blood sugar is more stable throughout the day.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 1, 2013 | Cooking, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Holidays, Nutrition, Recipes
Pancakes for breakfast can only mean a few things: a lazy Sunday morning, the first morning of a long break (like Christmas) or vacation! All great things, it’s no wonder I love pancakes. There really is nothing like lazily flipping over a page of the thick weekend paper, sipping the forbidden juice of strongly-brewed arabica coffee beans and helping yourself to yet another delicious flapjack. Fortunately, you can have your pancakes (and eat them too) without encouraging full-body inflammation and upsetting your hormone balance. These babies are fit for any Elimination Diet and I’m pretty sure can fool your grandparents into thinking they’re the real (i.e.: wheat flour and actual whole-fat buttermilk) deal.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Dec 19, 2012 | Cooking, Dessert, Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Health, Holidays, Recipes
Christmas fruitcake. I’ve always hated that dry, brown loaf with its bitter, plastic-tasting chunks of “fruit”. Only my dad would eat it; I guess nothing says Christmas like dipping a piece of dry, tasteless plastic/bread into an espresso cup, and then picking the gummy fruits out of your teeth for days afterward. It’s all a part of the holiday cheer! This Christmas fruitcake, however, is not like that. It’s even (dare I say it)… good!
Now that my family is gluten-free, it seems like the skies have opened and baked goods (baked at home) have become reinvented. Old, store-bought staleness has reinvented itself as warm, moist deliciousness.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Dec 17, 2012 | Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Community, Cooking, Exams, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Holidays, Paleo, Recipes, Student
For the last Monday of classes for the 2012 school year we had a cleverly named “Ugly Potluck and Delicious Sweater” party at CCNM. Much fun (and good treats) were had by all and people did wear quite delicious sweaters, including some homemade masterpieces featuring Christmas trees that actually lit up via a battery pack. Celtic Christmas songs droned on in the background and it was a nice study “break” to foster school spirit and a sense of community before the real heat of exams set in and then we all disperse for the holidays.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Nov 23, 2012 | Blog Awards, Cooking, Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Health, Inspiring Blog Award, Nutrition, Paleo, Recipes
First of all, let me thank Mark at Endless Love and Light for my 2nd Very Inspiring Blogger Award nomination. That makes 4 blog nominations! While I’m not exactly sure what these nominations really mean, I’m grateful for the recognition from the blogging community and appreciate the love that’s sent my way (every time someone hits “like” or leaves a comment, or even reads a post). It’s a wonderful feeling when someone shows that they’ve resonated with a post, picture or thought that you’ve shared and it serves as a great motivating factor to keep on blogging. So, thanks, Mark!
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Nov 5, 2012 | Community, Culture, Dessert, Diet, Family, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Health, Mental Health, Naturopathic Philosophy, Paleo, Recipes, Relationships
While studying at the Lazy Daisy Cafe in Toronto’s east end with some classmates, I came across this inspiring poster in front of the washrooms:
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Oct 18, 2012 | Cooking, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Recipes
Just for the record, I don’t follow the Paleolithic diet, nor any diet for that matter. Not to a T, anyways. I enjoy eating legumes, I consume whole grains such as brown rice and quinoa, and I also enjoy eating root vegetables, most of which are eschewed on the Paleolithic, or primitive, diet. I know that many people feel great on the paleo diet, but at this stage in the game that is my personal health journey, it’s not for me. Maybe one day it will be, but not today.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Oct 15, 2012 | Cooking, Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Recipes
Now that it’s midterm season, I’m officially on the baking wagon. Everyone knows that there is no better way to procrastinate than by filling your kitchen with the glorious smell of baked goods.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Oct 8, 2012 | Cooking, Dessert, Diet, Elimination Diet, Family, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Nutrition, Photography, Recipes
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! One of the my favourite holidays, Thanksgiving is about practicing gratitude while getting together with family for delicious seasonal food, warming spices and, of course, eating pumpkin pie!
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