Gremlin in the Kitchen: Cupboard Cleanse

Diet Rehab does not happen overnight.

It involves ridding my diet of certain foods and introducing new ones to it.

For example, this week I finished my package of pasta.  The next time I go shopping, I will be looking for whole wheat noodles made with as few preservatives as possible. Buying fresh, organic pasta would be even better, but I do not think my local grocer has anything like that in his store.

Diet Rehab also involves education and finding out why some foods are more nutritious than others. Fortunately, I had my teacher, Meghan, come over to my apartment last week and give me a lesson.

She went through my cupboards and my fridge and helped me sort out the real food from the junk.

For more information about what you should keep in your cupboards and what you should ditch, please visit the National Post blog, The Appetizer.

To see what Meghan wrote about the video in her blog, please click here.

Ps. Shout out to Meghan for her fantastic recording and editing skills!

PPs. Shout out to Tunde who provided me with a link to an article about why Flu Shots Don’t Work–especially for kids.  I’ll be giving that a close read today and I hope to respond to it within the next few days. Thanks!

Where will I Eat and Drink?

Last night, I enjoyed a pint with some great friends. They were asking me about this challenge: When will it start? What will I eat?  

I am meeting with Meghan on Dec. 2 to go over the Official program. Until then, I’m trying to eat up some of the products that will be no-nos, such as my refined pasta, flour and white rice.  

As for what/where I will be eating, it suddenly occurred to me that while I can sustain the new diet with store-bought groceries and home-cooked meals, I have no idea where I will socialize with my friends.  

If I don’t find a good local pub soon, this will be a very lonely challenge! 

I started doing  a bit of research today about restaurants and bars in Toronto that serve local and/or organic foods.  Thanks to Tongue & Cheek, I came up with a short list: 

• Fresh  A fresh juice bar and natural food choices in a warm and relaxed setting.  
  3 locations: 326 Bloor St., (416) 531-2635 894, Queen St. West, (416) 913-2720, 147 Spadina Rd. (416) 599-4442
• Rebel House Ontario micro-brews and some food from local sources in a casual bar setting. 1068 Yonge St.  (416) 927-0704 
• Tinto Coffee House  A taste of Latin America with local and organic ingredients, minus the coffee beans. 89 Roncesvalles Avenue ( 416) 530-5885 
• Camros Organic Eatery  Persian inspired cuisine that takes advantage of local and organic ingredients while offering biodegradeable takeout containers. 25 Hayden St. (416) 960-0723
• Guerrilla Gourmet  Maria is behind the Guerilla Gourmet and offers local and organic meals in her home. Previously the locations were undisclosed, but food is now the major focus with brunch, lunch and dinner offered. (647) 831-3377 
• Splendido Bar & Grill known for their commitment to creating dishes that are fresh, interesting and constantly evolving. 99 Harbord St. (416) 929-7788
• Niagara Street Cafe   French, mediterranean bistro. Fine dining in a cosy and
  relaxed setting. 169 Niagara St., (416) 703-4222
• Commensal  Casual dining, but excellent vegetarian food.The buffets also
  offer vegan,ovo and lacto dishes. 655 Bay St. (416) 596-9364 

Do you have any suggestions?  I know there are some fantastic restaurants like
Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, but I also need a place that’s not too expensive where my
friends and I can enjoy a drink and a casual meal. 

•    

Movie Theatre Popcorn

Tonight I have plans to go and see a movie with a girlfriend. Our usual habit has always been to treat ourselves to a shared medium popcorn and a diet coke.  Somehow, I do not think that having the “usual” qualifies as local, organic or even nutritious for that matter.

Any alternative suggestions?

Photo from dancingdeer on flickr

UPDATE: I just returned from the movies and I am proud to say that in the face of buttery temptation, I opted for a Chai and roasted almonds. Thanks for the suggestion, Meghan!