Written by Inés de Sequera-21 March 2013
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Enjoy the flavours of spring without the worries of a disappearing waist line!

It's time to treat our taste buds to fresh spring foods, guilt-free!

The sun is shinging, trees are budding, and flowers are beginning to blossom... It's Springtime! Boy, am I ever excited for some sunshine and warmer, just-a-sweater weather! Every March, as spring begins to roll in, I get the urge to come out of my winter hibernation, so to speak.

Let's celebrate the coming of warmer weather with Shape Magazine's Top 50 Spring Foods that will keep our taste buds happy and our waist lines ready for summer!

I'm happy to see a lot of m favourite foods are on the list! Don't forget to take your daily fibre and add PGX to your list of spring foods this year! Fibre will go along away in keeping your blood sugar levels nice and steady and those cravings in check.

(Image source: thekotykreport.blogspot.ca)

Written by Inés de Sequera-08 February 2013
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If you are in the mood for a sweet and spicy smoothie, this is the recipe for you!

Cozy up after your workout with this nutritious protein smoothie from Alive Magazine!

There is something especially appealing about chai teas during the cold winter months. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the warming, spicyness of the aromatic herbs that mix together to create the chai blend...Or maybe it is its exotic origins of the far and warm east that gives chai its appeal. Whatever it is, chai tea is my favourite tea for the cold weather!

But even in cold weather, we need to keep our bodies moving and exercising! So why not go, workout, sweat and then recover with a tasty and nutritious Banana Chai Protein Shake?! With all the flavour kick of chai and the health power of protein, post workout, you really can't go wrong with this recipe. Try adding some PGX Daily Singles (2.5 grams or 1 stick per shake) and get your fibre in there as well!

Get this Banana Chai Protein Shake recipe and all the nutritional facts for this smoothie from Alive Magazine.

Doesn't that look yummy?! Enjoy!

Image and recipe source: Amy Wood, Alive Magazine

Written by Kara McKnight-28 January 2013
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Shop seasonally and get the most out of your dollars spent on fruits and veggies - year round!

We all know that eating well is an essential part of managing your weight and being your healthiest self. However, we also know that buying the best of the best produce, which often translates to buying organic, can take a hit to your wallet. Which is why we want to help you continue to eat well - without breaking the bank - by shopping smart!

One of the biggest problems we face is that, with grocery stores carrying every type of produce all year long, regardless of season, we end up spending a small fortune on a carton of strawberries in the middle of winter. Solution? Shop seasonally!

If you're not sure what's in season, The Food Network Canada, suggests taking the guess work out of shopping by hitting up your local farmers markets. They'll only be selling what's in season, meaning you won't have to research what to buy beforehand nor spend a small fortune. Sounds delicious, does't it?!

However, we understand that making it to a farmers market may not be in the cards for you. So, if this is the case, The Food Network Canada has also put together a nifty list of fruits and veggies that are in season from spring to winter.

Look here to find local Vancouver farmers markets.

Happy, healthy (and affordable!) eating, PGX'ers!

Image source: http://vancouverisawesome.com
http://www.lucilleroberts.com

Written by Inés de Sequera-28 December 2012
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Over indulge in culinary delights? These foods and health tips will have you feeling back to normal in no time!

As much as we strive to maintain healthy eating habits and exercise all the time, there are days when we give in to our cravings and definitely over indulge (special occassions in the year are especially difficult to resist)! We've all been there before: too much to drink, served too much ham and roast on our plates, couldn't resist round two of dinner helpings, just had to try a bit of every dessert on the buffet table, neglected exercise... Need I say more?

As enjoyable as these occassions are, sometimes the aftermath is less so! Here are a few tips from nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos (often featured on Steven & Chris):

Had a little too much to drink? You're probably not feeling your best and this is usually caused by dehydration and loss of precious minerals. Peggy K's first suggestion? Coconut Water! Coconut water is full of electrolytes, so while you are rehydrating, you are also restoring nutrients vital to your wellbeing. Chlorella is another natural and helpul source of phyonutrients that can help your body detoxify and function in tip top shape!

If you've gone back for one too many servings, you may find yourself feeling a little... bloated. Maybe you didn't over eat during your main meal, but maybe you didn't realize how much of the salty appetizers and finger foods you nibbled on. You may be surprised at Peggy's simple solution: celery! Instead of reaching for salty foods, grab some celery because this calorie negative veggie can help get rid of the water retension!

Did all the activity get you feeling stressed? Peggy K suggests adding some maca to your diet! Maca is a peruvian root vegetable that has been shown to help increase your body's resistance to stress! How? Maca is full of nutrients and vitamins including B-vitamins, vitamin C and amino acids and protein (to name a few). "One of my favourite ways to take maca is in chocolate! Chocolate improves your mood and it has magnesium so it's perfect!" said Peggy to Steven Sabados (on the Steven & Chris show). Sounds like a tasty way to take in some nutrients! Another mood boosting snack is the omega-3 and tryptophan-rich Savi Seeds (fruit from the sacha inchi plant common to Peru)! Plus it's full of fibre!

Last but certainly not the least, she suggests bananas. If you're feeling low in energy, bananas are also a tasty source of B-vitamins and tryptophan as well as potassium!

Hope these tips help you feel fabulous and healthy! Don't forget to get your daily fibre!

Image sources: discoverybeachhouse.com, redorbit.com, wikinoticia.com, thehealthyherbivore.com, getridofmommytummy.com

Written by Kara McKnight-17 October 2012
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Spice up your PGX SatisFast smoothies with some of these great ideas for both chocolate and vanilla flavours!

Sometimes, the hardest part of making a smoothie is coming up with additional ingredients to add to your base flavour. Maybe you've tired of plain chocolate or vanilla on it's own, or you like your smoothies to be a little bit more flavourful and interesting. But whatever the reason, you need ideas and you need them now!

So, we went to our Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Kristin Metvedt, and asked her for some recommendations. Kristin happily obliged and provided us with a detailed list of spices, nuts, fruits and herbs that compliment both our Rich Chocolate and Very Vanilla flavours. Yum! Find the lists below.

SatisFast Rich Chocolate:

  • Nuts: Coconut water or milk, nut butters (ie. almond, peanut, hazelnut, etc.)
  • Fruit: Banana, orange, blueberry, raspberry, fresh or frozen, kiwi, mango, papaya or pineapple
  • Herbs: Fresh grated ginger, minced mint leaves, cayenne powder (just a pinch!), cinnamon powder ... experiment!   

SatisFast Very Vanilla:

  • Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger
  • Nuts: Nuts butters like almond or cashew
  • Fruit: Cherry, mango, banana, all berries, or citrus fruit
  • Herb: Mint or green tea (cold)

Let us know what your favourite ingredient combonations are in the comments below!

Enjoy!

Image source: Michelle Foster