Silhouette is celebrating its 35th anniversary!
Monday, March 1st, 2010 | Contests and Promotions | No Comments
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Did you know Silhouette is celebrating its 35th anniversary?
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Preparing exotic fruits and vegetables
Friday, December 25th, 2009 | Food & Wine, Nutrition | No Comments
We might be tempted by their uncommon shapes, bright colours and unusual smells. However, we don’t always know how to prepare them or what to serve them with. Here are some ideas you can dig into.
Enjoy in all forms
Raw, unpeeled, but with pits removed (e.g. mango) or with seeds scooped out (papaya, pomegranate, guava, etc.), the fruit can be eaten right off the peel. Also try slicing it like you would a boiled egg, or scoop it out with a spoon.
Squeezed and strained, the fruit can be used to make vitamin-packed juice, sherbets or ice cream..
Peeled and diced, passion fruit, for example, can be used in salad. Simply add lemon juice, vanilla sugar and a few mint leaves.
Case by case
Guava: Cut in halves, pour some liquid honey over each half and warm it in the oven. Enjoy it with raspberry sherbet.
Mango: Stir-fry it with sliced chicken breast, to bring out the flavour in the meat.
Sweet potato: Peel and prepare as you would a potato, but the taste is much sweeter. They’re delicious boiled and mashed.
Plantain: Try serving it with fish. Slice it in half and boil it—unpeeled—for 10 minutes. The skin helps preserve the plantain’s flavour and appearance.
Stay active, age gracefully
Friday, December 25th, 2009 | Feel good, Fitness, Health | No Comments
Good news: each year, the life expectancy of Canadians increases. But to age well, it’s essential to maintain your muscles, the main support for the skeleton.
Why be active?
As we age, we experience a reduction in muscle mass, leading to decreased physical ability. However, physical activity helps maintain muscle mass. Exercise produces endorphines, the ‘good mood’ hormones that are excellent morale boosters, helps reduce stress and anxiety and improves concentration and sleep. Physical activity also reduces the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and various types of cancer.
What’s the right way?
Be regular and consistent. In practical terms, this means taking the stairs instead of the elevator, getting off the bus or subway one stop early, “forgetting” to take the car when doing errands near your home, and also biking more (it’s great for the heart) to the point where you can ride for an hour without getting winded. It also means dancing two or three times a week, brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day or signing up for an aquagym or soft gymnastics class, and going twice a week. The important thing is to keep at it and gradually increase the amount of time devoted to exercise.
How about diet?
Protein is a major component of muscle tissue. It’s therefore essential to consume protein at least once a day, by including eggs, fish or meat in one of your daily meals. Keep in mind that in terms of protein, 100 g of meat are equivalent to 100 g of fish, two eggs or two slices of ham.
Finally, even if you’re not thirsty, remember to drink 1.5 litres of liquids in some form, such as water, soup, flavoured drink (preferably unsweetened), etc. Water helps eliminate residual protein that has not been absorbed by the body.
Children’s tastes change as they get older
Friday, December 25th, 2009 | Family, Nutrition | No Comments
He ate it when he was two, refused it at four, and now at ten, he enjoys eating what he used to dislike. Faced with these see-saw dietary habits, parents wonder what’s going on. Your questions, our answers.
“Can I give my 2 year-old Julian anything to eat?”
Use this time to get him to taste as many foods as possible. At this age, children trust their parents to choose food for them. Enjoy it now, because the situation will change …
“Why does my 4 year-old Gabriel refuse to eat what I serve him?”
He’s growing up and asserting himself by making his first dietary choices. He’s beginning to distrust foods he doesn’t know (or recognize). We call this behaviour “food neophobia,” a normal stage in a child’s development. At this age, children especially turn down vegetables (e.g. grated carrots but not mashed carrots), meats, fish and strong cheeses. Without forcing, try offering him the food repeatedly, 10 to 15 times until he’s familiar with it. Also, show him that mealtime is a social time you enjoy. He’ll no doubt end up wanting to taste the food you’re eating.
“At age 7, Jessica is eating better, but still very little, and she stays at the table for hours! What should we do?”
When a child is past the age 4 or 5, neophobia gradually fades out till ages 10 to 12. Jessica might not be a big eater, but if her growth is within the normal range, there’s no reason to worry. Have her take part in preparing meals and ask questions about her favourite foods. This helps her express her impressions of food in words, to understand them and to take more pleasure in eating..
“11 year-old Megan now eats foods she used to turn down. Why?”
Her neophobia is over and she’s curious about discovering new tastes and new foods. She’s proud to try new experiences, and that includes food. Her tastes are asserting themselves, and experimenting helps her define them. At this age, children want to know what they’re eating: where food comes from, how it grows, and also why and how foods are healthy. Their bodies are changing, and they’re attentive to all things related to these changes.