General nutrition information on how to optimize a plant-based diet, whether it be vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian. Information is always evidence-based and written by a Registered Dietitian.
Some of my top articles include Vitamin D Foods for Vegetarians and Vegans, How To Get Your Omega-3s For Vegetarians and Vegans, and Prebiotics, Probiotics and Fermented Foods - 5 Healthy Gut Tips.
Spring brings herring roe to the Pacific Northwest Coast. This childhood favourite dish is my mother’s Asian-inspired recipe for roe on kelp!
The Nuu-chah-nulth harvest herring roe on hemlock, while further north the Heiltsuk from Bella Bella have the herring spawn on kelp. Growing up, herring roe on kelp was traded and sold in Prince Rupert from our neighboring Heiltsuk community, and my Chinese mother prepared it in her own special way.
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Have you been told to increase your intake of ferments but don’t’ know where to start? Likely they are all around you, but you just need to know where to look – and what to look for. To help with a healthy gut, I’m sharing a few of my favourite fermented food recipes.
Zucchini Noodles with a Miso Hemp Pesto
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This fun twist on the classic chia seed pudding celebrates Indigenous foods from the land. Wild rice is full of fibre, vitamins and minerals and add’s the perfect amount of low glycemic index carbohydrate to this otherwise no-carb meal. Topped with some antioxidant-rich berries and hazelnuts, this breakfast celebrates some of our land’s original foods.
Many people don’t know that along with wild rice and berries, maple syrup, and hazelnuts were eaten by Indigenous populations across Canada prior to European contact. While chia seeds are Indigenous to another continent, they do well to bind all these Indigenous ingredients from our lands together.
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Now more than ever we need to think about how we are stocking our pantries. We want to have a good balance between things that are going to nourish our bodies, food items that are practical and can create a quick healthy meal, and some items to help us curb our cravings for sugar and sweets for those long days at home. Here are some of my top pantry essentials for meal planning on a plant-based diet.
Ingredients for French lentil stew: ginger, garlic, onion, coriander, cayenne, carrots, couscous, lentils and parsley
I have been thinking a lot about how I have been stocking my pantry lately, and how by limiting my trips to the grocery store this is changing how I have been eating. Meals are still nutritious and delicious, but they do take a little more creativity and no longer am I following recipes from my favourite online bloggers. I wanted to put together some tips on how to stock your pantry with pantry essentials, and some of my strategies on how to create simple and healthy meals out of what you have on hand.
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Zinc is becoming increasingly known for its role in immunity, and zinc deficiencies have been linked to an impaired immune response. Some of the best sources of zinc are not suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet, so I have compiled a list of some of the best zinc rich foods for vegetarians and vegans!
Ingredients for Seedy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies: Peanut butter, honey, sunflower seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sesame seeds and rolled oats
Zinc is a mineral that we need in small amounts every day for optimal health. It has a role in normal growth and development and helps to keep our immune system strong. Now more than ever people are looking towards zinc and wanting to ensure they are getting enough of this important mineral. While most people can get enough by eating a varied diet, there are certain foods that are particularly good sources of zinc, and certain factors that can impact the availability of this nutrient….
Long thought of a pesky weed, dandelion is now starting to be given the recognition it deserves. Ever wonder what dandelion root benefits are? Yes, they do have an important role in women’s health – but it doesn’t stop there. Find out why I love dandelion root so much!
While explore the world of wild edibles, our common dandelion is the perfect place to start. Spring has come upon us quickly and dandelions are starting to make their appearance – in yards, fields and sidewalk cracks – whether welcomed or not. They are plentiful and familiar, and these ‘weeds’ likely made an appearance in many childhood memories. Dandelion root has many benefits, and this nutritious food is referred to by herbalists as a powerful medicine with an especially important role in women’s health.
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This recipe for Corn Patties was adapted from the Sioux Chef. I love suggesting it as an alternative for white bread, while also respecting and valuing what eating traditional Indigenous foods does for culture. This recipe is only 2 ingredients and is so simple to make – try them topped with pesto, eggs, or smoked salmon!
When we think of traditional Indigenous foods on the West Coast our mind goes to salmon, seafood and berries. Corn was first harvested in Canada by the First Nations between Manitoba and Lake Superior and was a diet staple along with wild rice and hunted game. There was even a type of bannock made from corn (along with roots and sap), and it was only around the 1860s when bannock made from white flour was introduced.
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Knowing the best vitamin D foods for vegetarians and how to get enough vitamin D on a plant-based diet is important for bone health, a healthy immune system, and may help to protect against some cancers. If you live in northern latitudes, we can’t rely solely on vitamin D from the sun. This post will help breakdown the importance of vitamin D, which foods contain vitamin D and how we can supplement.
Northern winters can result in a lack of vitamin D.
By now, most of us have heard of the importance of Vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of calcium (see post Getting Enough Calcium On A Dairy-Free Diet), and has the ability to decrease inflammation in the body (1). Vitamin D comes primarily from the sun, but in northern latitudes (37 degrees north) during the winter months, we just can’t get enough (2).
While there are some food sources of vitamin D, in the winter we actually can’t get enough vitamin D from food alone. The best food source of Vitamin D is oily fish, and while vitamin D foods for vegetarians can be limited there are some steps we can take to ensure we are getting enough.
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There was a time when we didn’t expect to get our calcium from cows. Bone health and calcium for vegans is a topic that we should all be aware of as there are plenty of non-dairy calcium-rich foods out there, and you may be consuming more of them than you think. I’ve compiled a list of some of the top non-dairy calcium-rich foods to include in your diet and tips on how to maximize absorption for bone health.
What foods are high in calcium? Contrary to popular belief, calcium doesn’t only come from cows! Crazy huh? A lot of marketing money stemming from the Dairy Industry has led us to believe that dairy is the one and only superstar in the battle against osteoporosis. Whether you are a vegan, environmentalist, lactose intolerant or just love your green leafy vegetables, there are other dietary options for healthy bones. Here are my top tips for bone health and calcium for vegans.
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This Raw Nori Recipe is a plant-based, raw version of…. pepperoni sticks! That’s right! These nori rolls are filled with only whole-food goodness, and by using only a low heat they retain the maximum amount of nutrition! When does a Raw Food Diet have a place? Read on to find out more.
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This post was originally posted on International Raw Food Day – July 11th (in 2013!!)! At the time it seemed raw food cafes and restaurants were popping up everywhere, and the food was delicious. Raw foodies claim that a raw food diet can increase energy levels with the promise of long-lasting health. As a Dietitian, I wanted to dig into this a little deeper. Regardless of the findings, one of my favourite eateries is Bliss Cafe in Victoria and this Raw Nori Recipe is straight from their non-cook book!
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Want to make sure you are getting enough omega-3 fatty acids on a plant-based diet? Omega-3s for vegetarians and vegans are harder to come by, but there are some dietary factors that we can control to help improve our access and the availability of this important nutrient.
Long dispelled are the myths of inadequate protein intake in vegetarian diets. We now know that a balanced and varied vegetarian diet, containing nuts, seeds, organic tofu, eggs, legumes, and quinoa will provide us with all our body needs. One uncertainty that continues to linger is whether or not a vegetarian diet can provide sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. I’ve outlined the recommended intake of plant-based omega-3s for vegetarians and vegans, and have included tips on how to maximize the availability of this important nutrient by the body.
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My top five tips on how to improve gut health naturally! I’ll break down what we need to know about prebiotics, probiotics and fermented foods and how these can not only improve our gut health but overall health as well! This article was written for Indigenous Healthy Living Activities run by ISPARC and I have made special reference to Indigenous foods and healing methods.
Why do we need to make sure our guts are happy? Our gut is filled with about 100 trillion bacteria, in fact, we have more bacteria cells in our body than human cells! We are only starting to understand all the functions this community of bacteria has, and how we can support them. In this article, I have included my top five tips on how to improve gut health naturally and the basics and importance of prebiotics, probiotics and fermented foods.
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Rachel Dickens is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She graduated with her Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2010 from Griffith University and is currently a PhD student at UBC. She strives to provide evidence-based nutrition information with a focus on Indigenous Food Sovereignty while sharing diabetes-friendly recipes and tips for diabetes prevention.