Healthy living

Product Review: Canadian-Made BioSnax

By / Par: Andrea Willowcat - St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba

Category / Catégorie: Product reviews

Dogs are awesome companions. They get us up off the couch and enjoying the outdoors, they cheer us up, help us out and improve the quality of our life. In return, all they want is TLC and healthy food & snacks. That's not too muck to ask, is it?

I was instantly sold when I read about these made in Canada dog treats, "...the benefit of treat giving with the ultimate peace of mind." Perhaps this statement from BioSnax regarding their functional and healthy treats for dogs resonated with me as that is how I feel about feeding myself and my family. Frankly, it shouldn't be anything but the same for our canine family members, should it?

According to Patricia and Nick Grillo, co-founders of Northern Biscuit Bakery, it started with a bag of Canadian flour, fresh beef liver and a real picky dog. They soon discovered that tasty and healthy treats begin with fresh and simple ingredients. They are passionate about finding the freshest ingredients supplied from local mills, growers and suppliers. This company is also committed to their community in another way: they work with their local Community Living Ontario to employ intellectually disabled people to affix the labels onto the bags.

I was the lucky one to receive some samples and even though I have not had a dog in my family for sometime now, I couldn't resist the opportunity to go far and wide to visit with some new and old puppy friends.

Merf is a lab cross who used to be my pup once upon a time. Now she lives happily on a big ol' farm in southern Manitoba with a great family. She chases rabbits, visits neighbors, receives lots of love and hangs out in the shop with the guys. We brought Merf a bag of BioSnax's Shiny Coat, which contains the omega fats from both flax and chia seeds to aid with dry skin and promote a silky smooth coat. I made the mistake of giving the bag of treats to my girls and before I knew it, Merf had eaten the better part of the bag of treats! Probably not a bad thing for a dog who enjoys spending a lot of time out doors in these cold dry winters.

This is Benny and he is a middle-aged city pug. Benny enjoys bones from the butcher, barking at dogs through the window, visiting his beagle cousin and hanging out with his human. I sent Benny the Fresh Breath BioSnax treats a combination that contains parsley, myrtle and Atlantic kelp all of which help with freshing breath, detoxifying and getting rid of bacteria. Benny sniffed and nudged the treat but to no avail, he was simply not interested. I guess we can't win them all, maybe future tries will change Benny's mind.

This is Aksel and he's just an awesome northern elkhound lab cross pup. He is quite affectionate, will jump all over you, adores running and if you open the door he will be gone in a flash! Aksel needed a little Zen in his life so I brought him the Calm treats from Biosnax. Calm is filled with chamomile to soothe as well as the amino acid trypotphan found in turkey. Aksel's human sent me a message stating Aksel loved the treats. He also said that he noticed the calming effect it had on Aksel and will be looking for the product the next time he is at the pet store.

The final bag from BioSnax is the hip and joint treats. This treat features New Zealand green lipped mussels tart cherries and glucosamine all to help build cartilage, reduce inflammation and ease the effects of arthritis. I thought of giving the final bag away to another dog, but l couldn't help but keep it. You see, I keep a few in my bag and when I come across a pup I pull out the treats and the information to share with the owner and pup. I mean, how could I not tell everyone about this great Canadian-made treat from a great Canadian company!

What kind of treats do you give your dog?

Image credits: Northern Biscuits Bakery, willowcat, Benny's human, Aksel's human

Tags / Balises: Buy Canadian, BuyLocal, Family, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Ontario, Pets

My Canadian Weight Loss Journey - Month 4

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

Wow, has it been 4 months already!? The calendar tells me that, yes, I’ve been on a diet for 4 months and feeling great. And the scale (and measuring tape) tells me I’ve been doing really well. So far, I’m down 10 lbs with 5 inches less around the waist. YAY! (P.S. with zero exercise…)

Here are the top 3 things I learned about myself and about nutrition in those 4 months (in no particular order):

1) Mindless easting & drinking is a killer: the first bite or sip of something is always the best. So I’ve learned to enjoy it to the fullest and reduce the amount of additional bites and sips that come after that first magical one!

2) Having a plan is essential. Planning meals and snacks throughout the day keeps me and my appetite in check. Last-minute decisions made while hungry are always disastrous for me. I keep a food journal to record what I eat each day and how I feel (am I hungry? feeling weak?)

3) Establishing routine eating times helps: I eat 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks. I tend to stick to the same snacks, as I know they work. My breakfasts and lunches are also pretty much the same day in day out, but I do vary the dinners. And I’m not sick of it yet!

But the most important factor has been working with Tina at Thin Evolution. Together we created a personalized plan that integrates some of their Canadian-made snacks with my own home cooking. The gluten-free snacks are high-protein and low calories. They taste great, feel like a treat and keep me on task. Love that! Her support and guidance has helped me THINK about the food I eat in order to make healthier choices. We swap recipes and tips and connect once a week for my weigh-in.

Tina's approach is one of long-term weight loss and maintenance, not just an overnight quick fix that will see you put all the weight back on (and some extra too!). If you’re looking to slim down a little for the warm season ahead, I encourage you to connect with her via Twitter or Facebook. Some of her snacks are available online at Costco.ca (or at Thin Evolution if you live in Montreal) and she can coach you by Skype if you wish!

I am now starting to transition into the “maintenance phase”, where I will integrate some kind of physical exercise (just walking for now) to my new eating habits. This will allow me re-introduce some foods into my diet which I have cut-out during the weight-loss phase (mainly starches and the occasional glass of wine…). We’ll see if I can keep losing a little weight each week, as I have been doing since the beginning. Stay tuned!

Are you planning to lose a few pounds in time for summer?

Image courtesy of LordsFavors, PacificSource, Isabelle Remy, Thin Evolution and LookAtMyHappyRainbow.

Tags / Balises: Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Food, Goals, Healthy living, Lifestyle, Made in Canada, Weight Loss

My Canadian Weight Loss Journey - Month 3

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

I am mid-way through the third month of my Thin Evolution weight loss program. I’m happy to report that I lost 7 lbs and my waist has been reduced by 5 inches! Considering my goal is to lose 15 lbs, I’m almost half way! Yay for me!

As you can tell, this is not an “overnight” kind of weight loss. It’s gradual, manageable and realistic. Once I got over the first few weeks where I sometimes struggled with hunger and cravings, it has pretty much been smooth sailing. I eat less at each meal and feel fuller. My stomach has definitely shrunk!

My favourite part of this “diet” is the fact that I get to enjoy a mix of homemade favourites “lightened-up” and a selection of great tasting snacks that are high in protein and low in calories…and Made-in-Canada, of course! My favourites are still the 2 fruit bars: apricot & berry. I usually have them as my morning snack (around 10 AM) and they always feel like a treat. Love’em! Check out my daily eating schedule.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I keep a food journal where I record everything I eat. I find this is the best way to stay accountable to myself and to keep track of my daily intake of protein, fibre, carbs, etc. It’s also useful at my weekly weigh-ins with my coach Tina from Thin Evolution, because she can see how my food choices affect my progress.

I’m feeling great and looking forward to losing the balance of the weight, not to mention the inches! I am now posting once a month instead of once a week. Since the progress is slower (by MY choice) but steady, I’ll have more to report monthly than weekly. Next month: introducing some (gentle) exercise. Now that’s a whole other challenge…

How to YOU keep up with your weight loss goals?

Images courtesy of Thin Evolution

Tags / Balises: Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Food, Good news, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Weight Loss

Mom's Kisses for when a kiss isn't enough.

By / Par: Andrea Willowcat - St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba

Category / Catégorie: Green living

I’m a total klutz so it’s very fortunate that Canadian-made Mom’s Kisses exists. Twenty years ago, Theresa, the founder of Mom’s Kisses, began using arnica topically to relieve the aches and pains of competitive gymnastics. Arnica is a type of plant with thirty species, belonging to the sunflower family. Arnica Montana L. flowers, the species of arnica used in Mom’s Kisses, contains the ingredient that helps reduce swelling and speed healing. Over the years, Theresa continued to use the arnica on her family, which includes her Scottish husband and their 2 active sons. The birth of their third child changed everything; she was born with kidney problems and then spent a year on a prophylaxis antibiotic treatment. Fortunately she was cured before the age of three and infections are no longer a threat, but her long term health came into focus.

Over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are linked to potential long term side effects such as liver damage and kidney malfunctions. Theresa saw a need for a safe, drug free and effective product for children, adults and even pets to give pain relief from sprains, bumps, bruises and other aches caused by swelling. Thus not only keeping children safe from the effects of those over-the-counter drugs, but also reducing swelling and increasing blood flow to promote healing. To the makers of Mom’s Kisses, this product is not a replacement to conventional medicine, as there have been many miracles in their lives due to our health care system, but a natural alternative to a specific ailment that promotes long term health.

I was thrilled to receive a package from Tebas Theraputics inc that included their products Mom’s Kisses and Arnicure for adults and pets. The Mom’s Kisses has a wonderful lavender scent that we really enjoyed. I am pleased with this product, our bruises seem to disappear quickly and I find relief whenever my ankle acts up from wearing heels. I think the most unexpected benefit we experienced with Mom’s Kisses, and I say this with gratitude, is the relief my four years old feels when her growing pains flare up during the night. One night she woke up with pains in her legs. We had just finally got over the flu and I had not yet replaced our children's ibuprofen. I cuddled her, rubbing her back wondering how best to help her. Then I remembered the arnica in my medicine cabinet. I fetched the Mom’s Kisses and spritzed it on her legs…within 10 minutes she nodded off.

From now on, I will make sure that I always have a supply of Mom’s Kisses in my medicine cabinet. I have a future that may be filled with tree climbing, ringette, gymnastics and whatever activity my kids will be interested in. Of course, they are my children, and as I mentioned I am a klutz, so that may be reason enough.

How do you deal with your aches and sprains?

Photo credits: Mom's Kisses on Buy Canadian First and momskisses.com

Tags / Balises: British Columbia, Family, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Parents, Personal Care, Pets

My Canadian Weight Loss Journey - Week 5

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

Happy New Year everyone! Hope your Holidays were awesome!

Did you eat & drink, and were you merry? Well, I was. Kind of. Considering my Canadian Weight Loss Journey. The Holidays are so challenging for anyone trying to lose, or even just maintain, weight. Aren’t they?

In my house, we have a holiday tradition of having my husband’s extended family over for a 7-course sit-down Italian dinner. This year, we were 38 people aged between 3 months and 86 years old. Food & drinks galore and lots of temptation. But when you factor in all the work required to host such an event, I must say it was a calorie-neutral event for me!

What I love about the Thin Evolution program I'm on is that I can tuck my favourite Canadian-made protein square in my purse and always have something to munch on BEFORE I get tempted by all the Holiday treats out there. Works for me! And by the way, those squares are now available onlice at Costco.ca! Sweet!

So my weigh-in results this week? I gained half a pound…but I enjoyed the Holidays!!!!

Next challenge: vacation! We are leaving tomorrow morning for a week in Vegas. Yikes….

Tags / Balises: Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Food, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Weight Loss

The Great Canadian Weight Loss Giveaway!

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: Contests

Welcome 2013! A New Year calls for a new challenge, and nothing is more appropriate than losing weight and getting healthy. So you’ve been down this road before? Can’t stick to a diet long enough for it to become a new lifestyle?

We’ve got good news for you! Buy Canadian First has teamed up with Thin Evolution to bring our readers an exclusive Canadian contest. Up for grabs: a personalized weight-loss starter program designed to kick-start the New You!

Thin Evolution is based in Montreal and led by Tina Di Salvia and her team of weight-loss professionals. With over 10 years experience in the field, they offer personalized programs to guide you and motivate you to stay on track.

Tina Di Salvia

Their programs are based on high-protein-low-calorie snacks designed to keep you feeling full while losing the weight. Most of their healthy product line is made in Canada (some are gluten free) and ranges from sweet bars, squares and cereals to savory soups & snacks. And yes, they taste good!

This awesome giveaway includes a one-week starter supply of food plus free consultation, assessment and weigh-ins for one entire month. And don’t worry if you don’t live in Montreal, the consultations can be done across Canada via Skype!

Total value: over $ 150.00

To enter the giveaway, do as many of the 3 following things as possible, as they each count for one entry. The more the merrier (and luckier)!

1. Leave us a comment below telling us what your motivation is for losing weight. (Comments are moderated, so don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away!);

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet the following:

@BuyCndianFirst loves @ThinEvolution. I entered their Great Canadian Weight Loss #Giveaway here: http://bit.ly/ZVglsv

3. 'Like' us on Facebook.

The giveaway ends on Sunday, January 20th at 5:00 PM ET. We will pick one name at random from all entries and the winner will be announced the following day.

Good luck, Canada!

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

Tags / Balises: Buy Canadian, Contest giveaway, Good news, Healthy living, Lifestyle, Made in Canada, Resolutions, Weight Loss

Winter Fun in the City - Montreal

By / Par: Guest bloggers

Category / Catégorie: Coast to coast tourism

The holidays have come to an end, most of us have likely over-indulged in delicious holiday fare, and now it's time for those good old New Year's resolutions. I stopped making those many years ago, because I thought it was a bit ridiculous to come up with new resolutions only once a year. Instead, I give myself small goals throughout the year; that way I feel like I've accomplished so much more, rather than making a resolution at the beginning of the year and likely forgetting about it halfway through.

One of the things I do keep telling myself every year is that I really should go outside and play more in the snow. Seeing as winter is by far my least favorite season, I figure that if I go out and do fun winter activities, I won't find the season so long and dreary. We are very fortunate here in Montreal, as we have a lot of things going on in the city in the winter and many fun activities to do that are mere steps away from home. And if you're making those fitness resolutions, it can make keeping them somewhat easier.

One of Montreal's major attractions is Mount-Royal, or as the locals here call it "The Mountain". You can strap on your warmest La Canadienne boots, made in Canada of course, and take a nice, leisurely winter stroll to Beaver Lake, where you can do some ice skating, sledding or "crazy carpeting". The mountain is a great getaway, because as soon as you start walking up, you completely forget that you're in the middle of the city and it feels like you're hiking in a forest up North!

La CANADIENNE Annabella boots

If you're more of a city slicker like myself, there are many other fun things to do outdoors in the city in the winter that will entertain you and almost make you forget that it's cold outside. For the last few years, we've had a music festival here called Igloofest which usually runs for about 2 weeks (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) starting in mid January, at the Old Port of Montreal. It is basically a big music event with outdoor shows, DJ's, and dancing o' plenty. You'll really want to dress warmly for this one, sp take out all your best winter gear, fleece undergarments, your warmest Canada Goose coat and just dance the night away!

Women's Montebello Parka - Canada Goose

Another excellent way to have fun outdoors in the city is the Montreal High Lights Festival, which runs from February 21^st to March 3^rdthis year, and has a ton of different activities to please everyone from the kids to the grandparents. It is one of the largest winter festivals in the world, combining both indoor and outdoor activities. It illuminates the city and is a pleasure for the eyes as well as the heart. When the sun goes down, brace yourself for a spectacular event filled with lights, fireworks, acrobats, digital projections and much more. The festival closes with a bang, with its ‘'All-Nighter'' celebrations where you can enjoy hundreds of free activities, shows both onscreen and onstage, all in the great outdoors.

So, as you can see, there is no shortage of fun to be had outside in Montreal in the winter; you just have to be prepared for the weather, which can be very unpredictable, and just go out there and enjoy everything winter has to offer.

What are YOU going to do outdoors this winter?

By Annie Curran

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Buy Canadian, Community, Exercise, Fashion, Fitness, Healthy living, Lifestyle, Made in Canada, Quebec, Winter

My Canadian Weight Loss Journey - Week 4

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

It’s week 4 of my weight loss journey with Thin Evolution’s diet program. Why now, you ask? Studies show that people put on 5-7 lbs over the Holidays. Since I lost almost 5 lbs during December, I should come out ahead if I’m just a little careful. After all, it’s the first bite (or sip) that tastes the best, right?

If you’re just joining in this series, check out last week’s Canadian weight loss post. This week I decided to mix things up a bit, with the blessing of Tina, my weight loss coach extraordinaire: I replaced my breakfast square with a breakfast smoothie. And I love it! Here’s my recipe:

High-protein breakfast smoothie:

1 cup of frozen berries;
1 cup of almond “milk” made in Canada by Almost Fresh (I like the vanilla flavoured one);
A few leaves of fresh spinach (for the iron);
1 scoop of Canadian hemp protein powder from Manitoba Harvest.

Put everything in the blender until you get a nice “slush”. I absolutely love the flavor, and it keeps hunger away for about 2 hours. Yummy!!!!

So what does the scale say this week? No weight loss, but nothing gained either. Considering my over-indulging in the past few days, I call this a WIN!

Now on to the next round of parties: New Year’s! I found an extra bit of motivation in these 10 ways to avoid Holiday weight gain from Canadian Living. Wish me luck!

Happy (healthy) New Year to all!

Tags / Balises: Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Food, Good news, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Weight Loss

My Weight Loss Journey - Week 3

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

It’s week 3 of my Thin Evolution weight loss journey and this one was really tough. I think my body finally figured out what was going on and decided it did not like it one bit! If you’re just joining in, check out last week’s weight loss post.

This week I was craving carbs like nobody’s business…my kingdom for a plate of pasta, some risotto or freshly baked bread!!!! Just thinking about it makes me salivate….

But I’m happy to say I did not give in. It wasn’t easy but I keep my eye on the prize: 15 lbs less will feel so good!

I figured out that over the weekend, my water intake is too low. During the week, I start each day by filling a pitcher with water and leaving it within reach on my desk. It contains about 2 liters and I finish it before I leave work. Sometimes I even re-fill it during the day. But on weekends, my schedule is different and I don’t keep up the water intake. It probably explains the hunger, as water keeps you feeling fuller. So now that I know, I will pay more attention.

One of the things I really like about this program, other than those awesome Canadian made high-protein apricot squares, is the support along the way. Tina, my coach and owner at Thin Evolution, is always just a phone call (or Tweet) away. Her insights into the weight loss process are invaluable. She is knowledgeable, experienced and enthusiastic. Thanks, Tina!

So what is this week’s result you ask? I lost another pound, as well as an inch around the waist. Yay!

Next week is Christmas, so that's a whole new challenge!

Will you be indulging over the Holidays?

Tags / Balises: Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Food, Good news, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Weight Loss

My Weight Loss Journey - Week 2

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: From Isabelle

It’s the end of week 2 of my weight loss journey with Thin Evolution (my post for week 1 is here). I just came back from my weekly weigh-in with my coach Tina, and the results are mixed: I only lost ½ lb this week, but I also lost 1 inch around the waist. Yay!

My body is funny. When I started this process with Tina, I told her that my experience with weight loss programs is always the same: I seem to experience a 3-week delay before the weight loss really kicks-in. I have no idea why that is, but it has always been. This time is no different; although I am pleasantly surprised I lost 2.5 lbs and 1 inch around the waist in my 2 first weeks. For most people, that would be bad. For me, that’s pretty good!

That’s the thing about losing weight: it’s such a personal and individual journey. And you really need someone to guide you, coach you, motivate you and hold you accountable. That’s what I like about Thin Evolution’s program. Not only do they provide healthy & tasty weight-loss products (most of them Canadian-made), but they also provide support & guidance along the way, even on Twitter! Weekly weigh-ins are a good opportunity to share feedback and tips, such as the importance of tracking your food intake throughout the day. I got a special journal just for that purpose, where I write what I eat, what time I eat at, if I’m hungry, etc. It’s a really awesome tool and I recommend it for anyone on any kind of weight loss program.