May 1, 2013

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • When people consider going green, their focus is often on buying a vehicle that guzzles less gas, riding their bike more or eating local. Yet we hear from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN that livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions – more than all forms of...

Apr 1, 2013

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • I recently attended the 6th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition, which is held in California roughly every five years. The 2nd Congress in 1992 was so inspiring that afterward I co-wrote the first edition of our classic Becoming Vegetarian (now in 15 countries in five languages) with Brenda Davis and...

Mar 1, 2013

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • Many of us wonder if microwave ovens are sending us to the cancer ward or creating weird molecules in food that our bodies can’t handle. Most Canadian homes have microwaves so they obviously have wide appeal. But what do we know of their health implications? How does microwaving affect nutrients in food? This cooking...

Feb 1, 2013

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • While paleolithic diets are the subject of many websites and books, I have yet to meet or hear of anyone who follows anything even close to a real paleo diet. The paleo wannabes who buy grass-fed beef actually buy a product with five times the fat content of the wild game of eons ago. Today’s pseudo paleos buy select...

Dec 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • What comes to mind when you think of holiday meals? Gravy? The aroma of sage and other herbs? Being so stuffed you require a forklift to get up from the chair after dinner? It is appealing to know we can celebrate with those we love and have healthful fare and not overindulge to the point of discomfort. In last...

Nov 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • A few years ago, there was little scientific support for the health advantages of organic produce. Now, scientific evidence is gathering that shows toxins in pesticides do us harm. Common sense would tell us to avoid pesticides, which evolved from the germ warfare industry and were designed to kill insects whose cells are...

Oct 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • The teen years can be a period of challenge, a little like the terrible twos, except now your kid is several inches taller than you. Mom and dad may find that a formerly compliant child has become a stranger. Nutrition-related issues either become an arena for conflict or shared learning for everyone. Some teens become...

Aug 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD • Summer days often include gatherings with friends and family by the *barbecue, but if you are not a big fan of hot dogs and burgers, grilled veggies add colour, variety and nutrition. Combine any of the following: carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, corn, peppers, okra, eggplant, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, beets, peppers...

Jul 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina MS, RD, and Kayla Feenstra • Community gardening has seen a massive explosion in BC in the past five years. Some urban gardens with humble beginnings have tripled and quadrupled many times over. People line up on registration day to get a coveted plot, only to discover all plots were taken within the first 15 minutes. What’s...

Jun 1, 2012

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina Summer is a great time for picnics and outdoor meals. For many, it’s a time when dads get out their aprons and barbecue forks and flip burgers and slabs of meat on the grill. Yet according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), most North Americans are unaware that barbecuing can be a big leap down the road to...