Nutrition Reminders for the Holidays

shallow focus of food served on dining table

As we head into the holiday season, here are a few nutrition reminders to consider. Fuel your body throughout the day Since our bodies are constantly using energy to function (yes, even if we are sitting all day!), it’s important to fuel it consistently with enough energy and nutrients. That means eating enough food throughout […]

All about MSG (monosodium glutamate)

photo of mushroom cooking in frying pan

What is MSG? MSG stands for “monosodium glutamate”, and is the sodium salt of glutamic acid.1 This means MSG is made of sodium and glutamic acid (and water).2 Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid that is found naturally in foods such as tomatoes, mushrooms, meat, and cheese, and is also made by our bodies.1 Our bodies metabolize the glutamic acid from […]

Egg Safety, Nutrition, and Cooking Methods

carton container with eggs in rows

Egg Safety Raw eggs pose a risk of food-borne illness, so it is important that they are produced and handled in a way that minimizes that risk. The following resources provide information around egg safety and tips for purchasing, sanitation, storage, and preparation of eggs: Healthy Canada egg regulations and tips for household safety Tips […]

Dietitian vs. Nutritionist: What’s the difference?

faceless woman chopping bell pepper during lunch preparation in kitchen

These two titles often get confused, so this article helps clarify their differences The difference between a dietitian and nutritionist  depends where you live. In both Canada and the USA, in order for someone to call themselves a “dietitian” (or “registered dietitian”, “RD”) they need specific education and qualifications,  whereas the term “nutritionist” doesn’t always […]

The Biocultural Evolution of Lactose Tolerance

person holding ice cream on a cone

What is lactose? Lactose is the main sugar in milk. It needs to be broken down into simpler sugars (glucose and galactose) in order for your body to absorb it.1 Lactase is the digestive enzyme that helps this breakdown happen.1 Lactose is a key source of carbohydrates for young mammals, and is one of the first sugars infants are exposed to after […]

The Paleo Diet: Should we eat like cavemen?

person showing fresh red coffee berries near clean stream on stones

What was the Paleolithic period? Before we can discuss the paleo diet, we have to understand the Paleolithic period it’s based on. The Paleolithic period (also called the Old Stone Age) ranged from around 2.6 million years ago to 12 000 years ago.1 It took place prior to animal & crop domestication, meaning that Paleolithic humans […]

Nutritionism and the Value of Food

photo of pitcher near handrail

What is “nutritionism”? Nutritionism is an ideology coined by Gyorgy Scrinis (an Australian sociologist of science) that suggests the value of food is solely determined by its nutritional composition1. In other words, nutrients determine the value of food, and the sole purpose of food is to deliver these nutrients to our bodies. Keep in mind that […]

How to Evaluate Nutrition Information

crop woman typing on laptop on bed

It can be challenging to know how to evaluate nutrition information on the internet (and everywhere else!). The amount of information alone can be overwhelming, and may lead us to click on the first link we see without assessing credentials. The result: misinformation spreads like a wildfire! However, knowing how to evaluate nutrition information can help equip […]