6 minute read

BEAUTY

BY MELISSA SHABINSKY instagram @melissashabinsky

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK HOLLERON

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SELF-WATERING PLANTER FROM LEE VALLEY TOOLS, $99.50, MOVES INDOORS DURING THE COOLER MONTHS. The trick to maintaining a healthy kitchen isn’t just about what’s inside the fridge and pantry; it’s also about having the right tools and gadgets. They don’t have to be complicated but knowing what to have on hand and how to use them is essential.

Greening the kitchen with homegrown veggies and herbs is a start. It’s easy to grow recipe go-to herbs like, rosemary, parsley, basil, oregano, chives, and thyme, plus salad greens and small veggies, indoors. All you need is a sunny spot and a few pots.

No need to start from seeds—you can pick up small plants at your local grocery or garden store. Grow all together or in individual pots depending on your space. The nice pop of colour will also add a fresh fragrance to your kitchen space.

Snip from your kitchen garden to add to your dishes or as a garnish to any plate. You can even transplant the plants to your outdoor garden in the spring. Having fresh herbs helps to make meal prep easier and adds a boost of nutrients and flavour to soups, sauces, smoothies, and juices.

EXPERT SIDEBAR

Nutritionist Rachel Caven offers her tips on some easy, healthy changes you can make to your kitchen and pantry:

• The best kitchen tool is a great knife! It’s worth the investment and makes meal preparation that much more enjoyable. • Drink your water! It’s one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to improve your health. When water gets boring, add freshly squeezed lemon, lime or orange to your water for flavour. Lemon juice also helps improve digestion and is a source of vitamin C which helps to boost your immune system. • Keep chopped veggies on hand at all times. When you’re looking for a quick snack, having pre-chopped veggies will turn healthy eating into fast food. Chop your veggies once you bring them home from the store or Farmers’ Market or buy them pre-chopped (it’s okay to pay for convenience sometimes).

• Keep easy protein on hand. Protein is the most difficult macronutrient to get into our diets (you don’t always have time to cook a chicken breast or soak your legumes). Make sure your cupboard is stocked with easy, non-perishable protein sources so you always have an easy protein option (canned chickpeas, beans, tuna or salmon, protein powder, nuts and seeds, etc.). • Grow your own food! Start small if gardening is new to you or you don’t have a lot of space. Tomatoes, lettuces, and herbs are great options that are easy and can be grown in just a pot. • Swap out any old, expired oils that are hiding in your cupboard. My favourite oils are extra virgin olive oil for salad dressings (should not be heated at high temperatures) and avocado oil or coconut oil for cooking. • Make your own salad dressing! Start with equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar and add some of those fresh herbs that you grew yourself. • Save your fruit, veggie, and herb scraps in the freezer to add to smoothies and even keep those onion and garlic skins for soups and healing broths.

TOOLS

Stock your kitchen with gadgets that help make eating healthy even easier.

SQUEEZE THE DAY

CITRUS JUICER, THE BAY, $29.99

BLEND & GO

Whip up a smoothie or shake and take on the go with this portable cordless blender.

BED BATH & BEYOND, $59.99

GREEN IT UP

Keep your herbs fresh and on hand for instant flavour boosts.

HERB KEEPER, LEE VALLEY TOOLS, $26.50

KNIVES OUT

LARGE CHEF’S KNIFE, LEE VALLEY TOOLS, $69.50

HEALTHY PASTA

Make healthy veggie noodles for pasta and salads from carrots, zucchini, beets, and cucumbers.

RICARDO SPIRALIZER, KITCHENALIA, $39.95

PURE LAB VITAMINS

helping build a foundation of health

Founder of Pure Lab Vitamins, Cyrus Kuhzarani has long been a patientchampioning promoter of natural health. Cyrus trained abroad then came to Ottawa where, in his work as a compounding pharmacist, he witnessed the positive impact of correcting vitamin and mineral imbalances. The line of targeted supplements produced by Pure Lab Vitamins for over a decade has been shown to yield remarkable therapeutic turnarounds, working to reduce the deficiencies and toxicity that build up in the body from several factors including stress.

Pure Lab Vitamins’ supplements provide the essential vitamins and minerals which are lacking from most diets today — even among people who endeavour to eat extremely well — because farming practices have led to depleted soils and minerally-deficient crops. It is a catch-22 of the modern era: our daily requirements for vitamins and minerals are going up because of the pace of life, yet our food supply is increasingly unable to meet these needs. Another conundrum is that as we age, many of us get caught in the trap of taking prescription medications that may address symptoms but may also have unwanted side effects. Thankfully, it is possible to correct imbalances in the body through the targeted use of vitamin and mineral supplements and Pure Lab Vitamins offers everything from Vitamins B12, C, D3, and K2 to Magnesium, L-Theanine, Zinc, Folic Acid, and more. While some businesses and industries have struggled during the pandemic, the opposite has been true for Pure Lab Vitamins, which introduced six new products over the past year and a half; their offerings now include almost 30 clinically-based formulations.

“COVID-19 HAS SHONE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING ONE’S IMMUNE SYSTEM VIA APPROPRIATE USE OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS,” EXPLAINS CYRUS. “AS THE HUNGER FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT BOOSTING IMMUNITY HAS GROWN, SO TOO HAS OUR COMPANY AND FURTHER EXPANSION IS PLANNED.”

A key element of Pure Lab Vitamins’ success has been the ongoing education provided to retail partners and their staff so they can offer highly knowledgeable support to customers seeking to increase their vitality and enjoy greater overall health. The company has also begun offering webinars to provide direct-to-consumer education. A recent back-to-school webinar, for example, focused on boosting immunity and products to help alleviate the impacts of stress on mental and physical health.

“I sometimes call myself the anti-pharmacist, because I offer people a pathway towards wellness by helping them manoeuvre through the jungle of supplements that are being promoted today,” says Cyrus. “There are key vitamins and minerals that can help build a strong foundation of health. Our goal is to make products that are the most efficacious, using active forms, slow-release formulas, and unique ingredients, to help people achieve this.”

With a company motto of ‘replenish and thrive’, Pure Lab Vitamins endeavours to support the relationships between independent natural health retailers and their customers. Pure Lab Vitamins products are currently sold at over 200 locations; local retailers include stores such as Natural Food Pantry, Dandelion Foods, Foodsmiths, Herb & Spice, Healthy Planet, and Kardish Health Food Centres as well as select chiropractic and naturopathic clinics plus independent pharmacies.

AIR FRYER

Make your favourite crispy ‘fried’ foods without the grease and fat.

INSTANT POT AIR FRYER LID, CHEFS PARADISE, $99.99

SPRAY-ON THE FLAVOUR

Fill with olive oil for seasoning or avocado oil for high heat cooking.

OIL MISTER, KITCHENALIA, $34.95

SPICE IT UP

Add some artful-inspired instant flavour to any dish.

FOOD CRAYONS, KITCHENALIA, $36.95

KEEP IT CLEAN

Reusable, compostable Swedish Sponge Cloths.

KITCHENALIA, $6.95

VEGGIE RICE

Make your own carb-free rice from cauliflower or broccoli.

VEGGIE RICER, KITCHENALIA, $29.95

AT HOME JUICE BAR

This all-in-one juicer and blender is all you need to make delicious smoothies and fresh-pressed juice plus soups and sauces.

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