Livin' it Healthy at Sackville Superstore
When I first walked into the bright, spacious Community Room, located
on the second floor of Sackville's Atlantic Superstore, and saw a
woman in an apron flinging falafel out of a frying pan, I knew I was
in for an interesting eating experience.
The class taking place that Tuesday- or "Lunch & Learn" as it was
advertised- was called Vegetarian Eating, and the "Learn" aspect of
the hour-long session was focused on how to live a vegetarian
lifestyle while still getting all of the vital proteins, vitamins and
minerals your body needs. The "Lunch" part consisted of a whole
three-course vegetarian meal; there was mixed green salad with mixed
berry dressing and soy nuts, stuffed pita falafel and roasted
vegetables, and lemon cream pie for dessert, all expertly prepared by
the Community Room dietician, Amanda Hampton, and Ainsley, the
dietician intern. The meal was delicious proof that it's easy to cut
out the meat from your diet while still being able to enjoy a variety
of healthy, energy rich foods.
At the start of the hour, we were seated and served our meal. As we
ate, Ainsley and Amanda presented us with the recipes and went over
each of them with the class, often giving tips and substitution
options. Following this was the most interesting and informative part
of the class, in which Ainsley, a vegetarian herself, gave a
presentation outlining the different types of vegetarians, the
nutrients and proteins many vegetarians are deficient in, and how to
include them easily and affordably into your diet. We were introduced
to many vegetarian products that contribute to a healthy meatless
diet, and I was blown away by all of the soy products and meat
substitutes that were available, not to mention the huge variety of
legumes, beans, rice, and milk alternatives. We were given both a
Canadian and Vegetarian Food Guide, handouts on which foods to eat to
receive the proper amounts of nutrients such as protein, energy,
calcium, vitamin D, iron, and omega-3, and information on the
different serving amounts of grains, fruits, and legumes that are
required in an entirely plant-based diet. The small class size was
ideal for asking questions and discussing the health concerns that
came up in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, and both the dietician
and the intern were both extremely knowledgeable on the subject.
At the end of the hour we were served dessert, again accompanied by
the recipe and tips and ideas from the dietician. I left with a full
stomach, a whole new understanding of my choices when it came to my
diet, and a desire to attend the next Lunch & Learn class, which are
held on Tuesdays from 12-1 and cost a whopping $6.00. Topics this
month range from Heart Friendly Eating to Blueberry Blues- inventive
ways to use blueberries in your cooking. It's great to know that there
are fun, inexpensive, health information resources available right
here in the community, and for anyone with health concerns, these
classes are a wonderful way to understand and take control of your
diet and live healthy.
- Written by Shawna Stone
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