I just wanted to Thank You for organizing a very successful food delivery for our Best Babies program this past month. We received a total of 267 food items from beans , fruit, rice , pasta, soups dressings to canned tuna and salmon just to mention a few. This is going to benefit us enormously as  we can meal plan in a different way and not having to spend our food dollars on these staples will be of great relief financially.

Since we do not know by name who our generous food contributors are could you please extend our heartfelt Thank You  to them from us at Blanshard Community Centre and specifically our Best Babies Program.

Sincerely, Helene Bell, Family& Outreach Coordinator, Blanshard Community Centre

 About the Program:

Blanshard Community Centre’s Building Healthy Families (Best Babies) is a pre- and post-natal program, in cooperation with Victoria Best Babies and the Vancouver Island Health Authority that aims to optimize nutrition and health in expectant new parents and families.  They hold weekly meetings that include a hot lunch, offer one to one support, plus provide dietician, public health nurse and dental hygienist services.

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Click here to watch!

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Eating organic food means no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used to grow the organic produce.  Shopping for local organic produce is even better as it helps support local businesses and that is like putting money back in your community.  Eating organic produce means workers aren’t exposed to potentially harmful chemicals, it means less fossil fuel converted into fertilizers and it means healthier soil that should sustain crops for generations to come.

Avoiding genetically modified foods is just a good thing to do!  We don’t know the effects that those foods will have on our systems and I don’t want to find out.

Eating organic means avoiding pesticide residue, but organic food can cost more and sometimes eating non-organic food can be fine.  Check out the Environmental Working Group’s  list of the dirty dozen foods (which has just been updated). The EWG analyzes Department of Agriculture data about pesticide residue and ranks foods based on how much or little pesticide residue they have. The group has estimated that individuals can reduce their exposure by 80% if they switch to organic when buying these 12 foods.  Other organic foods can cost less if you follow a couple of great shopping tips like… buying bulk dry garbanzo beans.  You can actually pay less than the cost to purchase a regular can.  You buy them dry, boil them and freeze them and they are ready when you need to use them.

Contact me for great organic shopping tips and save money!

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Ingredients is located at 2031 Store Street, North of Capital Iron.  It is worth the trip down there and you will want to keep going back because the staff are great!

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Apparently Staples does a great job recycling  and here is a link to their Environmental Solutions – Recycling Programs.

Do you have a question about recycling a specific item?  Send me a message and I will find out for you.

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Thanks Vantreight Farms!

Have a nice weekend!

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Need any information on West Coast Gardening?  Do you have questions about chickens?  Send me a message and I would be happy to help you out with any information I can provide.

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This program is in need of food items (click here for the list) and so, during the week of April 21-25 (which happens to be National Volunteer Week – what a great way to participate!), the Because We Can group, we will be collecting food  items for the Best Babies program.

We have many drop off locations – please email me for a location in your area or if you are located in the downtown area, see below for a list of dates for drop off at 24 Carrot Learning, 714 Discovery Street, 2nd floor.

• April 23 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm – yoUnlimited evening “Madly in Love with Me” with Best Selling Author Christine Arylo at 24 Carrot Centre – Register Now
• April 18 – 9:00 to noon – 24 Carrot Centre – 714 Discovery Street, 2nd Floor
• April 24 - 11:30 to 1:30 pm - yoUnlimited Learn and Network Lunch –  drop off at the Union Club of Victoria – Register Now
• April 25 – 9:00 to noon - 24 Carrot Centre - 714 Discovery Street, 2nd Floor

If the only thing you have to give is kindness… pass it on!

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The protection and security of our water is fundamental importance. South Island Aggregates has applied and been granted a draft (soon to be approved) permit to dump over 100 million tons of contaminated soil into OUR watershed.

Despite strong scientific evidence from government, the health authority and independent scientists, showing high risk of contamination of the Shawnigan Lake Watershed, the Ministry has decided to allow this to happen.

Strong community opposition of SIA’s permit has fallen on deaf ears. As a community we must step up and protect our water, our property values, our environment and our future.

Send a message to the politicians in Victoria. The Shawnigan Lake Watershed is not for sale.

Government must stop and reverse this decision.  Click here to sign a petition!

This is not just a Shawnigan Lake concern.  If you look at an aerial view, the SIA site is the similar distance to Sooke Reservoir as it is to Shawnigan Lake.  This is a Victoria problem as well.  (quote from a resident)

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Even when trying to shed a few pounds, don’t deprive your body of enough beneficial fat, especially omega-3.  Health specialists say that most of us consume less than half of what we actually need.

It’s wise to cut down on saturated fat and eliminate trans fats, but for optimum brain function and a healthy nervous system, the importance of omega-3 fatty acids every day cannot be overstated.

“Most research data shows that the average North American daily diet contains about one gram of omega-3, whereas two to four grams minimum are recommended,” says Dr. Doug Tkachuk at LifeLabs, a diagnostic test centre.  ”This means doubling, tripling or even quadrupling our consumption of this essential fatty acid.  Approximately two per cent of total daily calories should be omega-3 because it has shown to help in the fight against depression, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes,  fatigue, dry and itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, joint pain, and lack of concentration.

Blood tests are available to pinpoint an omega-3 deficiency, but you can also be pro-active and become aware of the nutrient values in all your meals.  Research data indicates that omega-3 is better absorbed from food than from supplements, although the choices are limited.

Take a look at these omega-3 food tips, courtesy of LifeLabs:

Fish and Seafood –  A selection of salmon, sardines, snapper, halibut, tuna, shrimp and scallops are highly recommended a few times a week.

Walnuts and Flax seeds - Add them to favorite recipes, to salads, soups, baked goods and granola.

Legumes – Soybeans, tofu, beans and winter squash should become a staple on your grocery list.

Olives and Olive Oil – Add olives to salads, pizza, pasta sauces, or serve them on your cheese tray!  Use high quality olive oil in cooking, salads, appetizers and dips.

I use olive oil in place of butter and mayo in so many recipes!  Contact me for more info.

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