January 2017 – Urban Suburban Mommy

One Pan Wonderful Meal (30 minutes or less)

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Danielle Reid Posted in Delicious Dishes .

Meet Danielle Reid, Mother of 4 and Urban Suburban Mommy’s food contributor. She’ll be bringing you wonderful meal ideas that are fast, easy and healthy for the whole family! Here is her first recipe and you’ll love it!

This meal is STONEsational for you, crazy busy families. With a busy schedule and minimal time, this is the perfect recipe for you to incorporate into your Meal Planning schedule.

It’s simple, easy and well balanced. I use a Stone Sheet pan (a.k.a Large Bar Pan) in my Kitchen, and I’m sure many of you also own one that you “never use”. WEll pull that guy out! If you don’t have a Stone Sheet Pan (a.k.a Large Bar Pan), grab your sheet pan of choice. This meal still works just as well for you too! If you’re a large family 5 or more, you may want to double this recipe and use 2 Sheet Pans. I am a Double Sheet Pan person myself.

The best part about this recipe is you can tailor it specifically to your families likes and dislikes… AH-HA!!!!!

What you need: **For one pan (if using 2 pan, remember to double)

2 Large Baking Potatoes
1 Zucchini
1 Red Pepper
1 Onion
1 cup of Mushrooms
2 Garlic Cloves
4 tbsp of Olive Oil
3/4 Panko crumbs
1 tsp of your favorite seasoning/rub i.e. Rosemary, Lemon Pepper, or Bell Pepper
1 tbsp of shredded Parm Cheese
1 egg
Salt and Pepper

What You Do:

Pre-set oven to 425°F

Cut potatoes and zucchini into 1/4″ slices
Wedge the Onion and Red Pepper
Mix Potatoes, Zucchini, Onion, Red Pepper, Mushrooms, Olive Oil, Minced Garlic, Salt and Pepper in a large bowl, stir to evenly coat all veggies.
Arrange Veggies around the outside of your pan, leaving the center open
If you have Coating trays, grab them here, or use bowls or plates. Lightly beat the egg and place in one tray. Combine the Panko, some salt to taste, Parmesan Cheese, Rosemary (or seasoning of choice) in another bowl.
Dip the Chicken into the Egg Mixture then into the Panko mixture, coat completely and place the chicken in the center of the Pan (the space provided earlier)
Bake at 425°F for 22-25 minutes, or until the Chicken is done (no longer pink in the middle)

Danielle Reid

Meal Planning, Meals in Minutes and Independant Consultant for the Pampered Chef

www.facebook.com/daniellespamperedkitchen

Danielle’s Pampered Kitchen..Healthy Meals in Minutes

WEBSITE: www.pamperedchef.biz/daniellereid

Chef Calvo’s superstar Super Bowl tailgate chili

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

Know what one of the most searched recipes on the Internet might be?

Yup, chili.

But why search away, when award-winning Chef Adrieanne Calvo has shared hers with us! And with Super Bowl LI this weekend, we’ll make you the superstar of the tailgate party with this one.

The not-so-secret ‘secret ingredient’ in this chili recipe is short ribs, and Chef Adrianne’s short rib recipe made Thrillist’s list of the “50 things you need to eat before you die”. They’re not wrong.

“I have always been a huge fan of watching the Super Bowl with my family and friends,” says Chef Adrianne. “This year, I was inspired to create my very own take on chili; something everyone would be dreaming about long after the game. ”

Bringing her short ribs into the chili mix is just one over-the-top meal waiting to happen. Super Bowl LI demands this kind of extraordinary dish! But it’s not just the dish, Chef Adrianne has given us the most mouth-watering tailgate meal: Maximum Flavor Short Rib Chili + Candied Cornbread + Corn Jalapeño Relish + Chili-dusted Onion Rings

Chili – What you need:

– 3 lbs Short Rib (boneless), trimmed of excess fat
– 1 yellow onion, chopped
– 1 green bell pepper, chopped
– 8 garlic cloves, chopped
– 2 tablespoons chili powder
– 2 teaspoons cumin
– 1 teaspoon oregano
– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
– 1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes
– 1 can tomato paste
– 1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes
– 1 cup dark beer
– 2 (16oz) cans Red Kidney Beans
– Kosher salt and pepper to taste

What you do:

Place all ingredients in the slow cooker on the low heat setting. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Candied Cornbread – What you need:

– 1 loaf cornbread, (can be store bought)
– 1 tablespoon butter, melted
– 1 tablespoon honey

What you do:

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Crumble the cornbread into a mixing bowl and toss with butter and honey. Place mixture onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Corn Jalapeño Relish – What you need:

– 1 cup Corn kernels
– 1/4 cup red onion, minced
– 1 tablespoon jalapeño, minced and seeded
– 1 tablespoon cilantro, minced
– 1 tablespoon lime juice
– Kosher salt and pepper

What you do:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Chili Dusted Onion Rings – What you need:

– 1 yellow onion, sliced into 1/2 inch thick rings
– Milk for soaking
– 1 tablespoon cornstarch
– 1 teaspoon chili powder
– Kosher salt and pepper

What you do:

Preheat fryer to 400°F.
In a mixing bowl, add milk and soak each individual onion ring for 15 minutes. In another mixing bowl, combine cornstarch, chili powder, salt and pepper. Dip each ring into powder and fry immediately.

To serve up a dish, top each bowl of chili with candied cornbread crumbles, corn jalapeño relish and top it all off with an onion ring and some shredded pepper jack cheese.

Adrianne Calvo is the Executive Chef and owner of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar, Host of Maximum Flavor Live on NBC’s 6 in the Mix, author of four cookbooks: Maximum Flavor (2005); Chef Adrianne: Driven by Flavor Fueled by Fire (2008); #MaximumFlavorSocial (2014); and Play with Fire (2015), and founder of the Make it Count Foundation. Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar opened in 2007 and offers a varied and rotating menu with something for everyone. Monthly, the restaurant holds its signature event, Dark Dining, where guests are blindfolded for a sensual experience eliminating one sense in order to enhance another, providing maximum flavor.

www.chefadriannes.com

Chef Adrianne

Chef Adrianne Calvo

Win a Live Clean Prize Pack

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Sponsored Post .

As you may already know, we absolutely love Live Clean products. You can check out some of our favorites here. As we near the end of our 30 days of wellness, we thought what better way than to end with an awesome contest! Our friends at Live Clean have put together an amazing prize pack consisting of:

Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Body Wash and Liquid Hand Soap

Vitamin Multi Boost Shampoo and Conditioner

Fresh Face Refreshing Facial Wipes, Foaming Daily Cleanser and Soothing Daily Moisturizer

Live Clean Baby Gentle Moisture Tearless Shampoo & Wash

+ Calming Bedtime Bubble Bath and Wash

Here is what you need to do to enter:

Like this post on our blog. Leave a comment in the blog post about how you and your family live well. Like and comment on our social media for more chances to win.

Why Choose Live Clean?

Every day more of us are concerned about what we’re applying to our skin – and our children’s! – and what the products we use are doing to the environment. At Live Clean we strive to have as little environmental impact as we possibly can. We use only plant and natural sourced or non-petrolatum ingredients that are renewable and sustainable. We don’t use anything that will deplete our natural resources. We’ve formulated all our beauty and personal care products without the still commonly used chemical ingredients – like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Diethanolamine (DEA) and silicones. And our products are free of parabens and other harsh preservatives.

That’s not all: Live Clean is completely vegan/vegetarian, plant and natural based, with no animal products or animal by-products used in the formulations. Live Clean is also cruelty-free; none of the products or their ingredients have been tested on animals. In its sensitivity to the environment, Live Clean is also free of phosphates, known contributors to water pollution. And our packaging, of course, is eco-friendly.

Just as important to you, we know, our products have to work! Our eco-friendly formulations haven’t sacrificed product efficacy and pleasure of use. We believe every Live Clean product is exceptional in every way.

Contest Rules and Regulations:

One Live Clean Prize Pack will be awarded to one winner.
Contest is open to residents of Canada only.
Contest opens January 30, 2017 at 12PM EST and closes February 6, 2017 at 12PM EST.
One winner will be selected by random draw on February 7, 2017.
Winners will be contacted via social media.
Prize has no cash value and must be accepted as awarded.
Urban Suburban Mommy is not liable for any loss or damages associated with this contest.
This contest may be ended or discontinued at the sole discretion of Urban Suburban Mommy.
All decisions are final.
All rights reserved.

Consider a Plant-Based Life and Live Longer

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Best You .

In our continued quest for wellness this month, we had the pleasure of speaking with fellow mom and A Plant-Based Life Cookbook Author Micaela Cook Karlsen. She shared her take on why plants trump meat in the quest for a healthier lifestyle. She was even kind enough to share some delicious recipes to prove it. You’ll be fascinated by the benefits of leading a plant-based life – it’s good for the whole family. You’ll want to pick up a copy of her new book to learn more.

1. Why did you choose to lead a Plant-based life?

In the very beginning, around age 16 or 17, a couple of my friends were vegetarian, and I wanted to give it a try! I felt drawn towards eating more healthfully, but since I had struggled with feeling overweight for some time, I think the goal more in the forefront of my mind was to lose a little weight and maintain what I felt was a comfortable body weight for me. Over the years, my goals have shifted to be more focused on health for me and for the planet at the same time – and it’s nice that now that I’m so much more knowledgeable about a truly health idea, it’s very easy to meet both of those goals at once!

2.Why do you think it is important for people to consider living a plant-based lifestyle?

So many people in Westernized countries are facing either chronic illness or overweight. (Most people have heard that 2/3 of Americans are overweight and half those are obese.) As someone who has cancer, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis in the family, I’m concerned with living well into my old age, not just living longer. And as someone who struggled with weight and feeling comfortable in my body for many years, I feel so much compassion for anyone trying to lose weight unsuccessfully. As far as healthy weight goes, a whole food, plant-based diet is absolutely the easiest, most straightforward path to success because you can eat until you’re full without worrying about calories. I do believe with all my heart that important to accept yourself and your body wherever you are and whatever you look like. At the same time, for me, that’s balanced with my experience that when I finally got to a healthy weight for a woman my height, I started to feel so comfortable in a way I never had before! It’s easier than most people realize with plant-based eating.

3.How do you respond when critics say that a plant based lifestyle doesn’t taste good?

Many people mistakenly believe that tastes are fixed – almost as though your taste preferences were part of your personality. We enjoy what we are used to – so what we’ve eaten over the last few months, few weeks, few days, and even from morning to evening shapes what we want to eat and what we enjoy. Most people can recognize this with sugar – don’t eat it for a long time, and the attraction fades, but eat syrupy waffles on a Sunday morning and you’re probably in the mood for dessert that evening. People who say plant-based eating doesn’t taste good are simply accustomed to eating heavier animal foods and foods with added salt, sugar, and fat. If you switch to a plant-based diet without telling yourself you have to stick with it forever, if you can just stick with it for a few weeks, you’ll notice yourself starting to lose interest in some of the old foods. This means everyone has the ability to train themselves to genuinely enjoy healthy food!

4. What is your favorite plant based dish?

There are so many! Like most people who eat this way, I felt like diet expanded my diet rather than the reverse. Right now, one of my favorites is my own recipe Interstellar Lasagna in A Plant-Based Life. It’s a food I could eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

5. How do you recommend parents introduce a plant based lifestyle to their children?

It really depends on whether you are introducing it when they are little or older and have already established their own eating preferences. The second can be much more challenging. As parents, it’s inevitable that our children will exercise more and more free will as they get older. I think the best strategy is to help them develop good judgement, make sure they don’t feel judged for their eating habits, and then engage in a lot of dialogue with them about your own reasons for eating this way and your hopes that they will also choose a path of healthful eating – because, of course, you care about them! The biggest bang for your buck is cooking together. Let them choose plant-based recipes they are interested in, go shopping together, and then let them cook and experiment with minimal assistance from you. The more experience they have in the kitchen, the more empowered they’ll feel and the more ownership they’ll take over the food. Of course, make sure you keep delicious options on hand yourself in case what they’re making doesn’t turn out well!

6. What are the benefits of living this kind of lifestyle?

The benefits are many – you can easily achieve your ideal weight, you lower your risk for all types of chronic disease, and you can even arrest or reverse certain chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. You’re doing something good for the planet, as a plant-based diet has been identified as the most environmentally sustainable choice we have. And of course, you’re living a compassionate lifestyle which millions of animals will appreciate.

ABOUT MICAELA COOK KARLSEN

Micaela Karlsen

MICAELA COOK KARLSEN is a founding employee and former Executive Director of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. A contributor to the New York Times bestseller Forks Over Knives and the creator of www.PlantBasedResearch.org, a free online database of research on plant-based nutrition, she holds an MSPH in Human Nutrition from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is a PhD candidate in Nutritional Epidemiology at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She is the author of A Plant-Based life: Your Complete guide to Great Food, Radiant Health, Boundless Energy, and a Better Body (AMACOM). She lives in Boston.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Plant-Based-Research-303384226459892/

Blog: http://micaelakarlsen.com/blog/

Website: http://plantbasedresearch.org/

Interstellar Lasagna from Micaela Cook Karlsen

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

A Plant Based Life Cookbook Author Micaela Cook Karlsen shares her delicious and nutritious recipe for lasagna with Urban Suburban Mommy. Read our full interview with Micaela here.

Interstellar Lasagna

“I finished perfecting this recipe the week that NASA’s Kepler Mission found a new Earth-like planet, 452b, so I named it in honor of the discovery,” she said.

Ingredients:

Layer 1: 1 medium onion, 1 16-ounce package firm tofu (drained), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoons white miso , 1/3 cup nutritional yeast, 1/3 cup packed fresh basil leaves

Layer 2: 1 medium onion, 1 10-ounce package cremini mushrooms (stems trimmed), ½ cup frozen spinach, ¼ cup pine nuts, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, salt to taste

Additional components: 1 10-ounce box whole-grain lasagna noodles and 3 to 4 cups of your favorite tomato sauce (or try Chef AJ’s Quick Sun-Dried Tomato Marinara)

Toppings: 1 medium tomato, sliced thinly, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, Salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Make layer 1: Place the onion in a food processor, and pulse until it is finely chopped. Add the tofu, garlic powder, miso, and nutritional yeast and blend until everything is evenly mixed. At this point the mixture will be like a dry puree—grainy and not too wet. Add the basil leaves and pulse until the basil is chopped into small bits and evenly distributed in the mixture. Transfer the contents of layer 1 to a medium bowl.

Make layer 2: Place the onion in a food process and pulse until it is finely chopped. Add the mushrooms, spinach, pine nuts, Italian seasoning, and salt and blend until everything is evenly mixed.

Assemble the lasagna: Divide your noodles into three equal piles, to correspond with the three noodle layers in the final dish. Cover the bottom of a 9 x 13–inch glass pan with ¾ cup tomato sauce and ½ cup water. Use a spoon to mix the two and evenly distribute the liquefied sauce. Place one layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce-water mixture. Cover the noodles with 1 to 1 ½ cups tomato sauce, using a spoon to evenly distribute it. Add the mixture for Layer 1 to the pan. Cover layer 1 with the second layer of noodles. Add the mixture for Layer 2 to the pan. Cover Layer 2 with the third/top layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups tomato sauce using a spoon to evenly distribute it.

Add the toppings: Place tomato slices on top of the sauce evenly around the pan. Sprinkle each slice with a bit of salt for added flavor, if desired, then sprinkle the nutritional yeast evenly on top of the tomatoes.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes, then remove cover and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until the top surface has developed a skin. Serves 6-8.

Micaela Karlsen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Plant-Based-Research-303384226459892/

Blog: http://micaelakarlsen.com/blog/

Website: http://plantbasedresearch.org/

Me and my mid-century modern!

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

This week from The Modern Curator: Mid-century modern lighting, for a steal!

Seeing this little miss at the table, hard at play melted us! She’s got the perfect mid-century modern setting to get the creativity flowing.

Sputnik-Inspired Chandelier from Costco in stores.

Recently, my husband and I went shopping for a new light for our dining room. Our goal was to find something mid-century modern inspired with an artistic touch. I’m not sure if you have been lighting shopping lately, but we suffered from a bit of sticker shock when we discovered some of the prices! Then, we stumbled across the sputnik-inspired chandelier from Costco… of all places! We couldn’t believe the price was only $129 (easily $200 in savings, compared to other stores). We are thrilled with our purchase (and savings!) and find it’s the perfect art/light installation for our space. Here are seven more lighting options (some from places you might not expect!) that will add a hit of mid-century modern to your space and won’t break the bank.

Elise Ceiling Pendant from Canadian Tire

Bentwood Pendants from West Elm

Swedish Ball Pendant with White Glass by Hampton Bay from Home Depot

Large Mobile Chandelier from West Elm

Knappa Pendant Lamp from Ikea

3-Light Drum Pendant by TransGlobe Lighting from Wayfair.ca

Taylor Ceiling Pendant from Canadian Tire

The Modern Curator

Sara Duck
TheModernCurator.ca
@SaraDuck

The Modern Curator

The Modern Currator

Look (sort of) rested with mombie-approved concealers

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Alexis Nicols Posted in The Best You .

Generally, I don’t think I ask much from my cosmetics – simply erase all signs of age, time and fatigue.

Easy peasey, right?

In reality, if I can look like I didn’t spend the night covered in small children who treat nighttime as an MMA championship, I will consider going outside. One product I won’t leave the house without is concealer.

The right product can make you look refreshed and rested. Not “Before Kids” rested, but definitely “hit the snooze button” rested.

Trust me when I say that I have tried every product on the market; high-end, low-end, pan, wand, brush, cream, stick and everything in between. I based my selections on the following criteria:

Coverage – Since I haven’t found a concealer that mimics the effects of a paper bag over my head, I look for concealers that cover what they’re supposed to (dark circles, sun spots and those adorable laugh lines) and endure throughout the day. If makeup doesn’t last past my first coffee or my toddler whipping a toilet brush at my face, you don’t get my money.

Skin tone – My skin has an interesting hue, the result of Middle Eastern/Eastern European heritage. I need a concealer with yellow undertones. As a result, I’ve never been able to use most drugstore brands. Most of them have a pink/peach payoff that looks, at best, mismatched and at worst, completely cray.

Make-Up Atelier Fluid Concealer: Oh, how do I love thee. Makeup artists and beauty insiders can’t get enough of this concealer. The pros favour its performance and shade range, and everyone loves that it’s cruelty-free. The texture is light and silky but not thin. Blends seamlessly into skin and is perfect for every day use.
($18, beautylish.com)

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Eyes: When I first went looking for this at Shoppers Drug Mart my shade was sold out. When I went online, it was also sold out. This isn’t a coincidence or a failure to order enough inventory – they just can’t keep them in stock. This product is a game-changer for tired eyes – a concealer with an added BB component means that imperfections are concealed and the eyes actually look brighter and less droopy. It could only be more perfect if it were available in a bra. ($29, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca)

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick: Full disclosure: my very first concealer was a Max Factor foundation stick. After Max Factor was purchased by Procter & Gamble, I couldn’t find it anywhere. I had no suitable replacement until I found Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick. Don’t let the title fool you – it’s so creamy and blendable that it has become my favourite go-to concealer. The thicker consistency offers medium to full coverage without feeling greasy or heavy. And talk about longevity; I can endure a full day of parenting/working/feeling like a failure/cooking/cleaning/nursing/ordering in/watching four straight hours of Caillou/drinking wine in my closet.
($55, bobbibrowncosmetics.ca)

When all else fails, remember that a huge pair of sunglasses and an even bigger coffee will work just fine.

Momologist, Alexis Nicols

Alexis Nicols, our resident Momologist, is a marketing specialist, actor and freelance writer. She lives in urban Toronto with her husband and two sons, but is definitely suburban at heart. She regularly dodges the slings and arrows of parenting boys, considers herself a connoisseur of stretchy pants and hopes that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train.

For more musings from a mom who wonders when everything below the neck went National Geographic, visit her blog: stopstopcomehere.ca

Let them eat lobster

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

It’s expensive, it’s a delicacy, it’s butter-laden and indulgent, and you’re probably thinking I’m crazy when I say “Let them eat lobster.”

But hear me out: 15 minutes from start to finish. Yes, dinner ready in 15 minutes!

Plus, lobster is perfect for our 30 days of wellness. Lobster is actually really good for you. Yes, this luxurious indulgence is quite healthy – it’s known to be one of the healthiest sources of protein around (a 6 oz serving has about 30 grams of protein, no carbs and less than 2 grams of fat).

What you need:

– 1-2 pounds of lobster or a few claws and a few tails
– salt
– butter
– garlic

What you do:

Set the oven to broil and put a ramekin half full of butter into the oven to melt. While the oven is heating, place the lobsters or pieces of lobster on a broiling pan. Get out a cracker or sharp knife. If you have tails, slit the shell in half and expose the meat. If you have claws, make slits or cracks in each segment of the shell. I am not going to explain how to kill the lobster – Google it. I panicked and had the fish market kill and prep it for me.

Place all the pieces on the broiler pan

Put cracks or slits into each piece and open the shell

After 5 minutes, take the butter out of the oven now that it’s melted and add some garlic (I used powdered but you can also use fresh, just put it to the garlic press and add it to the butter), and add a bit of salt. Brush all of the lobster meat with the butter and put it into the oven to broil – for about 10 minutes.

Could be 8 minutes for small pieces, or up to 12 or 13 minutes for bigger, thicker pieces. If you have a 4 pound lobster it will be more like 15 or 16 minutes. It’s done when the flesh is opaque white and just ever-so-slightly starting to brown.

Take it out of the oven and serve with the melted butter for dipping.

Done!

So. Good.

Yes, it can be expensive, but it’s not an everyday meal. You need to mix up the dinner routine and you need a treat once in a while. Splurge on lobster. You may find it’s actually not as expensive as you think, depending on how close to the ocean you are and what time of year it is. Frozen tails are also another option.

Funny story – the reason I’m even writing this all started when we went to a steakhouse last week for my husband’s birthday. I ordered lobster. The boys tried it – and loved it. They ate half my dinner. A few nights later my 6 year old asked for lobster for dinner. I said no. His response? He grumbled “That’s preposterous!” as he walked away.

But he didn’t give up asking, so a couple of days later we went to the fish market to buy some.

If we’d gotten there early I could have just asked them to steam the lobster for me, but we were too late. As we tried to select our dinner in the big tank, I realized I… just… couldn’t.

Instead, the guy laughed at me and came out from the back with a tray of 4 claws and 2 tails. At $20, it was a steal.

So go for it, let them eat lobster, and feel good about it.

photo: Tom Thai

10 Questions with TV personality and fitness guru Tommy Europe

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in 10 Questions With, Fame & Fam .

When Elisa and I decided to take on wellness for the next 30 days, I thought about the people around me who inspire me to live well. TV star/trainer and dad Tommy Europe immediately came to mind.

I used to watch Tommy’s TV shows The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp and Bulging Brides avidly. In fact, when I had to squeeze into my wedding dress and only had a few months to go before the big day, I decided to enroll in a boot camp and it was the best decision I ever made. Thanks Tommy!

So, I reached out to him (Tommy Europe – TE) to get his take on wellness so that he too could inspire you to live life to the fullest by exercising and making good choices. Here is what he had to say:

1. What does wellness mean to you?

TE: Wellness means a lot of things. It means healthy living, nutrition, and doing things that you want to do.

2. Why do so many people fail at fitness regimes or sticking to a routine?

TE: I think a lot of people are unrealistic in terms of sticking to a routine. They try to take on too much, too fast. They focus on too much – they breakdown and ultimately, fail. It so much better to start small. Try going to the gym for 15 minutes to start and then increase the time, every day. It’s about eating healthy too.

3. What advice can you give to jump start getting in shape?

TE: Focus on one thing. Commit to being active 3 days of the week. If you don’t like going to go to gym, try something else, but just make sure you move. Try a boot camp, dance, group fitness. Recruit a friend so you can work out together. It will make you accountable. Consider hiring a trainer. You don’t need to work with a trainer five days a week but start. He/she will also keep you accountable and spur you on.

4. What is your favorite kind of exercise?

TE: It varies. I really like mixed martial arts. In the gym, I like work outs that involve functional movement. I am not concerned with how much weight is used but rather that the exercise is done properly. Variety is super important so you don’t get bored.

Tommy Europe with his family on vacation

5. What exercises/workout can you recommend for busy parents?

TE: Get active with your kids. I have a 7 and a 5.5 year old and we make cleaning up their rooms fun, by incorporating lounges and squats. Just move. Do what you like.

6. Do you think children can be part of your work out every day?

TE: It’s a great concept but I don’t think it’s possible do get a good work out with kids every single day. You can certainly work your children into the workout on occasion. For example, I take my kids to the gym the kids like to pull themselves on the suspensions while I am working out. Take advantage of the time when kids are playing – even if it is 10-20 minutes and work out.

7. How is important is it to set fitness goals?

TE: If you want to be successful, you need to do it. When someone starts a business, they start with a business plan. You have to do the same with fitness and create a fitness plan. You also need to work on your contingency plan. When you write down your goals, you can refer to them. These goals will then be crucial to your success.

8. How fast can one expect results when working out?

TE: It really depends on how much time you spend working out. It will take a lot longer to achieve your goals working out one day a week vs. 3-4 times a week. It’s about how badly you want it. This should all go into your fitness plan including how many sizes you want to drop as well as how many pounds.

9. Most important tip in the quest to getting in shape?

TE: Keep on going. Everyone has good days and bad days. Go for it. Be ready so you never have to get ready…

10. What should one look for a in a personal trainer/boot camp?

TE: Look for somebody who is motivated. Somebody who has your best interest in mind and will teach you something. Somebody who can provide constant motivation, challenge you continuously and change it up He/she should know where your coming from including your fitness background, and what you want to achieve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjdhh3jlKmo

ABOUT TOMMY EUROPE

Best known as the tough love television host of the “The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp” and “Bulging Brides” Tommy Europe is Canada’s most recognized and sought -after fitness coach.

Founder of Tommy Europe Fitness, Tommy is an entrepreneur, award-winning fitness coach, published author, keynote speaker and creator of the SHRED Training Philosophy.

Tommy earned his fitness credentials in the school of very hard knocks – as a Professional football player. An 11 year veteran, Tommy was a two-time all-star defensive back in the Canadian Football League, playing with the Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions. His football career included winning the Grey Cup in 1994, and earning a shot in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. Tommy is also an honored member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, BC Lions Wall of Fame, and BC Football Hall of Fame.

Facts about Tommy Europe:

Two-time all-star defensive back in the CFL
Founder of the SHRED Training Philosophy
Award-winning fitness coach
Best-selling author
TV Host

www.tommyeurope.tv

https://www.facebook.com/TommyEurope

https://twitter.com/TommyEurope/

https://www.instagram.com/tommyeurope/

You’re not just a mom

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Best You .

Wellness isn’t all yoga and smoothies, vitamins and the newest fad diet. Sure, sleep, eating right, regular doctors visits and keeping hydrated are all extremely beneficial when it comes to wellness, but you know what? Sometimes it needs to be all about us.

This dawned on me as I was sitting at Sick Kids hospital with my son for five hours this morning and then deciding to call it ‘A vacation day’ because I’d already missed more work than I wanted to make up.

My VACATION days are sacrificed for my children. Gladly.

Dinner? I make what THEY want.

Girls weekends in Vegas? Sorry, little bunny has a school play that Friday.

photo: Michael Daddino

Honestly, when I realized I was sacrificing my purse and shoe ~~addiction~~ collection in order to fund the needs of these children, I knew I’d discovered the selflessness of motherhood.

Plus the staying up with sick kids, trading sleep for snuggles when they have bad dreams, playing board games (or bored games, I need a break from Candyland!), and sitting through hours of Dora, Caillou and Ruby – because, let’s face it, I really never need to hear any of those voices again – tell the tale.

We don’t have to NOT be moms, there’s no stopping that train, but we need to remember that we are also human beings. When was the last time a day was all about you? How about half-a-day? How about three consecutive hours?

It’s time to take a vacation day and use it. It’s time to leave them at daycare and NOT feel guilty on a day off. It’s time to pick a movie we want to see for once, go swimming without having to “watch this!” or spend time with a friend having tea without interruptions every minute, on the minute. It’s time to make a real dinner with adult flavours and real china instead of pandering to the mini masses.

It’s not a rejection of motherhood. I LOVE being a mom. I think that’s why it’s so easy to put myself last and worry more over their needs than mine. There’s no way I can possibly refuse to wake up for a nightmare or a sick child, but there are ways to carve out time for us and not be *just a mom* – and by JUST, I don’t minimize motherhood, not for one second. Motherhood is all-encompassing, I do it because I think it’s the biggest, best and most important job there is. But it’s time to rethink it and not make motherhood the only recognizable part of the people we are.

Next vacation day I’m hitting the spa, drinking champagne and buying myself something pretty.

(Unless my kids really need me!)

Oh sugar.

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

There are two types of snackers in this world. The first are sweets people, the second are savoury snackers. Whether you can control yourself or you’re an indulger, there’s always a go-to.

photo: Caden Crawford

Yes, those salty, garlicky kale chips in your hand, for example. Good choice, you savoury person you. At least it wasn’t a bag of potato chips or a stash of pork rinds, but you’re still a savoury.

And you – yes, you, who just “straightens” the edge of the cake, never taking a slice, just nibbling and pecking for a little sugar punch to the taste buds – you, my friend are a sweets person.

Me? I lean towards savoury. Give me salt, a dose of something fried, a little spice and I’m in snacker’s paradise. I love chocolate ice cream – I mean, come on! It’s ICE CREAM, but I know in my heart of hearts if you offer me movie theatre popcorn with extra butter I’ll denounce both Ben and his partner Jerry (unless it’s really hot out, but that’s not a fair fight!).

The problem with snacking is that I’m a snacker. It doesn’t help with the battle of the post-baby bulge (and certainly didn’t help in the battle of the pre-baby bulge, either), but after years of trying different methods of healthy eating and weight loss, I’ve learned what works for me.

Cutting out the beloved carbs.

Sorry carbs.

Carbs are essentially sugar. Whether it’s refined sugar, or carbohydrates, which the body breaks down as sugar, both forms of sugar are not doing us snackpacks any good!

Carbs are the 21st century scourge and scapegoat the way saccharine and diet colas were the solution to all problems in the 70s and the removal of all fat was the answer to our weight-control prayers in the 90s. Those fat-free foods, what? How can you have fat-free sour cream? Fat-free potato chips? Fat-free turned out not to be such a great idea either.

My favourite quotable quote of the recent nutritional revolution is from a book I listened to (I went through a phase of listening to audio books on my daily commute) called Skinny Bitch. Author Rory Freedman said ‘Whenever you see the words fat free or low-fat, think of the words chemical shit storm.’ Truer words, my friends, truer words.

Not only do I NOT want to eat a chemical shit storm, I do not want to feed my family a chemical shit storm. I don’t want to teach them that chemical shit storms are a good replacement real food.

But what I also learned is that fat is not the enemy and sugar is actually not my friend. That fats are not the evil monsters I once thought. This is a realization that many people are just now starting to discuss.

I’m not even going to get into the politics.

Because politics.

I’m also not a nutritionist so I’m not giving advice here. This is just my personal experience after trying to figure out all of this nutrition stuff.

I live better when I live without carbs. Atkins, Paleo, South Beach, these fad diets are actually not fads at all. They are lifestyle changes to remove some foods that best allow for weight control and curbing cravings.

Yep. NO CARBS. Generally the average person is supposed to consume between 225 grams to 325 grams of carbs a day – roughly half of a day’s caloric intake will be from carbs. But if carbs are cut to a maximum of 50 grams per day, the body goes into ketosis. This is a state where it burns fat for fuel instead of sugar.

Who even knew a body could do that?

I’ve tried it and I like it, but I find it can be hard to sustain. But without carbs, I get no cravings. I get no hunger pangs. I get no sugar rushes or crashes. My body burns my fat supply as readily accessible fuel. It allows me to make better food choices.

There’s definitely something about sugar…

My mantra: Food is fuel. I can enjoy a nice steak, just skip the dinner rolls. I can have some savoury kale chips, just smaller portions. I can even indulge in chocolate, so long as it’s good, dark chocolate with no sugar added. I seriously love 85% cocoa chocolate.

It’s astounding what the body can do. There are apps to help track carbs and lists of healthy and nutritious foods that will give you all of the nutrients you need, it’s just a shame there’s no app that can actually convince me to put down the snacks and get to the gym!

NOTE: There are differing views on ketogenic diets. A ketogenic diet has been considered beneficial for medical reasons – like treating epilepsy, weight control – but can be extremely dangerous, too, specifically to diabetics. Before embracing this diet, please do your own research and talk to your doctor.