Health. Fitness. Wellness. You.
Ingredients: 1 -8 oz. eggplant/3/4” slices Salt & pepper Olive oil Good quality pesto/tomato sauce Beef stake tomatoes/1/2” slices Tsp. dried oregano & fresh Grated parmesan or mozzarella (or both) optional Method: Lightly salt a sheet tray. Lay eggplant slices on tray. Lightly salt the top of eggplant & set aside for ½ hr. On […]
Cassava. Yuca. Manioc. Tapioca. Manihot esculenta. Known around the world by a variety of names, cassava — as we call it in Trinidad and Tobago — is the third largest source of carbohydrates in the world and is a staple food for more than 500 million people. Among crop plants, the cassava plant provides the […]
In recent years we have been hearing a lot about the benefits of chia, but chia has been around for quite some time. Native to Mexico and northern Guatemala, chia seeds were one of the main staples in Mayan and Aztec diets as early as 3,500 B.C. They were used not only in these ancient […]
In this issue of WellnessConnect, we had the pleasure to interview nutritionist, health coach and personal trainer Mweia Elias of Empower Nutrition. Here are a few of her tried-and-tested tips for healthy nutrition… 1. Fibre for weight loss Eating 1 cup of peas or beans gives you about half of your daily fibre needs, […]
Jam-packed with a nutritional powerhouse of goodies, this leafy green vegetable has certainly earned its title of ‘superfood’ among the world’s greatest. Although it is usually imported into Trinidad and Tobago, some local supermarkets are now stocking from local farmers who have discovered its green goodness. Kale is easy to grow, and its distinct flavour can bring out many […]
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria and are 10 times more common among women than men. More than 50% of women will have at least one UTI during their lifetime. If you are susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs), you may want to tweak your diet… Symptoms of UTIs: Pain or burning during […]
Around the world, it is also known as okra, ladies’ fingers, bhindi, bamia, quibombo and gombo — just to name a few. In Trinidad and Tobago we simply call it ‘ochro’. Available year-round in our backyards and gardens, this sturdy fruit with slimy insides is a nutritional powerhouse and can be enjoyed in many ways — in […]
Eating healthy will significantly improve your overall lifestyle and wellbeing – it just makes sense! But… where do you start? Could a detox cleanse be the answer? It’s nice to say you’d like to start eating healthier, but it’s a far leap to actually practicing healthy choices. Detoxes and extreme diets can be controversial, but […]
The romantic restaurant date. Grabbing lunch with co-workers. A business dinner. Catching a meal while you catch up with friends. It is no secret that the restaurant is often the place where diets go to die. Here are a few tips to stay on track, or at least as close to it as you can! […]
‘Five-finger’ is called many different things around the world — carambola, star apple and star fruit, just to name a few. This waxy, yellow-green fruit hails from the sultry tropical area of Sri Lanka. The fruit grows best in tropical and moderate climates such as Australia, South America, Hawaii, Florida, and of course — sweet […]
It’s a condiment. It’s a spice. No, it’s a bean. The “Manila sweet,” as the tamarind is sometimes called, is all of the above. Tamarind or ‘tambran’ as it is affectionately called in Trini parlance, is a natural food of South Asia and is said to be native to Africa. It melodic name comes from […]
The word “broccoli” means “branch” or “arm” for the cross-shaped stems, like mini trees bearing the blossoms. Broccoli was a popular food of the ancient Romans, and its use can be traced to 16th century France and England in the 1700s. Eaten raw, broccoli has a number of nutritional elements. It’s important to note that […]
It is on most grocery shelves in some form. Its packaging may not be pretty… it may not look as enticing as, say, the chocolate-chip cookies on the other aisle… but it just may be your best friend. Oats provide a concentrated source of fibre and nutrients — and may be the missing link in your […]
Used in Trinidad and Tobago for everything from jams and cheese to juices and fruit salads, guavas are thought to be native to southern Central America and Mexico. Soft, sweet, and fragrant when ripe, guavas are small and round or oval, with varying colors from yellow to pink to dark red, depending on the variety. […]
Work. It’s where most of us spend the majority of our waking hours, and it often has the largest effect on our healthy eating plans or weight-loss goals. Here’s a few ways to stop your workplace from derailing your diet. 1. Find a weight-loss ally Having an ally at the office can be a great […]
Processed foods have the advantage of saving time and money, which makes them tempting to people who have a busy lifestyle and for those who don’t particularly like to cook. It is no secret by now that the vast majority of processed foods are not healthy. In general, they are very low in nutrients, especially […]
The Brits call it aubergine. The Americans call it eggplant. In the Caribbean, we call it melongene; some also call it baigan. Whatever its name, India is said to be the native country of this strange-looking fruit – because that’s what it is, rather than a vegetable. While eggplants don’t have an overwhelming supply of […]