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healthy canadians

So My Life Isn’t Perfect …. #butIvaccinate.

March 23, 2017 By Lena 9 Comments

It always amuses me when friends and followers praise me on social media.

“You’re killing it, girl!”
“You’re such a good mom, your boys are so lucky!”
“Wow, everything looks perfect! You’re my inspiration.”

To which, I only have one response:
DSC_0210Photo Caption: HA HA HA HA HA HA.

The truth is, I don’t always discuss my #parentingfails, but trust me, there are many. Like the time I sent my boys to a birthday party – a week too late. Or my inability to remember any of the “special coloured shirt days” at school. Or how about the time I slept through, not one, but TWO alarms and had to usher them off to class a half hour late?…

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: #butivaccinate, healthy canadians, Public Health Ontario

Focus on the Facts: Be a Nutrition Fact Finder

February 24, 2017 By Lena 146 Comments

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I’ll never forget when my family – and really, Canadians as a nation – learned about serving sizes.

The year was 2003. Before then, it was not mandatory for packaged goods sold in Canada to display nutritional information of the contents. And so, for many years, we simply helped ourselves to a portion we considered fit, without knowing exactly how we were impacted by our choices. When serving sizes were listed on the label – among other things, such as number of calories, amount of fat, etc. – we all took a step back.

Like, whoa.

Suddenly, many Canadians received a wake up call when it came to consumption habits. While the information on the nutrition facts label helped guide our understanding of portion sizes, it also helped us make better food choices. Suddenly, words like “calorie counting” become synonymous with dieting, and the demand for fat-free snacking foods and sugar-free beverages was at an all-time high. For better or for worse, we were informed.

Today, the Nutrition Facts table, found on most packaged food products in Canada, is key to making more informed food choices for you and your family. With the help of my little Nutrition Facts Finder (note the detective hat and magnifying glass!), we’re going to make it easy for you to focus on facts!
_DSC1497Step 1: Start with Serving Size. You can find the Serving Size under the header “Nutrition Facts”. Remember, if you eat a different amount than the serving size, you will need to adjust the corresponding information in the Nutrition Facts table. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #focusonthefacts, healthy canadians, nutrition facts

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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Current Giveaways

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Instagram post 2196942347640341480_327607838 Holiday shopping this week? 🛍 Let @shopSTC make it easy! Scarborough Town Centre's Guest Services pop up (relocated beside Entrance 4) is a newly transformed space offering exclusive shopping amenities. Chill out in the visitors’ lounge, lighten your load with coat/parcel check and strike another thing off the "to do" list by purchasing STC gift cards or utilizing gift wrapping services. It's all designed with your comfort and convenience in mind, and let me tell you, it's so appreciated during this busy holiday season! Psst - only TWO weeks left until Christmas! 🎄#MeetMeAtSTC #STCPartner
Instagram post 2196198335807567733_327607838 The holidays are here, and what better way to share in the joy of the season than with a potluck! It’s the perfect way to celebrate togetherness, one dish at a time. Here are my best tips for hosting a fun potluck with friends:

1. Grab EVERYTHING you need from @walmartcanada. Yes, everything! Swipe ➡️ to see the amazing holiday-themed dishes and decor I purchased from my local store. From table runners to trays, serving dishes to sparkly ornaments, you'll be able to dress up your table in style while saving money.

2. Elevate your apps. I made a more grown-up spin on cheese and crackers by stacking flavourful Great Value Old Cheddar and Great Value Original Turkey Sausage Sticks on top of Great Value Wheat Thins - finishing with a sprinkle of chives. It's so simple to make and believe me when I say they go quickly, especially at parties!

3. Assign a variety of tastes, textures and flavours. This includes hot and cold appetizers, sweet and savoury sides and of course, make sure someone (or everyone) brings wine!

4. Use gift tags to describe the dishes. I lay out gift tags and a sharpie; as friends arrive, I ask them to write down their name and the name of the dish. Not only does it help at the end of the evening when it comes time to pack off the leftovers, it reduces the inevitable "What is this?" question from fellow guests.

Cheers to potluck perfection! #SpendSmallGiveBig #ad
Instagram post 2194764560406110512_327607838 How do you like your nuggets? I love mine hot, crispy and with "plantiful" flavour! Introducing @lightlifefoods Plant-Based Nuggets, now available for a limited time at @awcanada restaurants in Ontario and BC. These delicious nuggets are made entirely from plant-based ingredients right here in Canada, including peas, wheat and fava beans. Packed with 17g of plant-based protein per 6-piece serving, they're fun to eat and fun to share! Of course, now comes the big question: are you dipping them in Honey Mustard, Barbecue, Sweet & Sour or Jalapeno Ranch? I say, all four! Pop into your local A&W to try them! #LightlifexAW #ad
Instagram post 2194042482895765300_327607838 Experiences, not things. This holiday season, I’ve been focused on gifting experiences that can be shared with my loved ones. From adults-only travel adventures to one-on-one special time with each of my little guys, I’m convinced that the gift of time is the most priceless gift of all. Recently, I had an opportunity to enjoy a Priceless Experience with @mastercardca in one of their Priceless Cities, Miami. We sat at the executive chef's table at @three_wynwood and feasted on a tasting menu curated especially for Mastercard cardholders who book this experience. Visit my blog for all the details on our incredible date night, and information on how you can gift a Priceless Experience to a loved one this holiday season. #StartSomethingPriceless #ad
Instagram post 2192946946914561554_327607838 Each year, since the boys were very young, we've had a tradition: we head to @walmartcanada to choose a piece of holiday decor that gives them joy. It's usually an ornament, candle or stocking holder, but this year, Ryder and Reid both selected Nutcracker figurines. I love seeing the house filled with their beloved choices year after year. And since Walmart has so many seasonal goods at low prices, we never have to break the bank to create lasting memories. Because I always shop with my Walmart Rewards Mastercard, I was able to use my Walmart Rewards Dollars to pay for Ryder's Nutcracker figurine and got it for free! You can't put a price tag on holiday happiness, but our little tradition allows us to spend small and give big—exactly what the season is all about.
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{Paid partnership with Walmart Rewards Mastercard} #ad #WalmartRewardsMastercard #YouEarnedIt #SpendSmallGiveBig
Instagram post 2192587720832841284_327607838 “Frinter!" ❄️ You know, the season where it's not *so* cold that you're cursing mother nature and you're still enjoying the crunch of colourful leaves underfoot. I'm ready for all the elements in my @UNIQLOCanada #HybridDown Ultra Warm Short Coat. It's actually UNIQLO’s warmest down outerwear! Filled with down and AIRTECH technology on the outside, I love that the non-quilted design reduces the bulk and gives a smooth, modern silhouette. #UNIQLOCanada #LifeWear #ad
Instagram post 2191865205067970587_327607838 It's time to Spark a Miracle! Here's a simple and rewarding way to #SpendSmallGiveBig this holiday season: when you purchase any toy for $20 or more at Walmart or online at Walmart.ca from December 3-8, @walmartcanada will donate $1 to Children’s Miracle Network, in support of @cmn_canada hospitals across Canada! You can also make a donation throughout the month of December in-store or online at Walmart.ca. My friend @extrasparklesplease and I think it's the perfect time to tackle our holiday shopping list, and hope we've inspired you to help #SparkAMiracle, too! #ad
Instagram post 2190201001911235541_327607838 *AD Blonde on the outside, but brunette at heart! ♥️ It doesn’t end there... although I’m in my 40’s, I’ll be forever 30 on the inside. Do you see yourself this way, too? Recently, I’ve found myself wondering if there was a way to align the way I look with the way I feel. Back in June I attended Beauty Decoded Live, an event by @JuvedermCanada. There, I learned about the science behind MD Codes and their role in addressing the emotional attributes of beauty, directly from Dr. Mauricio de Maio, *the* authority on cosmetic dermatology. How did the evening affect my views on facial fillers? Visit my blog to read my thoughts before, during and after the event. #JuvedermCanada #BeautyDecoded
Instagram post 2188239120795344453_327607838 Connecting with my “mom friends” is a priority for me! Whether it’s over coffee, for a shopping date, or better yet, both – I think it’s important to continue the parent-focused conversations, especially with those who have children at different ages/stages from my own. Recently, @extrasparklesplease and I got together to chat about everything from holiday shopping to keeping our boys healthy, which included an open conversation about meningitis B, a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that spreads through close contact, like a cold or flu. Visit my blog, linked in my bio, for more information on how you can help protect your children. Do you get together with fellow moms on a regular basis? Do tell! #MomHealthTalk *AD

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