elementcrossfit.com

Last month's session was such a success that we're grilling again!

Element CrossFit is hooking you up with a healthy how-to grill session at a local kitchen showroom, meat included! We're teaming up with Fisher & Paykel  Appliances and Astrid from the Oasis Healthy Living Institute to give you a License To Grill.

Grilling is healthy, fast, and easy - the perfect way to get your protein this summer!  

After this hands-on cooking class, you'll be able to grill meats, roasts, fish, and veggies, as well as how to use rubs and marinades to add some extra flavour! Tips to maintain peak performance of your grill, and how to avoid burning your food will also be covered. Take advantage of low-maintenance grilling to get the most out of your meat!

We'll be serving the same menu as last time: meat, fish, veggies, salad, and a sweet grilled dessert!

Comments from last session:

"The chef was very knowledgeable and she had great grilling tips and fresh food knowledge. I would recommend and would gladly participate in another seminar." - Despena Sinclair

"I use the BBQ to cook for most of the summer and thought I knew a lot, but I was wrong. This workshop taught me that I can grill almost anything, how to make sure nothing is over cooked, and how to have fun with food on the grill. And on top of all that, the class was a ton of fun."
- Michelle Uba

"I strongly encourage ANYONE who has a BBQ to sign up for the event next month. You'll be amazed at what you can grill, and just how simple it is!" - Steve Brooks

 Want to learn more and enjoy an evening with friends and food?

 When: Thursday May 20th, 6 - 8pm. 

Where: 4 - 4180 Sladeview Crescent Miss, ON L5L0A1
(5 Minutes from Element CrossFit)

Cost: $40 includes instruction and dinner

 Register by Monday, May 17th to reserve your spot! Spaces are limited!

Eggs. #1 Breakfast. WHOLE EGGS are far superior to pasteurized egg whites in a carton: nutritionally, aesthetically, and tastily! They are the perfect package of all-natural nutrition, and they're just so tasty. Fried in butter or coconut oil, scrambled, omeletts or Mini Omelettes with unlimited meat and veggie options, hard boiled...  It's worth it to get up 10 minutes early to have eggs for breakfast.

Bacon. In addition to eggs, of course.  The stuff in the plastic packages from the grocery store is garbage, go to your local butcher or European deli. Many organic stores, including Longo's, sells Beretta Organic Nitrate-Free bacon. Turkey bacon is not real bacon just like these aren't:

  or these 

Pancakes or waffles! Try some flourless Berry Pancakes made with cottage cheese, or Pumpkin Pancakes which are a little crispier. They also taste great cold, so make a big batch for the week to grab-and-go. Coconut Waffles are delicious with berry sauce for a Saturday morning feast!

Oatmeal. Real oatmeal from steel-cut oats is hearty and filling, just don't forget to have protein with it, too! For 2 servings I soak 1/2 cup oats with 1/2 cup water and 1 tbsp yogurt overnight to make the oats easier to digest and it cooks up in 5 minutes with another 1/2 cup of water. Top with fresh berries, a bit of real cream, and some cinnamon, maybe a scoop of protein powder.

If you just can't manage Real Food in the morning, grab a breakfast shake. A 'liquid' meal still gives lots of great nutrition with maximum convenience. Rachael's Best Breakfast Shake has some great ideas, but get creative and use your favourite fruits. 

P.S. Re: Whole Eggs - The link between dietary cholesterol and heart disease is weak, but I'm not going to get into it here. If you're that worried about your cholesterol, think of what pseudo-foods you can cut out of your diet before you get rid of the real stuff. This recent article suggests sugars (carbohydrates, specifically fructose) may be more to blame. In my opinion, the problem comes when you couple too much sugar (carbs) with the saturated-and-trans-fat combo that you get in processed foods. Take your pick, sugar OR fat, never together. I'll take bacon and butter any day. 

1 lb bunch of fresh asparagus
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
Sesame oil (to drizzle)

Rinse asparagus and pat dry. Hand snap asparagus about an inch from the base to find the tender point. Coat asparagus in olive oil, using a pastry brush or a plastic bag.
Arrange crosswise on preheated grill (I use my George Foreman).
Turn asparagus once, after about 1 minute. Asparagus will be softer but still crunchy after 2 - 3 minutes. Remove from grill. Drizzle with sesame oil.

Garnish with sesame seeds or 1 red bell pepper, julienned.

I just got my License To Grill, and was it ever tasty!!

Astrid from the Healthy Living Institute spent 3 hours teaching  ECF members how to grill up a variety of fresh meats and veggies. I was surprised at how fast and easy it can be, and how grilling and seasoning can really bring out the flavour of foods. 

We each got to prepare a part of the meal, which  included a leg of lamb with cilantro pesto, Rainbow Trout marinated in lemon and garlic with capers and fresh herbs, grilled mushrooms and pears on a spinach salad, with grilled pineapple topped with cinnamon and coconut for dessert! The asparagus was so tasty it didn't even make it to the table, it was devoured hot off the grill as we watched and learned about the rest of the foods as they cooked.

Astrid's passion for healthy eating is inspiring, and she knows it has to be easy and tasty for people to make it part of their lifestyle. She's all about Real Food, not fad diets.  She also answered our questions about the differences between organic, local, and sustainable foods, and how its important to think about where your food comes from.

Some of the coolest things I learned:

• Rainbow Trout is a better choice for your health and the environment than salmon.
• Always wash your meat! And produce and herbs too, of course.
• Marinating your meat in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs, even for just 15 minutes, improves the flavour and texture of meat and fish exponentially.
• Asparagus is super tasty grilled in olive oil!