The month of Ramadan is a time of fasting for Muslims. What does fasting during Ramadan mean? It means no food or drink, not even water, during the day. Every day, fasting starts after sunrise, and ends after sunset. Many Muslims stay up late into the night and may choose to sleep during the day… Continue reading Pregnant and fasting during Ramadan? 6 tips to eat well
Author: Christine DeSouza, RD
I completed a BA Cross Disciplinary Degree at the University of Western Ontario in 1995 and an Honours BSc Food and Nutrition Degree at Ryerson University in 2003. I completed my Dietetic Internship at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre in 2004 and worked as a Clinical Dietitian in Surgery at North York General Hospital after internship for over a year. I am currently working as a Community Dietitian in the Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) Program at Toronto Public Health (TPH) for the last 9.5 years. While also working as an HBP RD, I worked as a Consulting Dietitian at my own Private Practice at King West Village Medical Centre for 3 years. I have an interest in environmental health, music, reading, physical fitness, and spending time with my 2 kids and husband playing in the park! :)
Tuna anyone? An easy recipe your kids will love!
When I was a kid, my mom used to say that fish was brain food. I now realize that she was right! Your brain is made up of DHA. That’s docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fat, that is important for the brain, nervous system, and eyes. Fish is the best source of DHA. Fish can also… Continue reading Tuna anyone? An easy recipe your kids will love!
8 Tips to eat healthier and save money
With skyrocketing food prices these days, it may seem hard to eat healthy while keeping an eye on how much you spend. Food budgeting is important. It's easy to go to a fast food restaurant and buy a meal in seconds that is cheaper, but is it healthier? It takes more effort to go shopping… Continue reading 8 Tips to eat healthier and save money
Grocery shopping? 7 tips to help you plan
Do you forget what's in your fridge and your pantry when you're at the grocery store? Do you know if you'll even be cooking this week? If you don't have the right ingredients in your kitchen, cooking up healthy meals can be a challenge. Planning is very important before you go grocery shopping. Take the… Continue reading Grocery shopping? 7 tips to help you plan
Wholesome, tasty lentil soup recipe for the family
This lentil soup is a healthy, nutritious meal that is chock full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It is very high in beta-carotene, which is a nutrient that is converted to vitamin A in the body. It is also loaded with B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K, minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc)… Continue reading Wholesome, tasty lentil soup recipe for the family
I’m pregnant: Where does the weight go?
As a Dietitian, this is a common question asked by many of my pregnant clients. The truth is - the extra weight gained in pregnancy goes to many places in the body. Gaining weight is an expected and normal part of pregnancy, and sometimes it's hard to know how much weight is a healthy amount to gain.… Continue reading I’m pregnant: Where does the weight go?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
It is important to gain a healthy amount of weight in pregnancy. Gaining weight is an expected and normal part of pregnancy. Sometimes it's hard to know how much weight to gain in pregnancy. Eating healthy foods from Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide and drinking 10-12 cups of fluid daily can help women gain… Continue reading How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
Need to gain more weight in your pregnancy? Here are some tips.
Sometimes pregnant women find it hard to gain weight in their pregnancies due to lack of appetite, nausea and/or vomiting. Gaining a healthy amount of weight in pregnancy will help: your baby to grow and develop you to have a healthy weight baby your body get ready to breastfeed your baby. How much weight should… Continue reading Need to gain more weight in your pregnancy? Here are some tips.
Pregnant and can’t keep your multivitamin down?
Tips to make taking a multivitamin easier! As a dietitian who counsels pregnant moms, I often hear from clients that they can’t take a prenatal vitamin because it makes them throw up. At Toronto Public Health, we recommend that pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin every day as the nutrients in the vitamin help you… Continue reading Pregnant and can’t keep your multivitamin down?