This morning I had the opportunity to talk about the new Canadian Guidelines for Alcohol Consumption from the Centre for Substance Abuse and Addiction. In particular, we discussed how they are impacting women and women's drinking.

This comforting, naturally sweetened breakfast could pass for dessert! This breakfast is perfect for the "all things apples & cinnamon” season that is Fall. Serve warm and top with a little dollop of the yoghurt mixture.

Ingredients:

6 c apples, peeled and diced (You’ll need 8-9 medium-sized apples)

2 tbsp cinnamon, divided 2 c slow cook rolled oats

2 tbsp chia seeds

2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 c dates, roughly chopped

1 c almond, other non-dairy milk or cow's milk

1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping - Mix Together:

1/2 c plain yoghurt

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

To make:

Peel and dice apples. Toss with 1 tbsp of cinnamon then place apples in the bottom of an ungreased pie plate.

In a large bowl, combine oats, chia seeds, baking powder, remaining 1 tbsp of cinnamon, ginger, allspice & salt.

In a blender or food processor, blend dates, milk, apple sauce,...

Ingredients:

454g of whole grain pasta, cooked according to package directions, drained (reserve a cup or so of pasta water) & set aside

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 c diced shallots (about 4 shallots)

4 large garlic cloves, crushed (you really can't have too much)

1 c unsweetened pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)

1-400 ml can coconut milk (I'd live a little & go with full-fat)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp+ ground nutmeg (taste at the end & add a little more if you like)

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage (+ more for garnish)

To make: In the same pot you cooked the pasta in, heat olive oil, shallots, and garlic over medium and cook, stirring, until fragrant & garlic is golden.

Whisk in pumpkin, coconut milk, salt, nutmeg, chili powder, pepper and sage and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, continue stirring, and let sauce cook for 5 minutes or so to thicken up. Add drained pasta back into pot and stir to coat well with the sauce, adding some of...

 Watch the episode, above, or listen, below!

In this episode Sarah Baillie, N.D. (aka “The Meno Whisperer) and I, continue our conversation from Episode 10 about women’s burnout, shifting the focus to what we can do to prevent and recover from it. We discuss the fight or flight response, the stress hormone cortisol, the relaxation response and provide loads of practical strategies you can start using right now to manage your “cortisol jackers” and close the stress cycle, decreasing your cortisol in the process. Don’t skip this one, it might just change your life!

Listen to this episode above! (There is no video of this podcast, the universe was not cooperating - it's definitely worth a listen, though - it was a GREAT conversation!)

Jessie Harrold is a coach, women's mentor and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over a decade. She is also the author of Project Body Love: My Quest to Love My Body and the Surprising Truth I Found Instead.

In this episode, Jessie and I discuss some of the transformative life experiences women go through (like motherhood, leadership, empty nesting, menopause and sobriety). We also talk about the importance of slowing down, listening to your body and heart and using what you learn to develop rituals of meaningful self-care. Tune in to hear Jessie's famous "pee example"!

Jessie shares her definition of “ritual” and explains how we can use ritual to “put a pin in our life map” and...

I got to guest host on This Naked Mind's popular podcast last month and the episode is now available to watch, above, or listen to, below.

Scott Pinyard, Head Coach of This Naked Mind, and I answered listener questions about how to deal with work stress and how to get back on track with healthy habits after a "blip" or "data point".

My advice around tools for coping with stress applies whether your drug of choice is alcohol, food, social media, or online shopping - so please have a listen even if you're happy with your relationship with alcohol, I think you'll learn a lot!

 Watch the episode, above, or listen, below!

Sarah Baillie, N.D. (aka “The Meno Whisperer) and I discuss why women’s burnout is on the rise (including the role of the pandemic and the “third shift” many women are now working), how women get to burnout and the common (and not so common) symptoms. We also discuss the connection between hormonal shifts in peri-menopause and menopause and higher burnout rates during that life stage (as reflected in Sarah’s patients and my coaching practice). Sarah describes the “GAS” mechanism (see diagram below) created by chronic stress and how that eventually leads to exhaustion. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation where Sarah and I provide lots of practical tips for managing cortisol and preventing burnout. (The online test for adrenal fatigue Sarah refers to during the episode can be found here: https://adrenalfatigue.org/take-the-adrenal-fatigue-questionnaire/ )