Susan Alsembach

When considering changing your nutrition, you will likely think of specific diets like ketogenic, paleo, or vegetarian. So, this week I am outlining the four key factors that I discuss with clients when they are looking to make changes to their nutrition and lifestyle. 1. Be aware of how much time [...]

At this time of year, change is all around us. With every sunny day, flowers are blooming, and the leaves are gently opening, announcing the arrival of spring. As we go through life, constant modifications happen within our bodies too. I find that you only notice the change when you look at photos, meet [...]

It might not yet feel like spring is here, but looking at the buds pushing through the ground, we can rest assured that warmth will be upon us. At this time of year, as we prepare our gardens and back yards for a summer barbecue with friends and families, I use this opportunity to go through my kitchen [...]

The last two years have made us all acutely aware that helping and supporting each other is so important to our collective wellbeing. I have worked as a nurse for many years, and more recently as a registered holistic nutritionist whose healthy eating and lifestyle columns appear regularly on ottawalife.com. [...]

When it comes to preparing simple, easy, and tasty meals, warm winter salads are a great option. We tend to think that salads as a meal are reserved for hot summer days but I want to introduce the idea of warm winter salads. They are just as flavourful as their summer counterpart and provide a comforting [...]

As we near the end of January, it is time to reevaluate your New Year’s resolutions to see if they are working or not. I find the idea of making resolutions restrictive as it generally comes with the decision not to do a specific activity or habit that we may have engaged in for many years. This [...]

With a busy family, I just love leftovers. Often overlooked, they are a very precious commodity in your fridge: they save time, reduce waste, and are a source of ready-made meals. This week, I am looking at the various ways you can use leftovers along with different transport and storage options. Simply [...]

One certain thing is that the weather in Ottawa always lets you know when the seasons are changing. Not only do you dress differently with the change of temperature but it also affects how and what you eat. This week I will look at how you can adapt the food you eat so that you’ll feel warm and [...]

Trying to fit everything in while accommodating new routines and timetables can be challenging for anyone, with or without a family. If you are someone who finds grocery shopping a challenge, these five simple tips will help take the stress out of grocery shopping. 1. To start with, I find that getting [...]

Autumn is the traditional harvest period in Canada, so lets look at the various foods that we can eat and enjoy throughout this season. This week we are looking at foods such as apples, Brussel sprouts and pumpkins and how to incorporate them into your diet. These foods are warm and sooth our soul as [...]