  If you are looking for a healthy alternative to ice cream this summer check out the frozen food aisle. (Comstock) |
Summer's coming, temperatures are rising and delicious ice cream is on everyone's mind.
But do we want it on our hips, and thighs, too, for that matter? Check out the frozen food aisle and you'll find plenty of treats to keep you cool when the days start heating up.
One treat you'll definitely want to put on your snack plate is the incredibly delicious YoPRO frozen yogurt. What sets this sweet treat apart is that's it's packed with 16 times more protein than any other product of its kind.
Conceived and developed by two young entrepreneurs, Chris Delaney and Amanda House, (who have a combined 25 years of health and fitness experience between them), YoPRO is not only creamy and delicious, but it's healthy, too, with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, trans fat free, low in saturated fat and a great source of calcium, potassium and iron.
It's also recognized by the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Health Check program, making it an ideal snack or dessert for those looking to maintain healthy eating habits while indulging in a chocolatey delight.
"Both Amanda and I are really big on fitness, and we wanted to develop something that was not only great tasting, but also part of a balanced program," explains Delaney, an ex-firefighter who, although legally blind after having lost his eyesight several years ago to a genetic disorder, is an accomplished athlete who has even cycled across Canada for the Chris Delaney VisionTour which raised funds to fight blindness and inspire youth.
House, co-founder of YoPRO Treats, is also an accomplished athlete, a certified kinesiologist and professional personal trainer. The two worked with the University of Guelph to create a product that "is both healthy and appealing ... it took us two years to find the right formula that encompassed enhanced nutritional benefits as well as being low in fat and an excellent source of protein."
And the best part -- the stuff tastes great! At 210 calories and only 2.5 grams of fat (not to mention the 16 grams of protein) for O cup (125mL), one can be excused a second helping.
The 500 ml pints are available for under $6 at select stores including Costco, Whole Foods Market, Zarky's Fine Foods in Burlington and Hamilton and other locations. Check out yoprotreats.com for more info.
In the midst of the glitz and glamour of Sherway Gardens in the city's west-end lies a gem of a shop that specializes only in olive oil -- Aegean or Turkish olive oil, to be exact.
Ta-Ze (across from the Williams Sonoma shop) just sparkles with row upon neat row of a wide, colourful assortment of some of the world's most formidable and delicious Turkish olive oils, as well as gourmet products, books and unique dipping dishes -- necessary to truly appreciate this wondrous, healthy liquid.
Owned and operated by husband and wife team Evren Polat and Ipek Aksoy, the two have a genuine passion to help educate the public in not only learning to appreciate the various nuances of olive oil ("like a fine wine," says Polat) but also learn to navigate the labelling on any bottle of olive oil in general.
"A bottle may say 'virgin or extra-virgin olive oil' but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is," notes Aksoy, an archeologist by profession. Adds her husband Polat, "And even 'pure olive oil' may come from a blend from different countries ... there are so many variances to think about.
"The taste, grade and density of olive oil differs widely by climate, soil, age, harvesting method and the surrounding areas all play a pivotol role in the real deal. The Turkish olive oils we carry come with the highest standards set by the industry itself -- we work with a consortium, or union, of olive farmers who adhere to the strictest criteria in order to supply only the finest -- and this is documented not only by the union, but by the industry itself."
One clear rule of thumb is cost -- "there's no way you can purchase quality extra-virgin olive oil for under $5. You can apply the same principles to balsamic vinegar, or wine, for that matter."
So you should know that the Taris House extra-virgin olive oil has a maximum free fatty acidity of 0.8%, is cold-water pressed from the Edremit olives carefully gathered from the skirts of the Ida Mountains and, with a pure transparency and colour ranging from yellow to green, is ideal for general cooking as well as salads and marinates. And the Taris House virgin olive oil, with a maximum acidity of 2%, is heavier than its extra virgin counterpart.
"There are so many nuances, and it gets quite exciting when your palate can pick up the particulars," says Polat. "The olive tree itself is considered ... close to eternal. Turkish olive trees are considered some of the oldest in history, some dating back 6,000 years. We have 1,000-year- old trees still producing olives! When we think of olive oil, with all its health benefits and history, we should think of it as the elixer of life."
The two happily offer everything from educational seminars to tastings on the oils offered in their store.
You'll call it delicious -- we call it Turkish delight.
Check out Ta-Ze near Holt's at Sherway Gardens, call 416 626-6553 or visit ta-ze.ca.
Below is a recipe from the couple's personal selection.
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POMEGRANATE CHICKEN
- 4 tbsp. (60 ml) Ta-Ze Pomegranate glaze
- 8 tbsp. (120 ml) Ta-Ze extra-virgin olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- Coarse salt/pepper, to taste
- 8 pieces boneless chicken breast
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- a cup (175 ml) whole almonds
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Whisk pomegranate glaze, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper until combined. Arrange chicken and sweet potatoes on a baking dish. Sprinkle almonds on top. Pour mixture over dish. Cover and bake for 45 minutes or until chicken registers 160F on an instant read thermometer.
Serves 6 to 8.
