gro CREATIVE
event MINDER Join us on November 16th for playful discovery!
Our relationship with chocolate is a funny one – in fact, many of us are suffering from “Halloween hangovers” right now! But recent research is showing there are actually heart and cognitive health benefits to consuming daily chocolate. The trick (or treat?) is to consume the right kind of chocolate.
Malcolm Saunders founded his business The Light Cellar years ago on this very premise: raw, pure chocolate can be creatively crafted as a vessel for enjoyably consuming other superfoods. Today, The Light Cellar is an independent and inspired business here in YYC offering the largest range of superfoods in Canada.
Malcolm Saunders’ mission is to deeply connect people to their food. He has worked in the field of food and nutrition for 20 years and is the owner and creative visionary of The Light Cellar. He is an intuitive chef who specializes in sharing the alchemy of superfoods and superherbs and he has helped thousands of individuals recreate their relationship to food.
On November 16th at the Light Cellar, Malcolm will share his knowledge and passion around food, provoke our thinking about nutrition and give us a chance for some hands-on chocolate making to take home and share - or not ;). There will be other nutritious and tasty food, beverages and as always, exceptional company to enjoy.
Meet Janet, one of our newest gro members. She brings a unique and valuable perspective evolved from her life experiences as a palliative care nurse, mother of a large, combined family and small business owner of Proactive Health Care Advisors. Janet's keen sense of curiosity makes her a welcome addition to our community. We're excited to welcome Janet to gro with us!
g: We love a good story - what's yours? JB: Life is river flowing with opportunities and challenges that help us grow and become more. As a mother to eight and a nurse with almost 35 years of experience, I am seeking what the next 10 years will bring.
g: Where are you "going"?
JB: Transitions are where I’m going… somewhere unknown in my work world and personally with aging parents. I am frightened and excited about the idea I am working on and how it will be received. I’m stepping outside of my box…
g: In Your Free Time You Enjoy...
JB: So many wonderful things to do in free time! Creating is my favorite – making jewelry, gardening, sewing and raising healthy children. Being active outdoors and watching the seasons flow from one to another and enjoying the gifts each one brings.
Last fall at our VESSEL event, we learned about the interconnections between gut health and brain health. Dr. Arlin Pachet shared some of his personal and professional neurological perspectives around the foods we eat and how they can impact our cognitive functions.
Those who attended the event will remember the food and drink served were tasty examples reinforcing what Dr. Arlin was sharing about a diet rich in probiotics, low in carbohydrates, high in (good) fats and protein.
Our good friends at Blush Lane sponsored our event with some delicious kombucha. Like kombucha, water kefir (pronounced keh-FEER) is another carbonated beverage with excellent probiotic value. Although not as well known as milk kefir, water kefir is the same concept – symbiotic grains of bacteria and yeast that ferment to produce a carbonated beverage rich in probiotics that contribute to healthy gut flora.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with a friend last month for “Kefir-making 101” complete with a donation of water kefir grains to launch my own batch at home. Sue learned from a workshop at the Light Cellar, where gro will be hosting a our November CREATIVE event. She imparted some of her kefir grains to me and calls her kefir grains the “gift that keeps on giving” as they continue to grow and multiply.
If you are interested in starting your own batch of probiotic goodness, reach out to us at curious@getgroing.ca for some basic instructions to get CREATIVE in your own kitchen.
ON PURPOSE
We strive to create a "supportive, creative, intellectual, authentic space" where our members can connect. A sign of success is when we see our members continue fostering their connections and curiosity beyond our facilitated time together.
Here are some exciting examples:
Nicole L. brought her husband to meet Dr. Arlin following our "Food For Thought" VESSEL event last fall to gain more insights into the connections between the foods we eat and the health of our brain.
Patricia G. introduced Karla R. to Highbanks Society where Karla will be making dinner for the young teen moms and their little ones next week.
Leslie G. shared retail experience and Patricia S. shared legal perspectives to support others like cōchu chocolatier looking to 'gro' their new business ideas.
Michelle A. and Karla R. both recently completed the 6-week Ironside Fitness Inc. challenge with Charmaine Ironside.
Stacie S. and Melissa P. completed Brenda J.'s free 7-Day Chakra Adventure through Wolfwind Awakening.
There are some mighty cool things happening in our community. How are you connecting to gro beyond our meetings? Share with us at curious@getgroing.ca - or share on our Facebook (@getgroing).
