EASY Tuna Cake Recipe

Tuna Cakes
Adapted from Sprout Right


Tip:  Add a dipping sauce for added fun. I love a tzaziki sauce made from plain yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, onion and salt!

4 cans tuna (find a sustainable variety)
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or oats)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup mustard
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
oil for pan-frying


Mash and mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Heat oil on medium heat. Form into patties and pan fry for 5 minutes per side until golden. Serve on a whole grain bun with lettuce, tomato and other favourite burger toppings and condiments of your choice.

Dinner for 3 ... or, Three Different Dinners

I am lucky to have a husband and son who are not picky -- so this post won't be full of complaints.

Most of the time, I make one dinner and we all eat it. Sometimes I'll have a with-dinner coffee, while Ollie always has water, and Cal might have some strange soda that he's found (seriously -- he finds really weird soda), but really it's rare that we eat different food for dinner.

However, tonight was the "we all eat the same meal" apocalypse. I knew we would eat basa fish tacos, however:

- I only had 2 tortilla wraps left (Calvin needs 2 to himself, minimum)
- The bulk of the tacos was going to be lettuce which Oliver has a rough time chewing well
- I wanted hot peppers! Lots - sorry Oliver!
- There was like 1/2 cup corn-rice mix leftover and it would look pretty pathetic split 3 ways

So I did this... (And once I get around to uploading photos from my camera I can include a shot I took)

CALVIN
2 large fish tacos: cooked fillet + cheese + salsa + lettuce + tomato + hot peppers + sauteed pepper & onion

AMY
1 fillet with cheese and salsa + a side of sauteed pepper & onion & hot peppers (this is better anyway because I can have extra veggies, I mean, who wants to only eat what peppers you can fit into a tortilla)

OLIVER
Rice and corn mix + some fish + some cheese + some tomato (his favourite food)

Everyone wins!

See I told you I wouldn't complain. ... But I do wish we had avocado.

31 Days: Day 18 and 19

Yesterday after I finished my house stuff Calvin phoned to say we were headed to Guelph to help out a friend with a delivery. It actually didn't end up happening but somehow I got to spend a few hours with my mom and dad, which was great. When we got home I made fried rice, carrots from the garden & halibut in the skillet. Then I watched way too much Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

Today I got up early to make the one hour walk (with my mom) to mom & baby yoga at Lululemon. I loved it. By the time we got home we needed lunch so she made an impromptu kale & tomato rice-pasta. Then we folded laundry, convinced ourselves not to do any gardening (it's so rainy!), made coffee & filmed a video about homemade moby wraps (coming soon).

Now I'm seriously debating some hot soup even though dinner is soon, and I think we're yet again watching hockey at 7.

Really looking forward to a cottage trip this weekend!

More Important than Folic Acid?! DHA!

As long as I've been aware of it the big caution through the child bearing years has been to intake enough folic acid. This is undeniably important, however a newer realization is leaving nutrition professionals promoting DHA supplements or adequate intake as equally or more vital.

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a polyunsaturated omega 3. Among other things, its function is to aid in brain, nervous system and eye development. There is no greater time in our lives that we need a heavy dose of DHA than while we're growing in the womb. Because babies can't reach out and snag a serving of tuna salad, we as moms need to make sure that we're getting enough from our food (unlikely) or taking a fish oil supplement. There are vegan options, made from algae, and there is also the potential to convent plant-derived ALA fats into DHA if you're quite healthy and eating a lot of ALA-rich foods. (ALA is found in flax, hemp, chia and many nut oils.) The greatest need for DHA is during the third trimester.

Studies testing the effectiveness of various maternal nutritional efforts to increase childhood IQ came up with little benefit - most often a difference in score of 1 or less. Then, new studies showed DHA supplementation during pregnancy producing an increase of 6 - 10 points in IQ score. 

DHA can also decrease risk of preterm birth, and can lessen or prevent postpartum depression symptoms. Some doctors and researchers believe the mood changes are due to severe DHA depletion in new mothers - only to worsen upon breast feeding, when the infant continues to need high doses from mom's stores.

If you're looking for food sources of DHA some of the safer fish are pollock, haddock and cod. You can also go by the old rule that you shouldn't eat the same variety fish in one week in hopes that they'll contain different metals/ toxins and won't build up; or go with smaller fish that don't have the fat content in their bodies to store heavy metals.

Lastly, remember, pregnancy is no time to worry or stress. Advice should be considered with an open mind and positive thinking, it should not be a source of stress. In fact, stress raises cortisol levels and will undo any beneficial efforts you've been managing. It is a beautiful time and if you stay calm, nourish yourself and look forward to your little bundle of joy, everything will work out perfectly.