Need a warm hug on a cold day? A piping hot bowl of my sugar-free low-carb chili should do the trick! 

Ingredients (Serves 8)

1 tbsp EVOO
1 medium onion diced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 jalapeno peppers diced
2 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/8 tsp cinnamon 
2 lbs. ground beef
2 cans diced tomato

Directions 

1. Heat EVOO in a deep pot or skillet over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onion, jalapenos, and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. 
3. Stir in chili powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne to coat the veggies. Add ground beef and cook until brown, approximately 6-9 minutes. Drain excess liquid.
4. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.


Nutritional Info per Serving (approx. 1 cup)
Calories: 412
Fat: 31g
Net Carbs: 4.5g
Protein: 26g 

Enjoy! 

I always say “being prepared isn’t just for the Boy Scouts”. Anyone who has spent any time traveling knows that buying food on the road or in airports can break the bank and blow your blood sugar to the moon.

Here are a few of my go-to options to save cash and keep my numbers in range when I’m traveling:

1. Boiled Eggs, Mixed Nuts, and Turkey Bites. Loaded full of fats, a moderate amount of protein, and calorie dense, this combo is my number one choice for long flights. It keeps me feeling full and satisfied all the while serving as an excellent movie-watching snack on board. You just need to get over the fact that you’re the person peeling boiled eggs on the plane!
   
   
   
   
2. Egg Bites. Needing nothing more than eggs, a muffin pan, and whatever else you have in the fridge, these little bad boys are both tasty and satisfying. Don’t be fooled by imposters sold at a big coffee chain (that shall remain nameless), those are full of cornstarch and other preservatives, that I can’t spell, that will a
...

These oven-baked meatballs are quick and easy to prepare. Try them with fresh greens or salads!

Ingredients (Serves 4)

28 oz ground turkey
4 large free-range eggs
1 tsp pink Himalayan or sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper
8 tbsp fresh parsley
400g small mozzarella balls
8-pieces chopped sun-dried tomatoes
4 tbsp fresh basil
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions 

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Drain Mozza balls, pat dry with a paper towel, and put them in a large mixing bowl.
2. Finely slice dried tomatoes and chop basil. Place into the bowl and lightly coat and toss with olive oil. 
3. In a separate bowl, mix turkey with eggs and add fresh parsley. Then salt and pepper those bad boys. 
4. Create hand-sized burgers. 
5. Place a Mozza ball with tomatoes and basil in the center of the burger and wrap the meat around to create a ball.
6. Arrange meatballs in a baking dish greased with olive oil. 
7. Bake for approximately 25 minutes.

Nutritional Info per Serving
Calories: 857
Fat: 62g
Net Carbs: 5g
Protei...

For this post, I’m turning over the blog to my awesome client Marc to share this really amazing testimonial he provided. Thank you, Marc! I’m so proud of your hard work and dedication to your health.

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I heard about Shawn through another referral and heard nothing but great things.  I have to admit,  I was skeptical about getting a “Coach” and the importance of nutrition.  My health and well-being were decent, but I was looking for improvements in my quality of life, no matter how small.  I did not believe my well-being would improve much but would have been ok with a minor improvement, like losing a couple of pounds, or a slightly better A1C.

Immediately after meeting with Shawn, I put all my trust in his hands and followed his direction.  Within the first week, I experienced significant improvements in my weight, blood sugars, and most importantly, my wellbeing.  My expectations were blown away… 

After 13 weeks with Shawn, I get multiple compliments from friends and family on how...

With so many nutrition protocols and “diets” out there, it’s quite common for people to feel overwhelmed and confused - and be in total “information overload” as one of my clients accurately refers to this abundance of (mis)information.

In this blog post, I break down the nutrition basics. If you have been struggling with blood sugar control, fat loss, muscle gain, or seeking proper nutritional information to “just feel well”, these are the simple rules that you should be following.  

1. EAT BREAKFAST WITHIN 1-HOUR OF WAKING EVERY DAY

Forget the fasting. Well, at least until you’ve woken up your metabolism. Most people don’t eat enough, or frequently enough which can lead to a sluggish metabolism. Starting each day with breakfast stunts the release of cortisol, the stress hormone which promotes fat storage and creates insulin resistance. Also, skipping breakfast and going about your day will cause your blood sugar to drop, resulting in an increased risk of making a poor nutritional ch...

Ingredients (16 servings)

1 bar extra dark chocolate (99%)
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup dried flaked coconut
3 tablespoons unsweetened freeze-dried berries (raspberries, cranberries, or strawberries)
1/3 cup macadamia nuts
1/2 teaspoon coarse pink Himalayan salt

Directions 

1. Melt chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave for about 1 minute.
2. Toast coconut flakes in a non-stick pan. Add whole or chopped macadamia nuts and spoon in dry unsweetened berries.
3. Place in a parchment-lined baking dish and cool in the fridge for about 2 hours.
4. Remove from fridge and cut into equal pieces.

Nutritional Info per Serving
Calories: 109
Fat: 12g
Net Carbs: 1.1g
Protein: 1g 

Enjoy! 

For this post, I’m turning over the blog to my amazing client Leanne to share this really lovely testimonial she provided. Thank you, Leanne! I’m so happy our paths crossed.

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YES YES YES!

Shawn has changed my life and here’s how:

As a Type 1 Diabetic for over 25 years, I’ve always had a good understanding of my body, and good control over my blood sugars. I was almost always within range for my A1C and my doctor wasn’t worried about me.

Good.

What was behind that “good control” was me constantly having to level myself out by eating or giving myself more insulin. I’d have to bolus or go for a long walk after many meals because I misjudged how much insulin I needed for it in my first injection.

Sure my AVERAGE blood sugars were good, but my graph looked like a constant yo-yo of peaks and valleys and it was exhausting.

I lost sleep almost EVERY night because I would wake up at 3 am with a sugar low, had to treat it, and called this the “dawn phenomenon”. Giving myself less insuli...

It's the end of the year and many people are about to start their annual new year resolutions list. I thought it would be a great time to compile some of my top tips to help keep our blood sugar management in check. 

1. Do be prepared. Always being prepared isn’t just for Boy Scouts. Having your supplies readily available to you makes staying on top of your numbers less daunting. I’ve got an awesome collection of fanny packs loaded with strips, tips, and honey packs ready for when I’m out and about. I even keep an extra meter in my shaving kit just in case I fry my main meter in the sun on a beach in Cuba …yup it happened!

Don’t wing it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out for dinner only to realize that I only have 2u’s left in my insulin pen. This is how we get into trouble. Forgetting insulin, dead dexcoms, pod changes, etc. You get it. Every day counts living with T1D and we need to make sure that we put our numbers first and stay prepared.

2. Do keep all of your medic...

Nuts aren’t just crunchy, delicious snacks or yummy toppings for stir-fry dinners. They are packed with tons of fibre, vitamins, and protein that help keep your body balanced and strong. What’s more, the healthy fats in nuts provide us with an excellent source of energy with minimal effect on blood sugar (win-win!).  

Tip: For optimal health, choose dry roasted and unsalted varieties. I do enjoy adding a little pink Himalayan sea salt to mine for added electrolytes (and flavour!).

Here’s some of my personal favourites:

Walnuts

Walnuts are rich in antioxidants and Omega 3-fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Their abundance of fibre contributes to a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream.

Almonds

Almonds are high in magnesium, improving blood sugar and insulin function. They are also filled with Vitamin E, which can help prevent the oxidation process that leads to clogged arteries. 

Pistachios

Pistachios contain a wealth of nutrients, including ...