Miranda Malisani – Nutrition Expert

Who Transformed My Diet?…Barbara Walters

    My passion for nutrition was born from struggle.  I spent many years doubled over in pain as a child not knowing why I always felt sick and tired. I was worried with every bite of food I ate because I felt constant nausea, stomach pains, constipation and dizziness. I started out on a pretty crappy diet. It consisted of canned soups, cheese spread on white bread, flavoured chips, crackers and many versions of fast food. I was eating what a lot of the kids in my neighbourhood were eating, but I was always feeling sick. So sick that…

Banana Pumpkin Butter Mini Muffins (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

My main focus when packing snacks  for my two boys is to sneak in some protein, fibre and healthy fats to provide immune system support, keep them regular and support their growing brains. The right foods keep them focused, full of healthy energy (not the hyper-crazy energy from refined carb snacks) and feel their best so they can learn the most. Naturally kids love carbs, especially muffins and cookies. They provide quick energy, take no time to scarf down and are often sweet tasting. Both my boys are no exception, but the muffins and cookies I pack for them are.…

50% off The Hubby Diet (Limited Time Offer)

   “It’s hard to know what feeling good feels like if you don’t give your body the right fuel.” This was straight from the mouth from my own husband who lost 9 pounds, went down 5% body fat and dropped 2.5 inches of his waist in 6 weeks on The Hubby Diet. We have been together for 14 years and simply being married to a Nutritionist he felt that he ate healthy because he came home to a healthy dinner. However, he would barely eat breakfast, go all day without eating much and then eat all night, after his healthy…

Nature’s Sour Skittles & Caramels

Kids love sweet foods! Obviously this is not ground-breaking news of any kind. But what is ground-breaking is that kids can enjoy sweet treats in a healthy way. Their first taste of sweet begins in utero with amniotic fluid, which contains fructose, glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. As a result babies are born with a preference for the sweet taste of mother’s milk. This initial stage of nurturing creates a safe and comforting feeling that is associated with the sweet flavour. This soothing feeling from sweet foods lives with us into our adult years. You might find yourself digging…

Organic Apple with Magic Sprinkles

Parenting isn’t always glamorous. I spend a lot of daily energy making sure my kids bowels are churning at optimum efficiency. Poo-regularity is a serious business in our house for many reasons. 80 percent of the immune system is found in the digestive tract. Regularity means better absorption of important nutrients for their growth and efficient elimination of waste.  I always have organic apples in the house for an easy snack. Apples contain a great assortment of antioxidants and one (with skin) contains four grams of fibre. I kick-up the fibre content of this snack with “magic sprinkles” aka chia…

Steamed “Pickled” Organic Kale

Steamed greens are an immediate ewwwww for most kids.  So, how do you get your child to eat this leafy powerhouse? You have to make it relatable in some comfortable and known way. Replicate a texture, flavour or appearance of something that your child likes. Like many kids, my son loves pickles, so I took the flavour element sour and used lemon and apple cider vinegar to give him the pucker-sour taste he loves. He describes all sour foods as tasting like pickles so when I introduced kale to him I said it tastes kind of like pickles. He also…

Welcome to the Polka Dot Plate Blog

There’s nothing that makes me happier as a mom (and a Nutritionist) then when my kids eat well. The Polka Dot Plate blog shows you a glimpse into my world as a mom instilling excitement and education into my four year old about healthy food. Within the past four years we’ve been through many dietary changes. One day he loves eggs, the next day he HATES them. At two, he would happily eat sardines for breakfast (true story), but now Sardines are soooo not happening. Like all aspects of parenting, getting my son to eat healthy foods has taken creativity,…

Rice Crispy Treats ~ Livin’ Light Style

Living Light doesn’t mean dessert deprivation! I have great memories of making the traditional Rice Crispy Squares when I was a kid and licking the gooey remnants of the sticky marshmallow bowl….and then having a sugar stomach ache an hour later! So, I’ve taken the traditional ingredients (white rice krispies, marshmallows, butter and vanilla) and have swapped them for more health promoting ingredients. We are keeping the feel-good memories, but subtracting the sour stomach. Here’s the super simple recipe: In a medium Dutch oven over low heat melt honey, brown rice syrup, sunflower seed butter in large bowl. Add in…