Healthy Living Makes a Difference

The scariest part about Halloween – aside from the ghost costumes and hanging cobwebs in unexpected places – is the amount of sugar kids ingest.

Fall is a beautiful season in Manitoba, but it inevitably brings with it the threat of colds and influenza.

For Canadians, Thanksgiving means gathering with family in a cozy room with a crackling fire to ward off autumn chills, and waiting it out until dinner appears on the table.

“Man cannot live by bread alone. He must have peanut butter,” said comedian Bill Cosby. A large percentage of the population apparently agrees with Cosby since this rich creamy spread is a staple in about 75 percent of North American homes.

Most Canadians realize that a wholesome diet plays a significant role in health. They are fully aware that fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat meats and milk products are part of a healthy eating plan.

Creamy, smooth-tasting cheese is hard to pass up. A fixture on appetizer platters and a component of hot vegetable dishes and salads, cheese – which complements many foods – is a regular part of the Canadian diet.

Legend has it that the artichoke came into being when the Greek god Zeus turned his object of affection into a thistle-like plant after she rejected him.

A lemon a day keeps the doctor away. While this is usually said of apples, it is equally true of citrus fruit since each piece – whether it is a lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit – is a powerhouse of nutrients.

Birch tree branches are perfect for little boys to swing on, notes Robert Frost in his lovely poem simply entitled Birches.

From May to October Manitoba is a prairie paradise, offering opportunities for swimming or simply soaking up the sun on sandy beaches, hiking on any of numerous trails, camping at either well-developed or more rustic sites and, of course, fishing from one of the rivers, lakes or streams.