Craving

I'm craving a beach, massages, an amazing partner to share it with and...a big bag of chips. I know what you're thinking...how unsexy of you Melissa! I know, but the other day, the little demon inside of me wanted salt and vinegar Kettle chips so bad I can swear it was threatening a painful death if I didn't follow its wishes. On top of it all, I've been surrounded by beautiful men who I then realize are accompanied by female accessories. [Melissa slams on the breaks] I'm craving having someone to spoon with, make dinners with and curl up to watch a flicky and drink a little vino with...and maybe a bag of chips. Oh damn you Kettle Chips! All these cravings make me wonder, what does it all mean?

Now I'm not asking for the meaning of life here folks, I'm just asking for a little clarity. Unfortunately with 16 hours worth of sleep over the course of four days, my idea of clarity is seen through a murky window...brutal. I mean I don't have a thing against sleep, I've just had to distance myself from my once sleepy time lover. Sometimes, certain things are out of our control and this certainly is one of those times. The new Sexy Food Therapy site is set to launch on January 27 and I've recently been asked by The Women's Post to speak at their swanky Courage to Lead event at Banana Republic. So I've been working away, shooting the media kit video, writing content and press releases and planning events. I've cancelled social events with friends and 3:30am and numerous amounts of black tea has become my new friend. Yes, I know, how lame. But I'm almost there Mamasita Smurf...almost at the point where I can hop back onto my normal routine of running, having a social life again and yes...sleep.

So I realize my body is hating me right now. In fact, it's developed a mind of its own and took it upon itself to turn off both alarm clocks I have and make me late for work at the store...twice. It's fighting me and again, I think I'm beginning to hear trickles of threats some of which have been put into action already. My eyes are beet red and friends keep telling me I look tired (what you really mean is I look like shit) and my legs decided to walk me right into a tree as a form of punishment (thankfully, no cute Mr. Potentials around).

My cravings are intensifying and the answer is beginning to come to me. Salty cravings = adrenal burn out. Salt pertains to the kidneys and our adrenal glands which pump out our stress hormones sit right on top of them. Okay, so maybe I'm more burnt out than I thought. I swear the only thing that's keeping me afloat and sedating any irritability I would normally have are my greens. Otherwise, I have to take care of this craving and give it the kind of salt that's going to nourish me instead of deplete me and add a dimple to my cheek (and I don't mean the kind of dimple you get when you smile either).

SEXY O-NIGIRI BALLS WITH UMEBOSHI PLUM

1 cup cooked white sushi rice (left to cool)

4 umeboshi plums

Eden Shake (Sesame and Sea Vegetable Seasoning)

nori sheets (optional)

With wet hands, take a small portion of rice and make into a ball. Stick your thumb into the centre to make an indent.

Tear a small piece of umeboshi plum and add into the indent and cover with rice.

Roll ball in Eden Shake seasoning and serve or wrap with nori sheet.

I love these little balls of love. I love it even more so that Melody Gardot, a favourite jazz singer of mine loves them too. I'll make a ton of them, pack them in a container and bring them with me to work as a snack or on the road when I know I won't have time. I know some Nutritionists will scoff at the fact I'm using white rice, but in Chinese Medicine and in Macrobiotics white rice is quite healing and can be tonifying to the spleen (which governs digestion) in varying situations and moderation. It's all about balance folks.

However the main reason I love these bad boys right now is that they take away my salty cravings and fill me right up. The seaweed nourishes my kidneys, provides minerals for my thyroid function and with the rice, sesame mixture and umeboshi plum, I'm grounded. Coming home late from running around all day, I made the pot of rice and the next day when it cooled, I rolled a bunch of these little suckers. Yum.

So with my salty craving gone, I have to wonder about my love craving. Tall, dark and handsome with strong arms and a good sense of humor that can provide damn good hugs. Um ya, that sounds good. Although, to be honest, I know that right now I don't even have time for myself let alone a relationship. So maybe I got this love craving all wrong, because the love I'm looking for can't be found externally at this crazy point in my life, but only from within.

Time to set alarm clock #3 as a last ditch effort and dream of the massage I'm going to book myself the day after the site launches.

Goodnight...or should I say good morning?

Expect the unexpected

A UFO with disco lights, a Sasquatch in a tuxedo, a flying pig in a tu-tu and Kenny Rogers busting out into hardcore hip-hop. Okay, so maybe you wouldn't expect it, in fact, it's highly unlikely, but don't discount that the unexpected does happen, especially with a new year in front of you. So when I came back from Italy at the end of October, I certainly didn't expect that one big sexy apple was right around the corner.

I'm always amazed when I go to NYC at how incredibly amazing, yet overwhelming it is. So I was tickled, and hardly slept the night before. With a huge smile at the airport, I quickly got in my matchbox-sized airport seat and buckled up. Let's go, zoom, zoom baby. I'm ready.

[Enter the unexpected]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to report, we are having technical difficulties. You are going to have to deplane.

After getting off the plane in a huff and cursing an airline that I won't mention because it will be proceeded with some less than pleasant words, I caught the next flight out...two hours later. Expect the unexpected, right? 2010 can't be all sunshine and roses. But knowing how unpredictable transit can be, I was prepared. Allow me to present to you le stash a la airport: protein bar, an empty shaker cup, Vega protein mix and Vitamineral Greens (sample size found at the Big Carrot). Finishing up my protein bar, I filled up my shaker cup with water, Vega Protein and Vitamineral Greens. Ya, I was jacked and people were looking at me funny.

What...you don't like my green mustache? You don't think I look sexy? Well booyah. I feel good and your cranky. Sucka.

Okay, maybe I was a little over confident.

But I arrived, met up with a very handsome Mr. Bling and was nervous. I hadn't seen him since Florence and the day and half I had with him could have gone incredibly sour.

[Enter the unexpected]

It went better than expected. We hit up the Mercer Kitchen in Soho, feasted on buttery scallops, sipped on fine red wine and nibbled on a dessert tray of cookies while I sipped on Hennessy in a heater snifter glass. Oh yes, I was in culinary heaven where Mr. Bling never stopped to remind me that I lit up the room. Holding out the door for me, we slipped into a cab and were off to the Meatpacking district where more drinks followed and conversation flowed. While any woman in their right mind would certainly be attracted to this fine specimen, I also realize that he travels almost as much as he goes to the washroom and commitment is likely the furthest thing from his mind. It's another man in constant flight, so with it, I enjoyed the evening for what it was and then it happened.

[Enter the unexpected]

I'd love it if you came to Brussels Melissa.

[Flattered, Melissa morphs into a deer caught in headlights]

Caught in my own breath, I exhaled and thanked him for his generousity and company and then I was off...my God, Brussels?

After slipping myself into a cab to run a couple of errands in the city while I was there, I had the afternoon before my flight to putter around and was excited to meet up with the New Yorker on the other end of town. His raw accent, sweet smile and charisma charmed me. Taking me around the city that he knew like the back of his hand, he agreed and was open to going to the place where I continually draw inspiration from, Sarma Melngailis' One Lucky Duck. Now I hear all about her mallomar treat, but dear God...

The following photography is courtesy of Erica Graff from discoveringraw.com

[Expect the unexpected]

...it was better than I thought. Seriously, I think my taste buds wanted to stay in NYC. Thinking ahead, I bought a bag of chocolate macaroons and raced to Newark Airport which had me frazzled even though I was in good hands. Unfortunately for me, my hands were slightly buttery when I lost my wallet in Newark Airport...um yyyya.

[Expect the unexpected]

Running back to my initial gate, it was so gone that it practically never existed. Running to my new gate, I realized, I left my carry-on at the old gate...dear God Melissa. Seeing an airport buggie on the move, I made a run for it and hopped on it like a moving train.

PEDDLE TO THE METAL BROTHER. I HAVE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE MY PLANE LEAVES.

Thankfully retrieving my bag, I jumped back on my trusty buggie and morphed into a loud New Yorker yelling and fanning at people to get out of the way. The driver even let me honk the horn...how cool. And best of all, I made it with seconds to spare and was on a plane back to Toronto. (Although truthfully, with that last act, I think I could have sprouted a superwoman cape)

Yes, life is unpredictable and at this point, I'm almost never surprised at the funny things that life throws to make us pay attention, to live in the moment and to welcome the future without fear. Love, career and success (however you define it)...2010, bring it on. I'm expecting you.

[Enter flying pig with a tu-tu that magically floats across the starry night]

In the defence of meat.

(Photo by: Renee Navarro - ovesnynavarro photography)

WARNING: The following photo contains an image that may be shocking or upsetting to full on vegetarians, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, fruitarians, raw foodists and macrobiotic junkies. Please PETA don't write me hate mail. Allow me to present to you, moi avec le drumstick. Yes, I am a Nutritionist with a special focus in Chinese Medicine, and yes, I love meat and damn it, I'm proud.

Ok, so this isn't exactly the most flattering of photos of me.

I dove into this leg of goodness at a recent meatluck dinner party that my foodie friend Joel had organized. No, it's not just a pot luck, it's a meatluck and that evening, we were all happy little meatheads. From appetizer right down to dessert, the focus was meat and only meat. From brisket in crunchy snack-sized shells to duck wings coated in warm sticky sweet soy sauce goodness, I was in love. Oh and dessert? Just think shortbread with blueberry compote, whip cream and fois gras (more photos to come stay tuned!). Sssssinful.

So while the evening was most definitely a little out of balance in the meat department, I feel as though I must defend meat's honour. Yes, too much of it (more than your fist per serving) is hard on the kidneys (my kidneys were crying that evening), but truthfully, meat in moderation has many benefits.

In Chinese Medicine, you will rarely find a practitioner (especially one right from China) that bashes meat. It builds blood as it has a bioavailable form of heme-iron. After my menses I'll admit to having a little red meat that's trumped by a massive plate of kale and dark leafy greens which helps to build blood. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a proteins and greens girl. I eat minimal carbs (usually only in the morning and a little at lunch) which is likely because I'm a Blood Type O. Don't get me wrong, I still love my grains: quinoa, buckwheat, millet...no, no, no, my little whole grain babies, Mama still loves you. Now I'm not saying my eating habits are for everyone, or that if you're a veg head you need to eat animals versus save them because when it comes down to it, we're all unique. One thing is for sure, buying either organic or naturally raised is the way to go since you consuming all the very unsexy hormones and antibioitcs. For additional information, read more on the top 10 eco-friendly reasons to go organic, with meat.

On the flip side, North America over consumes meat and dairy - this is a fact. Too much of both is hard on the entire system and creates dampness/candida. There are days I'll be completely vegetarian and have four servings of meat per week. Simply put, I advocate balance and finding the love and sexiness for whole food all over again. Many of us have lost this.

Unfortunately, my balance was slightly thrown off the other night, so I do believe I'll be staying away from the beloved animal until my kidneys stop yelling me. I've got two and God damn it, they're loud.

Okay, time to eat an apple...mmmm...sexy apple. Which reminds me, New York, just hours away. Afterall, what better place for a Sexy Food Therapist to visit than the Big Apple?

Sore Thumb

Tippy-toeing on ice skates I made it to the washroom. Grabbing some toilet paper, I heard some giggles and then saw it...a bunch of my female classmates peaking their head up from the bottom of the stall laughing and pointing. This was my first experience feeling like I didn't fit in...and ya, I was four. Even in class, I spoke too much (now I write too much) and somehow even growing up I managed to stick out like a sore thumb.

Don't get me wrong, I have a warm circle of friends that I'm incredibly grateful for, but it hasn't always been easy and I was reminded of it a couple nights ago when I attended a friend's opening. There I was surrounded by fake smiles and conversations about what they did, how much they made and what they owned. Feeling like I needed to keep up, I not only spoke a lot, but did so nervously. I began to have flashbacks of when I was in highschool and wanted to fit in with the cool crowd even though I didn't really like them. So that evening, I became nauseous as I realized that I was trying to fit in and prove myself to people I didn't really care about.

Need to get away, need an escape...oooh, I do believe I see a table of h'or d'oeurves. Mini crab cakes? Come to mama!

As I stood there at the foodie table, I began to wonder if my escape to leave various groups of people was obvious. Stop hoarding the crackers Melissa...the girl beside you is looking at you funny.

And if it was, so what? So what if I didn't fit in! I wasn't a sore thumb, I was a green thumb damn it and speaking of which, there was nothing on the table remotely green. Diving my hand into my purse, I found my little saviour...chlorella.

For those of you who don't know anything about it, I usually keep a stash in my purse right by my mascara. I usually pop a small handful of these tiny tabs for a little pick me up and to get my greens in where possible. They build blood, cleanse and detoxify the body, which means great skin, a youthful glow and more energy. Who doesn't need that? It is the most tonifying out of all the greens, but is one of the priciest as well. A bag of the Sun Chlorella-A I buy is anywhere from $25-$40 depending on the health food store. Other benefits include: anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, removing heavy metals from the system, benefiting Alzheimer's, seizures and nervousness. Not to mention, popping these little bad boys throughout an evening out prevented me from having a hangover the next day - no joke. Greens are the single most important thing that can be added into the diet. So is really hard to incorporate more of it? Hell no.

Politely walking back to the group of people I left, I said my goodbyes and made my exit with my head up high. I realized no, I didn't fit in and truthfully, I didn't want to. After all, why bother trying when maybe we should be comfortable and happy with who and where we are and what we have. Maybe then we'll realize that being green just might be easier than we initially thought.

The Race is On

Tripping over my shoes, I'm in a mad rush this morning. I hardly have the time to write here, but dedication is key in my world, so here I am. I just have so much to do in so little time that the hours are long and the race is on.

While I should be feeling overwhelmed (and to some degree I am), I'm actually a little excited, because the new Sexy Food Therapy site is looking incredible and the events planned are going to be killer. I honestly believe that when the going gets tough, my food keeps me a float. So this morning, as I run around with my makeup half done and one shaved leg (I'm pretty sure I forgot to shave the other), I thought I'd share with you my...

SEXY WINTER GRAB & GO SLURPIE
2 pears (chopped)
1/2 banana
1 scoop unflavoured whey protein powder
2 tbsp oats
2-3 tbsp Vitamineral Greens (although start at the lower end if you're a newbie)
2 tbsp almond butter
1 cup coconut water (and a little water if needed)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinamon
1 tsp flax or hemp oil
(optional: 1 tbsp bee pollen)

Throw everything into the blender and blend up...enjoy.

Yes, it's this easy.

In any of my shakes I'll write about, I'll never add ice...especially in the winter. Ice will kill digestive fire over a period of time and in the morning we need something warming. So when I don't have the time to make my Sexy Apple Yacon Bake or another type of porridge, I'll opt to shake it up. This shake you'll notice has cinnamon, which together with oatmeal and almond butter warms it up. Believe it or not, but cinnamon is one of humanity's oldest spice and dates back to 2500B.C. From a Chinese Medical standpoint it enters into the spleen, stomach, bladder, kidney and liver meridians. From a Western Medical standpoint, you'll see numerous research on it's ability to balance blood sugar. Seriously good food...so bring it on.

Sipping on my slurpie, I'm amazed at my to do list: patient this afternoon, write the new March article for Viva Magazine, Monday's t.o.night column and Mimi Kirk's Sexy Food Therapy interview. Finish writing media kit and the outline for both media kit video and for the first Sexy Food Therapy event. And last but not least take care of your new zit. Yes, my zit. It's brutal and positioned right by my lip which trust me does not look very Crawford like.

Alright, gotta fly and finish the race I've started...with myself.

Closet Freak

Holding my cup of black vanilla tea in one hand and signing into my facebook account with the other, I noticed a startling fan page update from a friend and long-time ex-boyfriend that prompted me to shoot tea out of my nose. Coughing and congested with hot tea, I saw it...big boobs. I'm not just talking big, but like watermelons on steroids. And the problem was...I couldn't look away. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to. I practically wanted to cry to mommy, but these gianormous suckers were practically talking to me like that alien that comes out of that character in Total Recall...it was disturbing. Curiousity killed the cat and I began to browse through more of his fan pages (I know, I shouldn't snoop). More boobs, then more REALLY...LARGE...BOOBS. In fact, he had practically built himself an entire boobie community. Apparently I knew less of him than I thought. My friend and ex-boyfriend of 10 years ago was a closet freak and a big boobie loving beast.

[Melissa stretches out her collar and looks down at her own planets for a look]

Nope not even close...

The whole subject swirled in my head and I walked into today with a different pair of glasses regarding people. The quiet girl at the coffee shop ordering her americano...she probably loves getting her toes sucked. Then there was the older business man crossing the street clutching his suitcase...loves to be spanked. Is everyone a closet freak?

And food is no different. In practice I've met plenty of people who I know rightfully lie because somehow they feel they need to impress me about what they eat. Um, hello, you're paying me for a reason...I slip up too, you know. For example, normally I prefer good quality dark chocolate but every now and then, I'll want a good old fashion Turtles or Twix (I blame childhood nostalgia). So I'll go to the corner store, hide at the back by the milk fridge (the reflection of the fridge doors lets me know who's coming) and take two chews and swallow like a duck before leaving the store. God forbid if someone saw me on the street eating a candy bar, they might just start throwing apples at me. Yes, completely ridiculous, I know.

So why do we stay in the closet?

I suppose deep down we feel that our guilty pleasure whether it be food or big boobs is something that we need to hide because liking it is sinful. Maybe as a North American culture we think in terms of good and bad that we've lost all sense of moderation, that we begin to develop guilty pleasures that we hide in order to indulge in them.

So how do we come out?

Maybe it makes sense to allow ourselves a cheat day. A day where we can eat our Turtles and Twix or watch a porn (if that's what you're into) and not feel guilty about it. I've seen far too many patients who kick themselves in the butt for cheating, which is why I ask them to look at it as a reward versus a set a back. The guilt alone is worse than the act itself. After all, so long as you're not hurting someone or living in a constant state of excess, then I suppose it's okay from time to time.

However there are exceptions to every rule and privacy sometimes is golden. So if you don't want it to be invaded, then the privacy settings tab just might be the place to start. Because I get it, maybe we'd rather not let people know that we're Facebook fans of Turtles. Because sometimes, we just might not feel up to sharing the ghosts in our closet...even if they do have really big boobs.

My Theme Song Playlist

I believe that sometimes life is one big theme song. Now it can change on a daily basis depending on your mood or even how you wake up...especially from a bizarre dream of Melissa Jeopardy.

[Cue theme song to Jeopardy]

Antsy behind my podium, my eyes paced at the large screen of choices waiting to be revealed when my sexy idol, Sophia Loren stepped elegantly forward onto the game show platform to announce my choices.

Darling, your choices are...Melissa's Fears, Melissa's Frustrations or Melissa's Happiness.

It was clear what I had to do. No more fears and no more frustrations this year...welcome 2010, let us not speak of your predecessor again.

I'll take Melissa's Happiness!!

[Jeopardy answer displays on the screen for $500]

The place where Melissa gets a little January reprieve, in a city she loves, a city that never sleeps.

Smacking my buzzer, I wake up realizing I've smacked my alarm clock which begins to play, In New York, concrete jungles where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do...

[Theme Song Track #1: Empire State of Mind - Jay Z]

Finally, I woke up with a bit of a skip to my step. I'm going to New York in about a week, the new Sexy Food Therapy site is set to launch in February and I was about to see gal pal and yogi friend that I hadn't seen in eight years, Scoogie. Plus, I had my first ever Skype conversation with my friend and apsiring fire fighter, the New Yorker (must be said in a New Yorka accenta). Figuring that I'll be in town soon, we decided to even meet up over coffee. Finally, some brightness after the holiday blues...now if only it wasn't so damn cold outside.

I needed some warmth and what better place to find that than in a great gal pal, a glass of red wine and my favourite...lamb. Oh lamb, I love you, I don't know what to say...I'm...well, speechless.

[Theme Song Track#2: Take My Breath Away - Berlin]

I became so inspired that evening, that I couldn't help but run out to buy lamb the day after:

SEXY SWEET & CITRUS LAMB TAGINE

2lbs lamb cut into 1" cubes

1 cup spring water

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

4-5 large shallots chopped

4 cloves garlic

1 large red onion

1 tbsp organic unsalted butter

2 tbsp honey

1 tsp cinammon

1 tsp dried ginger powder

1 tsp cracked fresh pepper

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp kudzu (used as a thickner)

Handful of watercress for topping

Pan toasted almond slivers for topping

On medium heat, add butter, onions and garlic in a large saucepan. Cook until onions caramelize and add cinammon, ginger and cracked pepper.

Dry cubes of meat with a paper towel and place in saucepan (this allows the meat to brown) and turn heat up to medium high. Add in chopped dates. Stir well and scrape bottom of the pan as the spices will begin to stick.

Add in water and bring to a boil and turn heat to medium low to simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally.

After the 1 1/2 hours has passed, add in orange juice, rind, honey and sea salt. Stir well and take off the heat.

In a little bowl add kudzu and just enough water to barely cover. Crush kudzu and water to make a paste and slowly begin to add into lamb mixture and stir until combined. The mixture will eventually thicken.

Spoon into bowls and top with a little more orange rind, toasted almonds, and a good handful of watercress.

Serve immediately. Serves 6.

I know that some people are a little turned off by lamb and frankly when it's been given to me with a mint pairing, I've hated it. Somehow this citrus honey goodness brings out the richness of the meat that I just love. And during a cold winter, you couldn't have any other dish than this one that would warm you up quite as good. In Chinese Medicine, lamb is the hottest meat in thermal temperature. I've added in warming spices like cinammon and intentionally used dry ginger which helps to keep warmth in the body better than its fresh counterpart. Lastly, you're probably wondering...what the heck is kudzu?

Kudzu is the healthiest thickener available and is a great alternative to corn starch which can be a major allergen. Kudzu resembles little pieces of white chalk and is Japanese arrowroot. It's benefits are numerous from helping curb alcohol cravings and helping with tinnitus, vertigo and migraines. In Chinese Herbal Medicine it is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs.

Speaking of fundamental...

Just when I was hiding in my own cave over the holidays and pushing everyone away, I almost forgot how nourishing friends can be. Just when I thought I wasn't measuring up to my own standards, I began to tell her all about the Sexy Food Therapy expansion when I noticed that she was wide-eyed and told me how proud and far I'd come in eight years. That's when I realized, that maybe staying focused on my vision through the hardest times and imagining a brighter future (even if it is slightly unconventional) just might happen.

[Theme Song Track #3: Fly Me to The Moon - Frank Sinatra]