LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2017

TREND SPOTT ING

Goji berries are considered a superfood for good reason: they’re low in calories, high in fibre and loaded with vitamins A and C, beta carotene and antioxidants. Mostly sold in dried form, the sweet-tart berries taste like a cross between a cranberry and a sun-dried tomato. They can easily be worked into healthy snacks such as trail mix, granola bars and mu ns. Or soak them before blending into smoothies. Be aware that goji berries can react adversely with certain medications, so consult with your doctor before adding them to your diet. BERRY GOOD FOR YOU

bar trending The number of energy, protein and granola bars on the market these days is staggering. Here are three brands to suit most needs.

healthy HOSTING

➤ When assembling a cheeseboard, use whole-grain bread and crackers and offer a few lower-fat cheeses such as chèvre and Cantenaar. ➤ Skip the sad crudités platter from the supermarket, and assemble a tempting cornucopia of colourful heirloom carrots, radishes with their tops and barely blanched sugar snap peas. ➤ To get more veggies on the menu, offer a spread of Italian vegetable antipasto or some of the wonderful vegetarian mezes dishes from the Middle East. ➤ Instead of baguette, use cucumber slices, endive spears or small lettuce cups as the base for canapés. ➤ Serve a few steamed hors d’oeuvres such as edamame or these fabulous Kim Chi Mun Doo dumplings, and present them dim-sum style in a bamboo basket. To compete with the beloved cheese- ball and crab dip, working healthier options into a holiday cocktail party requires strategy. Here’s how:

Lunchroom Treat At a modest 24 grams, Canadian and certi- fied nut-free, Made Good granola bars are tailor-made for the kids’ lunch box. Bo- nus: dried vegetable powder gives each bar the same nutri- ents as one serving of vegetables.

Wholesome Snack

Pre-Workout Boost High in protein and carbohydrates, Genuine Health Fermented Greek Yogurt Proteins+ bars are also delicious, especially the Cherry Almond Vanilla flavour. They’ll quickly refill an empty tank before you hit the gym.

While Lärabars tend to be higher in sugar than the average en- ergy bar, their succinct ingredient lists read like a haiku of whole- someness. Think of it as a condensed rectangle of trail mix in your bag for an emergency snack on the go.

FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY