I have recently returned from the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Physicians (CAND) biannual conference in Halifax . Having never been to Nova Scotia , I was excited to have the opportunity to learn more about this great country! The landscape is flat and dotted with millions of lakes and even with the four-hour time difference, their weather is similar to ours, at least at this time of year. I was able to visit Pier 21, one of the CBC-named Seven Wonders of Canada. I had no idea what it was but my interest peaked when, having visited it, I realized that my Icelandic Grandmother probably passed through the Pier 21 immigration office on her way to Saskatchewan in December of 1926. She went on to raise six children on a typical prairie farm that was essentially organic and a 100 mile diet. This idea is explained in the book “The 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating” by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon. For one year the authors lived on food only grown or produced within a 100 mile radius of their home.

Halifax is seeped in history including the beautiful Novia Scotian Westin Hotel where the CAND conference took place. Ed Borsuk, a Food Service Consultant working with CAND, coached the sous-chef at the Westin for 6 months prior to the conference to present us with an impressive variety of delicious gluten and dairy free menu items. It was the best food I have had in 22 years of attending medical conferences!

Speaking of good eating, our very own Riptide Pub is offering all organic specials every Friday night and they are practicing the 100 mile diet. The Riptide is using organic produce from Pattison Farms and Nature’s Way, free range bison from Island Bison and, of course, local wild seafood. This will lower the carbon foot print of food production, ever in the spirit of the health of the globe. Ralph Spodzieja, the chef at the Riptide responsible for the organic menu, is also interested in providing gluten free buns. He and Ed both suggest that changes in menus are customer-driven so please ask!

Vancouver Island is blessed with a temperate climate where eating the 100 mile diet year round is more realistic. It is made even easier at this time of year with food and produce available at the Pier Street Market on Sunday mornings and from many farms in our area growing organic or free range meat, organic produce and berries. In fact getting organic tofu made by Sunrise in Vancouver is not far off.

Another fabulous side effect of eating a 100 mile diet is the fact that fresher food is higher in nutrients and healthful effects.

So why all the hype about eating more healthy? Well it turns out that Canadians spend a fortune on their physical appearance and that they often care more about theirs looks than about preventing disease. According to a recent fashion magazine the term skingestibles is the latest beauty buzzword. It refers to foods, beverages and supplements that purport to treat a range of skin concerns from acne to aging to cellulite by working from the inside out due to ingredients such as omega 3 fatty acids, biotin and green tea extract. Many of the new supplement waters and juices contain such small amounts of these age defying ingredients they are hardly helpful, but still they sell. Patients of naturopathic physicians will tell you that since starting on their programs and improving their diet that their skin tone and colour is better and their friends comment on it.

Consider an organic, 100 mile diet as a step towards looking younger and in the meantime you will help mother earth and your local businesses!