Nutritionist in Toronto?

[Echobelly]

Hello ladies,

I would really like to lose about 60 pounds before TTC, and have decided that consulting a nutritionist would be best.

I'm a strict vegetarian, and low-carbing is especially hard for me, given limited amounts of protein sources.

Can any of you recommend a nutritionist/counsellor in the Toronto area?

thanks!

[Diablita]

Hiya Echo!

I don't actually know much about nutritionists as I've never been to one, but just thought i'd share some wonderfully rich sources of protein with you, which depending on your personal preferences, make for wonderful alternatives to carnivorous pleasures...

Not sure if you eat fish (doesn't sound like it) but salmon (amongst other fatty fish) is a wonderful source of protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids (great for preventing cancer and more!)

Lentils, chick peas and various beans are chock full of proteins - I personally love black eyed pea types as well as black beans, turtle beans and kidney beans. Make sure to rinse well before eating to eliminate additional starches. Let me know if you want recipes for beans. I got lots! :-)

Designer Protein (the brand name) is a relatively reasonably priced whey protein powder which can be mixed into shakes, or even just with some skim milk or yogurt for a quick and easy protein source. I recommend the vanilla flavor, since you can mix it with nearly any type of dairy drink (if you do dairy anyhow) for a quick protein punch. If you don't do dairy, you can mix it with soy milk or even water. Contrary to popular belief, not all soy milk is horrible. I'll admit - some are downright disgusting - leaving a chalky coating on your teeth and tongue but really soy is just an acquired taste so if you can just bear down and swallow it regularly for a few weeks, youll find that in no time at all you'll start to like it, if you're buying the right brand! Experiment with different brands and see which you prefer most. Bonus - they come in flavors now - i.e. chocolate milk and orange dream!!

The benefit to adding protein to your diet is that it will sustain you longer than carbs will. Carbs, as you probably well know, give you a quick high, and a quick low to follow, leaving you hungrier, sooner - and more often craving more carbs... I buy it at Shoppers for about 20 bucks a can, or you can get it at GNC and other health food stores as well for reasonable price. It lasts a long time. A tip if you decide to go this route: Mix a drink/shake once a day before eating a protein rich lunch or dinner. I find it fills me so I eat less at dinner, and get ample source of protein as well. Another tip is to use a blender as I have found that simple mixing it with a spoon leaves a lot of powder lumps floating on top instead of fusing with the liquid. If you blend electrically you'll love it!

If you do dairy (once again), dairy is a great way to get TONS of protein. Skim cheeses, or part skim, yogurts, and more. If not, tofu is a great source of course. I'm sure you know this. I've found that YVES makes a decent ground beef type patty, if not great, LICKS has an absolutely AMAZING veggie burger (TO DIE FOR - REALLY !) although not exactly low in calories, but you can buy them in your frozen food section and eat them without the bun, or with half a bun instead of top and bottom... OR - you can just buy straight TOFU curd, and make desserts with it in place of dairy (invest in a good low carb or TOFU recipe cookbook found at local bookstore)

THe biggest mistake I find that a lot of vegitarians make is to eliminate animal products, but not to follow up with anything in place. They THINK they are being healthy when in fact they are destroying their bodies even worse than if they ate a good sirloin steak once a week!

Don't forget to follow up with iron supplements as well as daily multi-vitamin daily if you're not doing so already. As a veg, you absolutely must look into this type of thing if you want to prevent obtaining other illnesses as a result of nutrient/mineral/vitamin deficiencies.

[VegSister]

Hi Echobelly,

While I don't know of any PCOS & veg positve nutritionists in Toronto (I'd love to) I just thought I would say hello. I am newly diagnosed with PCOS and have felt also overwhelmed as a vegetarian with all the talk of the importance of a high protein and low carb diet. I read a review on Amazon.com of 'The Insulin-Resistance Diet' that said that this one of the few low-carb books that could be used by vegetarians. I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet so I'm not sure if it would be suitable for vegans (if that's what you mean by 'strict'). I was also at the annual Vegetarian Food Fair this weekend at Harbourfront and came across a book called 'Defeating Diabetes' that was vegetarian. I only had time to glance at it and my initial impression was that it was maybe just trying to get people to become vegetarian and eat whole grains but it might be a little more helpful than that, who knows. If you can't find it The Toronto Vegetarian Association was the group selling it and they will have some in stock.

Anyways good luck and let me know if you find someone. Glad to know I'm not the only vegetarian PCOS sister out there.

-Kathie

[Echobelly]

Hey gals,

thanks for all the advice!

There's a veggie-cysters group set up on Yahoo - I'll post the link if I can find it. There are a combination of people in this group, including vegans, etc.

I don't eat fish, but I do eat some dairy (actually, cheese & chocolate only!). Diabilita - you mentioned skim cheeses - what do you buy, and where do you buy them? I need to buy cheese without "rennet" (cow's stomach lining) - it's not hard to find, most manufacturer's substitute with "microbial enzyme"...but I have a harder time finding "skim milk" cheese...if you could let me know, that would be great!

How was the veggie food fair? I didn't go this year, but I've gone before - and I find that it's just okay.

Diabilita - could you post your recipes with the lentils? That would be really helpful.

Protein sources for me are mainly lentils and soy. I LOVE Lick's burgers - they are only 15 grams of fat, but 30 grams of protein. Well worth the indulgence! Yves is my best friend! I love their veggie bacon, burgers, deli slices. And cheese - once I find something low-fat....

Restaurants in TO with AMAZING healthy and protein-ful options:

Fresh - by Juice for Life (I LOOOOOVE this place, have been going for years.)

Fressen (an up-scale restaurant)

Cafe 668 - the most amazing thai/chinese place with innovative and flavourful cooking - healthy and stacked with protein!

Mona

[LeaAnn]

Hi!

I go to a great nutritionist in Whitby, just east of Toronto. She knew exactly what PCOS is and catered my eating program to be PCOS friendly.

If you are interested in coming to Whitby I can give you hername.

[Echobelly]

Hi LeaAnn,

That would be fantastic - could you please either post or PM your nutritionist's information?

many thanks! I'll let you know how it goes.

[LeaAnn]

Hi Echo!
I sent you a PM with her name and number.

I work in emergency services and ALOT of police, firefighters and their families have been going to her and have recommended her. Besides working at the clinic in Whitby she works out of a clinic in Oshawa that caters to cardiac patients; she does well with referrals from doctors.

My initial consultation was $100 2 years ago so the prices may have gone up slightly. Here's what you get:

A 45 minute personal consultation
She electronically measures your body composition and you get a print-out/guideline
She goes over ALOT of stuff with you and asks you alot of questions with regards to your medical history.

The following day you go back to her and pick up your personal meal plan - again catered to your needs. She will also mail it out if you are unable to pick it up. I rushed right to the grocery store once I got my plan and purchased everything I would need for the first few days -it is REAL food. You also get a food log sheet and some literature; including the glycemic index.

A few days after you get your menu you go back to see her for 15 minutes to discuss any questions about the menu, any more questions you may have thought about, etc.

That is all included in the initial consultation. You can either end it there or continue seeing her ON YOUR TERMS. I went to her about every 3 weeks and showed her my food log, we charted my progress, and I asked her any questions I had. These are 15 minute sessions and cost $18.

She shows you how to read labels,etc and does alot of her personal shopping at Loblaws - which is perfect by me!

I felt that for the price I definitely got my money's worth, compares to WW, etc. Speaking of WW, for my height WW says I should be between 99-114 lbs. When she did my electronic body composition I was 102lbs of lean mass. I would be anorexic if I got down to WW's terms. She set my goal as a realistic 135 lbs - it does not sound as intimitating at 114!

I had alot of success on her program but stopped due to a MC. I have been trying to get out of my slump and get back on her program.

Please let me know how you make out, and if you are looking for an on-line loser buddy let me know!

[Echobelly]

Hey LeaAnn,

This so helpful, thanks for all of the information!

Unfortunately, I didn't get your PM for some reason?

I would definitely love to be your on-line support buddy - I have about 60lbs to lose, and have been at the same weight for months now!

I would love it if you'd e-mail me, since PM seems to be iffy:
queen_ska@hotmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!!

[LeaAnn]

Hi!
I sent the email to you!

Lea Ann

[bandanna]

hi,

pls keep me posted on any toronto area nutritionist.

leann, would it be possible for you to describe the diet that she recommended to you? what kind of food groups and what does your meals look like?

thanks.