Health

I started to learn cooking for myself and family two years ago after I landed in Canada. Like many people living in Canada, I learned to pick and choose fresh food from supermarket and make food at home in day-to-day life. Although, I am still new and not good, I enjoy cooking.  Cooking is an art! As the variety of fresh food and balanced meals provide enough nutrition for good health and wellbeing, the good presentation of the plate also uplifts our enjoyment and the quality of life. Most importantly making delicious food for family is really one of the best ways to show love and care.

After I arrived in Toronto in December 2015, I was advised by my family doctor that I had a high risk of diagnosing the iron-deficiency due to the low level of the iron in my body. Untreated iron-deficiency anemia may cause depression and heart problems. After taking pills for several months, the level of iron in my body was back to normal.  I was advised to have different variety of food at each meal and eat as healthy as possible. As eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and can help you feel the best. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, in the right amount helps you achieve and maintain a healthy body. I Googled about different types of food that provides each meal with enough nutrition. I usually pick up the food from market once or twice a week to ensure the freshness.

Before I came to Toronto 3 years ago, I did not cook at all and I used to eat meals with less variety. This gradually might have caused my potential health problems. I decided to learn cooking to make changes to my eating habits. And I decided to eat more in the morning and less in the evening to have balanced meals and keep check on my weight.  I realized that the good plate presentation can always lift the taste of the food. I started to collect pictures of good plate presentation and paid attention when I was dining out. I downloaded recipes and practiced every morning. When I sit down with my meal, my plate has different layers, it looks like rainbow, and it tastes good. Not only my tongue but my whole body from the head to toe can smell and taste the flavor of the food. I feel full of the happiness and satisfaction.

Instead of dining out, I made Benton every day for 4 months in the past summer when my daughter was doing the Coop term in Toronto. I love to prepare Benton as I can make sure the food varieties and the taste. Benton can be microwaved, it is always warm when she is eating during the lunch. My daughter does not cook. She dines out every day when she is studying at Waterloo. Very often she does not eat on time, nor balanced nutrition. She loves Benton as it is convenient and in good taste, more importantly, the Benton sometimes provided her a sort of surprise when I made a smile facing using carrot and boiled egg.

The benefit is obvious after I started to cook for myself and the family.  My iron level keeps at a normal level. The motivation of making good presentation of plate and good taste of food is always from my family when they say, “Wow, what a beautiful plate!” and when their facial tells how enjoy they are.