How do you find time to exercise? As a parent, it is so easy either to feel guilty about taking time out for yourself, or to feel like there is no time for yourself at all.  This is a conversation I often have with parents.  People feel panicky about taking time away from their family, or they become overwhelmed with all the tasks and responsibilities that come with parenting and they give up their workout time as a result.  And before you think I’m preaching from a mountaintop, I get it. I completely understand.  My wife and I recently welcomed our third child a few months ..read more

As a parent, it is so easy to feel guilty about everything, especially when it comes to taking time out for yourself. Let’s talk about the importance and benefits of regular exercise for parents.  I know from conversations I have had with many parents that exercise can feel like selfish time taken away from family. As a father of three little ones, I completely understand this mindset! At certain phases of life it does feel more difficult to get away. But it’s important to understand that time spent away from your family to workout is NOT something to feel guilty about. There are so many ..read more

I recently gave birth to my third child two months ago, and I want to make sure I focus on my postpartum journey as much as I focus on baby’s milestones! This will not only help me become a better mother to my baby and two older children, but will also help strengthen my body, decrease my aches and pains, and give me more energy. What is belly binding? Belly binding is found in various cultures around the world, and has just started to catch on in mainstream western culture over the past few years. I first heard about it from my mother, who told me her mother used to wrap a long shawl around h ..read more

Shoveling snow is part of regular everyday life during a northern winter, but the reality is, many people just don’t know how to do it safely. Shoveling snow incorrectly can cause back and core injuries, as well as cardiovascular strain and stress. To prevent injury this season, keep these simple tips in mind as you dig your way out of the storm! 1. Use the Right Tools There are so many products out there that make shoveling easier on your body! For myself, I found a separate attachment for my shovel at a local hardware store that makes it much easier for me to grip the shovel and lift snow wi ..read more

One of the most common meals that are compromised when it comes to healthy eating is breakfast. I’m sorry to say but no, that muffin you grabbed on the way to work or the granola bar you ate is not as healthy as you think. Be sure to scroll down to try out one of my favourite make ahead breakfasts that is packed with protein! Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Breakfast was often considered the most important meal of the day and to be honest I’m wondering if this was pushed more by cereal companies. Growing up, carb heavy cereal options are usually the go-to and looked at ..read more

When it comes to salads for a main meal, the most common concerns I hear are that they aren’t filling enough and they just don’t taste that great. And for people who think this, it is likely that you aren’t making your salads quite right! You are likely missing key ingredients and are not getting the right combination down to make the perfect salad you will actually enjoy. When it comes to a nutritious and balanced salad, you want to have the right amount of your macros, which include protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Here are examples of each: Protein: chickpeas, beans, lentil ..read more

Smoothies can be a very healthy breakfast option but a smoothie is only as good as what you put in it. Smoothies can be a great breakfast on-the-go option, packed with a lot of nutrients. However, it is very easy for the smoothie to be too high in calories and carbs, making it a less than ideal choice to start your day with.  It isn’t that smoothies themselves are bad for you, but rather many smoothies are packed with way too much fruit with some sort of liquid base. Some store bought options may also have added sugar, which is a big no! Don’t just add fruit and milk and call it a smoothi ..read more

As Muslims, we know that dates are a popular sunnah food as both hadith and the Quran make reference to the date fruit. Dates are often a symbol associated with Muslims and Islam, and in particular Ramadan as the Prophet ﷺ would break his fast with dates explaining  “When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates for they are blessed” – Sunan al-Tirmidhī 695 In the Quran, dates are referred to in the context of abundance, as in Surah al-Mu’minun:  فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِ جَنَّاتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَاكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ “With i ..read more

Ramadan is a sprint and not a marathon. It only lasts 30 days and is over before we know. The key is to assure we take full advantage of it and reap as much benefit as we can. The blessed month only comes once a year and brings tremendous rewards for us, however it depends on how we choose to utilize our time. Most people get very tired during their fasts, they feel weak and the need to take long naps during the day. Many start to feel pain in their feet and lower back from standing in prayer for long periods of time and feel as if it gets hard to focus.  However, none of that should be t ..read more

Along with having a healthy suhoor, Iftar is the main meal of Ramadan, so it’s important that we make sure we break our fasts with food that is healthy and nutritionally balanced!  A healthy iftar will allow us to stay energized to get the most out of our ibaadah during this blessed month, and to avoid any unwanted weight gain which is very common during this month due to unhealthy iftars.  Here are 5 healthy iftar tips you can do to feel energized and good, and avoid feeling tired and drained during Ramadan:   Slow down & savor The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings ..read more