Switching to better foods has many benefits. Clean foods help with digestion, decrease inflammation, increase your energy levels, and even boost metabolism. A good rule of thumb is to eat clean about 80% of the time and incorporate not-so-healthy foods you may enjoy about 20% of the time.

Here are a few simple tips to get you started!

1. Eat locally grown foods. They not only taste fresher, but they last longer because they haven’t spent time traveling from far away. Shopping at farmer’s market’s like the St. Lawrence Market, for example, is a convenient way to get fresh, in-season foods.
2. Avoid plastics, go for glass. For one, this will help you avoid Bisphenol A (BPA) a chemical that has been known to create hormonal imbalances, and can even lead to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. It’s best to not allow your food to come into contact with this substance. Mason jars are a great replacement for storing your nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and grains.
3. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is incredibly important for the health of your body.
4. Avoid Mercury. Make sure to be aware of the mercury levels in the seafood you eat. Consult experts or use websites such as seafoodwatch.org to find low-mercury fish selections.
5. Replace processed foods with their counterparts. Cornflakes? Try corn on the cob instead. Soup mix? Create soup from scratch! Forgot instant rice, go for natural brown rice. There’s no reason to buy fruit-flavored anything – just substitute it with the actual fruit!
6. Look for one ingredient items. This is related to tip #5 – staying simple and picking up items with one ingredient is a useful rule of thumb when shopping in the supermarket.
7. Drink your super foods. A blender can be one of the most useful tools when you’re trying to get all your nutrients. Put together smoothies with tons of great ingredients and you will surely make up for any nutritional deficiencies in your diet.
8. Stay away from food labels with the word “reduced”. Generally, just because an item has reduced fat, doesn’t mean it isn’t high in sodium, sugar or other bad ingredients. Make sure to read labels carefully!
9. Make meals ahead of time. Plan out your week and have your ingredients ready. Often, the reason we don’t eat clean is our reliance on convenience and fast-foods. Creating healthy meal ideas ahead will curb your desire for a quick dish.
10. Use spices. When you use quality seasoning in your food, you not only add flavour but nutritional value. Make sure to avoid old spices that have been sitting around for years – they probably aren’t as potent.

Do you have other clean eating tips you would like to share? Let us know!

Source:

http://www.marthastewart.com/972884/spring-clean-cleaner-eating

http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/10_ways_to_eat_clean

http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/23-ways-eat-clean-natural-foods

http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/nutrition/how-to-eat-clean.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-horton/clean-eating-tips_b_1070232.html

Here’s how to make it on your own! This recipe is courtesy of marthastewart.com.

Ingredients:

• 11/2 cups sugar, divided
• 3 cups whole milk
• 2  large eggs plus 3 large egg yolks
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place eight 4-ounce ramekins in a large roasting pan.
2. Add  4 tablespoons of water to a small pot. Add 1 cup sugar and stir to      dissolve.
3. Cook over medium-high, swirling occasionally, until caramel begins to turn      amber (6-8 minutes).
4. Working quickly, divide caramel between ramekins, swirling ramekins to coat bottoms evenly, then set aside.
5. In a medium pot, heat milk over medium until hot, but not boiling. In a medium bowl whisk together whole eggs and yolks, salt and remaining ½ cup sugar.
6. While whisking, ladle some milk into the egg mixture. Whisk in remaining milk, one ladle at a time.
7. Strain through a fine sieve into a large liquid measuring cup, and stir in vanilla. Divide custard evenly among ramekins.
8. Transfer roasting pan to oven. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until custards are just set, about 35 minutes.
9. With tongs, remove ramekins from hot water and let cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 3  hours (or up to 3 days). To unmold, run a sharp knife around inside of each ramekins and invert onto a serving plate, gently shaking to release.

Let us know how it turns out!

Source:

http://www.marthastewart.com/971530/creme-caramel

This $16,000 machine is made in Seattle by the Seattle Espresso Machine Company. Its pre-brewing feature  allows the grinds even more saturation to tease out the flavours that would normally be lost with a straight extraction. With that said, this allows Thor to serve a smoother and more complex high quality tasting espresso and espresso based drinks.

Influenced by Scandinavian design which reflects the cultural heritage of one of its owners, Thor is located in a small space but is hoping to create a big impact in one of Toronto’s most dynamic and fast changing neighbourhoods.

Aside from offering espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, Americano, mocha, lattes and an assortment of teas, you can also find delicious pastries and sandwiches on the menu. http://www.thorespressobar.com

Hours of operation are Monday to Fridays 730am to 6pm, Saturdays 8am to 5pm and Sundays 9am to 5pm.

Do’s:

• Check with building/property management regarding the legal and safety guidelines for your condo gardening project.
• Use screening and trellises to help reduce the wind shear (it also provides great privacy)
• Use containers for gardening
• Try vertical gardening. Hanging baskets and trellises can be used to maximize space (but make sure you’re allowed to hang these first!)
• If your building allows it, shelves, hooks, brackets and wall-mounted urns are great balcony space savers.
• With that said, water your plants! (Seems like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how easy it is so under-water container plants!)
• Put a saucer underneath the container to collect water
• Place a layer of gravel or stones in the bottom of the container for drainage
• Reduce visual clutter by choosing containers that blend in with the surroundings.
• Layer plants, by placing taller plants in the back and smaller ones in the front.
• Consider incorporating a seating and/or entertaining area.

Don’ts:

• Bring 100 pound plants onto your balcony! Be aware of your condo’s weight restrictions.  And remember, everything is heavier once you add water.
• Let your roots soak and subsequently rot
• Don’t overcrowd your space with plants!  It doesn’t need to be the Amazon, leave space for people!

Quick Tip:

• North-facing balconies won’t receive a great deal of bright sunlight, so you’ll want to get plants that can do well in shade.
• South-facing balconies have the opposite issue.

The Best Plants for Condo Dwellers:

• Drought-resistant plants: Fountain grasses, straw flowers, African daisy, zinnia, petunia, purslane, scaevola, lantana and vinca.
• Shade-tolerant annuals: Nicotiana, New Guinea impatients, tuberous begonias, ivy, vinca, black eyed susan vine, fuchsia, coleus, lobelia and diascia.
• Plants for windy areas: Zinnias, nasturtiums, fushia, geraniums, lantana, Margeurite daisies, fountain grass and petunias.
• Shrubs and trees are a great way to boost the greenery on your balcony
• Evergreens: Boxwoods, yucca, dwarf Alberta spruce, globe cedars, yews, low spreading junipers, mugho pines, nest spruce, Siberian cypress, topiaries, upright cedars or junipers.
• Deciduous: Dogwoods, deutzia, forsythia, kerria, flowering cherry and apple, spirea, burning bush, little kim lilac, sumac.

To find the perfect garden container for your balcony, click here.  They sell everything from hanging pots, to railing mounting gardens.

There’s no better time to spruce up your condo balcony with some much-needed greenery!  Get started and let us know how it goes! 

Sources (images included):

http://lifeonthebalcony.com/new-start-here/

http://www.thestar.com/life/homes/decor/2011/05/05/containers_are_a_condo_dwellers_best_friends.html

http://blog.comfree.com/2012/12/12/tips-for-condo-gardening/

http://youngurbanfarmers.com/condo-and-apartment-gardens/

A heavenly bowl of roasted vegetable herbed dumpling soup is the perfect way to mark the change of season, but only if you pair it with some delicious cornbread. Roasting vegetables allows the flavours to deepen, and this recipe, though creamy, is actually dairy free. Pair the soup with dumplings to add another texture, but don’t forget the cornbread because with all three combined, you have the perfect comfort food style dinner to accompany the increasingly chilly temperatures!

Roasted Vegetable Soup with Herb Dumplings

Serves 6

For the soup:
1/2 butternut squash
3 carrots
2 parsnips
1 sweet potato
2 leeks, white and light green parts only
1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Chile powder (optional)
7 cups vegetable stock
1 bay leaf

For the dumplings:
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon finely chopped marjoram
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme
1/2 cup milk

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Toss, peeled and chopped (into chunks) squash, carrots, onion, sweet potato and leeks in some olive oil, adding a generous amount of salt and pepper, along with a pinch of chili powder. Add the garlic cloves unpeeled, and spread the vegetable mix evenly on two baking sheets. Roast for about 30-40 minutes. Once tender, squeeze the garlic from the skins.

Image c/o The Kitchn

Puree the vegetables in a blender, adding vegetable stock as you go. Transfer to a large pot and add the bay leaf. Let simmer for about 10 minutes and season to taste.

For the dumplings, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and mix until the mixture looks like bread crumbs. Mix in the herbs and milk and stir until combined. Take about a tablespoon of the dough and drop into the simmering soup, continue to do this with the rest of the soup, and allow all to simmer for at least 10 minutes.

Image c/o The Kitchn.

Cornbread with Creamed Corn

Serves 8 – 10

1 1/4 cup plain cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-3 tablespoons sugar (see Note)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
1 (14.75 ounce) can creamed-style corn

Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 10″ cast iron skillet or medium baking dish.

Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the eggs, melted butter, and creamed corn in a separate bowl, then add to the dry ingredients and lightly stir together.

On a skillet, pour the batter and smooth the top, then bake for about 17-21 minutes, or until the cornbread is a golden yellow.

Image c/o The Kitchn.

Pour your vegetable soup into a bowl, slice up a few pieces of cornbread, and your cozy fall dinner is complete!

Sources:

http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-roasted-vegetable-soup-with-herb-dumplings-recipes-from-the-kitchn-178828

http://www.thekitchn.com/creamed-style-cornbread-178754

Image c/o buildipedia.

Tridel is a leader when it comes to creating sustainable living. Tridel’s motto is Built Green. Built for Life is their program which seeks to develop condominiums that “meet the needs of today’s homeowners while safeguarding the well-being of future generations.” Tridel is determined to focus on environmentally sound practices, both in the design and construction of the communities they build.

Many of Tridel’s buildings, including Reve, are registered as LEED® candidates with the Green Building Council to pursue certification through the LEED® Green Building Rating System. This is a rating system that awards points for a building’s environmentally friendly characteristics. It is the most recognized certification of its kind inNorth America.

Contributing to a greener planet is not the only great benefit to finding a LEED® certified building. For instance, these buildings usually offer amenities like lush green rooftop patios and gardens, parking for bicycles and they are also usually close to transit lines. They generally have better indoor air quality and owners of a unit in a LEED® building may enjoy lower home insurance premiums and higher resale values.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of owning a unit in a LEED® certified building, though, is the lower costs for water and electricity usage. Interestingly, along with the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and a start-up venture, Tower Labs, Tridel took part in an experiment that would prove just how much green buildings can save. It so happened that the developer was building two nearly identical buildings in Etobicoke, only one of which was fully equipped with energy-efficient features and monitors. After three years of occupancy, the numbers are in – and they were staggering. There was a 50% decrease in natural gas use, a 6% drop in electricity and a reduction of 550 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions!

This cut natural gas costs by 50%. Overall, the savings for the greener building amounted to $125,000 a year!

You may be wondering how exactly a “green” building is defined. As one of Tridel’s most recent projects, Reve is a good example. Its suites and common areas are built with materials that are low in volatile organic compounds, including the paint and carpeting. These materials tend to be safer for human health. In addition, Reve’s suites include durable hardwood flooring and energy-efficient windows.

Sources:

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/green/article/1111088–greening-condos-really-pays-off

http://www.tridel.com/communities/reve/tridel-built-green/?id=37

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/realestate/article/747207–number-of-benefits-to-leed-certified-condos

Image c/o spawboutique.com

Spaw boutique is a grooming and daycare center for your pets, conveniently located at 852 King Street West. It is dedicated to providing pets with an enjoyable and luxurious experience, so that your pet can get the same star treatment you get at the salon!

They offer a range of services – the typical dog grooming package includes things like a manu and pawdicure (because dogs don’t get pedicures, obviously), ear cleaning, shampoo, hair cut and styling, and a thorough brushing.

If you’re leaving town for a while and need someone to babysit your dog, Spaw boutique offers a daycare center which gives your pet supervised car, daily walks, playtime, and a safe and stimulating environment.

What’s more, Spaw offers a selection of doggy couture for those fashion forward pets!

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Closed

If you would like to be part of the vibrant King West community, check out Reve! For more information, feel free to contact us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help with your search!

Sources:

http://www.spawboutique.com/

http://www.blogto.com/services/spaw-boutique

Image c/o Urban Toronto.

Located at Front and Portland Streets, residents at Reve are bound to have some of the best views of the city! Toronto looks especially beautiful at night. With all the city lights and tall buildings, it is obvious to any onlooker that Toronto is clearly the most exciting city in Canada. Home to over 2.5 million people, Toronto is always busy and has something going on.

While, only certain residents will be lucky enough to enjoy this stunning view from their suite, all residents of Reve can easily ride the elevator up to the rooftop terrace or the green roof to enjoy this view.

Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular in Toronto and Reve was one of the first developments to jump on this bandwagon. While star gazing is nice, admiring the bright lights of the Toronto cityscape can be equally as nice. At Reve, it’s easy to do both!

If you are interested in living at Reve or want more information about this or any other project in the city, feel free to call us at (416) 929-1660, or contact us via email at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. It would be our pleasure to assist you in finding your dream condo.

Sources:

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2011/10/city-lights-seen-r%C3%AAve

http://www3.tridel.com/reve/masterplan.php

The delicious $3 grilled hot dog at 416 Snack Bar. Image c/o BlogTO.

If you find yourself famished as you walk along Queen West one day, stop by the 416 Snack Bar for something a little different. It is located at 181 Bathurst St., just north ofQueen Street. The whole snack bar is an ode to Toronto. The owners Adrian Ravinsky and David Stewart sought to pay tribute to the city and its neighbourhoods.

For example, the bar counters resemble old TTC streetcars, the wall features a chalk map of Toronto’s neighbourhoods. In addition, most dishes on the menu have a “416” connection. You may know that Toronto is famous for grilling its street hot dogs. For $3, you can enjoy their grilled hot dog snack. Or, if you’d prefer, you can try theChinatowncold roll ($3).

The bite-sized snacks and low prices make it easy to order the whole menu at once if you’d like!

416 Snack Bar is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday to Saturday.

If it’s these kinds of neighbourhood spots that make you want to live in Queen West, why not consider Reve or another condo around the area? Contact us at (416) 929-1660, or via email at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com if you would like help in finding your new dream condo!

Sources:

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/416-snack-bar-toronto

http://416snackbar.wordpress.com/

(image c/o www.ecosuite.ca/)

A new trend is emerging in condo development: one of environmental awareness. Reve condos by Tridel will feature one of Toronto’s very first eco-friendly suites, fittingly named the “ecosuite”. This penthouse showcases different devices and controls, all aimed towards saving energy and living sustainably.

The technology was designed and built in partnership with two companies, CISCO and Control4. The software used is set to coincide with the homeowner’s desires. Specifically, the “Smart Home” touch screen can monitor power consumption and can control just about any light source in the suite. This allows the owner to keep track of energy patterns (and billing patterns as a result). It can also be preset to specific controls for different types of events, such as “romantic dinner” or “reading”. What’s more, it can be controlled by a mobile Smartphone if the owner is out.

The construction of the suite also used many eco-friendly materials. Floorings were made from recycled materials. In the kitchen, a lot of the materials are “low in volatile organic compounds”, meaning they are better for human health. Interestingly, the kitchen and bath tiles include a special finish that kills bacteria in the presence of light. Tridel has also installed photovoltaic solar panels that will provide energy to the units. To prevent unnecessary heat loss, the walls have been specially insulated. These are only some of the features that make up the ecosuite.

The cost involved in implementing all the extra green elements was $20,000. Although a bit pricey, that cost will hardly make a dent in the EcoSuite’s current list price of almost $1 Million. In addition, these technologies will not only help reduce utility costs, but also lessen the building’s ecological footprint, making the investment worthwhile in the end.

(image c/o urbantoronto.ca)

Sources:

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/living/realestate/article/1068817–tridel-penthouse-condo-showcases-latest-in-green-tech

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2011/10/tridel-unveils-next-living-eco-suite-r%C3%AAve