Meghan Telpner is the most fun healthy living has ever seen. Meghan, a certified nutritionist, runs a cooking school in downtown Toronto. This is the home of the messes she makes creating inspired, simple, healthy, creative and awesomely delicious recipes for cooking school guests and her well loved blog, Making Love In The Kitchen . Meghan spends the colder months in sunny locales leading the most inspiring retreats ever. Most recently, Meghan founded Canada’s first Certified Culinary Nutrition Expert Program and has just launched a vibrant living line of signature products . With her realistic and humourous approach, along with her contagious enthusiasm for all things made from scratch, Meghan has quickly become a sought after food, nutrition, and lifestyle expert for major media outlets. Her book, UnDiet (McClelland and Stewart) will hit stores at the end of 2012. Discover the goodness she’s cooking up at www.meghantelpner.com
1. What is your favourite Sweets from the Earth product? And why?
Carrot cake! After being cake free for three years- dealing with my own serious health issues this was the first cake I took a bite of. It was on my 28th birthday and I’ve been hooked ever since! I love that it’s available in single servings too at so many health food stores. I’ve even attempted to create my own version. Nothing beats it- so much so that I’ve decided the SFTE carrot cake will be my wedding cake this summer. Love it!
2. Do you follow any special diets?
I follow the UnDiet! I eat to fuel my life and do so as simply, wholly and deliciously as possible. I keep my gluten-low or none at all, ditch the dairy fully and avoid any food that took a trip through a factory or chemistry lab. The more seasonal the better and if I can put a face to the person who grew the goodness, well then I am just back-flipping through my kitchen- the only place my food ever gets processed.
3. What is important to you when choosing to support a company?
Trust. If I am buying a food that has been cooked or baked, grilled and or steamed by someone other than me, I need to trust that they are putting in what they say they are putting in. I want to know the ingredients are coming from great sources and ultimately that I am getting the best of the best. I LOVE that Sweets From The Earth is so strict with their guidelines ensuring foods labeled nut or gluten-free are fully safe from those substances.
I also love when I can actually get to know the owners of a company- that they show up to events, respond to questions and put themselves out there to support their brands. When it comes to SFTE- I especially love that they are so wonderfully supportive of the community in which they work- sponsoring events and giveaways.
Even before I had the business that I had, way back in 2007, that first carrot cake I had for my birthday, was delivered to our door by Ilana herself. That is serious customer service!
4. How do you motivate people, who aren’t close to you, to see your vision?
I live my vision the very best that I can. I will never defend the choices I make or why I do things a certain way. If people are down with it- and want to know more, I am happy to share. My intention is never to try and convert anyone to live or eat the way I do. I aim to offer education, do so in a very fun, uplifting, motivating way, and let people decide to take what works, leave what doesn’t and simply give it a try. It seems to be working.
5. When do you indulge and eat your Sweets – Morning/Afternoon/Night? Why?
I’ve been known to sneak a cashew cookie with my afternoon tea- but usually, it’s an after dinner treat with my family in the spirit of celebration. Why? Because the only thing better than a piece of cake, a cupcake, a flourless brownie or a cookie is sharing it with company that’s as sweet as the treat itself.
6. If you could be any superhero, who would it be and why?
I would be the Super Nutritionista who wears mismatched outfits, and rides around on a bicycle covered in flowers, visiting farmer’s markets and converting the farm fresh produce into the most amazing meals people have ever had. Hey… wait a second… Okay. I’d also be able to fly.
7. You have $10.00 to buy lunch, where do you go?
To the store! Fresh lettuce, hummus, avocado, tomato, cucumber sprouts and wraps. Best lunch ever. Then for the next three days, I would save up my $10 (because I’d have enough leftovers) to buy a Sweets from the Earth mini carrot cake for the people I love the most.
8. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring with you?
Assuming my dessert island is ripe with cacaco trees and coconut palms, I’d bring Josh Gitalis (Clinical Nutritionist) to help me make potions with the wild herbs, my own All Purpose Edible Body Butter (great lip balm and moisturizer which I’ll need for all that sun), and my sleep mask– those stars will be bright and I need my beauty sleep.