Built from Scratch Prenatal Nutrition

04/27/2021

We were gifted some Herring Roe on Kelp from our neighbours!

It’s a traditional indigenous food from the West Coast of BC. This came from Bella Bella.

It’s full of Omega 3s, protein, iron, zinc, choline, vitamin D, A and B12!! Wow! Talk about a superfood!

I sliced it up and marinated with equal parts soya sauce, rice wine vinegar, dash of maple syrup and a grind of black pepper with some thinly sliced white onions.

Letting it chill in the fridge to eat with dinner tomorrow. 👌

Thanks for the marinade suggestions! 🙏

Has anyone else enjoyed this delicacy before? This is my first experience!

04/25/2021

Looking for a sweet treat that won’t spike your blood sugar?

Stuffed dates!!

Slice open a date and spread on some nut or seed butter inside. 👌

Easy peasy and should satisfy your sweet tooth without affecting your blood sugar.

The fat and protein from the nut or seed butter helps to keep you on an even keel and dates themselves are considered low-glycemic which means while they taste sweet, they won’t affect your body the same way a processed sugar does. Something that’s very important to avoid or manage Gestational Diabetes.

This one is stuffed with Tahini (sesame paste)!

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04/23/2021

And that’s a wrap! I taught Demystifying Sourdough for CSNN Vancouver Island today - my final Holistic
Culinary class before baby’s due! Bitter sweet as I love to teach the students in the Natural Nutrition Program .... but phew teaching for 3 hours at a time is a lot when you’re growing a baby in your belly ☺️

04/22/2021

I don’t think I’ve officially introduced myself on here...so here it goes!

👋 I am Toby Sawyer. I’m a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and a Natural Nutrition Instructor at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition

I’m also a full time stay at home mum to a very busy 2 year old named Harrison with another one on the way. 👶 Arriving sometime early August.

I live in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, BC with my husband and children.

I love all things food related and have a passion for cooking from scratch and fermenting! There’s always something brewing in my kitchen ☺️ I’ve even been nicknamed Toby Scoby 🤣

I love to Garden and buy my food locally - which is so easy given I live in an area with about 900 farms!! 🌱👩‍🌾

After having my first son in 2018, I realized my passion is helping women through their pregnancies. Building healthy strong babies and not only surviving but thriving through their pregnancy and postpartum.

The work doesn’t end when the baby arrives .... if anything - things get harder. Especially that first 4-6 months when baby’s not sleeping well and you’re just so darn tired.

That was definitely the case for me! Even though I knew what I should be doing and eating ... I gained weight and my gut issues that I had resolved pre-baby came back due to stress, lack of sleep and just generally being a new mum.

I want to help woman feel their best from the inside out 💗

Thanks for following along!
Toby

04/20/2021

Getting ready to teach Demystifying Sourdough!!

I’m prepping for my final 3 hour Holistic Culinary Nutrition workshop for before Baby is due!

04/17/2021

Here’s a super easy meal idea - Frittata!

It comes together in 15 minutes.
You can make it full of vegetables.
You can eat it hot or cold, for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Simple Frittata

1 leek, chopped
3 rashers bacon
1/2 zucchini, sliced
1 handful of Swiss chard, shredded
1 garlic clove, minced
5-6 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 425
Heat skillet to medium high
Add bacon and cook for 1-2 mins
Add in leek and sauté for 1-2 mins
Add the Swiss chard, zucchini and garlic. Sauté all together for 3 mins until everything is looking soft.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the eggs.
Pour eggs into the pan.
Give the pan a little shake to coat the vegetables.

Pop in the oven for 8 minutes, or until the eggs have set (ie not jiggle anymore).

Serve with some sauerkraut for a probiotic boost 👌

04/12/2021

I’m teaching a 3 hour workshop on Advanced Fermentation this week at

These are some of the samples I’m getting ready - Cashew Cheese, Kefir, Labneh (similar to cream cheese) and a Cultured Mustard!

We will also make Brined Vegetables, Yoghurt and Fermented Legumes.

Fermented Foods aka Probiotic Foods are an excellent way to keep your gut happy which helps with your mood, immune system, sleep, blood sugar management and more!!
.. and much cheaper (and more fun!!) than buying Probiotic supplements too! 😁

04/11/2021

Our girls have arrived!! We brought home three beautiful brown laying hens for our backyard. 🐣

04/10/2021

In these times of social isolation this hits home especially hard 💗

When I had my son in 2018, I was fairly new to the Cowichan Valley and didn’t have any family close by. Even though I’m a homebody by nature, I missed my family and village. No one to call upon if I needed support.

Now with COVID measures still enforced and baby #2 on the way, it can feel even more isolating and the village I started to build feels out of reach.

Can you relate to this too? 💗

It’s not you, mama. It’s the absence of the village.

03/30/2021

New Covid restrictions in B.C. again which means all
exercise classes are canceled 😞 If you’re looking for some ways to move your body and can’t be in a class right now - check out Do Yoga With Me.

There are a TON of free yoga classes on here including some excellent Prenatal classes. And bonus ...
Most of the teachers are based in Victoria!

Online yoga videos with DoYogaWithMe.com. We offer tons of free, high-definition yoga videos, including classes, yoga poses, breathing exercises, yoga programs, and audio meditations.

03/28/2021

We are celebrating my wonderful husband’s birthday this weekend and I tried my hand at sourdough cake baking! 🎂

He deserves all the love and cakes 💗

This is a slow fermented Chocolate Sourdough cake with a cherry jam filling and a molasses cream cheese icing. Decorated with slides almond and bee pollen 👌

Can’t wait to slice in...!! 😁

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