Food for the Brain webinar - free

Bonnie Wisener, RHN, is passionate about food and the role it plays in good health. 

“There is more and more emerging research” on eating properly and mood regulation, hormone production and age-related memory decline.

As the brain is made up of 60 per cent dietary fat (dietary fat includes those found naturally in animal and plants as well as processed foods), it’s important to make “healthy fat choices.” 

“Food is medicine,” said Wisener, who has always been interested in food and how it can help overall health.  

While proper nutrition seems complicated, the Thornhill resident said it doesn’t have to be. Food should be simple and eating healthy should be about understanding what you are eating and how it makes you feel when you consume it. 

It’s like our grandparents always told us, Wisener said, “eat home-cooked meals more often and consume less processed foods”. 

Wisener, whose husband Sheldon sits on the Alzheimer Society of York Region’s (AS York) board of directors, is hosting a 30-minute presentation titled Food for the Brain – You Think What You Eat, May 6 from 3 to 4:15 p.m. presented by Coppa's Fresh Market and IG Wealth Management de Hart & Associates.

The event will help kick-off the virtual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, which takes place May 29, where people are asked to walk 17,000 steps, one step for every person living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in York Region. #IGWalkforAlz

Wisener’s presentation will include 15 minutes for questions and answers and registered participants will receive five brain booster recipes after the presentation. 

The presentation will include essential things people should include in their diets for optimized brain function as well as brain agers and things to avoid. 

“Food is our fuel, providing the building blocks for a health body and mind. Anyone concerned about aging gracefully and in a healthful manner can benefit from dietary improvements. Small changes can make a big difference.”

The webinar is free. To register, click here.

To make a donation, click here. 

To host your own fundraiser, contact Carol Dowell, events coordinator, at [email protected] 

Blueberry Brain Booster Smoothie 

I cup frozen blueberries 
1 cup baby spinach 
1 banana, peeled, chopped and frozen 
3 tbsp chia seeds 
1 cup plain coconut milk 
3 tbsp hemp seeds 

Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend well until smooth. Divide into glasses and enjoy. 

Notes: 

• More protein: Add protein powder, hemp seeds or nut butter 
• Storage: Refrigerate in a mason jar or other air-tight container up to 48 hours. Drink within 24 hours for maximum freshness, nutrition and taste. 
• Prep ahead: Portion out all the ingredients except coconut milk into a locked bag. Store in the freezer until ready to blend with coconut milk.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

Contest rules:

The Alzheimer Society of York Region (AS York) is hosting three contests during the virtual Food for the Brain – You Think What You Eat May 6 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.

During the event, participants can enter for a chance to win a one-hour personalized nutrition session with Bonnie Wisener. The session includes a conversation around their primary goal and follow-up resources as required. There is no blackout period and no expiry date. The value of this prize pack is $100.

When asked, people send their first and last name through the chat within a three-minute timeframe. An AS York staff member will select winners, whose names will be announced during the event. The winners will send a private message to the staff member announced with their email address. On Friday, an AS York staff member will send them an email with a waiver and a skill-testing question. The winner has until by Tuesday, May 11 at 5 p.m. (EST) to answer the skill-testing question, return the sign contest waiver and provide their contact information (first and last name, address, phone number and email address). Their contact information will be forwarded to Bonnie Wisener and AS York is no longer responsible for the prize.

The winner is responsible for contacting Wisener to set up an appointment.

During the event, there will be two other contests. Each prize pack contains AS York’s Hearts Linked by Courage Honouring Loved Ones and Caregivers on the Dementia Journey book and Dr. Allan Carswell’s Our Lingering Farewell book. Each prize pack is valued at $38.95.

When asked, people send their first and last name through the chat within a three-minute timeframe. An AS York staff member will select winners, whose names will be announced during the event. The winners will send a private message to the staff member announced with their email address. On Friday, an AS York staff member will send them an email with a waiver and a skill-testing question.

The winner has until by Tuesday, May 11 at 5 p.m. (EST) to answer the skill-testing question, return the sign contest waiver and provide a Canadian mailing address. The prize pack will be mailed to the winner and AS York is no longer responsible for the prize. Full contest rules are available at alzheimer-york.com

Full Contest Rules

Alzheimer Society of York Region Food for the Brain Full Contest Rules

1. Agreement: These rules govern the “Food for the Brain” (“Contest”). No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest. The act of entering the Contest constitutes acceptance of the Contest rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and the Contest judges, which decisions shall be final and binding upon all entrants. Sponsor: Alzheimer Society of York Region (AS York). Eligibility: The Contest is open to all legal residents of the Province of Ontario that are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry.

You are not eligible to enter if you are (or you live with) an employee, officer, director, representative, agent, consultant or supplier of the Contest Sponsor or any of its affiliates (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”). Contest Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of the potential winners. Incomplete or illegible entries, bulk drop offs, photocopies, scanned copies, facsimiles or other mechanically or electronically reproduced entries will not be accepted and will be disqualified.

Contest Entry: To enter the Contest, place your first and last name in the chat when directed to during the Food for the Brain webinar May 6. The contest period takes place during the webinar between 3 to 4:15 p.m. EST. Participants will be directed told when to enter and have three minutes to do so. The prize will be awarded to randomly selected entry. The winners will be selected between 3 and 4:15 p.m. EST by an AS York representative.

An AS York representative will announce the winners during the event and ask them to send them a private message with their email address. A representative from AS York will contact the winner by email Friday, May 7. The winner must answer the skill-testing question, sign a waiver and provide a Canadian mailing address to an AS York representative by 5 p.m. EST by Tuesday, May 11 in order to claim the prize.

If the winner misses the deadline, they no longer have access to the prize. The prize pack will be mailed to the winner and AS York and its affiliates are no longer responsible for the prize. Prizes: One one-hour personalized nutrition session with Bonnie Wisener. The session includes a conversation around their primary goal and follow-up resources as required. There is no blackout period and no expiry date. The value of this prize pack is $100.

Two (2) Hearts Linked by Courage prize packs consisting of AS York’s Hearts Linked by Courage Honouring Loved Ones and Caregivers on the Dementia Journey book, and Dr. Allan Carswell’s Our Lingering Farewell book. Each prize pack is valued at $38.95.

Waiver of Moral Rights: As a condition of being declared a winner, each selected entrant releases the Sponsor and its related parties from any and all liability in connection with the Contest and/or the prize; (ii) confirming compliance with these Contest rules; (iii) consenting to the use of his or her name and photograph, in any and all forms of media, without further compensation, in any publicity carried out by the Sponsor and/or its advertising and promotional agencies.

Indemnity: By participating in this Contest, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and/or related companies and each of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advisors, assignees, agents, licensees, representatives, advertising, media buyers and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of action, or losses of any kind (including but not limited to lawyers’ fees) arising out of or relating to your participation in the Contest; your receipt or use of any prize; your violation of any term of these Contest rules; your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right; or any claim that your submission caused any type of damage to a third party.

Privacy: We use your personal contact information to administer this Contest, including contacting, announcing and promoting prize winners.

Banning: The Sponsor may, in their sole discretion, prohibit any person from entering the Contest whom it believes to be abusing the rules. Such abuse includes entering false information and voting more times than is permitted under these Contest rules.

Other: Odds of winning depend on the number and caliber of eligible entries received. This Contest is governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein and is void where prohibited by law. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Contest or the Contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash.

The Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed. Sponsor are not liable for any lost, late, misdirected or stolen entries or inability to process entries, or any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this Contest, including technical failures on any website or software, viruses, website disruptions, malfunctions or website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any Contest entrant.

Sponsor are not responsible for any errors or omissions in printing or advertising this Contest. Use of any automated system including robotic or form-filling software to enter or participate in this Contest is prohibited and will result in disqualification of all entries by anyone using such assistance. If a dispute arises regarding who submitted an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address provided at time of entry. Authorized account holder is the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.