When Meghan invited me to be part of her Virtual Blog Tour, I automatically accepted, obviously! She asked if I would interview her or review her book, and although I like to ask questions and read, that didn’t really interest me as much as reviewing an UnDiet meal. So, I asked Meghan if we could chat over lunch, and she said “yes”!
When I received a copy of UnDiet from her publisher, before the book was released, I immediately sat down to read it, and thought that it might be boring, but started to laugh from page one. It’s funny. And she gives good advice. Like, really great advice!
We already eat as clean as we can in our family, and I know and live a lot like she does, minus the flowery bike and pink shoelaces, and I don’t like labels either – Meghan says to save labels for tin cans – which I don’t really want to use, who wants canned food over real food?! I consider myself a Ryan-tarian, and my sister is a Joey-tarian and so on, instead of choosing vegetarian, or vegan, or omnivorous or any other label that people use to classify the way they eat. We make our own rules, and my major one is to feel good about what I am eating, and I know Meghan agrees! My mom taught us that we should eat good food, but also that we need to know where our food comes from, trace it back to who made it or who grew it, and make sure we feel right about putting it into our body, and supporting more of it being made/grown etc.
I was pretty excited to go to Meghan’s Kitchen for the first time, and as colourful as she is, her studio matched in every way! On every wall there was a copy of Meghan’s creed in some form – stickers, bags and framed art! Her shelves are lined with everything UnDiet – superfoods, good foods, books, healthcare products and accessories. I took some pictures that you’ll see below, so you can all see how cool her studio is.
We sat down at a nice wooden table to enjoy our UnDiet meal that she had cooked up with the help of Meg and Maeve, who work there too. And what a great lunch it was! We enjoyed a very colourful and flavourful salad complete with fennel, apple, cranberries, and sunflower seeds (the Cran-Apple Green Salad recipe can be found on page 84 of UnDiet), her Bean and Vegetable Burgers (page 86 in Undiet) topped with delicious Cashew Sour Cream (recipe page 87 of UnDiet). I assure you that they are ALL recipes worth making, I enjoyed 4 burgers they were so good, no, that is not a typo, I had 4 burgers! I hope that Meghan didn’t want too many leftover for dinner, because I ate a lot! Of course, we drank water, because Meghan says to always keep really hydrated.
Over lunch, I asked her a few questions and I typed out her answers as she gave them:
R: What is a typical UnDiet meal for you?
M: All plant-based, very varied, protein, veggies, and simple healthy condiments.
R: Do you have to eat at home to UnDiet, because I LOVE to eat at restaurants.
M: No, just be smart about where you go and ask questions. (I do!)
R: What is a quick definition of UnDiet?
M: UnDiet is to break the rules and discover a way to live your way to vibrant health.
R: What is your favourite condiment?
M: Cashew Sour Cream we are eating now, or my BBQ sauce.
R: What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto?
M: The Harbord Room (that tops my list too!)
R: What is your favourite juice?
M: The Green Juice on page 55 of my book!
R: What is your favourite breakfast?
M: My Hot Chocolate on page 58
R: Why do you say “loo” instead of bathroom in your book?
M: It sounds more polite than bathroom!
Overall, UnDiet makes sense to me – it did before I went for lunch, but now I really understand it even better. I also learned a new word and ingredient while there – Phytoplankton, which is the smallest particle of food in the world. Thanks Meghan! Thanks for having me on your Blog Book Tour!!
