As the leaves change and sweater weather hits, you might start feeling those annoying sniffles and sore throats creeping in. Yep, it’s that time of year—flu season is officially upon us, running from October to May. With the chill driving us indoors and the air getting drier, viruses are ready to party, leaving us more prone to colds and flu. But don’t stress! A few easy tweaks to your daily routine can seriously boost your immune system and keep you feeling fresh all season long.

Here is Fit Kitchen Nutrition Specialist, Giulia’s best tips to keep your immune system going strong this fall!

Get Your Beauty Sleep

Sleep is when your body works its magic—getting rid of toxins, repairing cells, and recharging your energy. When you skimp on sleep, your immune system takes a hit. Aim for at least 7 hours a night to keep those defenses strong.

Hydrate Like a Boss

Staying hydrated is a total game changer for your immune health. Water helps your blood flow and keeps everything functioning smoothly, including your immune responses. Plus, it helps your kidneys filter out toxins. Keep that water bottle filled up!

Eat The Rainbow

A balanced diet is a must, especially now. Load up on foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, B6, zinc, and selenium. Think citrus fruits, nuts, eggs, yogurt, pumpkin, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. Your body will thank you!  Fit Kitchen’s Club Med Beef meal is a great example of eating your colors all in one meal!

Get Moving!

We know it’s harder to stay active when it’s cold outside, but regular exercise is a solid way to boost your immune system. It reduces inflammation, ramps up white blood cell production, and lowers stress—all of which help keep you healthy.

Chill on the Alcohol

Alcohol can really mess with your immune system by disrupting immune cell function and gut health, which are both key to fighting off infections. Too much drinking can increase your chances of getting sick and even reduce vaccine effectiveness. So maybe skip that extra drink this season to keep your body in top shape.

Incorporating these easy tips into your routine can help boost your immunity and reduce your chances of getting sick, even when colds are going around. Take care of yourself and make the most of the fall and winter seasons ahead!

Many people strive to achieve their fitness goals, whether it’s losing weight, gaining muscle mass, or reducing fat. And many believe that all it takes is willpower to reach these goals. While willpower and determination are important, especially at the beginning, it’s tough to stay motivated for an extended period. The key to success is building new habits, as they are responsible for the tasks we do daily, often automatically. This way, we don’t have to think too much or waste time when it comes to taking action. A good example of a habit is brushing your teeth when you wake up. You don’t need to think about whether you will do it or not; you just do it.

Two notes with motivational messages are clipped to a string. The red note reads Change Your Habits and the blue note reads Change Your LifeAccording to the book Atomic Habits (one of Jason’s favorites), there are four laws we can use to create new and better habits. They are:

1. Make it obvious

2. Make it attractive

3. Make it easy

4. Make it satisfying

You might be thinking, “Okay, but how can Fit Kitchen help me with this?” Simple!

Make it obvious – Choose one or two days a week and mark them on your calendar with a reminder to place your orders on the Fit Kitchen website.

Make it attractive – Skip the grocery trips, traffic, and dirty dishes. Have your meals ready to eat and delivered right to your door, giving you some free time to watch your favorite show, work out, or read a book.

Make it easy – Keep all your favorite healthy meals in your fridge. The only effort you’ll need to make is to heat them up.

Make it satisfying – The meals are not only healthy but also delicious. This will make you want more!

By following these steps, maintaining a routine and implementing a new habit becomes much easier. As a result, you’ll be closer to reaching your goals!

Nowadays, a large portion of the population wants to lose weight, whether for health reasons or aesthetics. When deciding to start a fitness journey, most people choose to begin by exercising.  This is an excellent start, but the truth is that it often may not be enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that physical activity isn’t important! Stick with me, and you’ll understand.

A blue plate with the words WEIGHT LOSS formed by letter tiles, and a green fern leaf beside the plate

Have you ever heard of a calorie deficit?

A calorie deficit is simply burning more calories than we consume.

This is where many people get tripped up! If you think about it, a 45-minute spin class burns around 400-600 calories. A small popcorn at the cinema, without butter, has around 400 calories. See how easy (and quick) it is to consume back all the calories you worked so hard to burn? Additionally, many people start exercising and, unintentionally, end up eating more under the excuse of “Oh, I worked out, so I can.” The result can sometimes be the opposite, leading to weight gain. That’s why when we talk about weight loss, we say that 80% is diet and 20% is physical activity.

Having a healthy and balanced diet is the key to losing weight. By understanding the number of calories you should consume to shed those extra pounds, you can create a calorie deficit and, thus, achieve your goal! At this point, it’s important to seek the help of a nutrition professional who can calculate all your macronutrients according to your needs, always respecting your tastes and lifestyle.

Here at Fit Kitchen, we provide all the calorie information so you know exactly what you’re consuming. If you already know how many calories you need, you can order the Lean Plan on our website, which comes in small and large versions and is ideal for those looking to lose weight. The small version ranges from 1300-1500 calories, while the large version goes from 1650-2000 calories. Additionally, you can choose to order individual meals.

If you need help, we also offer a nutrition consultation that can assess your needs and customize an individual and personalized plan exclusively for you!

The weight loss journey may seem challenging at first, but our goal is to help you succeed on this path! Count on us!

The journey towards weight loss and especially maintained weight loss can be a long and difficult one. Our team knows about the various challenges and successes that accompany a weight loss journey. However it is certainly a journey worth taking if you are looking to improve your health and longevity.

There have been many studies on the qualities and behaviours of individuals who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. We want to highlight some of these qualities and provide some tips on how to make weight loss sustainable over the long-term. In this blog we will focus on the results of a systematic review study from 2021 by Spreckley et al. which compiled data from 15 different studies on long-term weight loss.

1.  Find Ways to Track and Regulate Your Behaviours

This study found that those who kept weight off over the long term incorporated practices like calorie tracking and portion control into their routine. This was often done by using calorie counting apps like My Fitness Pal, weighing food using a scale or recording foods eaten in a journal. Having consistent eating times was helpful and those who planned their meals during holidays or events also found more success.

A yellow notebook with a black pen on it lies on a white wooden table. In the background, there is a jar, a small plant, and a plate with assorted pastries

2.  Use Your Support Network

Many successful participants relied on their social network to encourage and support them with their weight loss goals. Using weight loss support groups or online groups helped to keep individuals on track and they were offered encouragement during any difficult times.

3.  Find Motivation That Works For You

Motivation for continued weight loss can come in many different forms. For the participants in this review, many were motivated by the goal of improving their health and preventing future disease. As they began losing weight, people often became motivated by an improved body image and increased self confidence. Finding an external goal such as running in a 10 km race, joining a sports team, or starting a new job can also be powerful motivators for continued weight loss.

A group of runners participating in a marathon on a sunny day

4.  Set Goals and Adjust Them Regularly

Successful participants set clear goals to increase their daily or weekly activity, as well as goals to reduce their food consumption. It was important that the goals were specific, realistic and personal to each participant. Regarding food consumption, the goal could be related to total calories, specific daily macros or reducing consumption of certain types of food. Adjusting goals in reaction to new events or environments was also important to success.

5.  Create a New Identity

Overall, those who lost weight and kept it off found that they needed to create a new identity for themself in order to be successful. This came with creating new habits and routines that aligned with the identity of a healthy person. Participants spoke of a type of rebirth and a second chance at their life that they received as a result of their continued weight loss.

Creating a new identity can certainly be difficult as it can involve cutting ties with people or activities in your life that don’t fit with your goals. However it is an important step since your environment and social circle plays a big role in affecting your behaviour and eating habits.

Three meal prep containers filled with food

In Conclusion

The top tips that come out of this review paper relate to the importance of monitoring yourself, creating individualised goals, finding your motivation and creating a fresh identity. Although these steps can be challenging, if applied together, the likelihood of keeping weight off over the long-term will be much higher.

Don’t worry, Fit Kitchen is here to help! Our meal plans and pre-portioned meals can be a big help for regulating and monitoring your eating (tip #1). All our meal plans come with a sheet that outlines the macros and calories for each day and the nutrition info is also printed on the meal labels. We have meal plans with different calorie ranges depending on your goals. And did you know that all of our meals have already been entered into the My Fitness Pal database? This makes it even easier for you to track and monitor your progress.

Thank you for reading and we hope these tips help you to succeed on your journey towards weight loss and improved health!

Reference:

Perspectives into the experience of successful, substantial long-term weight-loss maintenance: a systematic review:

September is often thought of as a time to ‘get back on track’ after the summer holidays. When kids go back to school and things pick up at work, we will naturally get back into our old routines. However, this transition can also be a great time to start new habits for our health. Summer can be a difficult time for habit building because we are often traveling and eating out which makes it difficult to find consistency. Instead of waiting for a ‘New Year’s Resolution’, why not start in September?

Keep reading for some tips on how to create and manage new healthy habits this fall. It’s important to start with a manageable plan in order to meet your goals. Choose one new habit to start at a time and make sure to create reminders and cues to keep yourself on track for success. We know you can do it!

Set Realistic Expectations and Adopt New Habits Slowly

Fall is often a busy time as we get back to our routines after summer so don’t try to add in too many new habits at once. Instead, try prioritizing one new habit at a time. This could look like going to bed at the same time every night, working out 3 times a week, or adding fruit to your breakfast each day. Once you have successfully incorporated one new habit into your routine, then you can try to add a second or third. Attempting to make too many changes at once can often feel overwhelming and can lead to a feeling of failure if it doesn’t work at first. Starting slow and making small changes can help build confidence and long-term success with your health.

Communicate Your Goals with Those Around You

Sharing your goals with your friends and family can help to keep you on track with your new habit. Your habit may have an impact on those around you so explaining your goals and motivations can help them to support you. You might realize that those around you have similar goals and you may be able to start a new habit together! For example, if you want to hit the gym during your lunch break twice per week, let your colleagues know that you will be unavailable to take calls during that time. If they see you at your desk during those times, maybe they can remind you of your gym commitment. You might also find another colleague who wants to work out with you too.

A person sits on the floor tying shoelaces on black athletic shoes with pink laces

Overcome Hurdles by Creating Reminders and Cues

Creating reminders and cues can also help you in achieving success with your new habit. Putting sticky notes around your house, setting reminders on your phone, or getting your friends or family to send you a message can all be good reminder tactics.

You may find there is a simple hurdle you must overcome in order to carry out your habit. For example, eating more vegetables might become easy as long as you remember to buy them at the store. Or as long as you take your gym clothes to work, then you will find it easy to workout. Seeing vegetables in the fridge or gym clothes in your bag could be an important cue that will kickstart your action. Determining your hurdle and making a plan to address it can be a huge help for achieving your goals.

Here are a few more examples of habits and cues:

  • Want to drink more water?
    • Take a full water bottle to work each day
    • Put a note on your coffee maker: ‘Have you had a glass of water yet?’
  • Want to walk more often?
    • Put your walking shoes in front of your door
    • Buy a grocery cart and put it by your door so you can easily walk to buy groceries
  • Want to eat less processed snack foods?
    • Keep healthy snack foods on the counter or in your desk like fruit and nuts
    • Put snack foods on a high shelf or in a closet that is difficult to reach

A laptop sits partially open on a white surface next to a small bowl of walnuts

Make Your Habit Enjoyable!

Making your habit enjoyable will make you much more likely to practice it. This can be done in a variety of ways such as practicing your habit with friends, creating a competition within your family, or watching a favourite show while practicing your habit. This ensures you won’t be dreading your habit and you will start associating it with the fun that accompanies it.

Here are some more ideas:

  • Want to drink more water?
    • Add lemon and mint to your water to improve the taste
    • Find a fun cup or mug that you enjoy drinking from (something with a straw!)
  • Want to walk more often?
    • Download a new album or audio book that you will enjoy listening to while walking
    • Pick a new path to explore each week so the scenery stays interesting
    • Find a friend or colleague to walk with on the same day each week
  • Want to eat less processed snack foods?
    • Make healthy muffins or energy balls for quick snacks (or buy from Fit Kitchen 😉
    • Shop for fruits and vegetables at your local farmer’s market
    • Set up a competition with your friends to see who can go without processed snacks for the longest (e.g. chips, chocolate bars, crackers, etc.)

A refreshing beverage setup with two mason jars containing lemon slices and rosemary sprigs, tied with twine, and a large glass drink dispenser of lemon water in the background

In Conclusion

In conclusion, leading a healthier lifestyle doesn’t have to involve massive changes. Choosing one new habit at a time can be a great way to achieve success over the long term. September is a great time to adopt new habits because your routine is likely already changing after the summer holidays. Make your habit consistent by using reminders and making it enjoyable for yourself. Make sure to set realistic expectations, and to communicate them to those people around you. Having your family, friends and colleagues support you will be an important step in achieving your goals!

We hope you enjoyed our first Meal Plan FAQ post and that it helped you to understand more about our meal plans. Here is Part 2! Keep reading to dive into common questions related to meal plan duration, results, weight loss, protein and carbs.

Can You Customize the Length of my Meal Plan?

Yes we can! Our standard meal plans provide 3, 6 or 7 days of meals per week. However, we can customize any of our plans to fit your lifestyle. If you prefer to receive just 4 or 5 days of meals each week, we can do that. We can also adjust the length of the overall plan to fit your schedule. If you prefer to order 2 weeks of meals at a time, or want to a longer plan for 6 weeks, we can make either of those schedules work. Just send us an email to eatfit@fitkitchen.ca and we can get your custom plan set up!

How Long Will It Take to See Results?

Results can take time and it is important to stay consistent in order to achieve them. Many factors will affect the length of time to see results. For example, in order to meet a weight loss goal, your calorie intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption and sleep will all affect your results. For weight loss, it is best to choose a moderate goal of 1-2 lbs of weight loss per week. Evidence shows that those who lose weight more slowly, are more likely to keep it off. If you were used to eating 2000 calories per day, and decrease your intake to 1500 calories with our Small Lean meal plan, you could expect to see weight loss of about 20 lbs in 6 months.

Three meal prep containers with grilled chicken, vegetables, sweet potato mash, oranges, flatbread with bacon, yogurt with berries, and a chocolate cookie

How Much Protein Do I Need?

Protein is a very important macronutrient and your protein needs vary based on age, activity level, fitness goals, and many other factors. The current recommendation is that all adults should get at least 0.8 g of protein per kg of body weight, per day. However, this is based on a calculation method which is now thought to be inaccurate, and many experts are recommending that higher protein intakes can be beneficial. Here are some general guidelines (1, 2):

  • Adults 18-65 yrs – 1.2 g/kg per day
  • Adults over 65 yrs – 1.3 g/kg per day
  • Adult Endurance Athletes – 1.2-1.6 g/kg per day
  • Adult Strength/Power Athletes – 1.6-2.0 g/kg per day

Our meal plans provide about 25-30% of calories from protein. For example, our Small Lean plan provides about 100 g of protein per day while our Large Lean plan provides about 130 g of protein per day. For someone who weighs 150 lbs (68 kg), our Small Lean plan provides enough protein for 1.4 g/kg per day. For someone who weighs 200 lbs (91 kg), our Large Lean plan provides enough protein for 1.4 g/kg per day. Unless you are a serious athlete or bodybuilder, most of our meal plan provide adequate protein to maintain healthy diet.

Should I Eat Low-Carb in Order to Lose Weight?

Eating low-carb or keto is often associated with weight loss because these types of diets can help to lower your caloric intake or the amount of food you eat in a day. However, you can still lose weight while eating carbs, as long as you lower your overall caloric intake. In order to lose weight, it is necessary to consume less energy (calories) than you expend throughout the day. This is called being in a ‘calorie deficit’. Many studies have shown that the ratio of fat, carbs and protein you consume doesn’t have an effect on weight loss, as long as you stay in a calorie deficit (3, 4).

Some people do find that eating a diet higher in protein and fat helps to keep them full for longer. The same effect can be true for diets high in whole grains and fibre. Carbohydrate sources high in fibre like quinoa, oats and legumes may appear to be high in carbs on paper, but the fibre prevents a spike in blood glucose and can help to sustain you over a long period. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you want to avoid carbs in your weight loss journey, but there’s no need to cut them out completely if it will make you miserable.

Our standard meal plans provide about 30% of calories from carbohydrates each day. Most of these carbs come from sources like whole grains, legumes, and fruit or dried fruit.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading Part 2 of our Meal Plan FAQ blog! We hope that these two blogs helped to clarify some common queries and that they can save you some time and research in the future. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to eatfit@fitkitchen.ca if you would like to set up a custom meal plan. Our team will be happy to help and can answer any further questions.

References:

  1. Protein: A nutrient in focus
  2. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise
  3. Metabolic Effects of Weight Loss on a Very-Low-Carbohydrate Diet Compared With an Isocaloric High-Carbohydrate Diet in Abdominally Obese Subjects
  4. Long-term effects of a very-low-carbohydrate weight loss diet compared with an isocaloric low-fat diet after 12 mo

Have you been thinking about trying a meal plan? Are you a frequent meal plan customer who is looking for some customization? Then this blog is for you!

The Fit Kitchen team has been helping customers to meet their health goals using meal plans for several years. We have answered lots of questions and there are a few which come up quite often. So, to save some time, we put all the answers in this blog (and in Part 2). We hope this helps to clarify some information around our meal plans, how they work, and how they can fit into your lifestyle.

For more details or to request a customized meal plan, send us an email to eatfit@fitkitchen.ca.

A variety of meal prep containers on a red surface
A variety of meal prep containers on a red surface

What is the Macronutrient Distribution in Your Meal Plans?

For all of our meal plans, we try to keep the macronutrient distribution at 30% Protein, 30% Carbs, and 40% Fat. However, this will vary day to day since we want to provide as much variety as possible while keeping within these ranges.

What are the Differences Between the Lean, Everyday and Performance Meal Plans?

Lean Plan: This plan is best for those looking to lose weight or those with a lean body type looking to maintain their weight. This plan is mainly composed of our lean meals which are lower in calories and lower in fat compared to our performance meals.

  • Small Lean Plan = 1300 – 1500 Calories Per Day
  • Large Lean Plan = 1650 – 2000 Calories Per Day

Everyday Plan: This plan is aimed at those looking to maintain their weight and to promote general health. This plan includes a combination of our lean and performance meals for a well-balanced option.

  • Small Everyday Plan = 1600 – 1800 Calories Per Day
  • Large Everyday Plan = 1800 – 2100 Calories Per Day

Performance Plan: This plan is best for athletes and those looking to maximize the effects of an active lifestyle. This high calorie plan is great if you are trying to put on muscle and get those gains! The performance plan is mainly composed of our performance meals which are higher calorie and higher fat compared to our lean meals.

  • Small Performance Plan = 1700 – 2000 Calories Per Day
  • Large Performance Plan = 2200 – 2500 Calories Per Day

What’s the Difference Between the Small and Large Size Meals?

The main difference between the sizes is that our small meals contain 3 oz of protein and large meals contain 5 oz of protein. Large meals also contain more carbs and vegetables and have higher calories. Some of our meals such as our Power Tacos and our salads just come in one size.

  • Small Lean Meals = 250-350 Calories
  • Small Performance Meals = 350-500 Calories
  • Large Lean Meals = 400-500 Calories
  • Large Performance Meals = 500-800 Calories

Can You Customize a Meal Plan to Meet My Specific Macro Targets?

Yes! If you have specific macro targets, just send us an email with the details. Then we can send you a sample plan and pricing options. The price for a custom plan may be slightly different than that of the plans on our website since your requirements may vary from our standard plans. For example, the price may increase slightly if you require a very high protein plan.

Do You Offer Keto, Low-Sodium, or Whole-30 Meal Plans?

We don’t offer standard meal plans on our website for these types of diets. However, all our meal plans are customizable, and we can accommodate any of these requests. Just send us an email with the details of your diet and your restrictions. Please note that these meal plans may have less variety than our Lean/Everyday/Performance plans, but our nutrition team will try their best to maximize variety within the restraints of your diet.

I Don’t Like _______. Can You Remove It from My Meal Plan?

Yes! If there is an ingredient or meal you don’t like, or a dietary restriction that limits what you can eat, we can easily accommodate it. When ordering a meal plan from our website, you can select from common preferences such as ‘No Fish’, ‘No Spicy’, and ‘No Pork’. If you have a preference that doesn’t appear on the list, just send us an email after submitting your order and we can remove any meals with that ingredient from your plan.

Please note, we are not able to modify the meals on our menu to remove an ingredient from that specific meal. For example, we can’t make a Bangkok Green Curry without the red peppers. This is because our kitchen makes hundreds of meals at a time, so it is not feasible for them to make modifications. This means that if you ask for no red peppers, the Bangkok Green Curry will not be included in your meal plan.

Do You Have Discounts for Repeat Customers?

We don’t have specific discounts for repeat meal plan customers. This is because our meal plans are already discounted at about 8% compared to ordering meals à la carte, from the website.

We also have our Fit Rewards program where you can earn points for each dollar you spend. As you continue to purchase meal plans, you will move up in our reward tiers and can earn more points per dollar spent. These reward points can be applied as a discount to your order. You can also earn other perks such as Fit Kitchen merch, free samples, a free nutrition consultation, and more! You can learn more HERE.

Can I Receive My Meal Plan Delivery at the Same Time Each Day?

We are not able to guarantee a specific delivery time. This is because our delivery load fluctuates each week based on how many orders are placed. Some orders are delivered with our own Fit Kitchen drivers, and some are delivered with our deliver partner, Deeleeo. We can add a note to your deliver instructions asking for delivery before or after a certain time, but we can’t guarantee this will be met. Please contact us if you have a delivery time request and we can communicate it to the drivers.

If you will not be home during your whole delivery window, you can leave a cooler outside your door where we can place your meals. This is especially recommended in the summer months to ensure your meals stay cool. During colder months, the insulated bag and ice packs that are delivered with the meals are enough to keep your meals cool for a few hours if you aren’t home.

Conclusion

We hope this blog helped to answer some of your burning meal plan questions. Our team loves putting together meal plans to help meet all of our customers’ unique goals. So, don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon, with even more answers!

Here at Fit Kitchen, we love to get outside in the summer and enjoy the wonderful events that Alberta has to offer. We know you’ve heard of the Calgary Stampede, K-Days, and Folk Fest, but did you know that Calgary has its own cycling festival or that there’s a whole expo devoted to outdoor adventure activities? There are so many events and festivals to keep track of in the summer so we wanted to highlight a few that you may have missed. These events are affordable and provide activities for the whole family! Keep reading to learn more and to plan your summer fun.

Edmonton Riverhawks Baseball Games

  • When: Every night from July 19 – 28, 2024 (except July 25)
  • Where: RE/MAX Field – 10233 96 Ave, Edmonton

What: The Edmonton Riverhawks are part of the West Coast Baseball League and their games provide a great opportunity to see high level baseball at an affordable price! Many of their games also feature a theme such as superhero or sitcom night, with themed prizes and competitions for spectators. Games take place at the RE/MAX field which has lots of food and drink options including Dark Sky Distillery and Alley Kat beer. Spectators can even go out onto the field after the game!

See full schedule and buy tickets here: Edmonton Riverhawks

  • Price: Starting at $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 17

Edmonton Riverhawks Baseball Games

Tour De Bowness Race & Festival

  • When: August 3-5, 2024
  • Where: Bowness Road NW, Calgary (and other locations around Calgary)

What: Not quite the Tour De France, but equally exciting, is Calgary’s own Tour De Bowness. This event includes 3 days of cycling races which are open to spectators, and finishes off with a street festival. The event will start out with a road race in Cochrane on August 3, a hill climb up Mackay Road in Montgomery on August 4th, and will conclude with a short circuit race and a kids race around Bowness on August 5th. There are still spots open to enter the races, but watching can be just as fun!

Learn more or sign up to race here: Tour De Bowness

  • Price: Free for spectators! $5 for kids race registration.

Tour De Bowness Race & Festival

Rogers Charity Classic Golf Tournament

  • When: August 16 – 18, 2024
  • Where: Canyon Meadows Gold & Country Club, Calgary (no parking available on site; shuttle access from Anderson LRT Station)

What: The Rogers (formerly Shaw) Charity Classic is an annual golf tournament which is Canada’s only stop on the PGA Tour Champions. This event brings together some of the best golfers from around the world and raises money for children and youth charities in Alberta. This is a great opportunity to see the world’s top golfers, right here in Alberta!

  • Price: Starting at $35 for adults, kids under 12 are free

Rogers Charity Classic Golf Tournament

Alberta Open Farm Days

  • When: August 17 & 18, 2024
  • Where: At farms all over Alberta. View the interactive map HERE

What: Alberta Open Farm Days is an annual event where farms all over Alberta open their doors to the public. Individuals of all ages can learn about how food is grown and how animals are cared for at over 130 farms throughout the province. Depending on the farm, you may be able to sample food, pet animals, explore the land and equipment, talk to farmers, and much more. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to learn more about how local food is produced and where it comes from.

Check out the list of participating farms here: Alberta Open Farm Days

  • Price: Entrance to the farm is free! Farms may offer special experiences for an additional fee. It is recommended to bring cash if you want to by products from the farm as well.

Alberta Open Farm Days

Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo

  • When: August 30 – September 2, 2024
  • Where: Medicine Lodge Rodeo Grounds, Yellowhead County, AB

What: The Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo is a weekend-long event which brings together outdoor adventure enthusiasts and highlights Canada’s industry-leading outdoor vendors. Come for the day, or camp for the whole weekend! There will be activities all day long including opportunities to try activities like fishing, paddle boarding, yoga, survival skills, and more! Food trucks and a beer garden will be on site, along with evening entertainment for the whole family.

Learn more and buy tickets here: Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo

  • Price: $25 for adult one-day pass; $80 for adult weekend camping pass; Free for kids 17 and under

Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo

Spruce Meadows – Masters Tournament

  • When: September 4-8, 2024
  • Where: 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, Calgary

What: Spruce Meadows is one of the world’s best facilities for equestrian and horse jumping. They are hosting their annual Masters Tournament which will see some of the worlds best riders compete in 4 days of competitions. You will even be able to cheer on riders who recently competed at the Paris Summer Olympics. Spruce Meadows will also be hosting the Blacksmith World Championships on the same weekend so there will be lots of action to watch.

Check out the schedule and more information here: Spruce Meadows Masters

  • Price: Tickets start at $27 for adults and $16 for kids

Spruce Meadows – Masters Tournament

We hope you can get outside and check out some of these awesome events this summer. Whether you’re a fan of sports, food, or animals, there is something for everyone on this list. You may even see some of our team there too! Be sure to pack some Fit Kitchen snacks and LMNT electrolytes to stay hydrated and fueled in the heat.

Have fun out there Fit Fam!

I Signed Up to Run The New York City Marathon!

Those of you that have come to know me and maybe even some of you who don’t but follow me probably have figured out 2 of my passions – I like a good physical challenge and I love giving back to the community.  Well, this 61-year-old former sprinter will be getting way out of his comfort zone this coming fall and participating in the 2024 New York City Marathon (my first ever run over 10km). Now what would make me want to do this? Great question, I needed a REALLY BIG WHY!

In order to participate I agreed that I would raise a minimum of $15,000 for my favorite and closest to my heart charity … Classroom Champions. It is a Calgary based organization that puts Olympic mentors in underprivileged classrooms across North America. Classroom Champions was started by my good friend and Gold Medal Olympic Bobsleigh athlete Steve Mesler who created this great initiative while training towards the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Matter of fact I think he probably did much of his foundational work while sitting in our former business The Main Dish where Steve was our very first sponsored athlete.

Well things have come full circle, and it is time for me to do my part and train my ass off while raising money for this very worthy cause. I am fortunate to have some local partners supporting me in this journey; thanks so much to Vital Strength & Physiology, Riverside Sports Therapy, Strides Running Store and Calgary’s OG and best meal prep company – Fit Kitchen (I may have an inside track here – haha). I wouldn’t be able to do what I am in the process of doing with out these amazing local businesses.

How to Donate:

It would make me very happy if you could help me achieve my goal by donating to Classroom Champions using the link below. A gift of any amount is valuable and appreciated. I thank you in advance.

Click Here to Donate To Classroom Champions

Follow My Journey

Watch my feed for regular updates on how the training is going and how watch me whine about how much the volume sucks … haha.

Should be errrrr fun? LFG!

@fitkitchencanada

@jzaran

Jason
Fit Kitchen Owner