 Looking for healthy plant-strong restaurants in Duncan? Check out the Mongrillian at Berkey's Corner (3300 Cowichan Lake Road). They have a diverse menu but the best feature for me is the 'Build Your Own Stir Fry' You can choose from lots of fresh vegetables and sauces and they cook it for you and serve it up on a bed of white rice. The only thing that would make this better for me is having a brown rice option. It's a great place to meet friends and family as there is also a lot of animal protein options that they can add to their stir fry. So, if you are looking for a fast inexpensive meal option in Duncan check out the Mongrillian.
 Sometimes, you have to make some healthy choices when you are out and about. Here's a great choice from White Spot. This is a vegetarian salad but you can easily make it vegan by asking them not to add the goat cheese. I had them put the dressings on the side as well so I could control the amount of oil. This salad is delicious and you won't feel like you are missing a thing by having this for lunch. You'll walk out satisfied but not overly full and happy in the knowledge you made a good choice.
 One of the reasons that my sister and I had really wanted to go to Salt Spring was to try the Morningside Organic Bakery because we had heard about their vegan butter and vegan cheeses. After leaving the amazing Saturday Market we drove the winding country road down the island to Fulford Harbour. Fulford Harbour has a ferry that links to Swartz Bay (close to Victoria). The bakery is located right around the corner from the ferry terminal. This may explain some of the 'ugly' details about my review.  Here's some Bad and Ugly details for you:
 Here's the Good: - The food is awesome and presented well. This vegan cheese platter was enough for two and cost $30.00. It featured: - The Miyoko's butter on lightly toasted bread. - 3 vegan cheeses: - French Style Winter Truffle - just okay - High Sierra Rustic Alpine - my favorite. Rich and creamy flavor. - Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic - My sister's favorite and a close second for me. My sister bought the butter featured below for $14.95.  Here's the Irony:
My sister and I had been planning this day trip for months. We had heard amazing stories of healthy, organic foods, sandals and hemp clothes. The Saturday Summer Market on Salt Spring Island lives up to these claims and is a great day out for shoppers, young families, even dogs. Check out my favorite vendors below along with some added bonuses. Getting There: You catch the ferry from Crofton, between Chemainus and Duncan on the island highway. It's approximately a 30 minute ferry ride and return tickets for a car and two passengers costs $60.20. You need to take a car as the market is quite a distance from the ferry. Besides, you may need a vehicle to carry back all your purchases!  Heart & Bone provisions: Keto-Paleo Foods, #106 - 149 Fulford Rd. Salt Spring Island, BC Phone: 250-537-1263 [email protected] These nice people sell bone broth along with chocolate treats. As a holistic nutritionist, I understand the wonderful benefits of bone broth especially for those with compromised digestion. Bone broth is good for:
 Hope Hill Farm Phone: 250-653-9600 www.notafactory.com Hope Hill Farm has garden fresh produce, organic eggs and meats (specifically chicken and lamb), All animals are free range and no drugs are used. Here's a great source for organic meat and eggs.  O My Goddess, Herbal Body Care is made with love and care for the earth and you. Phone: 250-537-1503 www.omygoddess.com She has been in business for something like 40 years! She has a wide range of products on offer. I bought her Organic Mineral Sunscreen SPF 15 which smells wonderful and works really well especially on a sunny day at the market. Her products are:
 Peter Prince (Instrumental, Acoustic, Folk, Roots, World) www.peterprince.com I was walking by Peter's stall and heard the most beautiful acoustic guitar song. He said that it was called Lekha's Dance which he had written for his daughter. I just had to have the CD that this song was on. The CD is entitled Light Dance. It costs $20 (you can get 2 for $30). I now play his CD in my car. It is relaxing and original. Having relaxing, stress-reducing music in your car is important to keep your cortisol levels in a normal range. I like to recommend stress-reducing music to my clients as it is an easy way to solve the problems of getting unnecessarily wound up before work and helps you wind down after work rather than listening to the news on the radio.  KINDRED COAST DESIGNS - hand made and eco-conscious style from our coast to yours [email protected] www.kindredcoast.com www.kindredcoast.etsy.com Here's my third purchase....this awesome 'vege-themed' bag. This bag is only $10.00. It's sturdy cotton and holds more than you'd think. So, when you come to the market, don't worry about bringing a bag. Drop by her stall and pick one up or one of her groovy T shirts.
 Need a break from the bustling market? Join in on some Tai Chi in the park. There are also lots of benches in the shade and some picnic tables so you can relax and enjoy your snacks and meals in a peaceful setting.
It's the Bee's Knees!!!!! You have to try this cafe if you are looking for something healthy, funky and fun for eat in or take out. The food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. At least try it for the name alone.  Located at: 208 Wallace Street it is just up the hill from Mrs. Richie's on the old island highway. The prices are reasonable and healthy for the most part. It is a great find for me after the Thirsty Camel closed down.  Here's what we got for lunch to go. From left to right is a portabello mushroom sandwich with pesto and goat cheese and a little coleslaw. The soup is called Ash soup and it is a spicy hearty soup with lentils and Persian noodles. On the right is the Buddha bowl which is a great value for $10.00. It's totally vegan with brown rice and lentils, spinach, smoked tofu, cashews, grated carrot and grated beet. The dressing is very flavorful as well. My husband said the sandwich was good but with cheese it is not vegan so I didn't try it. I loved the soup. A big bowl would be great on a cold day.
If you are in Nanaimo around lunch time, make a point of trying this place.  This fair was a really cool experience. First, I went to see Shirley Shuster. She is an Energy Worker and Angel Card Reader, I have never had my angel cards read so this was pretty cool. We instantly had a good bond. According to Shirley, I need to set parameters for myself or else I'll burn out. Currently, I need to focus on myself to determine my intentions and find personal balance. I also need to be grateful for who I am and what I have accomplished. The cards I drew were Power, Healing and Counselling. (Our photo together didn't turn out)  Next, I got to see Vanesa Vallese. She reads the Tarot and uses Intuition. This was interesting as the deck that she uses is an unconventional one. (You can just see the cards on her table.) She told me that in general my cards were all good and that whatever worries that I have, they are needless and that I should go for my goals. Vanesa is a good reader especially for young people or young at heart.  Then, I went to see Denise Schuetz - Jones who does Psychic Readings. She gives off a really calm presence. She told me some interesting things. She told me that I had a heavy weight on my shoulders like a yoke around my neck. She said that this is a burden that I carry from my mother's side of the family. It is my fate to release this burden and that my relatives that have passed will be supporting me to do this. She told me that I needed to go to the forest and release the burden there. She told me that I will have great success once I clear this burden. (The lady that I had asked to take our picture....didn't.)  Finally, I went to see Stephanie Mead. She is a Certified Usui Reiki Master/Teacher. She operates Loving Light Reiki in Nanaimo. I'd never had Reiki before so I got another new experience. Her hands were so hot with energy. She had three spirit animals for me, the snow owl, (intuition and change) the butterfly (profound transformation) and the snake (more transformation). Sound like big changes are ahead. Anyway, she told me to disregard my negative talk that is holding me back. To move forward with determination with my vision. She also told me to wear bright colors. Perhaps because I was wearing only black today. Stephanie was the best value of the day. She was also promoting a 50% off a full treatment Reiki session. You can contact Stephanie on Facebook at Loving Light Reiki.
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