6 Friday, January 5, 2018brooklintowncrier.com It's the time of year where resolutions are being made and many revolve around eating better and working out. I don't typically make New Year's resolutions as I'm fairly goal-oriented, but if you do, my resolution recommendation would be to eat more nutrient-dense foods and cut back on processed foods. Give up the processed bread, crackers, chips and cookies and eat more fruits and veggies. Veggies are full of minerals and vitamins (micronutrients) and fruit possesses natural sweetness and amazing health benefits. Skip the fad diets as they're not a sustainable way to maintain your weight. People typically lose weight on a diet, gain it back, gain more back, lose weight - and the cycle continues. Nutrient dense foods feed your cells with the minerals and vitamins they crave which, as a result, helps cut out some food cravings. One of my favourite fruits is blueberries. Rich in antioxidants, they've been christened a super food and labeled one of the world's healthiest berries. They've been linked to memory improvement, reduction of inflammation and a reduced risk of colon cancer. I recently purchased a box of frozen Nova Scotia wild blueberries at Farm boy Whitby, and it's one of the best products I've tried in a long time. At first, I thought it was too expensive but have found that it seems to last forever. I've been throwing handfuls of them into homemade oatmeal and on top of unsweetened coconut yogurt. I've eaten them frozen or defrosted and they're great both ways. Here's a delicious smoothie recipe from The Blender Girl that would be great for a post workout or a fast and easy breakfast. It serves two and can be brought to the gym. 2 cups (480 ml) unsweetened almond milk (strained if homemade) 1/2 teaspoon probiotic powder (optional) 1/2 cup (70g) raw unsalted cashews 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more to taste 2 cups (320g) frozen blueberries Optional boosters 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon açaí powder 1 tablespoon hemp seeds 1 scoop unflavoured Vega protein powder (add a bit more liquid if using this option). Sheree's hack: Heading to the gym before work? Make this smoothie the night before and freeze in ice cube trays. In the morning, throw the smoothie cubes into a shaker jar and go. Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson Resolution: Eat better Atom Team Donates For Xmas "From scoring to donating food, the Whitby Minor Atom AA hockey team always goes for the top shelf," said parent Sharon Jannes. "Before Christmas, team members left their skates behind to donate food for those in need in Durham Region to the Brooklin fire hall. The nine year olds discovered the holiday spirit by collecting canned goods and non-perishable food items at each of their hockey practices in November & December. Then they happily delivered their collection to the firehall and received a tour. The boys were able to reflect on the importance of giving during the holiday season." Team members include: Matt Tava- res, Jake Lanegger, Sam Whearty, Ethan Freshwater, Owen Wambolt, Tanner Kerr, Cam Monk, Broden Shea, Mikah Fryer-Wilson, Griffin Jannes, Jeremy Bishop, Stewart Closs, Liam Hoben, Jackson Shular, Cole Magee-Bell, Austin Lee, Caleb Ryan Seven weeks of the Festive R.I.D.E. campaign resulted in 112 motorists being arrested for drinking and driving offences, 13 more than last year. Durham Regional police officers conducted R.I.D.E. checks in Ajax, Pickering, Uxbridge, Port Perry, Whitby, Oshawa, and Newcastle in week 7 and ten people were charged with drinking and driving offences. The final numbers from the 2017 Festive R.I.D.E. campaign are as follows (the numbers in brackets reflect the 2016 Festive R.I.D.E. totals, for comparison): 12593 (13,397) Vehicles stopped by R.I.D.E. 624 (695) People given Roadside Breath Tests 98 (105) People received "3 Day Suspensions" for registering a "WARN" 1 (9) Novice Driver received a 24hr Licence Suspension 112 (99) People were charged with Drinking and Driving Offences 153 (133) Criminal Code Charges 21 (25) G1 G2 / Young Driver Licence Holder Breaches of No Alcohol Condition 379 (251) Charged with various Highway Traffic Act offences 10 (10) Drug Offences 32 (13) Criminal Code Charges (not related to drinking and driving) After seven weeks, the Festive R.I.D.E. team charged a total of 112 motorists for drinking and driving offences. Last year, 99 had been charged. Another 98 motorists registered a WARN on a roadside screening device and had their driver's licences suspended for three days. Last year, 105 drivers had their licences suspended for registering a WARN. A complete list of those charged with Impaired/Exceed/Refuse will be posted on our website later this week at drps.ca under Hot Topics. Note: Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, anyone charged with a drinking and driving criminal offence will have his or her driver's licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle impounded automatically for seven days. Durham Regional Police will continue R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the year and remind motorists that drinking and driving will not be tolerated on our streets. "Plan Ahead, Don't Take a Chance, Don't Drink and Drive" Final Results of 2017 Festive R.I.D.E.