8 Friday, January 18, 2019brooklintowncrier.com Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson Keeping the weight loss resolution If losing weight is one of your resolutions, then set yourself up for success by not just cutting back on calories and processed foods but also by increasing your intake of foods high in micronutrients. Micronutrients are substances such as vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy growth and development. They're only required in small quantities, however a deficiency can be the cause of serious problems since every system of our bodies needs them to function properly. Lower calories As well, if you're not getting enough of them, you may crave and eat more food because you mistake the body's signals that you're lacking nutrients for hunger and thus overeat. Nutrient dense foods, like leafy greens and colourful berries, are generally lower in calories and very high in nutrients, making them perfect for weight loss. Super seeds - chia, flax and hemp - are also nutrient dense but tend to be a little higher in calories. Consumed in moderation, seeds are powerhouses, containing proteins, omegas and other nutrients. Try adding them to your salads, cereals and smoothies for a great nutrient boost. It's generally best to eat these foods but if you're super busy, then a breakfast smoothie will ensure you start your day with high quality foods. The recipe below is for one of my go-to smoothies. You can add some staying power to it by adding a scoop of protein powder or a couple of tablespoons of hemp seeds. These are a great protein source and are relatively tasteless whereas protein powders can sometimes have a chalky taste or contain questionable ingredients. Frozen blueberries One of my favourite purchases is a box of frozen wild blueberries from Farm Boy in Whitby. The box lasts several months and I use the frozen blueberries in smoothies or oatmeal or eat them frozen mixed with unsweetened coconut yogurt. Blueberries have 84 calories in a cup making them very low in calories but high in nutrients. There are countless free smoothie recipes online and some of my favorites come from the "Oh She Glows" cookbook series. I find it best to follow a recipe for optimum results and taste. Be wary though of buying commercial smoothies since some are high in added sugar, which will stall your weight loss and cause a crash-and-burn effect during the day. This smoothie recipe has been modified and is from a blog called "Organize Yourself Skinny." You can use a sugar free commercial nut milk or make your own for a more natural product. Blueberry Kale Smoothie Ingredients 3/4 cup frozen blueberries 1 loose cup baby kale 1 tbsp peanut butter (or any nut butter) 3/4 cup of unsweetened nut milk Tsp of vanilla 1/2 frozen ripe banana 2 pitted dates Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender. Sheree's hack: If you don't have a high speed blender, pre-soak your dates the night before and they will blend better in your smoothie. Historically Speaking: By Brian Winter Retired Archivist Town of Whitby Two Masonic Halls Have Served Brooklin Most people who know the Masonic Hall on Cassels Road opposite the Brooklin United Church are not aware that another Masonic Hall once stood on that site. Mount Zion Masonic Lodge was founded at Borelia (now part of Port Perry) in 1853 and moved to Brooklin in 1857. In 1871, a frame Masonic Hall was constructed at Brooklin, which served for 80 years until it was demolished in 1951. The Masonic Hall was often used for concerts and public meetings and when the old Brooklin Public School was condemned as unsafe and closed in 1923, classes were held in the Masonic Hall. On Sept. 19, 1951, the conerstone was laid for the new Masonic Hall, which still stands today.