Friday, December 6, 2024 3 Brooklin Town Crier Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com • Circulation 8000 • Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, December 20, 2024 Deadline: Friday, December 13, 2024 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com Less than half the picture: The Shoe By Richard Bercuson The news photographer had a keen eye for the dramatic. It was just a shoe, a brown penny loafer, sitting upright in the middle of a road. In and of itself, it didn't tell much of a story and seemed completely out of place for a front page. Then again, this was a tabloid, a paper known for splashy headlines and sensationalized photos. Your eyes stared at the shoe for a moment till they ventured to the headline and article alongside it. The memory remains a bit fuzzy on this point, but the gist of it was something like this: Six Youths Killed in Hemmingford Car Accident. While the facts were superficial by the time the press got hold of it, this much was true about the Nov. 23 crash. The six, between the ages of 16 and 21, were in an old VW Beetle on a two-lane road south of Montreal. The Beetle was struck head on by a large sedan that crossed the median. The driver who hit them was drunk. In those days, there was no MADD nor police RIDE campaigns. I was once informed that pretty much nothing happened to him. The three guys and three girls had had a dinner party at the apartment John shared with Martin in Montreal. They'd been celebrating Michael having just been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and two of the girls were being driven home. I was supposed to attend. Martin promised me the night before that he'd call me at home - no cell phones back then - as I was coaching a hockey game and would be back around 9:00 pm. At home I waited for his call in front of the TV. I've often wondered what the drunk driver was doing that night. Martin and Michael were close friends and colleagues at the Loyola News college paper, two fine young guys with whom a group of us shared many fun times. So when we got together this past Nov. 23 for a third reunion, decades later, we again shared reminiscences. For the last ten years, our donations have gone to a journalism award at Concordia that we created in their memory, the easiest gift of dough I've ever made. As for the shoe, Martin believed his loafers made him look more dapper. Driving drunk, even slightly? Don't. Just don't. Please. Throughout the year we have festivities to celebrate milestones, religious holidays, birthdays and more. Do these gatherings make you nervous about food selection or lead you to binge eat all that is available, only to leave you feeling guilty? Here are some of the biggest mistakes people make during special occasions. First, start by eliminating the "good food/bad food" mentality. Food is fuel for the body. People tend to approach Christmas with something like, "Yum, look at that platter of sweets. I can only have one though because it's bad for me so I'll stick to the fruit platter that's good for me." Stop right there! Eat the beautifully decorated sugar cookie! When we have this mentality, it already sets us up for failure, that eating too many bad foods leads to a cascade of emotions which really does more harm than good. Another mistake is skipping meals and snacks throughout the day to save calories for the evening potluck. This truly is a trap for overeating and to potentially binge eat. Going too long without food will inevitably compromise your willpower and therefore you will overeat once you set your sights on the food table. Continue to eat three meals and supplement with snacks, just as you would otherwise. Of course, one of those three might be the special brunch or dinner itself. Fill your plate with protein-rich options to maintain the fundamentals of nutrition and then let those delicious carb- filled pastries fill your plate for dessert. It doesn't need to be a compromise because this is an occasion, not your everyday life! If you found yourself completely full after a festive event, be reminded that you are a person, and one huge meal will not be the end of the world. It is best to get back on track the next day and perhaps move your body to feel better. I also encourage you to drink plenty of water, especially if the prior night consisted of "libations." Staying on the path of health and wellness doesn't have to be rigid; it's about balance after all! We hope you enjoy your next holiday or special occasion. Brittany Dunbar, MSc, is a Brooklin sport nutritionist and personal trainer. Email: brittfandc@gmail.com Tips for the Holiday Binge By Brittany Dunbar