Take one part pandemic, add one part food guide recommendations to consume more meat substitutes, season with years of nutrition research with athletes to improve their metabolism and performance, and voila, you’ve got an online cookbook with 50 tasty legume-based recipes.

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers Phil Chilibeck and Gord Zello have used a $10,000 award from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation’s (SHRF) Research Connections: COVID-19 Rapid Response program, to fine-tune and publish online a unique collection of clinically proven recipes that use lentils, chickpeas, beans and peas.

“We’ve been doing research with pulses for at least 15 years, and it was always our intention to get a book out to the public so that other people could benefit as well,” said Chilibeck, professor in the College of Kinesiology.

SHRF’s rapid response call for COVID-related projects was timely, providing the resources they needed to move ahead with the work required to publish the recipes online, he said.

“Pulses are perfect food for people during times of decreased activity, such as during a pandemic,” he said. “These foods are extremely beneficial in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity—conditions that put people at greater risk because they can lead to complications if they get COVID.”

Among other benefits of pulses is their low cost of adding protein to the diet, long shelf life, and ease of cooking, making them ideal to take along on such things as camping trips. The ability to store pulses for a long time also means people could require fewer trips to a grocer, also a plus in a pandemic.

Chilibeck said former PhD student Maryam Kazemi initially put together the recipes, and several students, including Leandy Bertrand, now a post-doctoral fellow, also contributed. Chilibeck and nutrition professor Zello spent time over the past year fine-tuning the recipes by experimenting with the spices to make the recipes as tasty as possible.

The researchers also worked with the Food Development Centre in Saskatoon to create pre-packaged meals based on some of the recipes. These are currently undergoing trials, with the aim selling them to the public.

So, what is Chilibeck’s favourite among the recipes? He’s partial to one that has lentils with bulgur wheat and caramelized onions, which he admits doesn’t jump off the page based on the ingredients but is downright delicious. For ease of cooking, he goes with the Memories of Mumbai chana masala. With 50 recipes to choose from, there are plenty of choices. 

The group is called EPIC Health (Eating Pulses Improves Cardiometabolic Health), and the recipes are found on the website: https://epicallyhealthy.wixsite.com/epichealth. The website provides links to an Instagram page and YouTube channel that are works in progress, and provide the basics for cooking pulses and a few videos on making some pulse-based meals.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optimi Health Corp. (“Optimi” or the “Company”), developers of a vertically integrated functional mushroom brand focused on the health and wellness sector, is pleased to announce that it has filed and obtained a receipt for its final long form prospectus dated February 12, 2021 (the “Prospectus”) in respect of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) from the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia, Ontario and by way of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Offering consists of a minimum of 20,000,000 units of the Company (the “Units”) and a maximum of 24,000,000 Units at a price of $0.75 per Unit (the “Offering Price”), for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $15,000,000 and maximum of $18,000,000 (up to $20,700,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the Company (a “Common Share”) and one half (1/2) common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant will be exercisable at a price of $1.25 for a period of 24 months from the listing of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”), subject to early expiry if the closing price of the Common Shares on the CSE (or any equivalent exchange) is equal to or greater than $2.50 per Common Share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days. The Units are being offered on a “best efforts” basis pursuant to an agency agreement between the Company and a syndicate of agents led by Mackie Research Capital Corporation, as lead agent and sole bookrunner, and including Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. which has been entered into in connection with the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, Optimi has received conditional approval from the CSE for listing of the Common Shares and the Warrants subject to the finalization of the CSE’s standard listing requirements. Once final approval is received, the Common Shares will commence trading under the symbol “OPTI” and the Warrants will begin trading under the symbol OPTI.WT. There can be no guarantee that the CSE will accept the listing of the Common Shares or Warrants.

The Company anticipates closing of the Offering to occur on or about February 24, 2021, subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including, but not limited to satisfaction of the approval conditions of the CSE for the listing of the Common Shares and Warrants, among other things.

A copy of the Prospectus is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Rapidly Growing Plant-Based Food Company Boosh Food
responds to increased consumer demand for plant-based food options

 (Surrey, BC) -- Boosh Food Inc. (“Boosh Food”), a delicious plant-based ready-to-eat comfort food company that caters to the entire family, recently leased a multipurpose 8,500 sq ft headquarters located in Cloverdale, BC. Upon completion of the tenant improvements, the facility will include a commercial grade test kitchen for new product development, a professional studio for filming cooking segments with guest chefs, extensive warehousing for their products and traditional offices and meeting rooms.

Founded by a seasoned entrepreneur Connie Marples in 2017, Boosh Food began distributing their family oriented, plant-based comfort food in early 2018.  By the end of 2020, Boosh was being distributed to major retail outlets and independent grocery stores throughout Canada.

Current Boosh Food products feature six different 100% plant-based, heat and eat family-oriented entrees and meals.  Boosh Food offers Single-Serve Bowls or sharable Entrées for two, including Coconut Curry Cauli Bowl, Veggie Bolognese Bowl (with Beyond Meat™), Mac & Cheeze & Peas Bowl, Mexican Fiesta Bowl, Rustic Veg Pot Pie Entrée, and Hearty Shepherd’s Pie Entrée. 

“We are extremely excited about our rapid expansion and growth,” states Connie. “Over the past quarter we’ve made significant hires in key areas to assure we build a solid, fundamentally strong, corporate platform.  The new multipurpose facility will allow us to continue and expand, invent new plant-based dishes, invite guest chefs into our kitchen, and create outstanding podcasts and videos in order to share the Boosh story.”

In Canada, more than 40% of the population is actively trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets. Their compatibility with vegetarian, vegan and "flexitarian" lifestyles is now putting the spotlight on plant-based protein sources. (National Research Council Canada, Sept, 2019).  Globally, the plant-based protein market size was valued at USD 3.3 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.4% from 2020 to 2027. (Source: Grand View Research, Sept. 2020).

Boosh products are currently in the freezer aisle, with new products coming to the grocery aisle and cooler section of grocery retailers over the coming months. All products are gluten-free and non-GMO.

About Boosh Food Inc.:
Founded in 2017 by Connie Marples, Boosh Food is a Surrey, BC-based company that creates nutritionally balanced, heat and serve, family-oriented comfort meals that are 100% plant-based, non-GMO and gluten-free. Boosh Food emphasizes less sodium and sugar in their entrees and bowls and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Currently available for purchase in over 150 British Columbian retailers, Boosh Food continues to expand across the country. For additional information on where to find Boosh Food products please visit www.booshfood.com.

 
Find us on social media:
Instagram: @booshfood
Facebook: facebook.com/booshfood
 
Media Contact:
Fawn Mulcahy
MoonrakerPR
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cell:  604.961.3314

MONTREAL, CANADA, FEBRUARY 2021, 2020 - Nutritious, time-saving and satisfyingly delicious, Evive’s blender-free smoothies – starring whole fruits and veggies, superfoods and plant-based protein – are proving it’s possible to eat healthy without sacrificing time, budget or flavour.

A rising star among nutrition brands worldwide, Evive was founded in Sherbrooke, Quebec, by Dominic Dubé and Claudia Poulin, who saw a gap in the market for delicious, wholesome meals that don’t require time-consuming prep or cooking. Dominic stepped away from his Engineering degree and Claudia paused her Master’s program, and together the health-savvy couple crafted their debut product prototype in their parents’ garage. In 2019, the pair appeared on Dragon’s Den to resounding success, receiving an investment offer that exceeded their initial ask. Today, their commitment to healthy food and impactful entrepreneurship continues to flourish as Evive, the product of their passions, swiftly expands across
North America.

Evive has earned a place in the hearts of busy moms, students, entrepreneurs, gym-goers and anyone else seeking a high-quality, easily consumable meal in a hurry. The brand’s superfood-packed, certified organic and vegan smoothies are purposefully designed to promote physical and psychological health, with each combination tested and approved by nutritionists. Requiring just 30 seconds to make – simply pop the cubes in a bottle, add water, juice or plant-based milk and shake – the smoothies are also budget-conscious, priced between $3,65 and $4.25 per portion. Fourteen functional flavours are currently available, each boasting ingredients targeted for brain support, glowing skin, detoxification and boosting energy, among other coveted benefits.

In addition to its cult-status smoothies, Evive offers a variety of healthy bowl and soup cubes that can be heated in mere minutes and added to pasta, rice or quinoa for decadent yet vitamin-packed sustenance. Whether Bam Chili boasting a cornucopia of black beans, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, lime, corn and carrots enhanced with a sizzling blend of spices, to Mac Squash, whose flavourful mix of butternut squash, cashew, onion, nutritional yeast and miso offers an ultra-healthy substitute to the typical mac-and-cheese, Evive is granting consumers an attractive alternative to cooking that enhances access to antioxidant-rich ingredients.

“I’m very excited to introduce Evive to Canadian and US consumers, particularly as we approach the holiday season and need no-hassle and nutritious meals to fuel us through hectic days,” said Claudia Poulin, co-founder of Evive Nutrition. “The brand has come such a long way, and we are delighted by the support and love we’ve received from consumers and partners over the years. We designed Evive to inject flavour and fun into healthy eating, and we’re happy that people are enjoying our smoothie cubes as much as we do!”

Evive’s commitment to health and wellbeing extends to a passion for sustainability . In 2019, the company introduced its “Plant a Tree” initiative with Compensation CO2 Quebec , where the purchase of a box of 24 or 36 smoothies helps create and expand the Evive forest. Evive aims to plant more than 5,000 trees by  the end of 2020, with an overarching goal of obtaining carbon-neutral certification in 2023. All products are packaged in recyclable containers made from salvaged water bottles, and shipment boxes are lined with compostable hemp for an eco-friendly alternative to polystyrene coolers.

The first Canadian brand to successfully ship frozen foods, Evive sells its palate-pleasing products on their website through a subscription program. Online shoppers are able to customize their orders based on product preference, delivery frequency, product count and benefit of free shipping directly to their door.

Products are also available at 2,000 stores across Canada, and 100 in the US. For more information, visit evivenutrition.ca .