Gluten free, heart healthy
Actor with celiac disease offers a salmon solution for dinner
In Canada, a life is taken by heart disease or stroke every seven minutes.
One way of reducing this statistic is to eat heart-healthy foods.
In conjunction with Heart Month, MOSAIC, a multilingual, non-profit organization dedicated to addressing issues that affect new Canadians, and Coast Fresh, which promotes salmon raised in B.C., bring you a series of local seafood recipes that provide significant nutritional benefits when eaten on a regular basis.
For more seafood recipes inspired by B.C. chefs, go to mosaicbc.com.
Anna Van Hooft is often seen throwing caution to the wind when tackling adversaries in TV shows such as Supernatural, Flash Gordon and Arrow.
But the Canadian-American actor, who also plays a legion commander in the upcoming Warcraft movie, shows no such abandon when it comes to what she eats.
“I was diagnosed with celiac disease as a child,” said Van Hooft, who has been in the film and theatre industry for 17 years.
“It was a forced but great introduction to healthy foods because growing up there weren’t a lot of glutenfree options.”
An estimated one person in 133 in Canada is affected by celiac disease, in which the small intestine is damaged by gluten — a protein found in foods such as wheat, rye and barley.
“It is challenging to find the right foods but it is also rewarding as you stick to natural, healthy options,” said Van Hooft, who flits between sets in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
“I have a genuine respect for naturally derived foods and stick to cooking simple meals that are not time consuming,” she said.
“Anyone can make this dish,” she said of her teriyaki salmon recipe.
“Whether it’s grilled on the barbecue and served with garden greens, or baked in the oven and served with a root vegetable salad, this dish is a star every time.”
Teriyaki Salmon
SERVES 1 1 6 oz. salmon filet 1 tsp. organic brown sugar ¼ cup gluten free soy sauce
Preheat oven to 375 F. Sprinkle the sugar over the salmon and press into the meat with your fingers. Pour soy sauce over the entire filet. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, or until milky juices appear.
Beet Salad
1 cup cooked and diced beets ½ cup peeled and diced orange 1 pinch salt
Toss the beets, oranges and salt together to mix well. Serve teriyaki salmon and beet salad with steamed rice, or with a small green salad.
This story was produced by The Province’s editorial department as a result of MOSAIC’s and Coast Fresh’s interest in this topic. Neither organization was given the opportunity to put restrictions on the content or review it prior to publication.