44 The Queens Courier • easter/passover • april 2, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Couple teaches tips for healthy Passover Seder BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected]/@QueensCourier Rethinking Passover, a workshop taught by husband and wife duo Emily and Justin Weiser at the Central Queens Y in Forest Hills on March 22, aimed to teach participants how to use natural ingredients and grainfree s easter/passover alternatives to prepare a Passover meal. In other words, the Weisers encouraged participants to just eat real food (or “JERF,” an acronym splashed across Justin Weiser’s shirt). The class also served as a crash course in the basics of nutrition. Participants received packets filled with recipes and helpful tips like which saturated and unsaturated fats to eat and which fats to ditch. “A good meal will leave you feeling energized and uplifted and not feeling sluggish and like you’re going to pass out,” Justin Weiser said. Emily and Justin Weiser are co-founders of Truth and Wellness, a nutritional therapy practice that advises private clients through the phone, online and in-person in their Levittown office. Started in 2014, they also use their website as a way for people to explore new recipes and glean tips on which foods provide the most nutritional value. Emily Weiser began making major lifestyle and diet changes after she learned she had a severe gluten allergy. Justin Weiser also adjusted his diet after realizing his routine, which included working out three to four times a week, was still making him feel sluggish. “We started this company because we were making some really big changes in our own life through diet and lifestyle shifts,” Emily Weiser said. “We found such profound healing and benefits from just changing simple things in our lives like removing gluten and eating a more nutrient-dense diet.” After realizing how easy it was to incorporate these changes, the Weisers, who are both certified nutritional therapy practitioners, began advising clients and hosting workshops throughout New York. At Rethinking Passover, participants were treated to bliss balls, plantain chips and plantain chocolate chip pancakes. The Weisers went through a step-bystep tutorial on how to make the plantain chips and pancakes and offered samples to guests. They also listed some of the typical meals families prepare during Passover and asked participants to use their newfound knowledge to come up with examples of new dishes to serve. For example, instead of a traditional noodle kugel, squash is an easy and healthy replacement for the carbohydrate-loaded noodle dish. Esti Berkowitz, a Kew Gardens Hills resident, came to the workshop with her two daughters in hopes of learning how to make her Passover meal healthier for her family. Berkowitz wanted to refrain from buying products that are traditionally marketed to families during Passover because they are not necessarily the healthiest choices. “I came out to the event because it’s really truly where I’m going with my whole family, in a healthier way,” Berkowitz said. “People feel that they have to buy those products because they feel it’s too stressful to create healthy recipes and here today, I learned that everything is in your vegetable aisle. You can get creative with plantains — they’re delicious.” The Weisers, who have a new e-book in the works, will return to the Central Queens Y to teach a threeweek workshop this summer and fall, “Balanced Body,” focusing on mindfulness and bringing that concept to one’s eating routine and overall lifestyle. After making lifestyle changes, “We’re having so much more fun in the kitchen with each other,” Emily Weiser said. “Our families are getting healthier, our blood tests are improving, our doctors are asking us what were doing and it’s such a wonderful thing and it’s so easy to do, so we wanted to share that information with other people so that they, too, can get healthy.” THE COURIER/Photo by Angela Matua Easter JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL SUNDAY, APRIL 5th Restaurant Seating times** are 1:00, 1:15 & 1:30, 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 5:00, 5:15, 5:30 & 7:00pm Murano Ballroom Seating time is 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm Seating is limited. Call now for reservations 718-843-8387 (Credit card required with 48hr cancellation notice) *Prices exclude taxes & gratuity **Reservation in dining room are up to 2 hours Easter Brunch Special 3 Course Menu with European table setting Includes bloody Mary or Mimosa SEATING TIMES** at 11:00 11:15 & 11:30am $32* Price per person Easter Dinner Chef Michael DeGeorgio’s Four Course Menu can be enjoyed in our Restaurant dining room for small groups with a two hour seating or in our Murano Ballroom for groups of 8 or more with a four hour seating. Holiday entertainment includes live music and photos with the Easter bunny. OUR MENU INCLUDES: Hot & Cold Antipasto, Pasta, Choice Entrée & Desserts for table including Russo’s Italian style Cookies & Pastries, Grain pie & Sweet bread Price per CHILD $25* Price per ADULT $55* 164-49 Cross Bay Blvd • Howard Beach • www.VetroNYC.com CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 718-843-8387
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