Hangry is an emotion we like to avoid whenever possible – and ready-to-go healthy snacks are the key to avoiding blood sugar crashes. Besides the always-useful baggie of almonds, here are four options, all created by local companies.

Kewaza Protein Balls

These dense nuggets of goodness are packed with tasty, nutritious ingredients including goji berries, hemp protein, honey and enough cocoa to satisfy a chocolate craving. They come in three flavours; we're partial to peanut butter, naturally. www.kewaza.com

Simply Protein Chips

In chili and herb flavours (with barbecue apparently on its way), these pea- and potato-based chips are high in protein, vegan and gluten free – and extremely addictive. www.thesimplybar.com

Live's Spicy Nori Crackers

Made in the dehydrator, these crackers satisfy our cravings for crunchy, salty and fatty – but unlike the usual suspects, they're gluten-free, raw and satisfying, too. www.livefoodbar.com

Nud Fud Green Energy Snacks

With just four ingredients – banana, coconut, sesame seeds and spirulina – these cookie-like dehydrated snacks are just sweet enough to satisfy and packed with nutrition, too. http://nudfud.com

—Kat Tancock

Overalls and tractors? More like the shepherd who markets to celebrity chefs.

New magazine Modern Farmer (funded in part by BC philanthropist Frank Giustra) navigates the most hotly debated crop topics in its debut issue, which is already on backorder.  With a mix of punchy headlines (Honey Laundering: A Primer), aspirational DIY (How To Grow Your Own Cocktail), stellar imagery and farmer-approved products like cool birdhouses and waterproof notebooks, Modern Farmer bridges the gap between reading the organic label and understanding it.

But on second thought, we're keeping the overalls.

Order Modern Farmer, US$7.50 (plus $12.20 shipping, ouch) and find the articles online at http://modernfarmer.com

The best part of researching the Hedonist’s Guide to Toronto was getting to stick her fork into the city eclectic food scene, says U.K.-based writer Stephanie Plentl. She spent four months here and continues to visit whenever the opportunity arises. Last week, over a coffee in my Annex kitchen, Plentl shared some of her latest and greatest Toronto meals.

416 Snack Bar: It's cool, cozy, candlelit - and cutlery free. It also serves up nuggets of deliciousness. Snack Bar: I salute you. http://416snackbar.wordpress.com 


The Gabardine: It's the suits choice for weekday lunch, but a little whimsy and a lot of comfort food makes rubbing shoulders with pin-stripe less painful. http://www.thegabardine.com



Momofoku: Offering a trio of restos with three degrees of cheque-anxiety, the cheapest eats are in the downstairs Noodle Bar. Rice cakes and ginger scallion noodles come up trumps. http://momofuku.com/toronto/noodle-bar-to/

 
Barque: All Hail the Caesar - with sticky bacon bits on the rim, it's the best I've ever had. The BBQ menu offers sterling support. www.barque.ca 


Grand Electric: Tacos took off and people formed an orderly line outside this Parkdale hole-in-the-wall taqueria. Fun food. Loud music. Good times. www.grandelectricbar.com

—Athena Tsavliris

With melt-in-your mouth pulled pork sandwiches and rich and righteous fish soups, Baldwin Street has never tasted so good.

Joining the market mix is Thomas Lavers, a charming pantry of all things canned, cured, pickled and brined.

You’ll find all sorts of treats, from onion jam and pickled green beans to fresh Ontario quail eggs, pestos and preserves. The house-made potato and cheddar pierogi are worth the carbs, and if you’re really lucky you’ll find a freshly-made Muffaletta at the sandwich counter too.

January is not the month to diet, anyway. —Athena Tsavliris

Thomas Lavers, 193 Baldwin St., Toronto.

Get to know our cross-country team of editors, who have opened their purses, cupboards and closets to reveal their most essential everyday items. Today, our vivacious Montreal editor Christine Laroche shares her favourite things.

As an eye-makeup-challenged person, it’s all about the lip for me. For colour, I adore Nars Pure Matte Lipstick ($32) and Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge ($27) for their staying power. For moisture, I’m addicted to Eos lip balm ($3.99).

We’ll be busting out the Sorels in no time – and writing these lines is probably jinxing it! – but until then, I am smitten with my Joe Fresh booties ($69). I’ve yet to find an outfit they don’t look amazing with. www.joefresh.com

Not only does Jay Peak offer some of the best skiing and riding terrain in the east but it has an indoor water park. I mean, seriously: What could be better than that?! 830 Jay Peak Rd., Jay, VT, 1-800-451-4449, www.jaypeakresort.com

Confection trends will come and go – macarons and donuts, anyone? –but I’m on team cupcake for the long haul. The absolute best in Montreal can be found at D’liche: think all-natural ingredients, not excessively sweet and delish seasonal flavors.  3963 St-Denis, Montreal, 514-500-2505, www.dliche.ca/en

Would a Montrealer’s list of favourite things be complete without a poutine mention? I think not. That particular honor goes to Blackstrap BBQ’s Burnt Ends Poutine ($10), a once-in-a-blue-moon indulgence that’s worth every last calorie.  4436 Wellington St., Montreal, 514-507-6772, http://blackstrapbbq.ca

Get to know our cross-country team of editors, who have opened their purses, cupboards and closets to reveal their most essential everyday items. Today, our lovely Toronto editor Athena Tsavliris shares her favourite things.

People stop me in the street to comment on my daffodil yellow bobble hat. It’s silly and divine, in equal measure. At Augustina Boutique, 138 Cumberland St., Toronto, 416-922-4248, www.augustinaboutiques.com

There’s no such thing as too much glitter, at least in my world. These Miu Miu loafers ($495) were a gift from my mum, and they go with almost everything. At Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., Toronto, 416-922-2333, www.holtrenfrew.com

I’m a little hooked on instagram. Every few months I’ll choose 20 or so of my favourite images and print them through Prinstagram. My DIY project for December is to create a heart shaped mural of the year in pictures. (And she did!)

I think I must have been a squirrel in another life, based on the amount of nuts I eat. I’ve recently discovered these quinoa snacks, packed with peanuts, cashews or almonds. At All The Best Fine Foods, 1101 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-928-3330, http://www.allthebestfinefoods.com

If I wasn’t a squirrel, then I was definitely an albatross. They have an excellent sense of smell, as do I. A scent I love is Santa Maria Novella’s gardenia body lotion ($85); it’s heaven in a bottle. Online at www.santamarianovellausa.com

This weekend, we opened our team's purses, closets and cupboards and had them reveal the everyday items they love. Catch up on the entire series here, here and here.

Being pregnant and chasing an 18-month-old doesn’t leave me with much time to get dressed, let alone choose accessories. My Alden Rae is my “arm party” staple. I wear two, linked, and wrapped around my wrist eight times. $49 each, at Shut Up I Love This.

Children Inspire makes the cutest wall hangings, which are available in a multitude of languages. We just bought my son the Swedish alphabet poster  ($30) and French farm animal wall cards ($22.) www.childreninspiredesign.com

We love and use the entire Weleda baby range, and their Calendula Weather Protection Cream is amazing for kid’s face and lips in the cold weather, especially when the skin around their nose gets all dry from being wiped all the time. I’ll be stealing some for cold winter walks and ski season. $15.99 at select markets.

My drink of choice is San Pellegrino’s Sparkling Fruit Beverages, basically adult fizzy pops. I hoard them in my storage room, and when guests are lucky, I’ll serve them. The Limonata is my favourite. San Pellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages available at most grocery stores.

How can I not use this opportunity to self-promote, and tell people about my favourite nightwear? This holiday season my husband, family, and I will all be sleeping well in The Sleep Shirt, my nightwear project. Simple, comfortable, and roomy, it’s the best way to sleep. $195-$210, www.thesleepshirt.com

There’s a new fish shop in town, and we’ve fallen for it hook, line and sinker.

The west end outpost of Leslieville’s most responsible fishmonger, Hooked is right at home among Kensington’s organic gourds and locally farmed chickens.

“We believe that small boats, responsible fishing practices and direct relationships between fishery and consumer are the only way to move forward,” reads the chalkboard on the wall.

Pick from Pacific sardines, ($9) Haida Gwaii octopus ($16) or BC Chinook salmon ($24) for dinner. A Tandori chowder with salmon ($14) makes a wonderful starter and the pre-made crab-cakes ($5.30 each) are perfect for sharing. Don’t miss the scrummy dipping sauces (chipotle lime, $4.50)

Consider us hooked.—Athena Tsavliris

Hooked, 206 Baldwin St., Toronto, 416-828-1861, http://www.hookedinc.ca

We spend as much time browsing recipes on Pinterest as the next girl, but sometimes, we're in the mood to browse through a gorgeous book instead. Here are three currently gracing our kitchen table plus one on our wishlist, all by some of our favourite food bloggers.

The Sprouted Kitchen by Sara Forte isn't as granola as the title suggests – though it does include a killer recipe for pumpkin pecan granola. Everything we've tried has been a winner, from the Moroccan stuffed squash to the fennel slaw, in an upscale take on cooking with whole foods. www.randomhouse.ca

Those avoiding gluten are probably already fans of Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille, whose new book Small Plates and Sweet Treats reads like a storybook complete with I-can't-believe-there's-no-gluten recipes. The easy, tasty baked lemon custards are on their way to our regular roster. $20.68 at www.amazon.ca

Not quite as brand new – it came out in February – but also gluten free, La Tartine Gourmande by Béatrice Peltre whisks you away to mealtime in the French countryside (though she currently resides in the US). The chocolate crepes, sweet potato pancakes and cherry tomato clafoutis are some of our favourites, not to mention the many desserts that will have you justifying a once-a-day habit. www.randomhouse.ca

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman isn't out till October 30 and we've yet to see a copy, but we're anticipating rave reviews for the popular blogger's inspired creations. Fans will want to book tickets to Perelman's talk and book signing on November 16, via the Cookbook Store; $40 includes a copy of the book. www.randomhouse.ca

—Kat Tancock

Gluten-free is the new Atkins.

But no need to nose dive into your stack of fluffy pancakes, it’s really not that bad.

The Gluten Free Garage is bound to persuade even the biggest naysayers that you can have your (gluten-free) cake and eat it too. The one-day pop-up market (in its first year) is a showcase for local foodies such as The Wheat Free Girls, Sweets from the Earth and Enerjive to share their gluten-free products, recipes and know-how.

As for those pancakes; try these instead. —Kat Tancock

For more info visit The Gluten Free Garage, http://glutenfreegarage.ca