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Cool Containers for Healthy Eating on the Go

Could the right food container help you make better food and drink choices? We think so! With all of the cool container options available today — from mason jars to bento boxes to refillable condiment tubes — you can reduce waste, save money, and pack healthy meals for eating on the go. Most are also freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe, making meal prep and clean-up a breeze.

Bento Boxes

If one of your goals is to get a grasp on portion sizes without sacrificing variety, try a bento box container. Traditional bento boxes originated in Japan as individually portioned take-away containers that allow for different ingredients to be neatly compartmentalized. Each section begs to be filled with something tasty, but because you have to be mindful about portions, you’ll never have to worry about over-packing (and overeating).

Mason Jars

If you get excited about beautiful food, the humble mason jar is your best friend. With no fancy packaging to hide behind, your food’s going to have to be colourful and varied, which usually means more vegetables.

And with Canada’s new food guide recommending that half of each meal be made up of fruits and vegetables, this is a good thing. As each layer builds in your jar, you’ll be inspired to make the next one contrasting in colour and texture. Even better, get an assembly line going and fill up three or four at once.

Soup Sets

Because soup alone is never enough, invest in a soup set that includes a vessel specifically designed to prevent hot liquids from leaking but also comes with other containers that will hold a salad, protein, bread, etc.

A set that’s all bundled together means each container nestles into the next and may even come with a carrying strap so you can skip a separate carrying bag.

Water Bottles

Always need your water to be ice-cold or piping hot? If that’s been your excuse for not drinking enough water throughout the day, you need to get yourself a double wall water bottle. The two layers produce an insulating effect, meaning your hot liquids stay hot and your cold liquids stay cold.

Just do yourself a favour and buy separate ones for water and coffee/tea; once your water bottle makes contact with anything other than water it’ll retain a hint of that flavour forever.

Eco Packaging

In Japan, there’s a tradition of wrapping gifts in pretty, reusable fabric, furoshiki. It’s environmentally friendly, practical, and so much more original and creative than using traditional wrapping paper.

Adopt this technique and use a pretty, reusable container for gifting home baking or for returning borrowed sugar/flour/eggs to a neighbour. And think beyond the kitchen — these containers would be great for gifting and storing kids’ toys, sewing notions, makeup, etc.

Silicone Tubes

It’s true: condiments make everything better. But when it comes to carrying slippery sauces and drippy dressings, ditch conventional lidded containers for refillable, soft silicone tubes. They come in a variety of sizes and the smallest ones are perfect for salad dressing, hot sauce, or even fresh lemon juice. So tiny they can fit in your pocket but made for travel so they’ll never leak or burst.

Once you find a container set that works for your lifestyle, double up and get a second set. That way, one set can go into the dishwasher while the other set is ready to be filled.

Find all the container sets you need in our Food Storage section at londondrugs.com.

This Valentine’s Day We’re Celebrating Genuine Care

Some of us have a complex relationship with Valentine’s Day. And that’s fair — love can be a complicated matter. That’s why we’ve decided to be more inclusive about the way we celebrate this oft-maligned holiday.

This year, we’re making Valentine’s Day all about genuine care. Care for ourselves. Care for our families and friends. Care for our communities, and care for our planet. Here’s how you can get involved too.

And hey – make sure you swing by Instagram to enter to win our #GenuineCare giveaway! We’re giving away 5 $100 gift certificates and announcing winners all week from February 11 – February 15th. Check it out!

Self Care

Self care is huge for us — as reflected in our roots. You can’t take care of others if you don’t look after yourself first, and our pharmacists are here to assist with your self-care needs — everything from disease management, to vaccinations, to prescriptions. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of their genuine care for your health.

Care for Family and Friends

Care for family is deeply rooted in everything we do at London Drugs. And we know it is for you too — whether it’s making dinners for your siblings or packing lunches for your kids, driving your parents to appointments, or chauffeuring your friends around town. This Valentine’s Day let’s be sure to let them all know just how much we care about them.

Care for our Community

We love and appreciate all of the communities throughout B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba that have welcomed us into their fold. Coming together as a community to show our care for one another is one of our core values, and this Valentine’s Day, we say thank you for showing us so much love, too.

Care for the Planet

We genuinely care for our planet, and we know you do too. That’s why we work hard to be green. Our recycling centres accept everything from packaging to electronics to batteries (see the full recycling list here). Last year alone, with your help, we recycled 3,711 pounds of cell phones; 42,155 pounds of fluorescent lights; 122,780 pounds of batteries; and 370,751 pounds of electronics. We also diverted 93.9% of waste from landfill. That’s true love for the earth right there.

Care for Your Partner

Don’t worry, we won’t take all of the romance out of Valentine’s Day! Showing care for our partners is obviously a key part of a loving relationship. So go ahead and buy those chocolates, flowers, and Carlton cards. Cook a special meal, throw on a rom-com, or just spend time enjoying each others’ presence. Because love is worth celebrating.

Everyone has something or someone they care about. And Valentine’s Day is a great day to show how much you genuinely care.

How do you show #GenuineCare? Enter to Win a $100 Gift Card!

Follow London Drugs on Instagram and tag two people to whom you’d like to show genuine care. You’ll be entered to win one of five $100 gift cards! For extra entries, leave a comment on one of our five days of #GenuineCare posts and tell us how you’re showing genuine care to those you love most.

Valentines Day Instagram Contest Terms & Conditions

To enter: Follow London Drugs on Instagram and tag two people to whom you’d like to show genuine care. You can get an extra entry by commenting about how you’re showing #GenuineCare this Valentine’s Day.

Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since February 2018; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of February 1st, 2019; (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per person per day. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM each day between Feb 11 and Feb 15. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.

One (1) winner will be randomly chosen each day of the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drugs’ declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

There will be five prizes of a $100 London Drugs Gift card. One prize will be awarded each day from Feb 11 – 15.

See details and contest date below. Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. Prizes will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to contest winners.

Contest date – Monday, February 11, 2019 – Friday, February 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time

Draw date – There will be a random draw done each day from February 12, 2019 to 16.

Only one prize may be won by any one person and household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.

Selected winners will be contacted through Instagram. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winners do not respond then they will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winners still do not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

London Drugs and their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, an independent judging organization, and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use, and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice, and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

What the Chinese Zodiac Means for You

“What’s your sign?”

“I’m a rat!” “I’m an ox!”

This might sound odd, unless you’re familiar with the Chinese zodiac system, which is comprised of 12 animals, including the rat and the ox.

The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac cycles through every 12 years, so depending on your birth year, you are one of 12 animals. But be aware that this system is based on the lunar calendar, not the Gregorian calendar, so the start of the new year shifts each year in accordance with the moon. Generally, Lunar New Year happens sometime between late January and early February. This year, the new year is February 12, ushering in the Year of the Ox.

The origin story for this system varies, but generally, it’s believed that Buddha wanted to invite 12 animals to his birthday party and declared a race – the first 12 animals to arrive would be his honored guests. The rat, small but strategic, knew he’d never win on his own, so jumped on the back of the fastest animal, the ox. Nearing Buddha, the rat jumped off and scurried into first place, which is why the rat is always first in the cycle. And the ox, second.

Each animal sign is endowed with personality traits, partially derived from the origin story, partially from the animals’ inherent characteristics. While western culture typically assigns more negative traits to many of the animals in the Chinese zodiac, Chinese mythology has a very different interpretation. So don’t fret if you’re a rat, a snake or a pig.

Animal Personalities

The Rat

As the first to arrive at Buddha’s party, rats are competitive, quick-thinking, and ambitious. But they can also be stubborn, devious, and enjoy gossiping just a little bit too much.
Years of the Rat: 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020.

The Ox

As the rat’s ride to the party, the ox is very patient, diligent, and honest. On the other hand, the ox can often be stubborn, narrow-minded, and a poor communicator.
Years of the Ox: 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

The Tiger

Even though the tiger came in third in Buddha’s race, it is generally considered a very lucky animal. Tigers are charming, courageous, and have the potential to be good leaders. But watch out, they can also easily be prone to boastfulness, irritability, and overindulgence.
Years of the Tiger: 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022.

The Rabbit

People born in the year of the rabbit tend to be kind, popular, and generally enjoy a long life. Rabbits also make great negotiators. However, they also tend to be secretive, stubborn, and quick to settle into melancholy so they do well to keep a large circle of good friends.
Years of the Rabbit: 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011.

The Dragon

Everyone wants to be a dragon: they are energetic, powerful, and have a robust constitution. But, cross a dragon and you’ll see its conceited, judgmental, and quick-tempered side.
Years of the Dragon: 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012.

The Snake

If someone calls you a snake, take it as a compliment. In the Chinese zodiac, a snake is considered to be charming, generous, and discreet. And if you are one, just keep your propensity for being lazy and greedy in check.
Years of the Snake: 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013.

The Horse

Horses in this zodiac are energetic with an indomitable spirit, clever, and easily draw others into their circle. But they can also often be arrogant, over-confident, and selfish.
Years of the Horse: 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014.

The Goat

Goat (also sheep or ram) are considered to be polite, calm, and determined. On the flip side, they can have unrealistic expectations, are prone to pessimism and can be slow on the uptake.
Years of the Goat: 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015.

The Monkey

Everyone should know a monkey; monkeys are so charming and fun and creative. But get close enough and you’ll quickly see another side that’s arrogant, crafty, and eternally restless.
Years of the Monkey: 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016.

The Rooster

Roosters are practical, hard-working, independent, and love keeping a tidy home. They have the potential to make the perfect partner, but keep in mind their propensity to be easily swayed by others and a lack of social skills.
Years of the Rooster: 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017.

The Dog

Loyal, kind, and friendly, dogs are very much akin to their animal counterparts. But their love of a good home life often keeps them from socializing with others. And once they’re out of their comfort zone, they can be cold, stubborn, and highly judgmental.
Years of the Dog: 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018.

The Pig

Pigs don’t have the best reputation in Western culture, but in this zodiac pigs are seen as intelligent, compassionate, and ruled by a sense of just. They’re also considered to be very lucky in wealth, which is good since they have a taste for luxury. The pig was last to arrive at Buddha’s party not because it was slow or tired, but because the pig was watching out for everyone else, to make sure they arrived safely. The darker side of pigs reveal their extreme stubbornness, naiveté, and materialism.
Years of the Pig: 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019.

What to Expect in the Year of the Tiger

In China, the Tiger is known as the king of all beasts. Those born in years of the Tiger are ambitious, daring and courageous. They are also enthusiastic, generous, optimistic and cheerful by nature, and are committed to helping others for the greater good.

Those born in the Year of the Tiger in 2022 may suffer major setbacks, misunderstandings, possibly even meet with more serious disasters. Sudden disruptions in career, romance and home life should be expected. It may not be the ideal year for the Tiger, but 2022 is all about following your intuition and taking leaps for the chance to be rewarded. You can read a more detailed breakdown of the Year of the Tiger here.

Lunar New Year Traditions to Boost Your Good Fortune

Happy New Year! Lunar New Year, also commonly known as Chinese New Year, begins on February 5 and is celebrated around the world, especially in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Hundreds of millions of people will travel across China and around the world to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Pig with their families.

A symbol of prosperity in Asia, the Pig should bring good luck and wealth to almost everyone this year. But to increase your chances of good fortune coming your way, follow these Lunar New Year traditions.

Feast with Family

Spending time with family during this holiday is paramount. The most important meal is New Year’s Eve dinner, where traditional dishes like whole steamed fish, noodles, Buddha’s Feast (vegetables), and dumplings are always served.

A favourite dish that always disappears quickly is nian gao: giant, thick, chewy rice noodles cut into small pieces and fried up with savoury meats and vegetables.

Give (or Get) Red Envelopes

Bright red envelopes adorned with ornate gold characters or flowers on the front and filled with money are traditionally given by married people to anyone younger than they are, which means parents have a lifetime of supplying red envelopes to their children (and grandchildren).

If you’re from a large family, you can amass a small fortune in one evening. As you grow older and get married, you’re expected to return this generosity to the younger generation. The amount of money given reflects your relationship with the receiver; the closer the relationship, the more you give. It’s common for parents to give $100 to their children, whereas the child of your co-worker might get $5.

Clean House

It’s important to start the new year with good energy, and a common way to make room for good new year energy is to clean your house. Out with the old! This is the Chinese version of a good spring cleaning.

And as the new year ushers in a fresh start, it’s also believed that you don’t want to disturb that energy as it settles into your home, so be particularly mindful of things that should start with a clean slate on February 5: garbage bins, recycling bags, vacuum canisters, compost buckets, etc. The longer you can hold out from throwing something away in the new lunar year, the stronger your prospects for prosperity.

Buy New Clothes and Shoes

Another way to symbolize a fresh start to the new year is with new clothes, particularly new shoes. In the past, when people didn’t have easy access to retail stores or enough money to replenish their wardrobe throughout the year, this little bit of luxury was reserved for this holiday.

When you’re shopping for your lunar new year outfit, make it extra lucky by incorporating some red into it.

Enjoy the Fireworks

As the inventor of fireworks, it’s no surprise that massive amounts of colourful, loud firework displays blanket much of China and the rest of Southeast Asia on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

In ancient times, it was believed that these loud displays could ward off evil spirits. Today, they’re just a beautiful, joyous celebration of this holiday. Many of them are televised or shared online and through social media, so make sure to watch while eating dumplings as you welcome in the Year of the Pig.

Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at London Drugs!

Valentine’s Day Gifts That Show Genuine Care

Valentine’s Day can be a notoriously painful day for people without partners, but it’s time we celebrate it for what it is: an occasion to show genuine care to everyone in your life.

Yes, that includes your partner if you have one, but it’s also about care for friends, care for family, care for your community, and care for yourself. You’re special too, you know!

This Valentine’s Day, honour all of these relationships, not just the romantic ones. To help, we’ve prepared a guide with gift ideas for all the special people in your life.

Gifts for Friends

Fujifilm Instax Cameras are the perfect way to document your Galentine’s Day party (or Palentine’s Day, we don’t have to be gender-specific here!) and bring the Instagram aesthetic into the real world. With a selfie mirror and special selfie mode, you and your friends can make sure you’ll snap the perfect shot.

Make it easier to keep track of whose phone is whose next time you’re out by giving your friend a new phone case. Tablet and laptop cases are handy too!

The air gets so dry in the winter, so show your pals’ skin and lips some love with hand repair cream or classic beeswax lip balm from Burt’s Bees. Burt’s Bees is well known for being environmentally friendly, and since 2010 have been sending zero waste to landfills from their manufacturing facility and office, so you’ll be showing your love for the earth as well.

If you’re looking for something a that looks a little more Valentin-y, try the luxurious Weleda Replenishing Hand Cream or the Wild Rose Renewing Lotion.

Gifts for Family

Mornings are tough, so make your family’s mornings a little more fun with a shower speaker. Since these are portable and waterproof, they’re also great to take on day trips to the mountains in the winter and lakes in the summer.

Wearable wellness technology like a Fitbit tells the recipient that you care about their health. They’re great gifts for aging parents or other family members. If you have a Fitbit yourself, then you can also get into some friendly competition over who gets the most daily steps.

Chocolate is a classic Valentine’s Day gift. You can’t go wrong with chocolate! London Drugs has a ton of options including fair trade organic bars from Green & Black’s and Zazubean.

Gifts for Your Partner

While Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about romantic love, it can be a special day for people in relationships. Get your partner in the right mood to celebrate love with some romantic music from artists like Barry White and Lionel Richie. The Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack and For You: A Timeless Collection of Love Songs are great collections for Valentine’s Day featuring more contemporary artists as well.

You can further set the mood with the iHome Aroma Speaker, which has a built-in fan to diffuse essential oils and fill the room with lovely scents.

Cozy up with your partner and watch a romantic movie together, like The Age of Adeline, About Time, or perennial classic The Notebook.

Fragrances are always a great gift for your valentine. Check out our luxury scents for him and for her.

Gifts for Yourself

Show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day! Indulge in some self care with a beautiful aromatherapy diffuser and essential oils.

Pamper your skin with luxury skincare products. Treat yourself to an at-home massage with a Shiatsu foot massager or neck and shoulder massager. They include both heat and pressure to completely relax you.

And ladies, glam yourself up while staying green with makeup brushes from Eco-Tools. Their products are made from sustainable bamboo handles, recycled packaging, and come in reusable storage trays.

However you choose to show genuine care this Valentine’s Day, we hope you feel the love.

What’s New with the Canada Food Guide

Photo credit: Government of Canada

Have you seen the new Canada Food Guide?

The new version includes some significant changes since its last update in 2007. Gone are the four traditional food groups. They’ve been replaced by fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. The accompanying image shows a white plate in which roughly half is filled with fruit and vegetables, while the other half includes whole grains and proteins. You’ll even spot some tofu on that plate.

So apart from the obvious, what are the biggest differences between the previous food guide and the 2019 version?

Reduced Emphasis on Meat and Dairy

Dairy products no longer feature as a separate food group, and meat also plays a less significant role in the new food guide. Proteins now include both dairy and meat as well as plant-based proteins, such as legumes, nuts and tofu. As the guide suggests, “Choose protein foods that come from plants more often. Plant-based protein foods can provide more fibre and less saturated fat than other types of protein foods. This can be beneficial for your heart health.”

Water is the Beverage of Choice

The previous food guide included a serving of 100% fruit juice as a suitable equivalent to a serving of fruit. That recommendation has been removed from the new food guide and drinking water is encouraged.

Reducing alcohol consumption is also encouraged. The guidelines recommend “no more than two drinks a day, 10 per week for women, and three drinks a day, 15 per week for men, with an extra drink allowed on special occasions.”

Other healthy beverage choices include:

White milk (unsweetened lower fat milk)
Unsweetened fortified plant-based beverages such as:
- Soy beverage
- Almond beverage
Unsweetened coffee and teas

No More Numbers

While the previous food guide included a daily number of recommended servings per food group, the new guide has a more holistic approach, recommending that our diets consist of roughly half fruits and vegetables and the rest whole grains and protein. The updated food guide suggests a more mindful approach to eating. It encourages listening to your body’s cues and choosing the right foods to stay satiated for longer periods.

Healthier Eating Habits

The updated food guide recommends that we develop healthy eating habits, cooking more, enjoying food (trying cultural foods), and eating with others. Sharing meals with others is particularly emphasized. According to the new food guide, eating alone or separately from others in the home can create a sense of isolation or loneliness. The benefits of eating together as a family helps our children:

Explore new healthy foods
Establish healthy eating routines
Improve their overall eating pattern

Another of the healthy habit recommendations is to choose foods that reflect different cultures and food traditions. According to the guide, this can help you:

Choose foods that you enjoy
Grow your skills and knowledge
Learn about cultures and food traditions
Create a sense of community and foster connections
Keep your cultural roots and food traditions alive by sharing them across generations and with others.

Overall, the updated food guide is a comprehensive nutritional guide including categories on food choices (including what to limit or avoid – most notably processed foods), eating habits, recipes, tips (including meal planning, budgeting, healthy snacking, food safety and other strategies for healthier eating), and resources.

If you have any questions about your daily nutritional needs, our pharmacists can assist you in making sense of the new Food Guide recommendations. Visit us at any of our locations and speak to our in-store nutritional experts.

How to Host a Great Party for the Big Game

The Big Game airs this Sunday afternoon, and while the marquee matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams should offer an entertaining show, we all know what the true point of hosting a viewing party is all about–having a great time with friends and family. From delicious food, to fun party games, here’s our guide to hosting a world-class viewing party.

Make a Classic Big Game Spread

We all know why people are really gathering together. For the FOOD! Here are four recipes that take classic sports food fare to the next level. Or, get creative and bring your own flavour to the party. Make the following recipes your own!

Slow-cooker Family-favourite Chili

Chili is a true American classic, and you can follow this recipe from Betty Crocker, or make it your own by substituting veggie ground round, ground turkey, or extra beans in place of the ground beef. Chili is a great make-ahead meal that lets you put that slow cooker you got for Christmas to good use.

Slow-Cooker Family-Favorite Chili from Betty Crocker

Perfect Nachos

Chips, melty cheese, assorted toppings, mmmmmm. Nachos are another game-day classic. The Guide to Perfect Nachos from Bon Appétit is less a recipe, and more a do’s and don’ts list for making absolutely mouthwatering nachos.

Perfect Nachos from Bon Appétit

Guacamole

Have you heard? Avocado sales rise around the time of the Big Game. Really! And we get it: guacamole is delicious, and any excuse to indulge is good by us. Here is a great method from Simply Recipes that looks divine. Don’t forget the tortilla chips!

Guacamole from Simply Recipes

Plan Party Games

Not everyone loves to watch sports. And that’s OK! To ensure that these folks still have fun at your party, plan some fun activities that will help them get invested in the game. A no-money, no-skill-required football pool is a great way to get everyone involved. Provide your guests with fun-themed prizes that anyone can enjoy. Sports movies, amazing TV shows about football, or an actual football make great prizes.

Another option for a fun viewing party game is Football Bingo. You can find several good ones online, but we liked the version below and this one from Sunny Day Family. Print out the cards in advance and see who wins!

There you have it! Everything you need to host a great viewing party. We’d love to see how you are celebrating the day. Share your party pics and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Happy Footballing!