 Senior Goes “Big Time” With Pioneering Health Food Restaurant Jeannine Edwards’ nickname says it all. “Toupie” means “spinning top” in French. The name was given to her by a French grandmother when she was young and it stuck. Even now, at 68, she puts in 12 to 14 hours a day at 2P’s Health Kitchen, takes no medications and is planning various new offshoots of her business. One of her regrets about her new lifestyle is a lack of time for her 25 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Edwards has been coping with food restrictions ever since a severe illness nearly 20 years ago revealed allergies to wheat, sugar, dairy products and a number of other things. She began experimenting with recipes at that time and eventually realized how many other people needed the body of knowledge she had gained. 2P’s Health Kitchen opened in September 2006 to cater to special diets and has gained a growing number of devoted customers. “I never know what I’m going to get,” she said. “TB, Crohn’s, allergies, Celiac, Diabetes, Candida. I’m close to Celiac. I have attended their meetings. There’s no wheat in this kitchen. I have other customers who can’t do any grains but rice.” She has a separate second kitchen where she bakes with spelt. Edwards does not use freezers and microwave ovens. Instead she changes her hot meal and sandwich specials each day and cooks from scratch. “I try to keep foods healthy and tasty and appropriate,” she said. “I have changed the menus a lot to do what people want. I have to think ahead. I just started wraps. Today was wrap day.” 2P’s Health Kitchen is open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Occasionally she will put on a dinner for a group and she hopes to be able to open on Sunday again soon. She serves stew, meatloaf, potpies, burgers or cabbage rolls, always with a vegetarian version available (today the hot choice was elk and bison meatloaf or cashew meatloaf), plus sandwiches and soups. She uses organic meat from the World Organic Network as much as possible, favouring bison to beef, and she has just recently begun serving elk. For sweetening she uses Agave Nectar, Chicolin or stevia and the condiments are made on site without sugar, dairy or vinegar. “This is the only place some people can eat out,” she said. That knowledge brings her a lot of satisfaction, as did developing a chocolate birthday cake for a boy who had never eaten cake. Many wellness practitioners and stores are sending their clients to 2P’s Health Kitchen. However, she is also getting steady customers who are not on special diets, many of whom work in downtown offices. Edwards has started selling her dressings, mayonnaise and ketchup. “Those with Candida can’t have vinegar, and cancer patients can’t have sugar,” she said. She also has a book being published by Friends Publishers that is a composite of her two previous self-published cookbooks. It is entitled Toupie’s Treasures and when it is available locally she plans to give cooking classes with it. She is also excited about a series of classes to be given by a naturopathic doctor about conditions such as Candida, allergies, celiac, cancer and diabetes, which will be followed by a meal. And since taking in an old cat she is also thinking about healthy pet food these days. “If I’m going for it, I might as well go big time,” she laughed. “I’m having fun with this place. It doesn’t feel real – I’m always waiting for the next step to happen. I believe God allows something to happen to us for a reason and when we learn from it we need to share that. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about food.” To contact Toupie about classes call 549-1701 or visit her at 3012 29th St. |
