Christine Tizzard meet the chef

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Every conversation with my friends now includes the high cost of food. That’s why what Christine is doing is really important. She said, “I started looking at how the climate is changing crops in the future in the next 20 or 30 years and what foods we might be eating. It is frightening to see there will be drastic changes and the way we are going to eat will be very different and much more expensive.”

We talked about how Canada needs to be more self-sufficient as a food industry. Christine said, “I did a test vegetable garden last year and it went really well. I started seedlings for the first time and I’m trying to grow my own food this year as much as I can. I was reading that in Europe they are doing a pilot where they are actually trying to give food for free.”

So of all the different professional hats she wears, which one is her favourite? Christine said, “I love teaching people to cook, whether it’s on TV or in my house or on my YouTube channel. I really enjoyed doing The Best Recipes series. TV has changed a lot since then and I miss it. And social media has changed the industry.”

We discussed what life is like after divorce. After moving on, she is now living with Matt Mays, they have been together for 7 years. He is a well known musician and his song Cocaine Cowgirls is a personal favourite of mine. She said, “It’s funny, I swore up and down that I would never ever date another musician.” (laughs)

On a more personal note, Christine spoke about the brain tumour she has had since she was 16. She said, “It’s a slow growing tumour and not growing right now, thank goodness, but because of where it is they can’t do a biopsy, but it’s not cancerous.” I asked if this diagnosis motivates her to not waste time in life. She said, “As I said earlier, I always feel like I have this ticking clock. I feel like I don’t have enough time because of not knowing how much longer I have. I’ve gone through two bouts of radiation and the only thing Doctors can say is that in a certain percentage of people it may not grow back again. It’s always in the back of my mind, I meditate and do yoga. When I’m tired or overworked I remind myself that I probably shouldn’t be doing this. I try to do all the things I’m supposed to do.”

As I get older, I question whether perceived body aches are because I’m getting older or is there something wrong with me?’ Christine said, “Exactly. Matt is always joking when I start asking myself what’s going on (laughs). It’s true, is it the tumour or is it me?”