International No Diet Day

It has been quite a while since I have written a blog. Quite a while, indeed. However this past Wednesday (6th May) was a very special, blog-worthy day, acknowledging a topic close to my heart. On Wednesday, it was "International No Diet Day."

 Yep, International NO Diet Day. You probably think that I got that title wrong, that I have gone insane. You may think it crazy that I'd be suggesting you stop dietiting; I mean, don't we need to follow strict diets and do a truckload of exercise in order to be "healthy?" Well, my friends, this is actually NOT the case. Now, I am not suggesting you eat take-away to your heart's content and sit on the couch all day, as that certainly would not be great for your health. Rather, ensure your food choices are varied and flexible, and take opportunities to move your body in ways that are enjoyable for you.

Why am I suggesting a more relaxed eating regime, rather than 'diets?' Because diets are crap. No, really, they are. Diets do not take into account your individual needs and circumstances. They do not include a variety of foods - think The Cabbage Soup Diet or The Grapefruit Diet, both of which suggest eating only the one food. Clearly there is no variety there. Diets are not flexible either. You feel like a sandwich for lunch today? Too bad, the diet says you have to have salad. Does that seem enjoyable to you? I thought not.

All diets are built on similar fundamentals - they severely restrict the types of food that you can eat and/or severely restrict the amounts of food (and thus calories/kilojoules) that you can eat. As a result, you will feel constantly hungry. Irritable. Moody. Restless. Unable to concentrate. Tired. Cold. All the time. That is, of course, until you give up on the diet and return to your usual eating habits and regain all the weight. Seems like a lot of effort and discomfort, all to get right back to where you started! Diets can also be expensive, especially if you are buying shakes, buying memberships to programs such as Tony Ferguson, Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, or if you are required to buy expensive ingredients or appliances such as juicers or blenders.

Aside from the obvious inconveniences of diets already mentioned, there is also damage done to your body and your metabolism. Our bodies are oh so smart; we really don't give them enough credit! We think we have the determination to stick to strict diets, but our bodies are so much smarter! You may choose to eat only 1200 calories per day, but you're body will scream "hey, there's not enough food around, we better switch into 'starvation mode.'" Cue the tiredness, inability to concentrate, low energy levels, irritability, hunger and feeling cold, which I mentioned earlier. Additionally, there will be serious abnormalities going on inside your body, as it tries to survive. Your hormone levels will become unbalanced, meaning that your body will shut down non-essential functions (including re-production, which is why ladies may be waving goodbye to their periods when dieting) and it will cling on to it's fat stores in attempt to survive the [self imposed] "famine." As a result, you may not actually lose any weight at all! What a waste of time and effort!!! Additionally, your body will build up it's resilience to dieting every time you try a new diet. This is why constantly trying the latest diet is not likely to bring you success; you are simply putting your metabolism under more pressure and making weight management even harder!

I know these are hard truths to swallow. It goes against everything we typically hear. However the key to finding a healthy weight, appreciation of your body, and a good relationship to food and exercise, is balance. Ditch the strict diets and eat a variety of foods according to your appetite. Move your body in a way that you enjoy and that feels good for you. If you have been dieting for a long time, this change will not come easily, but it is an important concept to embrace, and it certainly tastes much better!!!

I hope you all had a happy International No Diet Day! Emily. x

Raw Zucchini Noodles with Homemade Basil and Walnut Pesto

The highlight of last week for me was receiving some postie love, in the form of the vegetable spiralizer I had ordered online a few weeks back. Yep, it was a pretty dull week otherwise! But, back to the spiralizer. This nifty little hand-held gadget slices your veggies into strings similar to noodles or spaghetti. There are 2 blades; one for thin noodles and one for slightly thicker noodles. 

Le Spiralizer 

 The blades inside the spiralizer 

So far I have only used my new toy with carrot and zucchini, both of which work really well, as they are long, thin vegetables which are easy to hold and turn through the spiralizer. The carrot worked well in salads, but I got straight to work on a new recipe to use with the beautiful seasonal zucchini which is available in abundance at present. Hence, I bring to you:

Raw Zucchini Noodles with Homemade Basil and Walnut Pesto 

Serves 4-6 as a side salad, or could be eaten as a main also. 

Preparation time - about 15 minutes 

Ingredients 

2 medium sized zucchini (I used about 300g)

1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves 

1 cup raw walnut halves 

1 clove garlic 

2 teaspoons fetta cheese (I used goat's fetta)

Cracked black pepper, to taste

Method

1. Turn the zucchini through the spiralizer to form noodles. I used the thicker blade, as I found the thin zucchini noodles too moist and clumpy. The spiralizer produced very very long noodles, which I then cut into about 20cm lengths, or that similar to regular spaghetti.

2. Toast the walnuts under a griller or in a fry pan over medium heat. Toast until golden brown. 

3. Combine the garlic, basil, nuts and cheese in a blender and blend until all ingredients are combined into a fine paste. I left my pesto a little chunky, though you could blend into a smoother paste if desired. 

4. Stir the pesto through the raw zucchini noodles and serve. You may like to add some extra fetta for a creamier pasta. 

Raw Zucchini Noodles with Pesto, topped with homegrown cherry tomatoes 

 Close up view 

Notes: 

- We had this dish served as per above as a side salad. I also had the leftovers for lunch the next day with added roast pumpkin, grilled red capsicum, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach leaves which was absolutely divine. Too yummy to photograph, I'm afraid!

- I did not use all the pesto made, so I've kept the excess in a screw-top jar in the fridge. It has been really nice to have it handy to add to salads, chicken, stuffed into mushrooms and barbequed, and even stirred through scrambled eggs. I presume it would also be a nice addition to pizzas or focaccias. 

- You could use any nuts, not only walnuts. Traditional pesto is made using pine nuts, but I choose walnuts for 1) something different, 2) because I love them, 3) because we have lots of them at home.   

Leftover Pesto

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe! I would highly recommend getting a veggie spiralizer, as they are a great way to increase your veggie, and thus nutrient intake. 

- Em xx

Australia's Healthy Weight Week

Today marks the beginning of Australia's Healthy Weight Week (AHWW), which runs from February 16-22, 2015. This initiative of the Dietitian's Association of Australia (DAA) seeks to encourage individuals to make small lifestyle modifications to benefit overall health and achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

The aim of AHWW will differ for everyone, and the focus should be on simple, achievable modifications. Think eating more vegetables, having fruit every day, eating breakfast, or packing your own lunch rather than buying take away. AHWW encourages Australians to make a pledge to commit to such a health-promoting goal. You can make your pledge by visiting the AHWW website and go into the draw to win a fantastic prize pack too!. Make your goal well known to yourself and others (such as family) as this can help keep you motivated and on track. 

AHWW also seeks to encourage the Australian public to prepare and consume more meals at home, rather than relying on take away foods, restaurant meals and convenience meals. Food prepared outside of the home is typically higher in energy (kilojoules or calories), fat, sugar and salt. Such meals are typically lower in vegetables, fruit and wholegrains, and thus offer less nutrients. By cooking more meals at home, you are more likely to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Visit the AHWW website and download the AHWW cookbook for some delicious recipe inspiration - it's certainly got my mouth watering! 

Once you have made your pledge and started your journey towards a healthier lifestyle, enlist the support of an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) for evidence-based nutrition advice and to keep you focussed on your goal . You can search for an APD in your area here. Also keep an eye out for AHWW events in your area; these are a great opportunity to access nutrition information and network with other health-focussed individuals.

I myself will be hosting some AHWW events this week through my work, Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) in Morwell, Moe and Traralgon. We will be holding food swap-meets to encourage local green-thumbs to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts and share their surplus produce with other like-minded community members. If you live in the Latrobe Valley, I'd love to see you at one of the swap-meets, which will occur as follows:

• Tuesday 17th February, 11am-12pm, LCHS MORWELL, 81-87 Buckley Street. 
• Wednesday 18th February, 11am-12pm, LCHS TRARALGON, corner Princes Highway and Seymour Street
• Wednesday 18th February, 11am-12pm, LCHS MOE, 42-44 Fowler Street. 

We do ask for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts and seeds only, no baked goods, preserves or eggs can be exchanged. No money necessary, just bring your produce along to exchange.


I hope everyone enjoys a healthy and tasty AHWW, make your pledge now and start your journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

- Em xx

Beware the "Health Halo" effect

There is so much "nutrition information" available these days and everyone seems to be "an expert" when it comes to food and nutrition. We are constantly bombarded with information about the latest fad diets. food trends and new products on the market. I don't blame people when they come to me, confused and frustrated. Furthermore, it's not uncommon that I see people who have jumped on a particular nutrition fad and fallen victim to what is known as the "Health Halo" effect.

"The what what?" you are probably asking. Here are some real-life examples of the Health Halo effect in action:

1. "I'll have another triple chocolate muffin please. They are so delicious, and they are gluten free so they are good for you! Bonus!"
2. "I ate the whole packet of cookies. But it's OK because they were organic."
3. "I can have seconds because it is 'all natural.' "
4. "I have cheesecake every night - but it's paleo so it's good for me."
5. "I'll have a diet coke. And a Big Mac." 
6. "I use a thick spread of margarine on everything, because I use the cholesterol free version."
7. "I can eat and drink heaps this weekend because I was good during the week."

To explain, the Health Halo effect describes the tendency to eat more of a product when we perceive it as being "heallthy." As a result, we can end up eating more calories than if we were to have the original version of a food! For the record, in reference to the above situations, the fact that a food is gluten free, organic, all natural, paleo, low fat, no sugar, diet, lite, etc etc., does not give you license to eat copious amounts of it!! Yet this is what seems to occur.The Health Halo effect occurs when we eat more of a low fat food simply because it is "low fat," or we have lots of a super indulgent dessert because we had a seemingly "healthy" main meal.


Interestingly, the health halo effect may explain why people in the developed world are of a higher weight now than ever, despite low fat eating patterns, increased nutrition information and product availability. There have been a number of research studies conducted in America, which demonstrated that when we believe we are being "healthy" or choosing a "low fat" or "low calorie" meal, we actually end up consuming more calories in total! Here is a summary of some of the findings:

1. Study participants were given a meal at Subway and McDonald's and asked to estimate the number of calories in each meal. Both the Subway meal and the McDonald's meal contained the same number of calories, yet participants estimated the Subway meal contained 21.3% less calories than the McDonald's meal. Why? Because Subway is a "healthy" choice right? Well, not if you make poor choices there!

Some other examples I've come across where the health halo may come into play are yoghurt with granola, banana bread, fruit muffins, smoothies, wraps and snack bars. What are your beliefs about these foods? Just how healthy are these foods, are they always the best option? Hmmmm.  

2. Study participants were given either a footlong Subway with 900 calories or a Big Mac with 600 calories. Even though the Subway meal actually contained more calories than the Big Mac, the study participants still believed it was the healthier choice! What's more, after having the Subway, participants ordered more extras such as drinks and cookies than after they had eaten the McDonald's meal!! So because people thought they were being "healthy," they thought they could eat more high calorie sides! Conversely, when people thought they were eating a more unhealthy food, they were less likely to order additional sides. (This research was conducted by Chandon and Wansik in 2007. You can read more about it here: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/519499,  here http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/outreach/organic.html and here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/science/02tier.html). 

So, what's the take home message here? (No, it's not that you shouldn't eat Subway and choose Maccas instead....). I believe the take home message is simply to be aware of the way you label or categorise food in your mind. Do you consider foods to be "good" or "bad," or do you tell yourself you are going to be really strict with your diet so you can eat like crazy at other times? Really, the Health Halo effect just demonstrates the crazy mind games we play with ourselves!!

At the end of day, we could all benefit from listening to our bodies and what they are asking for, rather than falling victim to the endless food claims, food advertising and fad diets which are promoted in the media. Make yourself aware of the nutrition value of foods and seek the support of an Accredited Practising Dietitian to help you understand the sea of information out there! Putting a little more thought into your choices may help you to understand why you eat in a particular way could help you to get your health on track! You may just be surprised!

Food for thought, anyway.

- Em xx

Raspberry Overnight Oats

My Mum is Wonder Woman. OK, so she doesn't get around in a tiny leotard and a cape, but I think she probably could pull it off if she wanted to. No, in all seriousness, I think she is a very stylish lady. And a very hardworking and dedicated lady at that. You see, my Mum and Dad own and run their own business, as they have done for the past 18 years. Their work hours are far from your typical 9-5, but they just suck it up and continue to work their butts off. In my eyes, that is a feat in itself. Yet somehow on top of their mammoth workload, Mum and Dad also raised my sister and I; running us to sports training and part time work, helping with homework, keeping us in line. Now that my sister and I are older and slightly less needy and demanding, Mum now simply does more for her own parents instead. It is a seemingly never-ending workload, yet somehow Mum has always managed to maintain our household, do the shopping, the washing, the cleaning, the gardening and most importantly keep her family well nourished. I honestly don't know how she continually does it, and this is a question I often ponder.

Mum has taught me that there is no such thing as luck - just hard work and determination. She also reminds me that your health is paramount, and that begins with what you put in your mouth. My love for fresh, healthy and nutritious food stems from my Mum, and she has taught me that great fresh produce, planning and preparation are the key to a healthy lifestyle.

With this knowledge under my belt and a whole lot of love for my Mum and her wondrous ways, I feel it is time I started to look after her a little, since she has cared for me for so very long. My contribution? Food, of course. A nourishing breakfast each and every morning, to power Mum through her enormous days. The recipe below is made to Mum's taste, but is adaptable.

Raspberry Overnight Oats
Serves 7
Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients 
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup pepitas
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup raw walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup apple juice
1 cup plain natural yoghurt
2 cups frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Method: 
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir well to combine. Cover and place in refrigerator overnight to allow oats to absorb liquid and for the flavours to combine.
2. The next morning, serve your portion of oats; you may wish to add a little additional milk and/or top with banana or more berries.

Notes:
- You could use LSA mix instead of almond meal
- Chia seeds can also be added, however I would recommend adding extra fluid as chia seeds are highly absorbent   
- Any type or combination of nuts could be used; Mum enjoys slivered almonds as a change from walnuts 
- Sweetened dried cranberries are a sweet addition to this mix 
- You can utilise any type of milk; I usually use full cream, though I have experimented with almond, quinoa and coconut milks 
- Any type or combination of berries can be used

Ingredients for Raspberry Overnight Oats 

 

Ok, so this really ain't pretty right now, but it will be when you're in a rush tomorrow morning 

 

 

Topped with extra raspberries and ready to be enjoyed

These overnight oats are a really dense, nutritious breakfast which certainly powers you through the morning hours. Taking a little time to prepare this recipe over the weekend ensures you have no excuse to skip breakfast during the week. These oats are utterly delicious; Mum says she looks forward to eating them each and every morning, whilst I often enjoy a couple of dollops for dessert too! I hope you enjoy these oats, or enjoy coming up with your own delicious combination.

- Em xx

Gettin' My Game On....

I've got to admit I'm usually not a huge fan of red meat. You'll never find me ordering a steak or lamb rack for din dins. Seafood, tofu, tempeh, eggs and chicken are my usual go-to options. Sure, I still eat red meats but generally they need to be smothered in a mushroom gravy or hidden in a casserole or bolognese. I'll source a majority of my iron from other foods, thanks.

However, there is always an exception to a rule! My exception to my red-meat disfavour certainly packs a nutritional punch to compensate for my ways. What is this mystery meat of which I speak? It is none other our Aussie icon, kangaroo!! Now, before you vehemently refuse and say "I could never eat Skippy," take a look at a few little known facts about kangaroo:

1. Kangaroo Meat is 'Open Range' - this means the animals are allowed to live in their own natural environment and are harvested without added hormones, chemicals or antibiotics. They live good lives (though you won't find them dressing up in clothes, stopping thieves or saving lives, as Skippy did!).

2. Favourable Kilojoule content - kangaroo meats have a kilojoule (calorie) content similar to that of other lean meats, making them a great inclusion if you are watching your weight. 

3. Low fat content - kangaroo meat is considered low fat, especially low saturated fat (saturated is the least favourable type of fat). Did you know kangaroo meat contains less than 2% fat? That is very impressive!

4. Protein - kangaroo is a wonderful source of protein which is crucial for appetite regulation, muscle strength and thus weight management and wellbeing.

5. Omega-3 fats - omega 3 fats are heart-friendly fats which can help to optimise your cholesterol levels and contribute to healthy eyes and brain power! Typically, omega-3 is associated with fish and fish oil, however kangaroo is a great source of omega 3s too- bonus!!

6. B vitamins - remember B1 and B2 from Bananas in Pyjamas? Well, in the nutrition world, we call B1 thiamine, B2 riboflavin and also consider their other B family friends, niacin, B6 and B12.  These are the vitamins which keep our blood, brain and immune system healthy. B vitamins also help our bodies to use the energy we put inside them, thus giving us more pep in our step. The good news is that kangaroo is great source of B vitamins, to keep you on tour toes.

7. Source of minerals - kangaroo contains the essential minerals, iron and zinc, which give you energy, help you grow, keep the immune system strong and assist with the healing of wounds (should you have any) and condition of your skin.

Sounds great, but where can I get it? - The best news is that kangaroo is easier to buy and prepare than you may expect. I have purchased kangaroo products from Woolworths, Coles and even Aldi. Kangaroo is also available from IGA, Food Land and Supa Barn, according the distributor's (Macro Meats') website: http://gourmetgame.com.au/products/kangaroo/   Macro Meats distributes a variety of kangaroo products, so you can ease your way into eating and enjoying this great Aussie icon. Available are kangaroo sausages ("Kanga Bangas!!"), kangaroo burgers, steaks, meatballs, mince, fillets, roasts, kebabs and diced kangaroo. Such variety! These products are also economical; I buy mine from Coles supermarkets where I've recently been picking up 2 trays of products for just $9!!  (individual supermarkets will likely vary).

I'm quite partial to the kangaroo burgers or the kangaroo meatballs, as these are convenient and make an easy meal for one when combined with some veggies or salad. Next on my agenda is to use the kangaroo mince to make a spaghetti bolognese or even the kangaroo pieces for a curry or stew. As usual, culinary adventures ensue. I have been on a bit of a kangaroo fad recently..... I did consume it about 4 times last week. I came up with a super easy, nutritious and cost effective dinner of Kangaroo meatballs in tomato salsa and vegetables. My recipe is as follows:

Easy Kangaroo Meatballs in Tomato Salsa 
Serves 1
Cooking time: about 10-15 minutes

Ingredients 
- 4 kangaroo meatballs (or sufficient to satisfy your individual appetite)
- 1/2 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- chilli flakes, to taste
- cracked black pepper, to taste
- 3 button mushrooms, diced 
- 1/2 can (200g) diced tomato
- 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese
- selection of vegetables or salad

Method 
1. Pre-heat a non-stick fry pan over medium heat. Add   crushed garlic, basil, oregano, chilli, pepper.  Add the kangaroo meatballs and combine.
2. Flatten the meatballs into 'patties.' Cook for roughly 5 minutes each side, or until browned through.
3. Add the mushrooms and half can of diced tomatoes, combine all ingredients and turn heat to low. Allow to simmer.
4. Meanwhile, prepare a selection of vegetables or salad to serve with the meatballs and salsa.
5. When vegetables or salad is ready, serve kangaroo meatballs, topped with tomato and mushroom salsa. I also like to add a teaspoon of parmesan cheese on top for some cheesy goodness.

Kangaroo meatballs in my tomato and mushroom salsa with a generous dose of colourful veggies. Eat a rainbow, people!!

So good I had to have them for a second (or fourth) night in a row... this time with salad. Kanga!

Should you be game (pun intended) to trial kangaroo, I hope you enjoy my recipe. It is such a nutritious and convenient protein option which I highly recommend, so 'get your game on' and cook up some kanga!

- Em x

 

Goodness, it's a wrap!

Sometimes lunch can be a tricky meal to plan, create and execute. Is anyone else with me on this one? I mean, you're busy rushing around doing things, but you're hungry and the tummy is starting to rumble. You want something quick, but still satisfying. Not too satisfying, else you risk feeling heavy, sluggish and tired in the afternoon. But you need to make it through 3.30-itis and avoid caving to the chocolate bar as an afternoon pick-me-up. If you have your nutrition priorities right, you'll be seeking a lunch composed of low GI carbohydrates, some protein and a filling dose of veggies. So what takes your fancy?

I must admit I have fallen into a bit of rut with lunches. The ol' tin of salmon and a salad is a great quick, nutritious and filling staple. Recently however, I've been in search of something different, so I revisited an old favourite: Goodness Superfoods wraps.

Goodness me, there is a lot to love about these wraps. For one, they are a Victorian based, Australian owned and run company; and what's not to love about that? Even better is that the star ingredient of all Goodness Superfoods products, their BARLEYmax resistant starch, was developed by the CSIRO. This means Goodness Superfoods products are unique, supplying twice the amount of dietary fibre as regular grains and four times the amount of resistant starch, with an impressively low GI to boot.

"Yeah, so what?" you may be thinking. Well, did you know that fibre is needed to keep you full, help with weight management and promote a healthy digestive system? Plus, just one Goodness Superfoods Barley wrap provides 35% of your daily fibre requirements - how good is that?

Now, aside from the nutritional aspect of these wraps, they are also super convenient as they can be kept in the pantry until opened - meaning you can snap up a packet or two when you can and keep them handy for when the tummy grumbles at lunchtime. Once opened, they can be stored in the fridge. Importantly, these wraps also taste gooood and lend themselves to really any filling, so it's up to you as to how you wrap. Some tasty variations I've created are:

1. Cream cheese, avocado, smoked salmon, cucumber, spinach leaves and red onion
2. Avocado, spinach, tomato, beetroot, cucumber, grated carrot and chicken
3. Hummous, spinach, felafel, grated carrot and cucumber
4. Salad with tinned tuna/salmon or boiled egg 
4. Avocado, spinach, warmed roast chicken, mango and sweet chilli sauce
5. Spinach, chicken breast, roast pumpkin, roast capsicum, chargrilled eggplant, chargtilled zucchini and fetta cheese, all toasted in the sandwich press
6. Natural yoghurt, sliced apple, sultanas and cinnamon warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds
7. Peanut butter and sliced banana toasted in the sandwich press

Wrap under construction

Chicken and Salad wrap 

 

Salmon and salad wrap 

 

 What to look for in the supermarket: Goodness Superfoods Barley wraps

As you can see from these few options I've trialled above, these wraps can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You could also use them as a healthier pizza base, a high fibre crepe or toasted crisps... the possibilities go on!

Goodness, these are a convenient, healthy and tasty meal option which I certainly recommend you add to your repertoire. You can find out more about Goodness Superfoods Barley wraps and their range of breakfast cereals, porridge, muesli bars and grains at their website (you can pick up some more tasty recipe ideas there too).

Happy wrapping!

- Em x 

** Please note the thoughts and information provided in this post are my own and I have no affiliation with the Goodness Superfoods company. If you would like more information about any Goodness Superfoods products, you can check out there website, as mentioned above.