An Honest Kitchen is a series of seasonally-based e-magazines focussed on real food that's good for you. Its honest food - no spin, unrealistic styling or glossing over what's involved in cooking and eating well. For details and latest issue click here.
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
Our latest Source of Wellness newsletter is out. It contains articles on trans fats, acupuncture and ways to get a good night’s sleep.
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28 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Nutrition
I’ve seen the reports this morning in the Herald, about concerns raised in a new study into vitamin supplements – that they may increase the risk of death. I will be blogging about this, but want to review the original research and other reports before commenting. I’ll post something about this on Saturday or next week.
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28 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Ethics & Sustainablity
When shopping at the supermarket it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the the choices. I’m an avid food label reader, but even I’ll admit it sometimes takes too long to make an informed decision. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and end up buying the cheapest item, or the one you always buy. If you’re in any way concerned about animal welfare, one of the tricky decisions can be in the egg aisle. Eggs are no longer just eggs – …
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28 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
I’ve been asked recently about the drug Xenical (also known as orlistat) and whether I’d recommend it for weight loss. I’ve been concerned, because the questions have been from people who, while they may need to lose a few kilograms, are in no way obese. Xenical is a pharmaceutical drug manufactured by Roche. It was originally supplied in Australia as an S4 medication, ie it had to be prescribed by a doctor. However, in 2003 it was re-scheduled as an …
Posted by kathryn in Snacks and Easier eating
Great little post from Dietgirl about the munchies. Are you a person that walks in the door from work, opens the fridge straight away and starts pilfering around for food? It’s been hours since lunch, you’re not sure what you’re looking for, you just want something. Those cubes of cheese, few olives, spoonfuls of dip and handfuls of crackers can really add up kilojoule-wise and if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s these habits you need to question. If it’s …
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
The latest issue of Life etc is out, complete with my Ten Minute Kitchen recipes, this time using yoghurt. The three recipes are: * Mango, maple and yoghurt tarts (these are also really good with banana – as in the picture) * Lamb balls with tzatziki and tabbouleh * Chick pea, couscous and pumpkin salad with a mustard yoghurt dressing As per the name, the recipes only take ten minutes to prepare – super-quick and easy.
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22 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
News in the weekend herald of another organic school canteen, this time it’s Newtown High School of Performing Arts. They’re the first high school in NSW to have a completely organic canteen. Soft drinks, ice-creams and junk food have been replaced by nori rolls, juices and fresh fruit. In the last few years, the State government, through the NSW Canteen Association, has been actively encouraging school canteens to get healthier. While only a couple are going organic, many others are …
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22 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Nutrition
I’m writing an article for Wellbeing magazine at the moment, on the subject of antioxidants. There’s been a fair amount of discussion, over the past year, about the value of antioxidants, following this New Scientist article. The article received a lot of media coverage, as it specifically questions the value of taking antioxidant supplements. It’s important to say at the beginning, during this debate nobody is denying that *a diet high in fruit and vegetables will reduce your risk of …
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17 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
I posted last week about how much I loved the new Jamie at Home programme. Last night I sat down at 7.30pm, waited 20 mins, flicking between Channel 10 and the 7.30 Report, but Mr Oliver failed to materialise. While I found out all about the wonderful volunteers in Warnambool working to save koalas after the bush fires, the cooking show just wasn’t on. I wasn’t the only one annoyed and disconcerted by this. After speaking to Channel 10 today, …
Posted by kathryn in Vegetables
Almost Vegetarian posts on a subject very close to my heart . . . yep, how to eat more vegetables. They’re nice suggestions, I particularly like: bq. Make fruit and veg easy to snack on.When we bring home celery, for example, I trim the ends, rinse the stalks, and drop them into a drinking glass with a plastic bag loosely dropped on top. Then, whenever anyone wants a munch, there they are, all ready to eat. The same trick works …
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16 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Vegan, Fruit, Baking and Recipes
After posting my date and walnut muffin recipe, I’ve recently adapted it, for using fresh fruit. I’ve cooked these muffins all summer, using peaches, nectarines, apricots and even mangoes, but I keep on forgetting to photograph them, hence the delay in posting this recipe. These muffins are really good. They’re low in kilojoules, have no added fat, as well as being low in sugar . . . and yet they taste great. Moreover, most of the fat comes from …
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15 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Easier eating
Here in Australia more and more people are living by themselves. Whether by choice or necessity, the traditional nuclear family is no longer everybody’s reality. As Chew On This points out, cooking for one can present challenges. Many people living by themselves can’t be bothered making a proper dinner and end up grazing on whatever comes to hand. Others, however, actually eat better by themselves, when they don’t have to make allowances for another’s likes and dislikes. If you’re in …
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
Big article from The Guardian on Dr Gillian McKeith, the host of You Are What You Eat . It’s emotive, angry and contains a big serve against nutritionists in general – worth a read. And yes, I am a nutritionist myself, but I have some sympathies with the writer’s point of view. Thanks to Dietgirl for the link.
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13 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Junk Food
This, from last week’s Age, on the Heart Foundation’s Tick accreditation of nine McDonald’s meals. Pros and cons of the deal, what’s involved, as well as a good outline of how the whole Tick programme works.
Posted by kathryn in Legumes, Salads, Dinners, Dairy, Spring and Recipes
This was my dinner on Tuesday night. Richard was out and I wasn’t in a big cooking mood, but I still wanted something tasty, healthy and home-made. This salad fitted the bill. The original recipe prescribed tinned lentils, but I already had some dried to use up. Rather than fuss around cooking them on the stovetop, I thought I’d try cooking them in my rice cooker. I used one part lentils to three parts water, added a pinch of …
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08 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
Last week Jamie Oliver’s new cooking programme started on Channel 10, called Jamie At Home. I must admit to being a big fan of Jamie Oliver, from his style of cooking, through to the work he’s done in the UK to improve school dinners, plus the Fifteen Foundation. Moreover, unlike a lot of TV celebrity chefs, Jamie Oliver’s recipes are ones that you can actually make at home. Last week’s programme was a corker – a handful of beautiful recipes …
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08 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Junk Food
I blogged yesterday about the announcement that nine McDonald’s meals have been given Heart Foundation Ticks. A follow up story in today’s Herald gives reactions from the AMA and Westmead Children’s Hospital. The AMA are concerned the: bq. respected red tick, which indicates to consumers a healthy, low kilojoule, well-balanced meal, had been “hamburgled” by McDonald’s, and could create a “halo” effect around a small number of more healthy meals on an extensive menu high in fats, salt and sugar. …
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07 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Junk Food
Big news from the fast food industry today, nine McDonald’s meals have been accredited with a Heart Foundation tick. What can be going on? The Heart Foundation’s Tick is a guide to helping people make healthier food choices. It’s mostly found on processed and take-away foods, offering an independent assessment on which are the healthier options in that food category. h3. Tick programme guidelines Over the last year Macca’s have been working with the Heart Foundation to improve the nutritional …
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06 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Summer
Below is my regular list of the fruit and vegetable in season in Sydney this month: h3. Fruit: * Avocado * Bananas * Blackberries * Blueberries * Figs * Grapes * Kiwifruit * Limes * Lychees * Mangosteens * Melons * Nashi pears (the first of the new season nashis will become available this month) * Nectarines * Oranges (valencias) * Passionfruit * Peaches * Pears (Howell and Williams) * Persimmon * Pineapples * Plums * Rambutans * Raspberries * …
Posted by kathryn in Lunch
On the subject of school lunches, this week’s herald also contained an article about Normanhurst West Public School’s canteen, where the school and parents have realised: bq. a good, healthy canteen is good for their child, just as good as sport The menu features dishes called barbecue piranhas, shark-attack fish burgers and the Alpine gourmet sandwich. One of their biggest sellers is the Crunch and Munch snack, a plastic cup containing carrot, celery, cherry tomatoes and crinklecut cheddar. No soft …
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03 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Lunch and Easier eating
Kids were back to school this week and Good Living had some lunchbox ideas from Bill Granger – mountain bread wraps with hummous, a Greek-style pasta salad, along with a simple Chinese rice salad. All the recipes are easy to make and have a nice balance of protein, low GI carbohydrates and vegetables. Simply add some fruit, a yoghurt and a bottle of water and you’ve got a healthy lunchbox. There are also some cute ideas for sparking up kids’ …
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03 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Vegan, Dinners and Summer
When the hot weather hits I found myself craving rice paper rolls. On a day which is 36°C and humid, the last thing I want is turn the oven or hot plates on. Which makes this recipe perfect. We’ve been eating these a lot. I generally prepare the filling and dipping sauce, put the dried rice papers on a plate and put out a bowl of warm water. Then Richard and I can sit there, soaking and filling our …
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02 February, 2007
Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea
The latest Wellbeing magazine is out and features my article on the the new RDIs and Suggested Dietary Targets, entitled Rebuilding the Food Pyramid. This issue has a definite environmental bent, with a special report on water; an article on how palm oil plantations are threatening orangutan habitats; as well as an update on sustainable transport.
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01 February, 2007