Posted by kathryn in Work life integration, Dinners and Soups

• Counter-productive TV ads: Over at Chew on This Paula Goodyer discusses adverts that poke fun at healthy habits. * Well balanced pasta: I like this pasta dish from Vegan Yum Yum. It has over three serves of vegies and looks delicious. * Celeriac chowder: I’m always a bit unsure what to do with celeriac, so I was delighted to spot Lily & Chew’s celeriac, sweetcorn and butterbean chowder. * 7 days of wellness tips: Another great link from …

Read more 6 comments 29 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Paul has asked the question – why do yoghurts that contain sugar still have a low GI? Most yoghurts have a GI of between about 14 and 40. Despite the variety of scores, this puts yoghurt in the low GI category. Even the ones that contain sugar have a low GI. In the pre-GI days of nutrition, carbohydrate foods were separated into two categories: simple and complex. This distinction was solely based on the stucture of the carbohydrate itself. …

Read more 7 comments 28 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Miscellanea

The latest issue of Life etc is out, complete with my Ten Minute Kitchen recipes using oily fish. The three recipes are: * Smoked salmon, dill and sour cream tartlets * Barbecued sardines with fennel & mint salad * Paprika crusted mackerel The latest issue is available from newsagents. Or you can download the recipes from their website – if you click on the link in the right-hand column. It’s about half way down this page.

Read more No comments 27 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Salads

• Tahini sauce: Tahini is a wonderful food and Cassie has this week posted a gorgeous recipe for tahini and caramelised onion sauce. I had this with roasted vegetables and tofu during the week . . . and it’s unbelievably good. * Your bars: As you know I like a breakfast bar. And I wish, wish, wish these were available in Australia. At Your Bars you can construct your own snack bars. You choose the nuts, the dried fruit, …

Read more 8 comments 22 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

The next question is all about bread. Wendy from A Wee Bit of Cooking fame asks: bq. What’s the best type to eat? Brown, wholemeal, seeded, rye . . . Bread is a staple food for many. Different countries and different cultures have been baking bread for centuries. In our supermarkets bread often takes up a whole aisle of it’s own. It’s stocked by corner shops and service stations. However, all bread’s are NOT created equal. At the …

Read more 7 comments 19 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

The eagle-eyed among you will have noted Q & A Month is turning into Q & A Six-Weeks! It’s proved very popular. I still have a question backlog to get through. But I’m hoping to finish with a flurry and answer the rest over the next seven days. Hoping anyway. Moving quickly along then – the next question is from Claire and it’s about rice milk: bq. I would like to know if there is something wrong with drinking …

Read more 4 comments 16 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Breakfast, Salads and Soups

• Chickpea soup: Pinch My Salt has turned a hummous accident into a beautiful chickpea, ginger and coriander soup. It’s an excellent kitchen recovery and a delicious looking recipe. * Spot the difference: Just Bento has posted pictures of two bento boxes. One of them has twice the kilojoules of the other – can you spot the difference? * Beautiful coleslaw: I woke up this morning to find a winter coleslaw recipe on Mostly Eating. Crunchy vegetables, bound together …

Read more 5 comments 15 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Vegetables and Fruit

Next on Q & A Month is a BIG and difficult question. Steve wants to know: bq. What is the deterioration rate of nutrients in fruit and vegetables – from the time they are picked, sold to you, kept in your fridge and finally eaten? Is it the same rate for all fruits and vegetables or do some lose their nutrients faster than others? This is a really hard question to answer, as there are so many ifs, buts …

Read more 2 comments 14 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Myths

A friend just sent me this image, scanned from a magazine. h3. Apparently Diet Coke is now healthy. Because it contains vitamins and antioxidants. Two products. One provides “a little plus for your vitality and wellbeing”, while the other is for “today’s hectic lifestyle”. Although there’s no information (I can find) on their website about what exactly is in these drinks. Who do they think they’re kidding? h3. This leaves me speechless.

Read more 10 comments 14 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

I’m briefly interrupting Q & A Month, because there’s some news I wanted to ask you about. In the last few days the Heart Foundation have awarded their Tick to six pizzas from the Crust chain. According to the Heart Foundation, they are “challenging pizza companies to provide healthier meals”: bq. The popularity of pizza can’t be ignored so it is great to see that a small local chain is the first pizza chain to prove that outlets can …

Read more 8 comments 13 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Soups

• Delicious soup: Poucan has a recipe for lemon and chickpea soup. It takes a bit of time to cook, but is super-easy and looks delicious. * Watercress soup: I blame it on the rain we’ve had this week, but I can’t go past soup recipes. And Wendy has a doozy – watercress soup. Look at that vibrant green and just think of all the antioxidants. * Food for fussy kids: Annabel Karmel’s website is all about food and …

Read more 3 comments 08 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Paul has asked: bq. I was just wondering, with all the great fresh fruits around, which have the highest amounts of antioxidants? I’ve heard pomegranates, but what about blueberries, and oranges? I have to admit I find it hard to keep up with the list of top antioxidant containing foods. It seems to change with annoying regularity. At the moment I’m pretty sure it’s a toss up between acai berry and pomegranate juice. Although "Indian gooseberries are also making …

Read more 16 comments 06 February, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Myths

I’m back from Melbourne. I’ve cleared my inbox and in-tray, so it’s time to continue with Q & A Month. The next question is from Justine, who asks about water: bq. I over-indulged over Christmas and the New Year alcohol-wise, so am drinking lots & lots of water now I’m back at work. I’ve heard that too much water can be damaging . . . how much water is too much? You’ve almost certainly heard how important it is …

Read more 5 comments 05 February, 2008