Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

I know this is a popular answer, but the last of the foods that saved me when I was super-busy are baked beans. They come in a can, they take minutes to heat up and provide dense, good quality nutrition. Baked beans are from the legume family and are high in fibre, protein, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. So while they’re quick and easy, baked beans are nutritionally top-notch. All of which makes them an excellent dietary back-up. I have …

Read more 7 comments 29 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Breakfast

• Butter alternatives: Chew on This has put together a list of six alternatives to using butter. * Simple, simple cooking: Lisa’s Vegetarian Kitchen has a recipe for a vegetable side dish – beautiful in it’s simplicity: Carrot and turnip kinpira. * Learning to love potatoes: Mallika from Quick Indian Cooking fame has just started blogging at Indiwo. Her latest is a neat piece of writing about whether it’s possible to include potatoes in a healthy diet (and not …

Read more 3 comments 28 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Sometimes when I’m busy, preoccupied and tired, my menu planning knowledge completely escapes me. While I may spend my days helping clients with this very problem and despite my years of experience, I just can’t work out what to eat. I know I want something balanced and nourishing. I know I want vegetables and I need some protein. But my fuzzy brain can’t put those requirements together, to make a meal. It’s then that poached eggs save me. They …

Read more 8 comments 25 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Frozen vegies have an image problem. I spend a good part of my working life encouraging and coaxing people to eat more vegetables. I regularly suggest frozen vegetables to my time-poor and food-prep phobic clients. But their response is invariably one of horror – as though I’ve uttered something completely inappropriate in the middle of a consultation. They simply can’t believe their nutritionist has suggested . . . something frozen. However, during my recent super-busy period, frozen vegies were …

Read more 7 comments 20 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Either Richard or I make dal about once a month. It’s a meal we both love. Usually we make up huge pots of the stuff, eat it for a couple of days and then put the rest in the freezer. And in my recent super-busy period, having a freezer full of dal was the second food that saved me. h3. The goodness of dal Dal is hearty, warming, luscious comfort food. It’s cheap to make, and rich in protein, …

Read more 9 comments 19 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Vegetables

• How to get your kid to eat salad: More from the Great Big Vegetable Challenge. This time a successful strategy for encouraging children to eat salad. * Potassium: A good little summary of why we need potassium – yet more reasons to eat vegies. * Grated carrot and beetroot salad: This week Chocolate & Zucchini posted a beautiful recipe for grated carrot and beetroot salad. It’s easy, there are options to provide variety and look at the colour. …

Read more 5 comments 14 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Among my presents at Christmas was a jar of Moroccan spice blend. It was from my mum. A home-made mixture of ground cumin, coriander, paprika, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, chilli and nutmeg. It’s delicious and has real oomph. It’s one of the foods that’s saved me while I’ve been super-busy because it’s instant flavour. I haven’t had to muck around with sauces, individual spices, stock or slow cooking. I haven’t needed to think, plan or do extra shopping. Instead, …

Read more 2 comments 13 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

I’ve just been through a super-busy period with work. Long working days, six day weeks, lots of decisions and too much tiredness have meant a drop in my usual dietary diligence. However, while not up to my usual standards, it hasn’t been a nutritional disaster – because of five foods. These trusty dietary side-kicks have made it easier for me to eat well. They’ve helped me prepare a quick meal at the end of the day, without resorting to …

Read more 11 comments 12 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Myths and Vegetables

• Eating more vegetables: The Go for 2&5 campaign is aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. I particularly like their weekly healthy eating email – a quick, regular reminder of the practical ways you can eat more fruit and veg. Sign up here. * Root vegetables: In the Northern hemisphere root vegetables are in season. In the Guardian this week, Nigel Slater has a great column discussing different ways of using carrots, kohlrabi, parsnips, etc: The Root Master …

Read more 6 comments 07 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Q & A Month is officially over. Thank you to everyone who sent me questions and responded so positively to the posts. I was quite overwhelmed by the wonderful feedback and involvement. If I’ve missed any questions, then my apologies – and please let me know by email. h3. Q & A Thursday Regular Q & A Thursdays will be returning in 2008. But it’s going to be a monthly event. I’ll be running them on the first Thursday …

Read more No comments 06 March, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

As summer gently winds down there’s been a subtle shift in the produce available. Frankly I’ve given up on peaches and nectarines. While they’re still plentiful, I’ve had one too many flour-y, bland experiences with them in the last two weeks. Plus heavy rains in February have disrupted the vegetable supply – meaning quality is down and prices are up. But the new season apples are being picked. This is the time of year when they’re at their best. …

Read more 5 comments 05 March, 2008