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Day 14 in 31 Days to Better Energy and today’s task is another sleeping strategy – find some time to wind down, before going to bed. h3. Why? Sometimes it’s easy to rush, rush, rush all day. At work, at home, we’re constantly trying to fit more into our days. Time for ourselves and time to sleep are two things that get pushed aside in this busy-ness. *Not enough sleep and problems sleeping are two direct consequences of this, which …

Read more 14 August, 2007

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is about being more aware of what you’re eating. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. Do you gulp down your food? Intent on the next thing, rather than the food itself? It’s easy to do this. Our lives are busy; days are packed. But if you’re not thinking about what you’re eating _how can you possibly be satisfied with …

Read more 08 August, 2008

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Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday, your chance to dictate the subject matter on Limes & Lycopene. If you have a food, diet or health related question, then let me know by leaving a comment or sending an email and I’ll answer it tomorrow during Q & A Thursday. In previous weeks the topics have been wide and varied and have included: * Can you refreeze thawed food? * The nutrient content of beetroot * Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer? …

Read more 29 August, 2007

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Tomorrow is Thursday, which means . . . Q & A Thursday. It’s the day of the week when you get to dictate the subject matter on Limes & Lycopene. Send me your questions about heatlh, diet and nutrition and I’ll attempt to give practical, clear answers. If you’ve seen any confusing food adverts, read some contradictory health reports, or simply just don’t know what to eat, then Q & A Thursday is the forum for you. I already have …

Read more 15 August, 2007

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Today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy is to eat a different food. h3. Why? It’s easy to get into a food rut. You have toast for breakfast, a cheese and tomato sandwich for lunch and then one of about three options for dinner. While we tend to mix things up a bit on the weekend, during the week it can be pretty much the same every day. Yes, eating the same way every day is easy. In a …

Read more 16 August, 2007

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h3. Q & A Thursday This is a Q & A Thursday week. For those new to Limes and Lycopene, Q & A Thursday is a monthly burst of blogging where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical answers to food and diet dilemmas sent in by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered send me an "email":mailto:me@kathrynelliott.com.au. For more information you can take a look at the …

Read more 08 October, 2008

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Next on Q & A Thursday Andrew has asked a big, big question. He directed me to this podcast, featuring Barry Glassner, author of The Gospel of Food and then asked: bq. I was specifically interested in the role stress, economic and social environment has regarding body fat and diets. Do you further understand Barry’s idea’s and can you write about these points a bit more? The solution for obesity often gets reduced down to a simple message – _people …

Read more 16 August, 2007

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Finally on Q & A Thursday, Paul asks what seems like a simple question: bq. What does health mean? To me health is both an esoteric concept, but also a very practical and integral thing . . . and it’s a hard word to define. Traditional definitions say health is simply not being sick, but you know, that just doesn’t work for me. Surely health is so much more than that. Health is about feeling good, being happy, having lots …

Read more 16 August, 2007

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A small snipped in this week’s SMH pointed to a New York Times article, outlining the growth in ordering meals over the internet. bq. Who has never been put on hold while trying to order pizza, hot wings or moo shu pork? Who has never opened a delivery bag and discovered a Coke instead of a Diet Coke, or that the brown rice is as white as the napkins the restaurant neglected to include? Restaurants are investing in the technology …

Read more 13 August, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is over for this week. Thanks to everyone for your fabulous, juicy questions this week – I’ve really enjoyed the day of blogging. Of course, if you’d like to pose a question for next week, then send me an email or leave a comment below.

Read more 16 August, 2007

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A reminder that Q & A Thursday is on tomorrow. Do you have any questions about food, diet and health. Given it’s Mental Health Week, I also thought I’d throw the forum open to mental health questions and topics for discussion. You can lodge a question by leaving a comment or sending me an email. Want to know what the heck Q & A Thursday is? Then take a look at the introductory post and the "Q & A …

Read more 10 October, 2007

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Today in Q & A Thursday, we’re entering the murky world of artificial sweeteners. Big pavlovalova has asked: bq. Do artificial sweeteners contain carcinogens? Also, can they cause diabetes by fooling the brain that a sugar rush is on its way, prompting it to produce insulin? Hmm, big question, so deep breath . . . h3. The controversy around artificial sweeteners. The debate about artificial sweeteners has at times resembled the hysteria around soy. If you google the subject, …

Read more 16 August, 2007

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Dinner tonight is a chickpea, lima bean and tahini casserole. It’s a lovely mixture of beans, vegetables, herbs and a hint of creaminess from the tahini. It’s based on a recipe from one of my oldest cookery books The Penniless Vegetarian by David Scott (details below). This is a funny little book, full of slightly old-fashioned, British vegetarian cooking. Definitely not in vogue, but this is the food I grew up with. It’s simple to make, but does need …

Read more 20 November, 2007

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That’s it for Q & A Thursday for this week. Next week I shall be up in sunny Queensland watching whales and catching up with my reading – so there won’t be a Q & A Thursday. However, if you have any questions, thoughts or dilemma, then leave them in a comment or send me an email and I’ll answer them in two weeks time. Thanks to everyone for another week of excellent questions.

Read more 30 August, 2007

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Following some thought I’ve decided to make the regular what’s in season list NSW specific. I’m moving more and more towards eating primarily local foods and the vastness of this country means sticking to Australian grown produce is not quite enough. Food and produce from the west coast and far north travel thousands of miles getting to Sydney. Which isn’t quite “local” food really. So from now on each month I’m going to concentrate on what’s being grown and …

Read more 08 October, 2008

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I get quite a lot of questions about nuts – are they good for you, what about the fat, how many should you eat? In my opinion, nuts are great and most people could do with eating them more regularly. Just don’t eat too many at a time. All nuts are good, but this post is about almonds. h3. What are they Almonds come from the Prunus amygdalus tree and are in the same botanical family as apricots and …

Read more 14 August, 2007

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I feel I’m running the risk of losing half my audience with today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy – how does having an alcohol free weekend sound? h3. Why? While the odd glass of wine does have some health benefits, most people tend to over-indulge. Here in Australia, alcohol is an important part of most social occasions. We meet friends for a drink, share a glass of wine with our partner at the end of the day, and …

Read more 17 August, 2007

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Lisa thought I might have some advice on how to find a good nutritionist! While it’s not something I often look for, I do have some opinions and thoughts on this. h3. 1. Make sure your nutritionist is registered In Australia, once you’re qualified, if you want to practice as a a nutritionist you have to join a professional association. Registration is also necessary for getting insurance – vital for practising these days. As I’m from the naturopathic school …

Read more 09 October, 2008

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Today in 31 Days to a Better Diet I’m delighted to have another guest post. Welcome to Lindsey from Oh Sunday School. She has a perspective on making it easier to eat well by organising your shopping. My tip for a better diet is not a specific food or recipe, it’s a method. Now, I know that the concept of being organised can scare the pants off some folk (hello husband!), but if this way of shopping works for …

Read more 23 August, 2008

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is about lemon juice in the morning. bq. What do you think of half a squeezed lemon in hot/boiling water in the morning? I have been doing this as opposed to my morning coffee. This is an old naturopathic remedy. Most detoxes include it and a lot of practitioners recommend this combination to aid liver and digestion. While I don’t promote detoxes, I do have clients who swear by it and …

Read more 09 October, 2008

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We’re coming to the end of the 31 Days to Better Energy. On the second to last day your task is to do an energy audit. h3. How will an energy audit help? We’ve spent a month talking about boosting your energy levels. My posts have talked about how to get more, the things that affect your energy, plus strategies for managing energy lulls. While it can be tempting to think energy levels should remain static during the day, it’s …

Read more 30 August, 2007

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Here in Australia, we’re slipping gently into summer. However, it’s a different story for my northern hemisphere readers. Days are shortening and the weather is getting cooler. Which also means cold and flu season is looming. Earlier in the year I posted my top five ways to keep a cold at bay. While winter hasn’t set in, start looking after yourself now, in preparation for the cold weather. If you can follow these five strategies you will have a better …

Read more 17 October, 2007

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Next on Q & A Thursday a reader asks: bq. What are salicylate levels? And why are people concerned about these levels in fruit? I have come across several websites noting that the salicylate levels in pears drop to zero if you peel the skin off. I always thought that we should try to eat the skin of fruit and vegetables because that is where all the vitamins are, but should I be peeling my fruit instead? h3. Chemicals …

Read more 09 October, 2008

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Q & A Thursday is open for this week. It’s going to be a bumper edition, as I already have a long list of varied and interesting questions. Let me know if you have any other topics, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email. As always, at the end of today I’ll add this week’s topics to the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 18 October, 2007

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First up in this week’s Q & A Thursday, Peta asks if there’s a simple way to convert the dry weight of carbs like rice and pasta, to cooked weight or volume? Carbohydrate foods like rice and pasta absorb a lot of water during cooking. However, there’s no one rule you can follow to convert from dry to cooked weight. Instead I’ve found this list of conversion measures at Ellen’s Kitchen to be really useful. It covers a wide …

Read more 18 October, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is over for this week. I haven’t answered all the questions I received. I’ll save the extra ones over for next week. A big thank you to everyone who asked a question, or left a comment. h3. This week’s questions * is there a simple way to convert dried weights of carb foods to cooked weights? * how to get enough calcium when you don’t drink milk * "is fruit really important to a healthy …

Read more 18 October, 2007

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A reminder – Q & A Thursday is on tomorrow. Do you have any questions about food, diet and health? You can lodge a question by leaving a comment or sending me an email. Want to know what the heck Q & A Thursday is? Then take a look at the introductory post and the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 17 October, 2007

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I first wrote this post for the Passion For Health blog. Recently Mike & James have closed down that site, to focus on Habit Guide – so I’m re-posting it here. I have now been a practising nutritionist and herbalist for five years. As you’d expect I’ve learnt a lot over this time and have grown and developed as a practitioner. While I still have the same fundamental philosophy about health, my approach to patients and their health has …

Read more 10 September, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy is a dietary tweak, and it’s to switch to low GI carbohydrates. h3. Why? If you’re suffering from low energy levels, it can be due to a number of causes. Lack of sleep, not exercising and having a busy, stress-full life will all contribute. On top of that though, for some people, their diet just isn’t helping. Much of our diet revolves around grain-based carbohydrate foods. We have toast or cereal for …

Read more 20 August, 2007

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The next question is, what’s in Codral’s new Immune Boost formula and does it actually work? While I haven’t seen any TV ads for this product, it’s being heavily promoted in pharmacies at the moment. It’s winter, there seem to be some particularly bad colds going round this year and everyone’s looking for a way to keep healthy. h3. Lactoferrin Codral’s new formula contains lactoferrin, which is a type of glycoprotein. Glycoproteins are molecules that are composed of both protein …

Read more 26 July, 2007

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• The Morbid Me linked to a UK site with a photo gallery of foods totalling 120 calories. 120 calories is about 500 kJ – which is a snack portion. I find these pictorial guides quite useful as they give a clear idea of portion sizes and also how energy expensive junk foods are. A while ago Diet-Blog had a similar post on 300 calorie meals and you might also be interested in my guide to five serves of vegetables. …

Read more 24 August, 2007

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The weather is noticeably cooler. While still available, the stone fruit is rubbish. The cooking segment on the radio this morning featured parsnips. All of which signals we’re moving right into Autumn. And this means the fruit and vegies that are in season, starts to change quite radically. h3. Fruit: * Apples: new season Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smiths, Royal Gala and Jonathon’s are all in stores. The best are probably Galas and Fujis. * Avocadoes: Shepards are …

Read more 07 April, 2009

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Well here we are at the final day of 31 Days to Better Energy. Since the beginning of August I’ve been writing daily blog posts, with short tasks, all aimed at boosting your energy levels. Tips during the 31 Days have included strategies for improving sleep, your diet, quick ways to get more exercise into your day, as well as methods for managing your mood. h3. The purpose of 31 Days to Better Energy My hope is that over the …

Read more 31 August, 2007

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It’s too easy to put off making diet and lifestyle changes. As I wrote in my post on how to change your diet, we tend to concentrate on the obstacles to eating well and being more active, but you can make changes today. Here are five things you can do this lunch-time or this afternoon. Five steps you can take, to make your health better. Do them all, or pick just one. *But do something today for yourself and for …

Read more 17 July, 2007

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A new study into healthy behaviours among the Australian population has revealed worrying statistics. After analysing key healthy lifestyle markers, researchers found only 5 percent of the population were following these basic guidelines. Scientists from the University of Sydney used information from the 2004 – 2005 Australian National Health Survey, which collected data from over 16,000 people. Their aim was to examine the effect of obesity on healthy lifestyle behaviours, by looking at three key diet and lifestyle areas and …

Read more 04 September, 2007

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Two-thirds of the way into 31 Days to Better Energy and I thought it was time to check-in with how everyone was feeling? h3. What’s happened so far? The last ten days of posts have included eating more vegies, starting the working week with a clean desk, planning a holiday and getting some exercise. However, probably the hardest task was Friday’s, when I challenged you to an alcohol-free weekend. I’d love to know how you went. h3. How do you …

Read more 20 August, 2007

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I ended up with a fridge full of un-used vegetables the other week. It hadn’t been a super-busy time, instead I’d over-estimated my shopping. I bought ingredients, forgetting I was going to spend the week developing recipes for an upcoming magazine issue. The recipe development created a lot of meals. Yet there was still the shopping I’d done for Richard and myself. I hate wasting food. So I used my leftover vegies to make a vat of soup. I chopped …

Read more 22 April, 2008

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The latest GI newsletter includes a useful list of suggestions on how to get your children to eat well. The number one suggestion is one I often give to parents “if you do it, they will too”: bq. Children are primed and ready to follow examples set by others – parents, babysitters, nannies, the day care centre teacher. So the key strategy is that you and those you hire to care for your kids ‘model’ a healthy lifestyle simply by …

Read more 04 September, 2007

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The final question – which of the foods contain protein? # bread # milk # pumpkin # lamb # tofu # broccoli # apples # olive oil # butter # salmon # bananas # rice # hazelnuts # chickpeas # sultanas Leave your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll post the answers tomorrow.

Read more 24 April, 2008

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Joanne has also asked about fructose: bq. What are you views on fructose, as opposed to sucrose or glucose? I understand fructose has a lower GI, and in addition, is about twice as sweet as sucrose, so less can be used for the same taste (for example, when adding to coffee). This suggests to me that fructose is a healthier alternative to table sugar. But I’ve read that over-consumption of fructose has bad effects including damaging the liver, and that …

Read more 12 July, 2007

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A couple of weeks ago I posted about a cold and flu brew mentioned on the Chew On This blog. I’ve long been a fan of ginger tea at this time of year, for keeping the winter lurgies at bay. However Professor Marc Cohen at RMIT takes it one step further: bq. He heats about five cups of water with two to three large cloves of chopped garlic, an equivalent amount of fresh ginger, half a lemon and one tablespoon …

Read more 17 July, 2007

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Over the weekend I read about the Food Dudes: Charlie, Tom, Raz and Rocco. These four superheroes battle the Junk Punks, who are plotting to take away the energy of the world, by depriving everyone of fruit and veg. The leader of the Junk Punks is General Junk, an evil, grumpy man who is as unhealthy as he is miserable. The Food Dudes get their special powers from eating lots of fruit and veg! True it’s a bit cheesy, …

Read more 23 July, 2007

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Imagine if you stopped drinking alcohol, ate well balanced meals, cut out junk food, drank lots of water and went to bed early. Hands up who doesn’t think they’d feel better and have more energy? If you eat well and look after yourself, you will feel better. You will have more energy. Those black circles under your eyes will disappear. Your skin will be clearer. *But feeling good and having lots of energy, is not rocket science. It’s not …

Read more 25 October, 2007

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One of the best articles I came across while researching the 31 Days to Better Energy strategies is Healthy ways to get more energy: a mood scientist reveals some of the best ways to recharge. It contains advice from Robert Thayer, a Professor of Psychology at California State University. Thayer’s thesis is that our energy levels are influenced by more things than simply the food we eat. Instead much of the energy fluctuations we experience are caused by our mood. …

Read more 07 September, 2007

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Cold days and heavy rain – feels like we’ve skipped autumn and are heading straight into winter this year. Despite this prices have come down in the last couple of weeks and there are some good bargains around. h3. Fruit: * Apples: Pink Ladies and Bonza apples are being picked at the moment, so they’re the freshest available * Avocado: Hass are coming into season this month * Bananas: good quality and super-cheap * Custard apples * Figs: going …

Read more 01 May, 2008

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If you’ve been sat at your desk all morning, you’re probably starting to feel a bit stiff and lethargic? It’s lunch-time, and while I’m a big fan of going outside during your lunchbreak to move around and clear your head, I do realise not everyone does this. The SMH has put together a list of exercises and stretches you can do at your desk. While they’re not the perfect solution, these simple moves should help to keep you supple, mobile …

Read more 24 July, 2007

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One reader asks: bq. I’m trying to lose some weight. Recently I’ve started drinking low carb been, instead of full strength. But am I just wasting my money? Low carb beer has rapidly gained in popularity over the last year, here in Australia. They’ve been cleverly marketed, but unfortunately I don’t think they’re a lot of help when trying to lose weight. While they do contain less carbohydrate than normal beer, most of the kilojoules in Australian beers _comes from …

Read more 19 July, 2007

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Over the past few months I’ve read that even diet soft drinks can give you diabetes; Australia’s childhood obesity problem is both getting profoundly worse, while also improving; and that losing weight is either about eating foods that fill you up, or tricking your tastebuds into thinking carrots are a burger or possibly eating dangerously small amounts of food. So much information is available and yet, it’s contradicting, confusing and sometimes just plain silly. If you’re a normal person, trying …

Read more 25 July, 2007

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Lindsey asks a large question: bq. I’d be interested to know any tips on nutrition for women. e.g. specific foods that are good for women, perhaps herbs/vitamins that help with PMS symptoms, things that in your opinion are helpful for general women’s wellbeing . . . sorry is that too broad?? Lindsey, yes that is a little broad! So I’m going to leave the PMS stuff for the moment, as that’s almost certainly a whole seperate series of posts. The …

Read more 19 July, 2007

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One of the most common topics during Q & A Thursday is dairy. Is it good for you? Do you have to drink milk to get enough calcium? Low fat vs full fat? What about healthy bones? It’s a topic guaranteed to get people commenting. Recent comments and discussion got me thinking – that it was time to write a longer post on my attitudes to dairy h3. Dairy as a natural food People regularly comment to me that …

Read more 17 June, 2008

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One of the questions I needed to follow up from last week’s Q & A Thursday was about diet and PMS – are there any foods or dietary measures that can help reduce PMS symptoms? There have been many myths, taboos, mistakes and just plain silliness thought and written about women and their menstrual cycle. Among my favourites are Pliny, who in the second century AD thought a menstruating woman would sour wine, make vines wither, kill bees, blunt knives …

Read more 26 July, 2007

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I’ve been doing some research today, for an article I’m writing. Via Melanie’s Dietriffic site I came across a quote that struck a chord with me. It’s by Craig Hassel of the University of Minnesota. He’s talking about whether coconut oil is healthy or not. But you could give this answer for almost any other food. I’m frequently asked whether a particular food is healthy or not. And this quote sums up why my answer is almost always it depends. …

Read more 18 June, 2008

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This is a Q & A Thursday week – so if you have any questions about food, diet and nutrition then send me an email. For those of you new to Limes & Lycopene Q & A Thursday is a monthly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. The Q & A Thursday forum is all about simple, practical answers to food and diet dilemmas sent in by readers. If you have a question you’d …

Read more 06 May, 2008

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Remember it’s Q & A Thursday tomorrow. This is your chance to get a straight answer to any diet, food and nutrition questions you might have. Previous Q & A Thursday’s have covered a wide range of topics, including:: * whether drinking water during a meal affects digestion * fructose * vegetarian protein requirements * why jasmine rice has such a high GI * which is the best chopping board surface If you have any food, health or diet dilemmas …

Read more 18 July, 2007

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A follow up from last week’s Q & A Thursday post about fructose. A reader notified me of an excellent transcript on the ABC’s website. It’s from Norman Swan’s Health Report and is an interview with Dr Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of California. They’re talking about obesity and the changes to our diet and lifestyle that have occurred in the last 30 years. As part of this they discuss the problems with fructose in detail. …

Read more 16 July, 2007

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That’s the end of Q & A Thursday for this week. Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. Remember, if you have any food, nutrition or health dilemmas, let me know by sending an email or leaving a comment and I’ll include them in next week’s Q & A Thursday.

Read more 26 July, 2007

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A new website has been set up to track the spread of influenza around Sydney. Hunter New England Health are hoping to learn more about how the flu virus spreads geographically. Their aim is to both monitor seasonal flu outbreaks, but also prepare for possible future pandemics. If you have the flu, all you need to do is logon and then spend 10 – 15 seconds each week, responding to an email about your symptoms. You have to live in …

Read more 31 July, 2007

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The first question in this week’s Q & A Thursday is about gaining muscle mass: bq. I’m a person of slight build, but do a reasonable amount of physical exercise, including some moderate weight training. I am looking to increase my muscle mass but I think my diet may be keeping me back. I was wondering if you could suggest some good foods to promote muscle growth. To a certain extent your build is dictated by your genes – blame …

Read more 19 July, 2007

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A quick reminder – tomorrow is Q & A Thursday. This is your chance to get clear and practical answers on those tricky diet, food and health questions you’ve been pondering. Lodge your questions, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email. Questions can be big or small, frivolous or serious, general or specific – I’ll answer them all. I need to receive your questions by 3pm tomorrow (Australian Eastern Standard Time), to be included in this week’s …

Read more 01 August, 2007

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This week on Limes & Lycopene I want to talk about one of the fundamental principles of good nutrition: eating a variety of foods_. Almost everywhere you look, health and nutrition bodies recommend variety as one of the keyen.stm dietary guidelines. So this week I’m going to be talking about why it’s important and what variety actually means. I’ll end the week with the most important part – how to increase the variety in your diet. Some simple and …

Read more 13 May, 2008

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It’s Q & A Thursday. We’re starting off this week with a question about hair loss: bq. I was hoping you could help my brother who is only 24 years old and who is losing hair! I know he has been stressed out. Searching the internet shows that stress and lack of sleep is a big contributing factor for hair loss. h3. 1. Find out why it’s happening We usually associate hair loss with older people going bald. However, …

Read more 08 November, 2007

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A question from Andrew on the topic of hayfever: bq. With spring only a month away, are there any gentle methods (ie not anti-histamine drugs) to reduce the impact of spring related allergies such as hayfever? Are there different options for daytime and nighttime? I’ve been a hayfever sufferer in the past, so I know all about the revolting experience it can be. Just as the weather starts warming up you’re hit with runny eyes, sneezing and a head full …

Read more 02 August, 2007

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Next on Q & A Thursday we’re into soy sauce substitutes: bq. My GP has advised me to avoid soy sauce as I have Hashimoto’s thyroidism (hypothyroidism). Do you know of a substitute for soy sauce? I love to cook stirfries and want to try the Spicy Noodles recipe, but it includes soy sauce. Any recommendations for substitutes? h3. Why avoid soy? If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) there are a number of foods you should be careful …

Read more 08 November, 2007

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I have received another question – what are the best foods to eat during pregnancy and why? While I’ve blogged before about some of the foods you shouldn’t eat in pregnancy (for example caffeine and the mercury in some fish), and I’ve discussed the importance of folate . . . I haven’t actually mentioned the foods you should eat. h3. What to eat when you’re pregnant The most important thing in pregnancy is to be eating a healthy diet, full …

Read more 02 August, 2007

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More energy is what we’re all after and it’s the focus of August at Limes & Lycopene in 31 Days to Better Energy. Today’s task is about cultivating some exercise buddies – and it’s to start a walking, yoga or other exercise group h3. Why? While it’s easy to have good intentions with exercise, long days at the office and a busy life can mean those intentions are never quite acted upon. For many people, exercising with others is crucial …

Read more 23 August, 2007

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As I’m away for Q & A Thursday this week, I thought I’d post a summary of the topics covered so far. Q & A Thursday has been going since the end of May and in that three and a bit months, I think you’ll agree we’ve covered a lot of ground. Rather than just listing the topics in date order, I’ve tried to organise them into categories. Note, I’ve included a couple of posts in more than one …

Read more 06 September, 2007

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This week I’ve been talking about eating a variety of foods. I’ve blogged about why it’s important, and I’m also in the process of listing the variety of foods I’m eating this week. Plus I’ve asked you to keep a track of how many different foods you’re eating. With fruit and vegetables we are told to aim for 2 + 5 serves a day. But there’s no magic figure for the number of different foods you should eat. No …

Read more 16 May, 2008

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So far I only have one question for this week’s Q & A Thursday. If you have any other food, diet and health dilemmas, then send them to me by 3.00pm Sydney time and I’ll write an answer. You can post questions in the comments section, or email them to me directly.

Read more 02 August, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is tomorrow – Limes & Lycopene’s weekly burst of blogging where you get to dictate the subject matter. If you have any questions about food, diet, health and nutrition, then let me know, by leaving a comment or sending an email. If you want to know more, then take a look at the Q & A Thursday introductory post. In the last few weeks I’ve covered a whole range of different topics, including: * "The truth …

Read more 22 August, 2007

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As you’ve probably realised, there’s no Q & A Thursday happening today. I’ve decided to run it fortnightly, for the next couple of months. I know this is a popular weekly segment, but I have some big deadlines looming. Plus I want time to throw myself into changes, new ideas and content for Limes & Lycopene. All this means I can’t quite give Q & A Thursday the attention it deserves on a weekly basis. So I’m changing it …

Read more 01 November, 2007

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There’s one outstanding question from today’s Q & A Thursday, which I’m just waiting on clarification. Emma’s asked if vegetables lose nutrients when cooked in a crockpot? It’s a good question and while I’ve done some scouting around, I just want to check my facts before posting the answer. So, sorry Emma, but I’m going to hold your question over until tomorrow. Otherwise, that’s the end of Q & A Thursday for this week.THANKS TO EVERYONE for you fabulous questions. …

Read more 23 August, 2007

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Despite the wind and rain outside we’re getting closer and closer to summer. The Northern Territory mango season is in full swing and other stone fruit are starting to come down in price. I’ve been buying asparagus at bargain prices. While the Asian greens are fantastic quality. When shopping in Sydney this month, look at for the following in season produce: h3. Fruit * Apricots * Avocadoes * Bananas * Berries – mulberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries * Cherries – …

Read more 05 November, 2007

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Most people know that breakfast is important and yet there are still an amazing number of people who miss this meal. Your task therfore on day 3 of 31 Days to Better Energy is to have breakfast. h3. Why is breakfast important? Many people find having breakfast tricky on weekdays. In the rush to get ready and get off to work, it’s one thing that gets missed. If this is you, then you’re starting your day off with an energy …

Read more 03 August, 2007

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Labor have announced wide ranging measures to curtail the advertising of unhealthy foods to children, if they win power. The policy details are still being finalised, however Nicola Roxon yesterday outlined the plan. Measures will include: * stopping the advertising of junk food on free-to-air TV, during children’s prime viewing times * preventing the use of cartoon and kids TV characters to promote food in supermarkets * reviewing the guidelines for promotional campaigns and competitions in all forms of media, …

Read more 31 July, 2007

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I’ve blogged before about school canteens and different measures being taken by schools and communities to improve the food they offer. One class in Las Vegas have taken the matter into their own hands and a quiet revolution is occurring. The problem was the kids hated the reheated frozen green beans offered during lunches. Instead of staying silent, they organised a polite letter-writing campaign, with their teacher. While complimenting the canteen staff on the food they cooked, all the kids …

Read more 06 August, 2007

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is one I can’t answer! Antti-Juhani has asked about sugar beet fibre flakes: bq. Do you have any comments about sugar beet fiber as a fiber supplement? Are there any reasons one should prefer it to, say, rye bran, or vice versa? Any good or bad points one should be aware of? I’ve never heard of sugar beet fibre flakes and I’ve never seen them in Australian stores. So far my …

Read more 25 October, 2007

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Today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy comes from a colleague of mine, Alexia Morris. Alexia has over 20 years in the fitness industry, is a pilates instructor, personal trainer and all round fitness guru. I work closely with Alexia at the Source of Wellness and she runs classes at The Gartlan Sports Centre in northern Sydney. For today’s task Alexia has designed an easy mini fitness circuit, you can do at home in 15 minutes. h3. Why? If …

Read more 25 August, 2007

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Over the last week I’ve been blogging about the importance of variety in your diet. Over four days I posted a list of the foods I ate, to check on the variety in my own eating. Each day I ate over 30 different foods, but you may have noticed the same ones cropping up regularly. * There were at least two occasions where I had tahini bars, quinoa and oat croquettes and fetta and olive muffins. * I had the …

Read more 21 May, 2008

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Kicking off this week’s Q & A Thursday is a question from Kylie: bq. Are carbs that consist primarily of white flour something to be avoided, particularly for vegetarians? I’ve recently had a massage therapist recommend that I eat meat. I’m wondering if it’s more of a case that I need to cut back on the carbs (pasta, basmati rice, soy + linseed bread) and replace with quinoa, rolled oats, and wholegrain breads like pumpernickel. what do you think? h3. …

Read more 23 August, 2007

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Melanie over at Dietriffic has just completed a fantastic series of posts on diabetes. She’s built up quite a resource of information and strategies for managing diabetes. Posts cover basic dietary advice; the importance of exercise; ways of adapting recipes to be diabetes friendly; as well as information on how to prevent diabetes. To make the information easier to accesss, Melanie’s put a summary of the diabetes series on an index page. If you’re at all concerned about diabetes, then …

Read more 25 August, 2007

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Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday, so let me know if you have any questions about food, nutrition and health, either by sending an emai or leaving a comment. Then tune back in tomorrow for all the answers. I’ve had a couple of questions already, but have space for plenty more.

Read more 08 August, 2007

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The first task for August’s 31 Days to Better Energy is on the subject of sleep – get to bed on time tonight. h3. Why? On average adults need 7 – 9 hours sleep per night, but most people don’t get this on a regular basis. Watching TV, trying to pack too many things into the day, staying up playing on computers and reading blogs (gulp), are all regular reasons for not getting to bed on time. While everyone can …

Read more 01 August, 2007

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My parents are both in their 70s 65 plus. They’re fit, active and independent. They’re still able to play my nephews’ favourite game – running races. We speak regularly about the current affairs and latest political shenanigans. They argue over the crossword every day and are planning a big trip to Europe next year. My parents live a full and active life. For a while they cooked and delivered meals-on-wheels on a regular basis. Until they decided this regular …

Read more 06 November, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is open. My weekly burst of blogging where you get to dictate the subject matter. I have a couple of questions, but am open to receiving more. Let me know your food, health and nutrition dilemmas by leaving a comment or sending me an email. For more on Q & A Thursday, see this introductory post.

Read more 09 August, 2007

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is one aimed at increasing the variety of foods you eat. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. h3. Today’s task There are so many different foods. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, dairy, legumes, grains. And then within each group there’s even more variety. Fruit comes in fresh and dried forms. You can buy oily fish like salmon, or white …

Read more 03 August, 2008

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is from a reader who asks: bq. Someone once told me that people who are anaemic crave ice. I can’t find any information about this, but it worries me because my 12 year old daughter LOVES ice. Pica is the name of the health issue where people crave and chew substances which are either not normally classified as food, or are not usually eaten in large quantitites. As well as ice, …

Read more 09 October, 2008

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I had every intention of blogging lots today, but I’ve been a bit side-tracked from Q & A Thursday. A big sorry, but a couple of jobs came in from magazines and the clinic. Short lead times mean they’ve taken priority! So Q & A Thursday is a bit stunted this week. I’ll be back blogging tomorrow and over the weekend. Plus I’ll hold the extra questions I have over, until next week.

Read more 09 August, 2007

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Briefly interrupting Q & A Thursday, to bring you today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy – drink more water. Health specialists are always talking about drinking more water. Here in Australia, the general message is to have between 1.5 and 2 litres per day, more if you’re exercising or it’s very hot. However, the 31 Days is about improving your energy levels and what’s water got to do with that? h3. What’s the deal with water? While …

Read more 09 August, 2007

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Those of you in Sydney might be interested to know Michael Pollan is taking part in this year’s Writers’ Festival. Tomorrow morning he’s in conversation with Caroline Baum. While in the afternoon he’s taking part in a forum on the future of food. His fellow panellists include someone from the CSIRO’s “designed food” team and an agricultural scientist – so should be an interesting debate. Update: Michael Pollan was also on the 7.30 Report last night – you can read …

Read more 23 May, 2008

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It’s half way through the month, and I’m only just putting up the current list of what’s in season>/images/0000/0498/Rambutan981MetresPerSecond.jpg! * Apples – the new season apples start coming through in February, with galas one of the first to be picked. …

Read more 15 January, 2008

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Today’s tip in 31 Days to Better Energy may seem like a strange one, but bear with me. Your task for today is all about small acts of altruism. h3. How does altruism improve your energy? So far in the 31 Days we’ve covered a number of different methods of improving your energy levels. From small diet changes, quick and easy exercise, through to strategies to improve sleep and making time for rest and relaxation. These are all small, 15 …

Read more 26 August, 2007

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is a from a guest writer. I’m very pleased to welcome Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness to Limes & Lycopene. Crabby’s post reveals a tricky way to get more fruit and vegetables in your diet. This group is marked by the image to the left. Everyone knows that salads are healthy, but to me they get tiresome after a while. And I used to make things worse by taking …

Read more 05 August, 2008

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Changing your diet can be hard. Changing your diet means you have to: * research what foods are healthy * work out which of those you like * find ways to cook and eat them * remember to buy them when you go shopping * prepare and cook them * eat them, like them * and then repeat It probably seems a whole lot easier to carry on just the way you are. _But you know there’s a problem …

Read more 13 November, 2007

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If you’ve tuned in today expecting Q & A Thursday, please note for the rest of the year it’s happening every fortnight. Therefore the next Q & A will be Thursday 22nd November. If you have any questions you want answered on that day, then leave a comment below or send me an email. For more information you can take a look at the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 15 November, 2007

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After a week’s break, Q & A Thursday is back. My weekly burst of blogging where you get to dictate the subject matter. I have a few questions already, but am open to receiving more. Let me know your food, health and nutrition dilemmas by leaving a comment or sending me an email. For more on Q & A Thursday, see the introductory post or the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 13 September, 2007

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Today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy is to keep a diet diary. h3. Why? One of the fundamental subjects of Limes & Lycopene is eating well. Food provides us with the nutrients and energy to live well and be healthy. The way you eat directly affects your energy levels. If you have a diet that’s full of fruit and vegetables, regular protein and small amounts of carbohydrates you are going to have more energy than if you’re …

Read more 28 August, 2007

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It’s the weekend, so how do you feel about a 20 minute task for today’s 31 Days to Better Energy tip? Here in Sydney it’s another beautiful day, so your task is to go for a 20 minute walk. h3. Why? We all know the benefits of activity, but sometimes it feels like a big deal to start an exercise programme. While some people love the gym, jogging and more intense forms of exercise, that doesn’t suit everyone. It’s easy …

Read more 11 August, 2007

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During a previous Q & A Thursday, Andrew asked about the causes of obesity. While the core of maintaining a healthy weight is about your personal habits, on a broader scale obesity is a complex condition. In my previous post I looked at some of the ways stress impacts obesity and today’s post is on how society can affect an individual’s health and weight. This is not a comprehensive study, instead I’m going to dip into two areas – city …

Read more 28 August, 2007

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We’re now about a third of the way into 31 Days to Better Energy and I thought it was time to check in with how you’re feeling? The whole point of the project is that by spending a small amount of time on your health every day, in one month you’ll feel better than when you started. It’s about the small, incremental steps you can take to improve your health. 31 Days to Better Energy is not about me collecting …

Read more 11 August, 2007

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Next in Q & A Thursday, Emma has asked about using probiotic supplements after having antibiotics – do they work and what’s the most effective and inexpensive way of taking them? Probiotics include supplements like Inner Health and Yakult. They contain bacteria or other microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on health. The official definition from the World Health Organisation is that probiotics are: bq. Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the …

Read more 13 September, 2007

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It’s Q & A Thursday – a fortnightly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. But I won’t be posting any answers until this afternoon, as I’m talking to staff at the ABC at lunch-time today – about the best foods and diet for skin health. So tune back later this afternoon for the normal Q & A Thursday blogging. If you have a question you’d like answered, leave a comment below or send me …

Read more 22 November, 2007

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In this week’s Q & A Thursday, the first question is: bq. In our household we have both full cream fresh milk (for my cereal) and UHT skim milk (for my partner’s protein shakes). Can you advise if he would be better switching to fresh skim milk, or is there no discernable difference? h3. What is UHT? UHT stands for ultra-high temperature processing. Milk is heated at a temperature of 135°C for 1 – 2 seconds. This is done …

Read more 22 November, 2007

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is all about fibre – which foods are high in soluble fibre and low in insoluble fibre? Fibre is a HUGE topic and most people need to concentrate on getting more fibre in their diet. Most people simply don’t eat enough. However there are some digestive complaints which can be exacerbated by the type of fibre you eat. This is true for many people who suffer irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and …

Read more 22 November, 2007

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around planning and making it easier to eat well. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. I work from home several days a week, but on the other days I go into clinic and see clients. These tend to be long days, so I usually pack a lunch box. This will include my lunch, plus some snacks. Stuff that’s …

Read more 04 August, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is aimed at increasing the variety of foods you eat. Back in May I spent some time blogging about the importance of variety in your diet. As part of that series, I kept a record of the number of different foods I ate over four days. Many people end up eating a limited range of foods. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks revolve around the same foods every day. The weekly …

Read more 25 August, 2008

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It’s the first week of a new month, which means it’s Q & A Thursday week. This is the day when I stop writing about what I want and put the subject matter in your hands. Ask me any question you want about food, diet or nutrition and this Thursday I’ll post an answer. Last month’s Q & A Thursday included simple strategies for getting rid of winter colds. Plus I was asked if vegemite was healthy and how …

Read more 03 June, 2008

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Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday on Limes & Lycopene – a weekly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical and sensible answers to food, diet and health dilemmas sent in by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, then either leave a comment or send me an email. If you’d like to see the questions and answers from previous weeks, then click on …

Read more 19 September, 2007

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I’ve been working away at an article on soy for Wellbeing magazine over the last few days. In the course of my research I came across a BBC resource called Cancer: the facts. It lists all the main types of cancer and then give some basic information on what it is, what the symptoms are, causes and treatments. Each page also shows links to news items pertaining to that particular cancer. The treatment outline is the standard medical approach and …

Read more 15 September, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is open for this week. At the moment I only have one solitary, lonely little question. If you have any questions about nutrition and health and want to get an answer this week, then send me an email or leave a comment below. For more about Q & A Thursday, read the introductory post, or you can take a look at the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 20 September, 2007

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• Yes more beetroot: How could I not link to Nora B’s beetroot-fest post: how do you beet it?. Look at the colour of that risotto! * Eat more beans: Sophie from Mostly Eating believes tinned beans are the perfect convenience food: “quick, comforting, healthy, agriculturally sustainable and nutritionally multi-tasking”. I couldn’t agree with her more. * Holiday survival: as an antidote to the holiday season craziness, Cranky Fitness has a holiday survival quiz. Take the quiz and test …

Read more 23 November, 2007

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This Q & A Thursday question is a variation on one I receive often – if I consume a hot chocolate / glass of wine / cake / packet of lollies / chocolate bar / tub of Ben & Jerry’s . . . will it ruin my diet? h3. It all depends on the diet While I can’t condone the whole tub of ice-cream, part of the answer is of course, it depends on the diet. If you’re eating …

Read more 20 September, 2007

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Mid week meals are all about simple, low maintenance and low fuss. In summer, salads and stir fries are the perfect solution. However as we head into winter I find myself wanting something more hearty. In winter I want easy and hearty and healthy. Which can seem like a big ask. But it’s why each winter I find myself drawn to one pot cooking. Dishes where you roughly measure a series of ingredients into a casserole dish, place in …

Read more 28 May, 2008

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Another question for Q & A Thursday. Mariana has asked: bq. Pomegranate Juice. There has been a lot of talk about the wonderful nutritional value found in this fruit. I cannot get the fruit in my local fruit shop. Consequently I have been using pomegranate juice that says “all natural”, no preservatives and no added sugar but 100% made from pomegranate concentrate. Am I getting any nutritional value from this at all or am I just wasting my money? …

Read more 20 September, 2007

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That’s it for Q & A Thursday this week – just two quick questions: * Will one hot chocolate ruin your diet? * Is pomegranate juice as good as the fruit As always, many thanks to the readers who posed questions. If you have any dilemmas for next week, then let me know by leaving a comment or sending an email. If you’d like to review the questions and answers from previous weeks, then have a browse through the "Q …

Read more 20 September, 2007

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Jocelyn from She Spills the Beans asked me ages ago about algae oil: bq. I wondered what algae oil was extracted from (algea, obviously, but there must be a more complete answer than that). Might an algae-containing product be a good addition to my diet? Where do the seaweeds rate on omega-3s? h3. What algae is the oil extracted from? There are a number of algaes that are cultivated for oil extraction. They’re mostly micro-algae, which are tiny, single-cell …

Read more 08 November, 2007

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It’s the first Thursday of the month, which means it’s Q & A Thursday. Today, on Limes & Lycopene, I’ll be answering readers’ questions on food, nutrition and how to eat well. You can ask me anything. And I’ll (attempt to) post a simple, practical and intelligible answer. I have a few questions already, but there’s space for a few more. So if you have a nutrition or food dilemma you’d like answered, send me an email. I’ll accept …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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A reminder, this is Q & A Thursday week – a fortnightly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. On Q & A Thursday I aim to post simple, practical answers to readers’ food and diet dilemmas. Let me know if you have a question you’d like answered, by leaving a comment below or sending me an email. For more information you can take a look at the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 05 December, 2007

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is also about tahini. A reader has asked: bq. I am using tahini for the first time, a liquid has risen to the top, do I use that? It’s quite common for tahini to separate out and yes, you can use the liquid at the top. The two main components of tahini are oil and also the more fibrous matter. The oil has a different density, hence it’s tendency to rise …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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Next in Q & A Thursday, Tessa asks: bq. What are the benefits/downsides of eating smoked fish, like mackerel? Smoked fish is one of the categories of foods that has both good and bad points – so it really depends on how much you’re eating. h3. The good The fish that are smoked tend to be the more oily fish, which are high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Omega 3s are a group of poly-unsaturated fats with many, …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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The beginning of the month, so it’s time for the regular list of what’s in season in Sydney. h3. Fruit: * Apples: the best apples this month are are Golden Delicious, Red Delicious Granny Smith, Jonathon’s and Pink Ladies. * Avocadoes: Hass are in season * Bananas * Blueberries: from Coffs Harbour – they’re beautiful but pricey * Cumquats * Custard apples * Dates * Dragon fruit * Grapefruit: yellow grapefruit are in season and rubys are on their …

Read more 02 July, 2008

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The first question in this week’s Q & A Thursday is from Jul at Veggie Chic: bq. What’s the difference between shoyu and soy sauce? A Japanese friend told me that “shoyu” basically means “soy sauce” in Japanese. So why do I keep hearing “shoyu” used by English-speakers as if it means something different? You’re right, shoyu is the Japanese word for soy sauce. However, Japanese soy sauce differs from that used in other countries. It’s made from fermented …

Read more 06 December, 2007

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h3. Happy new year! I’ve had a lovely, lovely break – but it’s also good to be back. I thought I’d start the year off with looking at which lovely fruit and vegetables are currently in season. h3. Eat more vegetables January is often a time when people re-focus on their health. Too much eating and drinking in December means you may be feeling tired, sluggish and generally drained of vitality. Is this you? If so, then include more …

Read more 14 January, 2009

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It’s Q & A Thursday. I have some excellent questions to talk about, covering a wide variety of topics. Usually I continue to accept questions during the day of Q & A Thursday and post answers. However I have plenty of topics to get through already – so I’m not taking accepting any more questions. I’ll get cracking soon. First up it’s food safety and reheating rice.

Read more 03 July, 2008

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Next on Q & A Thursday a reader has asked: bq. I have heard that consuming too much soy can affect a woman’s fertility. Is this correct? There’s a lot of scarey stuff about soy on the internet, but most of it’s complete rubbish. While I do not recommend soy supplements, I’m very sceptical that soy foods could have any negative effect on fertility. The science simply doesn’t add up. I’ve blogged extensively about soy before, so I’m going …

Read more 06 December, 2007

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Next on Q & A Thursday Chloe wants to know about the biological value of protein – what it is and how to use this information. This is a tricky concepts. It’s hard to explain and an important nutritional principle. But (thankfully) it can also be translated into simple dietary guidelines. Stuff you can follow, without tracking numbers and doing complex calculations. I’m mostly going to answer this question by linking back to a previous post. In a previous …

Read more 03 July, 2008

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With much fanfare the government has announced the CSIRO Wellbeing Plan for Australian Children. It’s a ten point plan, covering healthy eating and lifestyle advice. The plan is aimed at helping parents to ensure their children are eating well and developing health habits. Under the programme fridge magnets are being distributed to primary school children and the CSIRO’s website has been ramped up with lots more information and resources. According to the CSIRO: bq. The CSIRO Wellbeing Plan for …

Read more 25 September, 2007

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The last question for today’s Q & A Thursday is about fasting. A reader asks: bq. do you believe in the claim that fasting allows the body to detoxify and heal any parts of it that are ill? And do you believe there are any long-term ill effects that might be associated with doing a 24 hour fast once a week? Up front I need to say I don’t have a lot of experience with fasting. It’s not a …

Read more 03 July, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around controlling hunger and the portions you eat. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. Maybe your stomach rumbles. Maybe you get light-headed or really tired. Or is it that everyone around you suddenly starts annoying you? Whatever the signs, do you know when you’re hungry? Because it’s surprising how many people don’t. h3. Do you have time for hunger? …

Read more 06 August, 2008

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Christmas is usually a quiet time for me. Almost no one wants to see their nutritionist pre-Christmas and most of my writing work calms down. Given I work for myself and am not in the corporate sector, I usually have only a handful of Christmas functions. Normally this is the time of year I can relax, do some tidying and admin and clear my head. But not this year. For some reason 2007 is proving totally different. Yes clinic …

Read more 18 December, 2007

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Concern over levels of obesity has led the Australian General Practice Network to propose a $170 subsidy be given to overweight people, to encourage them to take part in an accredited weight loss programme. Individuals would be required to take part in a 12 week programme, with specific goals set for weight loss over that time. As reported on the ABC Dr Tony Hobbs from the AGPN says: bq. the proposal would help address Australia’s obesity problem by making it …

Read more 24 September, 2007

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A reminder, this is Q & A Thursday week – a fortnightly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. This will be the last Q & A Thursday for 2007! Given we’re building up to the end of year, I thought I’d particularly focus on questions about surviving the silly season and new year’s resolutions. Let me know if you have a question you’d like answered, by leaving a comment below or sending me an …

Read more 19 December, 2007

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A reminder. Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday – a fortnightly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. If you have any questions about food and healthy eating, then let me know. Leave your question in the comments section below, or send me an email. For more information, take a look at the original Q & A Thursday post. Alternatively you can browse the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 21 November, 2007

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I wondered if this might happen. I haven’t received any Q & A Thursday questions! It’s that time of year. The time when everyone’s busy and focus is elsewhere. I’m therefore putting Q & A Thursday on hold until the new year. It’ll be back at the end of January. In the meantime if you want to know more about Q & A Thursday take a look at the introductory post or the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 20 December, 2007

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Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday on Limes & Lycopene – a weekly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical and sensible answers to food, diet and health dilemmas sent in by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, then either leave a comment or send me an email. If you’d like to see the questions and answers from previous weeks, then click on …

Read more 26 September, 2007

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It’s been a bumper edition, but Q & A Thursday is now over for this month. Today I’ve answered questions on: * reheating rice * whether it’s possible to eat too much fruit * the connection between milk and acne * the biological value of protein and it’s impact on diet * LSA and whether you need to grind up seeds to get all their nutrition * do cooked vegetables lose their nutrients * fasting If you have a …

Read more 03 July, 2008

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Next on Q & A Thursday we move on to portion sizes. A reader has asked: bq. There’s lots of information around about how many portions of fruit & veg, protein, grains & carbs and fats we should be eating each day; and there’s a reasonable amount of info about how big a ‘portion’ is. My problem is this – when I set out to eat the recommended daily amounts of everything, it’s too much food for me. I …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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I’m working from home today. Which means I can stop and make something different for lunch. Not having done any meaningful shopping for a while, there’s an odd mixture of goods in the cupboard. This always happens towards the end of the week. While it sometimes leaves me uncertain about what to eat, I usually enjoy the challenge. Can I make something delicious and healthy with what’s in the house? It would be easy to go out for lunch …

Read more 24 July, 2008

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The next question is a follow up to my post on milk and acne. A reader has asked if it’s better to use non-dairy “milks” like soy or rice milk if you’re trying to reduce acne. The short answer to this question is it depends on the person . . . * Research has indicated there may be a link between cow’s milk and acne. I’ve blogged about this before here and a copy of one of the research …

Read more 03 July, 2008

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Q & A Thursday is open. I have a couple of questions but have space for mre. So . . . if there’s something about food, diet or health you’ve always wondered, or if you’re unsure what to eat and how to put together a healthy diet, then let me know. All answers will be posted on Limes & Lycopene today – Q & A Thursday. You can either leave a comment below, or send me an email. For …

Read more 27 September, 2007

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Next on Q & A Thursday, Jesper asks: bq. I just had a delicious chop suey bought frozen from my local store, together with rice. On the packaging of said chop suey, is the text “Do not refreeze once thawed”. Why is that? Thanks for your question Jesper – the answer is going to be an it depends. h3. The problem with thawing and re-freezing foods Freezing foods extends their shelf life. While it stops the bacteria that cause …

Read more 23 August, 2007

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So you’ve decided to include more tahini in your diet: what should you look for when buying it and how do you store it? h3. Where to buy it Tahini is available from supermarkets, health food shops, as well as Middle Eastern and Chinese grocers. h3. Hulled vs unhulled Sesame seeds have a fibrous outer coating – the hull – and tahini can be made either with or without this outer layer. Unhulled tahini is darker and has a …

Read more 15 November, 2007

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Carbohydrates are present in most of the foods we eat. In fact they’re impossible to avoid – unless you’re willing to live on a diet of just meat, fish and oil of course. The following foods all contain carbohydrates: * vegetables * fruit * dairy * nuts * seeds * lentils * chick peas * soy products * olives * avocado * pasta * bread * rice * couscous * cakes * biscuits * lollies * apple pie * …

Read more 26 September, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is over for today. If you have any questions for next week, then let me know by leaving a comment below or sending me an email. As always, thanks HEAPS to the question askers, to my readers and to everyone who has taken part in the discussion.

Read more 27 September, 2007

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Summer produce is almost in full swing. Berries, cherries, peaches and nectarines are available and coming down in price. Asparagus is particularly good, as are eggplants at the moment. Enjoy the beginnings of summer here in Sydney. h3. Fruit * Apricots * Bananas * Berries – the berry season is coming into full swing. I bought three punnets of strawberries for $5 last night. Raspberries and blueberries are also looking good. However, continuing rain in Victoria may affect prices …

Read more 04 December, 2007

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The next question I’ve received in Q & A Thursday is all about pasta. Fiona asks: bq. What is the healthiest kind of pasta? Is buckwheat/rice pasta a healthier option (even if we don’t have a wheat intolerance) or wholemeal wheat pasta? Personally, I seem to mix it up a lot and have buckwheat / rice, organic white pasta and wholegrain pasta? I have pasta probably twice a week and have started bulking them up with more emphasis on the …

Read more 23 August, 2007

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Over the weekend an opinion piece in the SMH made me pause. It’s written by Tanveer Ahmed, a doctor working in the mental health system and he writes about mental health language. As people have become more and more aware of the language of psychiatry and the mind, he wonders if we are becoming distanced from the emotions we feel. Clients no longer say they are “unhappy”, but are instead almost always “depressed”. It’s not uncommon for him to be …

Read more 19 September, 2007

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The first question in today’s Q & A Thursday is from Lucy over at Nourish Me – what are the best ways of dealing with jet lag. h3. What is jet lag? While going on holiday can be a wonderful, exciting thing, spending the first few days spaced out and tired because of jet lag, is not fun. Jet lag occurs when you cross time-zones. The symptoms are usually worse after a flight going east rather than west. The …

Read more 27 September, 2007

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Eating well is one of the foundations of health. A good diet not only reduces your risk of ill-health in the future, but it will make you feel good right now. A good diet enables your body to function at it’s best – so you will have more energy and vitality. h3. Do you feel overwhelmed? However changing your diet can feel like an overwhelming task. Eating more vegetables, reducing saturated fat, having plenty of …

Read more 18 September, 2008

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I posted a link last week to an article on encouraging your kids to eat a healthy diet, but research from the UK also shows that up to 80 percent of children’s tendency to avoid unfamiliar foods may be inherited. A reluctance to try new foods is called food neophobia and in the past it would have been an evolutionary advantage – preventing exposure to potentially poisonous foods. The team surveyed the parents of over 5,000 twins aged between 8 …

Read more 11 September, 2007

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A couple of days ago I blogged about why you should be eating carbohydrates. The simple truth is they’re impossible to avoid. But what happens to that carbohydrate once it enters your mouth? Carbohydrates are the most widely consumed substance in the world, second only to water. Most cultures have carbohydrates as their staple foods. Whether it’s rice, corn in the form of polenta or maize, pasta, breads, potatoes, couscous – carbohydrates are the foundation foods of the majority …

Read more 29 September, 2007

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The next question in Q & A Thursday is from Andrew and he’s asking about feeding kids : bq. We work hard to try and give our kids a healthy variety of food, but sometimes their appetites are unexpectedly huge, they can eat a whole plate of quality food and still be super hungry (especially at dinner) . . . To avoid junk after dinner, we often end up giving them bananas, toast or weetbix as they are available, …

Read more 27 September, 2007

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And that’s it for Q & A Thursday this month. Thanks to everyone for your brilliant questions and for taking part in the forum. I’d love to know any feedback and follow up thoughts. The next Q & A Thursday will be 3rd July – so if you have any questions then let me know by email. And I’ll up date the Q & A Thursday archives in the next few days

Read more 05 June, 2008

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The final question in this month’s Q & A Thursday is on the topic of weight loss: bq. Is it possible to gain or not lose weight when you restrict your calorie intake? Is there an optimum amount of food to eat for your body to burn fat? When you’re trying to lose weight it’s tempting to take the less is more approach – the less food you eat, the more weight you’ll lose. But this is not necessarily …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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A couple of weeks ago I was posting all about tahini. I thought a summary page would be useful, to finish off that series. Below are links to my posts on the nutritional content of tahini, plus how I use it. At the end are links to other recipes and tahini ideas. h3. All about tahini * What is tahini and is it good for you * How to buy and store tahini * "How much calcium is in …

Read more 11 December, 2007

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By knowing a small amount about the GI you can both prevent diabetes in the future, but also boost your energy levels now. While the GI can sound complicated, you don’t need to know numbers and figures. Instead there are simple guidelines you can use to switch to low GI foods. You’ll start feeling the benefits immediately, through improved energy levels during the day. Plus you’ll be preventing diabetes and other health nasties in the future. h3. The importance …

Read more 02 October, 2007

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A reminder that Q & A Thursday is on tomorrow. You can lodge a question by leaving a comment or sending me an email. Want to know what the heck Q & A Thursday is? Then take a look at the introductory post and the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 03 October, 2007

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The first question in today’s Q & A Thursday is from Caroline: is it safe to reheat cooked rice? Raw rice naturally contains a bacteria called Bacillus cereus. In large amounts this bacteria can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Bacillus cereus spores survive the cooking process and are not killed off when rice is reheated. So the safety of rice is dependant on how you handle the rice once cooked. The temperature range of 4°C – 60°C is considered the …

Read more 03 July, 2008

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I’m starting today with a question for you. Below is a fairly standard selection of the ready meals available in your local supermarket. Despite being labelled Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine, what’s wrong with all these meals? If you have any thoughts or suggestions, leave them in the comments below. :Update: I’ve posted my follow up article: why I hate ready meals. h3. Reminder Tommorrow is Q & A Thursday – *a …

Read more 03 October, 2007

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Following the success of the guest posts during the 31 Days to a Better Diet, I’m continuing the series. Every now and then, there will be a post from a guest writer on what they do to eat well. Today it’s Leanne from Forever Change talking about her DIY Food Panel. Have you ever stared down at an empty packet or an empty plate/bowl of something, almost in disbelief and thought to yourself did I really eat that whole …

Read more 03 February, 2009

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There is nothing more likely to get me shouting at the TV than a ready-meal advert. Despite the pictures of happy families and sexy young singles, ready-meals INFURIATE me. I posted some product pictures yesterday and asked the question – what’s wrong with these ready-meals? And you, my lovely readers, posted excellent, excellent answers. Ready-meals do have way too much salt in them (even the “healthy” ones), they’re expensive and most have an ingredients list as long as your …

Read more 04 October, 2007

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Q & A Thursday is open for this week, so if you have any food, diet or health dilemmas, let me know. I’m going to start this week’s Q & A Thursday by exploring the question I posed yesterday – what’s wrong with ready meals. You can lodge questions, by leaving a comment below or sending me an email. For more information take a look at the introductory post and the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 04 October, 2007

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Kate has asked a follow up question to my What I eat series. This was the two weeks at the end of last year when I posted a pictorial diary of what I’d been eating. Kate wants to know: bq. Do you have to stop yourself from having chocolate bars and other snacky stuff? Do you have to force yourself to eat the way you do? The short answer is – no, _but I do make it easy on …

Read more 23 January, 2008

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According to Harris Farm Market the heatwave throughout much of Australia will cause supply problems over the next few weeks. At this time of year much of our produce comes up from Victoria and South Australia. The 40° plus temperatures down there have played havoc. Farmers can’t get pickers to work in these temperatures (don’t blame them) and much of the produce is rotting in the fields. Produce from New South Wales is limited. As usual, no promises this …

Read more 05 February, 2009

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It’s day 31. The final day in the series "31 Days to a Better Diet":/blog/2008/08/01/31-days-to-a-better-diet-introduction. Over the last month we’ve tried new foods. Worked on strategies to reduce portion sizes. Discussed different ways to get organised. And worked on building a greater awareness of what you eat. The central goal of the 31 Days to a Better Diet was of course to improve your diet. But I also aimed to highlight the small-scale, incremental changes …

Read more 31 August, 2008

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is aimed at increasing the variety of foods you eat. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. Preparing your own food is a good life skill. With even a little knowledge and a few techniques you can prepare good quality, tasty meals. Food which is better for you than anything you buy from a take-away, restaurant or food hall. Cooking for …

Read more 07 August, 2008

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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 16 February, 2008

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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 19 February, 2008

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Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are jam-packed full of good stuff. However, unless you’re super-diligent with your chewing, most of them are going to pass straight through you. Which means all their goodness passes straight through as well. This is one of the reasons why tahini is so good. In grinding up the sesame seeds and making them into a paste, it’s easier for you to absorb the nutrients. h3. The nutrients in sesame seeds …

Read more 14 November, 2007

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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 28 February, 2008

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Following the success of the guest posts during the 31 Days to a Better Diet series, I’m continuing the series. Each month there will be a post from a guest writer on what they do to eat well. And this month it’s Sue-Lin Tin from Noodlebowl talking about watching your portion sizes. I am Sue-Lin Tin, an average girl with an average yo-yo dieting lifestyle and a more than average love of broccoli. Muesli, yoghurt and a banana. A …

Read more 16 September, 2008

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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 06 March, 2008

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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 13 March, 2008

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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 25 March, 2008

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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 12 March, 2008

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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 29 March, 2008

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Today I’m very pleased to be doing something new. New for Limes & Lycopene anyway. We have a guest blogger, Ali from The Office Diet. If you read my Quicklinks posts you’ll know I’ve recently become a fan of this site and it’s commonsense approach to eating well at work. Over to Ali . . . If you work in a desk-based job, sometimes making it to five pm at all can be a challenge, let alone getting there …

Read more 10 July, 2008

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Tomorrow is Q & A Thursday – the first of the monthly editions of this forum in 2008. For newcomers to Limes & Lycopene, Q & A Thursday is a regular question and answer forum, where you get to pick the topics. Note: I used to encourage people to leave their questions in the comments. However as Q & A Thursday has become bigger and brighter, I now request all questions be emailed to me directly. Makes it easier …

Read more 02 April, 2008

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The first question in this week’s Q & A Thursday is from Em: bq. Can tahini be made at home, or do you have to buy it commercially? In all the recent posts I’ve written on tahini I’ve never thought about making your own. However, it is certainly possible, given the right blender, to make a tahini paste at home. In commercially produced tahini the seeds are often crushed, soaked and then brined, prior to milling. This removes the …

Read more 05 June, 2008

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Carolyn asks is using brown or raw sugar better for you than using white sugar? Brown sugar has a healthier reputation than white sugar. It’s often sold as “raw sugar” and has a natural, unprocessed image. But, there’s little difference between the two. h3. What is brown sugar? Brown sugar differs from white sugar because of its molasses content. Molasses is a dark syrup, that’s a by-product of sugar refining. When small amounts of molasses are mixed in with …

Read more 03 April, 2008

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Courtney has asked a common question: bq. I know it is bad to eat late at night, but two nights a week I go straight from work to a 3 hour fencing practice. I usually eat an apple or some granola before practice but by the time I get home around 9 pm I am starving. Can you suggest some things that are acceptable to eat and won’t totally negate all the hard work I did at practice? h3. …

Read more 03 April, 2008

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Cold and flu season seems to have reared it’s ugly, snotty head this week. Clients, shop assistants, bloggers, readers – there seems to be a lot of sickness about. So how do I get rid of this *%#!@ cold seems to be the question of the week. In answer I thought I’d link back to some older posts: * The fabulous ginger, honey and lemon tea. Drink 4 – 6 cups of this a day at the first sign …

Read more 03 April, 2008

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After last month’s heavy rains and high prices, the supply of vegies is starting to normalise. Cabbage, beans, silverbeet, spinach, beetroot are all coming down in price and supplies are much more plentiful. More apple varieties are coming into season. Fujis, my favourites, are particularly good at the moment. The Australian orange season is starting up again and I’ve seen the first mandarins of the year. h3. Fruits currently in season * Avocadoes: Shepherds are in season * Apples: …

Read more 07 April, 2008

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Over at Problogger, August is Building a Better Blog Month. I love the focus of this idea, the sense that by following simple, practical tips, in one month’s time you’ll have a better blog. It’s about changing habits and re-invigorating what you’re doing. Which set me thinking about health, diet and what you could achieve in one month. August, here in Australia, is generally one of those terrible months for health. It’s the month when winter starts taking it’s toll: …

Read more 01 August, 2007

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Earlier in the week I was reading an article on meals based around four storecupboard ingredients. There were some great suggestions; imaginative, tasty and beautiful food. The article made me think about new ways to use some basics and I found myself scribbling down ideas. However reading through I was also struck by the number of times the words “quick”, “instant” and “easy” were used. Some of the ideas were simple and some used minimal ingredients. But they would …

Read more 29 January, 2009

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Checking through your Skribit suggestions, there are a couple of questions about protein: # How much protein does the average person really need a day; and # How to get more protein in your diet I’ve written a fair bit about protein before, so thought I would tie these two up by linking to some old posts. h3. How much protein do you need? * Protein basics: Last year I wrote a couple of posts on protein and vegetarians. …

Read more 10 December, 2008

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During this week on food variety I’m keeping track of how many different foods I eat each day. I was originally going to post this information in the comments section. Instead I’ve decided to list it all in one separate post. I’ll add to this over the next few days. h3. Wednesday * Quinoa & oat croquettes with strawberry jam: quinoa, rolled oats, sesame seeds, sugar, strawberries * Mandarin * Soy coffee: soy milk * Lentil soup & bread: …

Read more 15 May, 2008

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It’s now well into the second half of August, which means we’re also over half way through the 31 Days to a Better Diet series. How is everyone going? Welcome to all the new readers. If you’ve just tuned in to Limes & Lycopene you may be interested in subscribing to my monthly email newsletter. You can sign up here. You can also add Limes & Lycopene to your RSS reader – the feed address …

Read more 18 August, 2008

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A number of people have asked for the Moroccan spice blend recipe. The mixture I mentioned as one of the five foods that save me when I’m super-busy. It’s quick and easy to make – no toasting and grinding required. The amounts below make about 1/4 cup of spice mix. h3. Moroccan spice blend * 2 teaspoons each of ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, ginger and cinnamon * 1 teaspoon each of ground white pepper and turmeric * 1/4 …

Read more 02 April, 2008

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I’m totally delighted to have Sophie from Mostly Eating guest blogging today. Sophie has some wise words about controlling those alcohol fuelled food blow-outs. Does this sound like a familiar scenario? You’ve had a wonderfully healthy week, brimming with fruit and vegetables, splendidly low fat and wholegrain-tastic. What better way to round off the week than with a quiet drink with your friends, or maybe just a few glasses of wine at home. Fast forward and it’s the end …

Read more 19 August, 2008

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Working with a client last week, I put together this shopping list. She’s a busy woman, who’s struggling to eat well. Long days at the office mean she’s too tired to cook when home. She finds getting organised to take her lunch every day too difficult. And there are few healthy choices where she works. So she ends up eating toast and biscuits. And all the gorgeous healthy food she buys on the weekend sits in the fridge all week, …

Read more 10 April, 2008

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is about being more aware of what you’re eating. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. There’s an episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza realises every choice, every decision he’s ever made has been wrong. He hasn’t had bad luck, he’s just made bad decisions. From that point on he decides to go against instinct and start saying and doing the …

Read more 13 August, 2008

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Finally . . . here’s the June list of the fruit and vegetables in season in Sydney. h3. Fruit: * Apples: the best apples this month are are Braeburn’s, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Pink Ladies. Update: I think pink ladies are the pick of the bunch and most of the fujis I’ve bought recently have been bitter. * Avocadoes: Hass and Sharwill are in season * Bananas: good quality and cheap * Blueberries: from Coffs Harbour, although …

Read more 10 June, 2008

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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 06 February, 2008

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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 13 February, 2008

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around planning and making it easier to eat well at work. Taking your lunch to work each day is a fundamental routine which both saves money and leads to better eating. Lunch from home is likely to be lower in fat, sodium and kilojoules than the vast majority of food hall fare. However many people make the mistake of taking a boring lunch to work. While some …

Read more 20 August, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is from another guest writer. I’m very pleased to welcome Mike Kinnaird of Habit Guide to Limes & Lycopene. Mike’s post is centred around planning and making it easier to eat well. h3. Create a structure One of the bigger problems with nutrition is that there are just so many factors to fit in every single day – high fiber, low salt, the right balance of fats, protein, “good” carbs, …

Read more 09 August, 2008

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Do you know what you eat? I mean, do you really know what you eat? Because in my line of work I come across a lot of people who don’t. Often they have a picture in their head of how they eat – wholegrain toast, lots of salads, regular stir fries, plenty of fruit, minimal take-away. However when I get them to record their daily food, it looks quite different. Often the salads, stir fries and fruit are not …

Read more 21 April, 2009

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Time for a quick quiz I think. Which of the following foods contain carbohydrates? # bread # milk # pumpkin # lamb # tofu # broccoli # apples # olive oil # butter # salmon # bananas # rice # hazelnuts # chickpeas # sultanas Leave your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll post the answers later today.

Read more 16 April, 2008

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Thanks to all of you who did the quick carb quiz. I’ve posted the answers. Next question – same foods – but this time, which contain fibre? # bread # milk # pumpkin # lamb # tofu # broccoli # apples # olive oil # butter # salmon # bananas # rice # hazelnuts # chickpeas # sultanas Leave your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll post the answers tomorrow.

Read more 17 April, 2008

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h3. Fruit: * Apricot: this is the best month for apricots in Australia. At the moment though I’m unsure where the locally sold fruit are from. I’ll try to find out in the next few days. * Avocadoes: Hass * Berries: the Victorian berry season is in full swing, with raspberries, youngberries, blackberries and so on all in season. However I’ve also bought cheap(-ish) NSW raspberries, strawberries and blueberries over the last 7 days. * Cherries: coming into season, …

Read more 04 December, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around controlling hunger and the portions you eat. If you’re following this group of posts, they’re marked by the picture on the left. Do you ever find yourself saying “once I’ve had the first chocolate I just can’t stop myself”? Or “I can’t keep ice-cream in the house because I know I’ll eat it all”? Or "once I ate that first chip they were gone …

Read more 11 August, 2008

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Next in Q & A Thursday Lindsey from Oh Sunday School asks: bq. I love cheese but I’m aware of the high fat content in most types. Do you have any info on the nutritional benefits of cheese (if there are any) and which types might be better to eat than others? Or are they simply one of those foods that should only be eaten in moderation? Cheese seems to be one of those foods that most people LOVE. …

Read more 09 August, 2007

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Today’s task in 31 Days to Better Energy is very, very easy – it’s simply to make a cup of tea. h3. How does tea help your energy levels? There are many benefits to drinking tea, both normal and herbal. Herbal teas like peppermint and chamomille can calm and soothe your digestion, while black tea and green tea are full of antioxidants. As I’ve noted before during the 31 Days, you will have more energy if you are well hydrated. …

Read more 27 August, 2007

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Over at Diet-Blog, Crabby McSlacker asks the interesting question: if there was an exercise pill, would you still work out? bq. Suppose there was now a pill that could burn the same number of calories, build the same muscles, and provide all the same health benefits as any amount of exercise you could do . . . would you ever go to the gym again? At the moment, comments are heavily in the yes I would still exercise camp – …

Read more 19 September, 2007

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On my list of things to do today is some grocery shopping. In my head “we’re out of food”. But if I stand in my kitchen and look in the fridge, freezer and pantry, this is plainly a ridiculous statement. There is actually plenty of food in the house. I have dried beans, rice, quinoa, noodles and pasta in the cupboard. My spice rack is full, plus there’s olive oil, soy sauce and a number of spice pastes in …

Read more 28 July, 2008

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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 05 March, 2008

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Given the weather we’ve had it’s hardly surprising a reader has asked for hot weather meal suggestions. It’s something I’ve been talking to clients about. As well as trying to find good solutions for Richard and I at home. So I’ve posted five meal ideas on my clinic website. h3. What’s your favourite hot weather meal?

Read more 13 February, 2009

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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 20 March, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around getting more variety in your diet. This group is marked by the image to the left. One way to increase the variety of foods you eat, is to switch around your staples. By changing foods which form the foundations of your diet, you’re eating something new, but doing it in an easy, repeatable and sustainable manner. You’re consuming foods you know, whilst simultaneously adding to your nutrient …

Read more 14 August, 2008

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Today’s task in 31 Days to a Better Diet is one way of controlling the size of the portions of food you eat. Not so long ago it seemed everyone was buying big white plates and bowls. Presented on gleaming white plates, food does look beautiful. White plates highlight the colours and textures of what you’re eating, making herbs look greener, tomatoes brighter and citrus even more luscious. However at home, big plates and bowls can _encourage you to …

Read more 29 August, 2008

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is all about being aware of what you’re eating. If you’re following this group of posts, look out for the picture on the left. h3. Today’s task Before changing your diet, it’s really important to know what you’re eating now. So today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is to keep a diet diary for a week. h3. Why a diet diary? As a nutritionist I …

Read more 02 August, 2008

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Continuing the sweet theme, Milly has asked: bq. What would be a good non sugar based alternate to honey? I’m allergic to honey and in its place I have been using golden syrup, which clearly isn’t quite as nutritionally beneficial. Is there anything that will have the same sweetening effect and consistency, but isn’t really bad for me (and my teeth)? h3. Golden syrup vs honey It may seem counter-intuitive, but when you compare golden syrup and honey, _the …

Read more 30 January, 2008

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We’re moving towards spring. A change in seasons. Which means the fruit and vegetables available to us also starts changing. September and October are months of flux. When what should be available to us and what’s actually available can be two different things. At the moment I’m thinking a lot more about local food. For the past few years I’ve increasingly tried to limit my grocery shopping to Australian goods. Well, mostly Australian at the very least. However more …

Read more 03 September, 2008

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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 19 March, 2008

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The first question today is from Matt: bq. What is the best surface for a chopping board, from both a knife survival and food safety point of view? It seems like every possible material is either murder on the knife’s edge, or a near-perfect medium for bacterial survival This is a question I’m always uncertain about as well. I use a wooden chopping board at home, but that’s much more for aesthetic than food safety considerations. My understanding is that …

Read more 12 July, 2007

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As I noted yesterday, most health authorities publish lists of dietary principles to follow. In amongst the advice to lower saturated fat, eat more vegetables, choose lean protein and avoid trans fats, the principle most commonly overlooked is the exhortation to choose a variety of foods. h3. Variety of foods means variety of nutrients Variety of foods is important, because it’s the best way of ensuring you get all the nutrients you need. Lists of the healthiest foods in …

Read more 14 May, 2008

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With the chocolate & beetroot cake recipe posted, Q & A Thursday is over for this week Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. If you have a question you’d like answered next week, then either leave a comment or send me an email. If you want to know more about Q & A Thursday, take a look at the introductory post or the Q & A Thursday archives.

Read more 13 September, 2007

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That’s the end of Q & A Thursday for this week. Thanks to everyone for your excellent questions as usual. If you have something you’d like to ask for next week, then leave a comment, or drop me an email.

Read more 19 July, 2007

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Announcing the Pantry Challenge In a busy life eating well can sometimes be difficult. Regular planning, shopping and cooking all take time and if you’re having a flat-out week these things get overlooked. Without good food in your cupboards or freezer the tempting fall-back is take away and fast food. If this is happening intermittently it’s not a problem . However if you’re regularly turning to take-away then your diet and health are suffering. h3. Cooking from the pantry …

Read more 11 September, 2008

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If I told you that in 31 days you could have a better diet and better health, would you believe me? While you may want to change your diet, it often feels too hard. A task so enormous and overwhelming that you just can’t do it now. Your day is filled with commuting to and from work. At work you’re busy, stressed and the boss just keeps piling up your inbox. While weekends are spent …

Read more 01 August, 2008

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I’ve been thinking of Christmas gift ideas over the last few weeks. Recipes and foodie things to make. ost Christmas gift ideas revolve around cakes, chocolate and sweets. Looking through the latest Donna Hay and it was full of bonbons, white Christmas, chocolate truffles, mini cupcakes, biscuit stacks, cake, cake, cake and cake. It all looks beautiful, amazing even, but I like my presents to be a bit different. So I put out a request on Twitter for healthier …

Read more 19 December, 2008

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I had breakfast with a friend over the weekend. Amidst the discussion of books, politics and mutual friends, we also talked about his diet. He’s a smart man, knows about food, earns a good income. And yet he’s not happy with his diet. Each day starts off well. Breakfast is sugar-free natural muesli with fruit, nuts and yoghurt. He has fruit on his desk for morning snacks and eats well at lunch. However _from mid afternoon, the health value …

Read more 07 May, 2008

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We’re now up to day 10 of 31 Days to Better Energy. I’m going to post a summary of what’s happened so far tomorrow, but for now it’s on to today’s task – go and chat to a colleague. h3. Why? This task has two benefits. For most people working in an office, your day is pretty sedentary – I know mine is. We have telephones, email, computers, printers and apart from exercising your fingers over the keyboards, you barely …

Read more 10 August, 2007

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Today’s task in the 31 Days to a Better Diet is centred around getting you to eat more vegetables. Eating out can be a wonderful experience. Someone else does the cooking, you have the opportunity to eat something delicious you wouldn’t make at home. A glass of wine, some lovely conversation, all while re-connecting with friends and loved ones. And if you only eat out occasionally then it’s a treat: time to relax, enjoy and order dessert. However if …

Read more 27 August, 2008

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Finally for this Q & A Thursday a reader has asked how to break an addiction to carbs? Second to tiredness, I think sugar and carbohydrate cravings are the most common complaint of clients at my clinic. A lot has been written about carbohydrate cravings. Some dismiss them as an emotional response, while others are convinced they’re a true addiction. I think it’s not a case of one or the other, but for most people it’s a bit of …

Read more 06 December, 2007

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A quick link over to my latest post at Diet-Blog: Chocolate the new antidepressant. New research from the Black Dog Institute, here in Australia, has found a link between chocolate cravings and certain personality types. If you’re prone to irritability and worrying about rejection, then not only are you more likely to crave chocolate, but it may actually improve your mood. I’ve blogged about the health benefits or otherwise, of chocolate before. For more information on this latest study, …

Read more 04 October, 2007

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I’m going to occasionally be posting about what I’m eating. A food diary in photos. About two years ago I posted a fortnight of pictures of what I eat. I’m not planning to feature another two week block, instead it will be the occasional day. I’m going to include a variety of days. Times when I’ve eaten to plan and days which haven’t been so good – when I haven’t had time to shop, or work and life has been …

Read more 14 May, 2009

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Changing your diet is difficult and large-scale changes are especially hard. Most people want to do the right thing, they want to eat well. However for too often we see obstacles to this: work, life, lack of knowledge, inability to cook, tiredness – all these things can get in the way of leading a healthy life. It’s easy to put off eating well. It’s easy to think – when I’m less tired, have more time, have a bit more money …

Read more 17 July, 2007