-
Barista milk
Barista milk is formulated to produce beautiful and tasty milk-based coffees, especially when using plant-based (e.g. almond, oat, soy) milks. Why barista milk? A milk-based coffee with stunning latte art requires milk that won’t break when heated and that will produce the right size of bubbles for texture. For the most part, this is not an issue with cow’s milk. However, non-dairy (i.e. plant-based) milks can be tricky to work with. In addition, coffees bought at cafes need to taste better than anything you can make at home. Barista milk in the Australian market Many manufacturers of dairy and non-dairy milks now offer a barista range of products. Brands include…
-
Product review: Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls
Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls are a portable, convenient meal to have on the go. They are vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre and protein. Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls These bowls are new in the line of hommus and dips of the famous manufacturer Obela, makers of the convenient snack Obela Hommus To Go. In my opinion, this is a great way to get switch people’s perception about hommus from just a dip to what it is in the Middle East: a meal. Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls come in the following flavours: Quinoa Tabouli Salad With Falafels & Lemon Garlic Dressing Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables With Falafels & Basil Pesto…
-
How to fix constipation
Constipation is a gastrointestinal disorder affecting a considerable percentage of the population. Based on severity, it can have a significant negative impact in health and quality of life. In this article we explore how to fix constipation. What is constipation? Constipation is a gastrointestinal condition characterised by infrequent bowel movements (1, 2), hard or lumpy stools (1), difficulty passing stools (1, 2) and the sensation of incomplete evacuation (1). The prevalence of constipation has been reported to be 12-17% of the global population (1). The prevalence is higher in elderly people (1, 2), women (1, 2), particularly when pregnant (2). Factors associated with constipation Intrinsic factors, including age, gender, genetic…
-
Product review: Hart & Soul broth soups
Hart & Soul broth soups are a great source of nourishment for the colder months of the year. They are low in calories and shelf-stable. Hart & Soul broth soups The million dollar question is: are these broths or soups? Well, they are soups made with broth. Don’t think about them as your typical minestrone or chicken soup, though. They contain vegetables but are mostly broth. These soups come in 350g pouches containing 1 serve per pouch. They are available in major supermarkets and come in 3 flavours: beef, chicken and vegetable. Hart & Soul broth soups are low in energy, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-fat and relatively low-carb. Ingredients As you…
-
Should you eat breakfast?
Should you eat breakfast? This continues to be a controversial topic when it comes to health and nutrition. Although every person’s biology is different, it seems that the majority of people would benefit from not skipping the first meal of the day. Breakfast: the most important meal of the day? Conspiracy theorists and skeptics tend to be of the opinion that breakfast was proclaimed “the most important meal of the day” as a marketing strategy to increase the food industry’s profits. However, there has been some scientific evidence to suggest that breakfast is indeed associated with weight loss and improved body composition (1). Benefits of eating breakfast Satiety and hunger…
-
Product review: FroPro singles
FroPro singles are a healthier “ice cream on a stick” option for people looking for a frozen treat that doesn’t pack up the calories and keeps carbs and sugar low. FroPro singles FroPro singles are another product from the healthier ice cream manufacturer FroPro. These are Magnum-style ice cream on a stick covered in a hard chocolate shell. FroPro singles come in 3 flavours: Double Chocolate, Salted Caramel and Plant Based Vanilla. They are available at Woolworths supermarkets, often at a discounted price. Each box contains 4x 400ml sticks. All the flavours are gluten-free. The Double Chocolate and Salted Caramel flavours are milk-based and higher in protein than the Plant…
-
Protein requirements for female athletes
Are protein requirements for female athletes the same than those of male athletes? Although it makes sense to think that body composition, energy metabolism and sex hormones may play a role in nutrient requirements, there are no fast and hard rules, but sensible guidelines as detailed below. Protein requirements for female athletes In theory, female athletes should have slightly lower protein requirements than their male counterparts because oestrogen causes exercising female bodies to increase fatty acid oxidation and decrease amino acid (and carbohydrate) oxidation (1, 2). Moreover, protein catabolism is higher in the luteal phase when oestrogen and progesterone are high (1). On the other hand, some studies seem to…
-
Recipe: Smoky eggplant dip
This smoky eggplant dip is essentially a shortcut version of one of my favourite dips ever: baba ghanoush. Specially formulated for those days when you don’t have the time or equipment to make the real deal. Instead of imparting a smoky flavour by actually charring the eggplant, this recipe relies on smoked paprika and smoked salt, two of my favourite ingredients. This dip is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, vegetarian and vegan. You can enjoy it with veggie sticks or crackers (such as Carman’s or Olina’s) or as a sauce to serve with Middle Eastern fare.
-
Product review: Black Leaves teas
Black Leaves teas include a selection of high quality loose leaf and herbal teas especially crafted with health and wellbeing in mind. Black Leaves teas The company from Perth was founded by a young entrepreneur who had a noble motivation: to help his mother regain physical wellbeing. The full story is longer an way more interesting, so I encourage you to jump on their website (link below) and had a read in the About section. Black Leaves teas come in 50g and 250g pouches (a couple of items are available in 1kg bags) and are sold under the following categories: Detox: blends designed to accelerate metabolism, improve digestion, reduce appetite,…
-
Recipe: Low carb silverbeet and ricotta pie
This low carb silverbeet and ricotta pie is a spin on “pastel de acelga” (a.k.a. “torta Pascualina” in Argentina and Uruguay). It’s great for brunch or any other time of the day. In Perú, “pastel de acelga” is commonly found in bakeries and cafes, from the humblest to the fanciest. The filling commonly features bread, milk and Parmesan cheese. I prefer to use ricotta for better texture and flavour. I used an almond meal crust to make it both low-carb and gluten-free but you can use your favourite savoury pie crust recipe or pre-made pie crust.
