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Product review: YoPRO frozen dessert
YoPRO frozen dessert is a high protein treat with no added sugar from the makers of my favourite high protein yoghurt. YoPRO frozen dessert YoPRO frozen dessert comes in packs of 4 individually wrapped items in the “ice cream in a stick” format. Each serve contains 540 ml of frozen goodness, 105-109 kilocalories (depending on the flavour), 10 grams of protein, no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners. You can find them in the frozen section of Coles supermarkets. The current available flavours are: Mint Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Berries & Cream, and Chocolate Mocha. Ingredients Below are the ingredients lists for a couple of flavours. Note that despite YoPRO is…
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How to eat more vegetables
According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, adults should eat about 5 serves of vegetables for good health (1). However, only 7.5% of the adult population manage to meet their recommended target (2). Part of the problem is that some people don’t like vegetables, but it’s also true that many people don’t know how to eat more vegetables. How many serves of vegetables For most of the population from the age of 9, the recommended number of serves is around 5 serves per day. This varies based on gender (males need more) and life stage (pregnant and lactating women need more). Likewise, more active individuals, such as athletes, need more. The…
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Product review: Hart & Soul recipe bases
Hart & Soul recipe bases are one of the newest products from the manufacturers of my favourite shelf-stable soups. These recipe bases will help you get dinner on the table in record time. Hart & Soul recipe bases These are the current The Hart & Soul recipe base ranges: Butter Chicken, Green Curry, Moroccan Tagine, Pad Thai, Massaman Curry, Laksa, Nasi Goreng, Panang Curry, Rendang Curry, Tikka Massala, Red Curry, Satay Curry, Stroganoff, Teriyaki Stir Fry. All of them come in 80g sachets that make 3-4 servings, with the exception of the Laksa which makes 2-3 servings. All of the bases are refined sugar free (but not sugar free!), gluten…
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Product review: Activate Foods
Activate Foods is a meal delivery service in NSW offering healthy gluten-free portion-controlled meals for people who don’t have time to cook. Activate Foods Activate Foods is a food delivery service based on the Central Coast of NSW. They deliver to the Central Coast, Sydney and Newcastle on Mondays. The company works with a dietitian, ensuring appropriate portion sizes and detailed nutrition information. The meals All Activate Foods are gluten-free and menus change slightly week to week. You can choose from a selection of fresh and frozen meals, which include salads, hot meals, soups, breakfast items, snacks, bread and fermented vegetables. Some meals are available in family size trays. Special…
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Energy density vs nutrient density
When assessing whether a particular food is beneficial for you or not, energy density vs nutrient density is an important consideration to make. In general, you should seek out nutrient density for health. Energy density Density is a physical property of matter that describes the relationship between mass and volume (density = mass / volume). However, when talking about energy density, we refer to energy (kilocalories or kilojoules) / volume. Therefore, energy dense foods are those that pack a lot of energy in a small volume. Energy dense foods are often high in fat (because fat is the macronutrient with the most energy per gram: 9 kilocalories or 37 kilojoules)…
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Product review: Bounce keto low carb bars
Bounce keto low carb bars are a snack alternative for health-conscious active individuals following a keto or low carb diet. Bounce This Australian company started out selling single serve packaged protein balls and now has a wider range of products targeted to active populations. Other product ranges include the aforementioned protein balls (whey and plant-based), brekkie bars and milkshake powders for kids. Bounce keto low carb bars These bars are gluten free, vegan, low in sugar, high in fibre and have some protein (but not a lot). They are also free of artificial flavours, sweeteners and other additives. The fat content comes from nuts and MCT oil (from coconut). Bounce…
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Book review: The Ethical Omnivore (Laura Dalrymple and Grant Hilliard)
The Ethical Omnivore is a remarkable book by the owners of Feather and Bone, a butchery in Marrickville, Sydney’s Inner West. I have been a customer since 2012, when I found them through a Google search in my infinite quest for ethically raised and slaughtered meat. The authors Laura Dalrymple and Grant Hilliard are the owners of Feather and Bone. We can say they accidentally stumbled upon butchery as their previous professional lives were on the creative side of things. Every single interaction I’ve had with Laura and Grant has been warm, friendly and informative. They are genuinely nice people and truly care about their craft. The Ethical Omnivore This…
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Recipe: Roasted fennel and lentil salad with radishes and citrusy dressing
Roasted fennel and lentil salad with radishes and citrusy dressing is a great dish for lunch or dinner. Its protein and fibre content will satisfy your appetite without packing on too much energy. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free and can be made vegan by omitting the eggs. Just make sure you are having enough protein in your day. This salad is also a great source of fibre. Lentils contain haem (plant-based) iron, which is less bioavailable than haem (animal-based) iron. Its absorption is enhanced if you have vitamin C or haem iron in the same meal, hence the lemon juice in the dressing. Other citrus options such as orange…
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Product review: Kooee! meat sticks
Kooee meat sticks are the better quality answer to cabanossi. Made with great quality Australian free-range meat and natural ingredients, these are great portable snacks for when you are on the go. Kooee! meat sticks Kooee! is a Tasmanian-based company that sells meat snacks such as jerky and meat sticks. Their products are made with Cape Grim free-range and grass-fed beef and free-range pork. Kooee! meat sticks are low in sugar and gluten-free and have a decent amount in protein. The sticks come in 5g packs that can be bought in 20-pack boxes or in 10-stick sample packs. Ingredients Free-range pork stick (classic): Australian free-range pork (95%), sea salt, black…
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Recipe: Warm roasted Brussel sprouts and baby beetroot salad
Warm roasted Brussel sprouts and baby beetroot salad is a great way to have vegetables in your first meal of the day. It is great for brunch but you can also eat if for lunch or dinner. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. I use great quality pastured bacon from Feather and Bone but you can omit it if you don’t eat pork. Other sources of extra protein that would work well are leftover chicken, canned or cooked lentils or chickpeas. I like a sprinkle of dukkah (a Middle Eastern mix of nuts/seeds, herbs and spices) but feel free to substitute your favourite flavour/crunch toppings or omit completely. Salt and…
