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Product review: Obela Hommus To Go
You feel peckish in the middle of the day and find out the only option around is a pack of chips from a vending machine. You resolve to pack a healthy homemade dip with some carrot and celery sticks starting “tomorrow”. When you come home that night you realise you have no time or energy to make the dip, prep the veggies and put them in containers to take to work. We all have been there but even the best intentions to eat healthy go out the window when hunger strikes and we’re caught off-guard. Most of us can picture a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, but many people find…
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Product review: Slendier Ready To Eat Meals
Slendier is a brand of low carb “noodles” made of konjac, an Asian plant that has been used forever in Japanese cuisine. Slendier Ready To Eat Meals is a range that includes “pasta” and sauce in one package. The meals The meals currently in this range include a bag of “fettuccine” and a pouch of sauce. The sauce options (all tomato-based) are: organic Italian capers and olives, organic Italian basil and arrabbiata. All Slendier Ready To Eat Meals are low in carbohydrate, energy, fat and sugar, high in fibre, vegan and free from artificial colours and flavours. Ingredients Vegetable Fettuccine with Organic Italian Capers and Olives Sauce: konjac fettuccini (63%)…
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Product review: Woolworths Skyr
Woolworths Skyr is a yet another choice in the ever-expanding fermented dairy section. But what is it? Is it yoghurt? What is skyr Skyr is a fermented dairy product, similar in consistency and taste to yoghurt but technically classified as cheese. It is a traditional food in Scandinavia, having originated in Norway and expanded to Iceland. It is often consumed with porridge, jam, fruit, fish or cereals (1). With the raising popularity of Nordic cuisine, local dairy manufacturers have started producing skyr (or skyr-style products). Apparently, skyr must be made with Icelandic cows milk and skyr cultures (1). Following these criteria, Woolworths Skyr is not skyr. Perhaps that is why…
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Product review: Undivided Food Co Good Fat Mayo
I used to make mayonnaise because I couldn’t find commercial products with no added undesired ingredients (see my rant here). Luckily the Australian company Undivided Food Cooffers Good Fat Mayo. Good Fat Mayo ingredients This mayonnaise is made with certified 100% olive oil from Spain (60%), Australian free range whole eggs (21%), Australian extra virgin olive oil (9%), apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, mustard powder Olsson’s 100% sea salt and rosemary extract. Nutrition Mayonnaise is mayonnaise. It’s mainly fat. It is a condiment that should be used sparingly, especially if you need to watch your energy or fat intake according to your goals. Having said that, olive oil seems…
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Product review: Safcol tuna pouches
Safcol produce a large percentage of the canned fish available in Australia. Their tuna is wild caught using sustainable fishing practices. Canned tuna is a cheap and convenient source of protein. When bought in brine or springwater is low in fat, some of which is in the form of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Apart from the traditional cans, Safcol has recently launched a new line of tuna pouches. As the package reads, these are a good addition to salads, sandwiches, wraps and pasta (they also mention pizza but I’m not to sure about that one…) Pros Compact, light and portable No need to drain Some varieties contain very few healthy…
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Product review: SunRice rice cups
SunRice rice cups are made by one of the main brands rice available in Australia. Back in the day rice used to be just rice, and people would have whatever rice was common in their place of origin. For example, medium grain rice is the norm in Perú, and we use it for most things – savoury and sweet. Brown rice became popular as people got more interested in health and other types of rice started appearing on shelves as consumers got interested in trying other cuisines (e.g. basmati for Indian curries, glutinous rice for sushi, arborio for risotto, bomba for paella). Similarly, a greater interest in consuming other grains…
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Product review: Feather and Bone organic beef mince with organs
Feather and Bone is my favourite butcher in Sydney. They have the best quality ethically sourced meat in town, as well as pastured eggs and amazing charcuterie. One of their newer products is a mix of beef mince with organs, which contains 10-15% of heart, liver and/or kidneys. Why buy beef mince with organs There are people who cringe at the thought of consuming organs (or meat, for that matter) and, on the other end of the spectrum, there are people like me (my favourite meals as a kid include my grandma’s liver soup and my mum’s liver with onions; I also enjoyed having liverwurst as a spread on my…
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Product review: Spud Lite lower carb potatoes
Spud Lite is a brand of lower carb potatoes available in Australian supermarkets. While I generally advocate for buying fresh produce from farmers markets and the like, I can see the benefit of having this product available. The Spud Lite process Spud Lite potatoes hail from South Australia and are produced using a cross pollination process, making the growing period shorter and the shelf life longer. In addition, the growers claim these potatoes contain 25% less carbohydrates than the average potato. According to the label, this means 8.9g of carbohydrate per 100g, compared to 10.9-14.2g for other potato varieties (1). This should be pretty obvious but please note these potatoes…
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Product review: Saltverk artisanal sea salt
Saltverk is a new brand of artisan sea salt hailing all the way from Iceland. In a world where the word “artisan” has lost its meaning, companies like this truly preserve traditional manufacturing processes. As a result, Saltverk salts are not only unique but also sustainable. The Saltverk process The manufacturing process takes pristine sea water from Reykjanes and hot geyser water. Given this geothermal source of energy is entirely natural, the manufacturing process yields zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions. The manufacturing process has leaves zero carbon footprint, although there is an environmental cost to get it shipped to your door. The salts I was fortunate enough to receive…
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Product review: Keep Tone bread
Keep Tone bread is a new brand of keto/paleo/low carb bread currently available at selected health food shops and cafes in NSW (I bought mine at Mr Vitamins Ashfield). Health claims The bread claims to contain “only wholefoods, no nasties”. It is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, yeast free, grain free and has no added sugar. I know most people would think this is no bread… until you try it. What’s in Keep Tone bread? Keep Tone bread currently comes in 3 flavours: rosemary blast, super seeds and divine chocolate. Below are the ingredients for the 2 savoury varieties: Rosemary blast: Almond meal, golden flax meal, coconut flour, free…
