No matter what you do, it is just not possible to avoid or prevent stressful situations and events. The COVID-19 Pandemic is proof of this. However, you can strengthen your capacity to deal with stressful or difficult situations and events. This is called building resilience – the ability to...

I don’t know about you but the uncertainty, fear and fast developing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has made me feel anxious, angry, overwhelmed and helpless in equal measures over the last few weeks. And I don’t like feeling like I am not in control. It took me about 48 hours to realise that...

Sometimes I just need something (without caffeine) that gives me a little boost of energy and a Cold Shot of Raw Cacao always hits the spot for me. It tastes amazing, gives you a non caffeine kick and is loaded with goodness. Raw cacao is high in loads of vitamins, minerals and other health...

This week (13th to 20th March), Coeliac Australia has launched a national awareness campaign to highlight the importance of the gluten free diet as a medical necessity for people with coeliac disease and is encouraging food businesses to #treatglutenseriously. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune...

This dish – Lentil, Vegetable and Mushroom Lasagne – ticks a lot of boxes for me – it’s delicious, loaded with hidden vegetables, has my favourite puy lentils to provide protein and fibre, and gets the thumbs up from the family. You might be aware than many Australians are not...

One of the bonuses of being married to a Dutchman is that we make a trip to Europe every couple of years to visit family (and have a holiday of course). Mostly my husband is very happy for the beautiful food and produce we eat at home in Australia but he still needs his Dutch dairy fix every couple...

This week’s article is about stress because to be perfectly honest I’ve had my fair share in the last few weeks. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of hours in a Restorative Yoga workshop on Saturday and it helped me to reflect on how I managed the recent stress in my life. Each one of us...

On a recent trip to Sydney, I was reminded about how powerful food and lifestyle changes can be to health and wellbeing. I was in Sydney to attend the Mindd Practitioner Training for three days where I brushed up on my knowledge on everything to do with our microbiome (from the mouth all the way to...

I came across a great article from Aussie journalist, author and x-rugby union player Peter FitzSimons today which resonated deeply with me. He critiques the Health Star Rating System (HSR), which if you’ve heard me talk about this you’ll know I don’t think highly of it at all....

Most of us suffer from stomach discomfort, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea occasionally but for those experiencing these symptoms regularly (for days or even weeks at a time, with considerable pain and discomfort) Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a likely diagnosis. This extremely common...

It’s the final day in my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. Today’s dinner is Black Bean Nachos, a vegetarian dish packed with vegetables and flavour. It’s also a one-pot dish and a favourite in our house! I...

It’s day six of my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. After driving seven hours today, making a simple dinner was definitely on my mind. I wandered about the supermarket looking for inspiration and after picking...

The humble Greek Salad is the focus for day five of of my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. I’ve mentioned before in this blog series that when I cook (or when I prescribe foods for my clients) I always do it...

It’s day four of of my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. Each day I’ve promised to bring you a recipe focusing on simplicity, taste and nutrition (of course!). The recipes I’m sharing this week are...

It’s day three of of my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. Each day I’ve promised to bring you a recipe focusing on simplicity, taste and nutrition (of course!). I love food and I love cooking but I’m also a...

It’s day two of of my seven day dinner inspiration to help you get back into the routine of cooking for the family after the school holidays. Each day I’ve promised to bring you a recipe focusing on simplicity, taste and nutrition (of course!). The second recipe is my version of Spicy Potatoes,...

So the school holidays are over (in Queensland anyway) which, for many of us, means getting back into the routines of preparing and cooking school lunches and dinners for the whole family.  I was inspired by my friend Emma to share some dinner recipes to make it easier to get back into routine....

I’m putting the spotlight on calcium in my blog today for a couple of reasons. Calcium is an essential nutrient in all stages of life, and while it is essential for bone health it is also very important for our heart, nervous system and muscles to function properly. However, many people are not...

Recently I was driving and listening to ABC Radio (which happens to be my main source of news, current affairs and popular culture these days) when I heard an interview with Science broadcaster Robyn Williams and Australian researcher Nural Cokcetin about her research into the benefits of...

Using food as medicine is something I am passionate about and I was reminded this week by a friend just how many of our food traditions are “medicinal foods” and how intuitive our ancestors were with food. Before the industrialisation or commercialisation of food became the norm, our society...

As the cooler days roll in, so too do those bacteria and viruses that cause the common cold, the flu and other winter ailments. It’s almost impossible to avoid exposure to these bugs, which makes it really important to ensure your immune system is in top shape going into winter. There are, of...

For many people the New Year means a time to start afresh or make goals and plans for the year. Some people make resolutions to spend more time with family or help others out while others make plans for holidays or learning something new. Getting healthy and fit or losing weight are often high up...

It’s summer again in Australia and that means time at the beach, in the surf and in the pool for many. With such a great sunny climate and beautiful outdoor activities on the doorstep of most Australians, you would assume that Australians would have adequate levels of vitamin D and yet many...

This has been a burning question for me ever since I started studying nutrition. I was aware of the growing numbers of children with chronic conditions but I’m now experiencing this in my clinic. Most have been unwell for 6 months or more and are struggling with conditions like weight gain,...

This week is the Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week which is dedicated to helping woman across Australia focus on their health, and learn about their health and ways to take action. This is the fourth year this event has been held and it was started in 2013 when the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health...

This week I’ve made a roasted cauliflower, cumin and cashew soup! I’m really excited about this one because it’s my own creation. I wanted to bring you a vegetarian/vegan soup packed with protein. I often make a delicious soup with just cauliflower, onions, garlic and stock but I wanted to...

This week I’m sharing my recipe for a hearty lentil and ham hock soup. This soup is number three in my four week challenge to bring you a nourishing soup each week. This soup is a firm favourite in my house and the kids love taking the leftover soup for school lunch. It is best done in a slow...

If you read my last post, you’ll know I’ve been challenged to bring you a nourishing soup a week for four weeks. This one is the second soup! Soups are a wonderful way to boost your diet with lovely nourishing foods our body needs. This week I’m bringing you my version of Minestrone Soup....

Soups are a wonderful way to nourish our bodies especially in cooler weather and when we are recovering from illness. I love soups and they always feature on the menu in my home during autumn and winter. A friend challenged me to bring you a soup a week so for the next four weeks that’s what...

If you’re like me, you possibly jumped for joy when you heard that chocolate is good for you! It’s true that the cacao bean (from which chocolate is made) is full of antioxidants and minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc and selenium.  However, not all chocolate is created...