09Nov 2020 by Tyler Brooks
Is Pink Salt Healthier?

Is Pink Salt Healthier?

Food, Health
A common food trend over the last few years has been the increasing popularity and use of 'pink' or Himalayan salt. Despite the more striking appearance and common perception of it being 'healthier' and 'more natural', does it actually have any nutritional benefits beyond that of regular white table salt? A recently published paper funded by Nutrition Research Australia has shed some light on this topic, but before exploring what they found it is first useful to understand in detail what salt is. Some people use the terms 'salt' and 'sodium' interchangeably but it is important to understand the difference. Sodium is one component of salt. The chemical name for salt is "sodium chloride" and the chemical symbol that denotes table salt is "NaCl". By weight, the salt we eat is typically…
Read More
30Jul 2020 by Tyler Brooks
Is Msg Dangerous or Is It a Safe Flavour Enhancer?

Is Msg Dangerous or Is It a Safe Flavour Enhancer?

Food, Health
MSG There are 5 basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and ‘umami’. Monosodium glutamate or ‘MSG’ is a food additive responsible for the umami taste. You may have heard of MSG being referred to as the ‘flavour enhancer”. This is because the umami taste tends to also enhance the palatability and overall flavour intensity of the food it is added to. What is it? Glutamate is one of the most commonly found amino acids in nature. It is in many common natural plant and animal foods. Just to name a few, this includes tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, fish, meat, cheese, and even human breast milk. Glutamate is a non-essential amino acid. This does not mean that we don't need it - it means that the human body can make glutamate itself if…
Read More
27Dec 2018 by Nadia Mazari
Healthy Entertaining

Healthy Entertaining

Food
The festive season presents itself with a smorgasbord of unending indulgences, so it’s fair to say that no one should miss out. With many of us committed to numerous social functions from Christmas work dinners to New Year picnics, it can be really challenging to maintain any sense of normalcy, let alone healthy habits! However, you can attempt to combat this with some of our healthy entertaining ideas. These ideas are great not only for if you are hosting a function but also for any ‘bring a plate’ occasions. We’ve compiled some simple suggestions for any course, right down to nibbles and snacks for the little ones. Nibbles and Entrees A great way to keep up your veggie intake amongst an abundance of sugary or processed foods is by making…
Read More
09Jun 2017 by Chris Bragg
Chicken Noodle Soup 2-Ways

Chicken Noodle Soup 2-Ways

Food
Chicken noodle soup is a classic winter warming soup that’s packed full of flavour. It is easy to make and tastes amazing with only a few easy ingredients. The best thing about a chicken noodle soup is it can be used as a base soup, just add your favourite soup ingredients to change the whole meal! Today we make chicken noodle soup 2-ways, firstly, a stock standard chicken and noodle soup and secondly, a chicken noodle and vegetable soup. What You Need for a Basic Chicken Noodle Soup If this is your first time making a chicken noodle soup, start with the basics, from this recipe you can add your favourite ingredients to completely change the soup to your liking! Basic Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Serves: 4 people Preparation: Time…
Read More
28Mar 2017 by Chris Bragg
The Healthy Man Salad

The Healthy Man Salad

Food
The Healthy Man Salad is designed to break away from the leafy salad, providing protein, complex carbs, flavour and a filling meal designed to satisfy any man. It is well known that salads and men often do not mix, with a healthy salad often being low on the wish list for the typical Aussie man. The Simpsons once upon a time coined the old saying “you don’t win friends with salad” which lives on to this day. It is true, and since its creation, has been sung by men around the globe ever since. As an example, I was recently at a friendly BBQ get together, gathering a plate of slow-smoked brisket and the accompanying salad (a colourful homemade slaw). Offering the silver slaw serving spoon to my male companion,…
Read More
04Mar 2017 by Chris Bragg
Chicken and Crispy Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls With Chilli and Lime Dipping Sauce

Chicken and Crispy Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls With Chilli and Lime Dipping Sauce

Food
The rice paper roll is a fantastic, healthy and easy to make family favourite. It is perfect because it is easy to make, fresh and tasty, with plenty of fresh vegetables it is a healthy snack or meal. This little dish is also great to make with the kids and can facilitate teaching them about fresh ingredients as well as improving fine motor skills. I personally love it, get your hands into it and work with the ingredients to make the perfect roll. One of the best things with the rice paper roll is you can make it a day or two earlier and cover it with a damp paper towel. They store well in the fridge and allow for fresh healthy snacks throughout the week.  Or what if you…
Read More
18Jan 2017 by Cassandra Bendall
5 Easy Ways to Include More Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Your Diet

5 Easy Ways to Include More Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Your Diet

Food
Move over coconut oil, the real superfood is in the house! Extra virgin olive oil is the new and emerging health trend that we should be encouraging everyone to try! With an array of health benefits associated with its consumption, along with its delicious taste, there is no wonder we are going crazy over drizzling olive oil all over everything! Extra virgin olive oil is a key component of the Mediterranean dietary pattern and is considered the healthiest choice of olive oil. Multiple intervention trials have used extra virgin olive oil as their primary dietary fat and have seen a reduction in cardiovascular disease in both a primary and secondary setting. So on that note, here are 5 easy ways you can incorporate more extra virgin olive oil into your…
Read More