Posted by kathryn in Grains, Spring, Vegetables and Dinners

I’ve been cooking a lot recently and have made some delicious meals. I’ve been concentrating on actually trying out some of the long list of recipes bookmarked in my Delicious account. Here’s a selection of what I’ve been cooking. * Broccoli pesto: I made Heidi’s broccoli pesto last week. I used a whole head of broccoli and about half a bunch of parsley, instead of the spinach. I also replaced the parmesan with a spoonful of white miso. It makes …

Read more 7 comments 29 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Nutrition

There’s a great piece on the ABC’s website covering some of the psychology of weight loss – Mind Over Kilos. It covers a lot of ground, but takes a realistic and pragmatic approach. I particularly love that it discusses weight loss as a long term project and the effects even small scale changes can have. So often people want to lose all their weight NOW. The dietary restrictions and denial needed to achieve those goals are unsustainable, they fall off …

Read more 3 comments 23 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Nutrition

There isn’t just one way to lose weight. Despite what you might read or hear, there’s no single right method, or one miracle key. In actual fact, there are lots of ways to lose weight. Effective long-term weight loss doesn’t happen quickly. It’s a boring message I know, but weight loss can be slow. Yes the kilojoules you consume through food have to be less than the kilojoules you expend through living and being active. But you don’t have to …

Read more 7 comments 20 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Spring, Salads, Winter and Recipes

I’ve been making variations on this salad for several weeks now. It’s absolutely delicious and seems perfectly suited to the half winter, half spring, in-between weather we’re having in Sydney. The salad has four basic elements, each of which I tweak and change depending on what’s in the fridge. # Roasted cauliflower – usually tossed in this spice mix and then roasted in the oven until soft and just starting to brown around the edges. # Couscous – your basic …

Read more 6 comments 15 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Nutrition and Snacks

When talking to clients about treats and occasional foods there are two bits of writing I continually refer to. The first is a piece by Yiska on the Redefining Diet blog, about being a selectarian. It’s a lovely, human perspective on consciously choosing the foods you eat and taking responsibility: bq. The experience of hearing food speak is a common one amongst many who dabble in overeating, under-eating, dieting, and food obsession of any kind . . . So often …

Read more 2 comments 07 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Nutrition and Snacks

Something else I’ve noticed is the tendency to layer treats. It’s no longer enough to have pizza on a Friday night, as a treat. We now have pizza, plus a few nibblies while waiting for the home delivery, plus two glasses of wine, plus a bowl of ice-cream. But that scenario isn’t one treat. It’s layer, upon layer, upon layer. I’ve noticed this in myself. A while ago, going out for coffee in the afternoon was a rarity. But then, …

Read more 1 comment 02 September, 2010

Posted by kathryn in Nutrition and Snacks

I’ve been thinking about treats and occasional foods a lot recently. For quite some time I’ve been noticing how strong the compulsion is for people to treat themselves. Whether their choice is sweets, alcohol or fat-laden foods, people talk of “deserving” a treat. “Needing” a treat even. But do they really? I know life can be busy and hectic, but why does that translate into deserving a treat? A busy day is a busy day. That’s it. Treats are supposed …

Read more 11 comments 01 September, 2010