Newsletter May 2008
"What does beauty mean to me? My mum is beauty and my dad is beauty too".
Jack aged 6
Product of the Month
Well this isn't product of the month... it is product of a lifetime! We may have mentioned it before but if you haven't heard of the most amazing
kitchen appliance in the world - then here it is again.
A 'Thermomix' is a life saver, time saver and money saver! We love our Thermomix machines. And because we keep getting asked all sorts of questions about it we will be including information each month and for those of your wanting even more here is their website. www.thermomix.com.au
I cannot imagine life without my Thermomix. Carla F - Mooloolaba, QLD
I sold my bread-maker, juicer, rice-maker, ice-cream maker and crock pot. What on earth did I do before I owned one of these? My love of cooking has returned. And the fact my girls love everything I make - and often make a beautiful healthy dinner now themselves - what more can I say...it is the best kitchen appliance I have ever owned.. Kim F - Auckland NZ,
Check out the "Food for Friends Cooking Class" with Chef Nico Moretti
When: Thursday 5th June 7.30pm to 9.30pm Venue: Carina Leagues Club - Click here for more info
Winter... Are You Ready?
As the cooler weather approaches (or for those of you already in it!) we wonder if you are prepared, and taking good care of yourself and your family in order to avoid the colds and flu's that tend to bombard us a the same time each and every year.
With the pressures and temptations of modern living it is easy to cram too much into each day, eat too many processed foods, stop exercising, increase snacking, put on weight or lose precious sleep - and this combined - is likely to leave you feeling lethargic and run down. With the shorter days and colder weather it may seem harder to get motivated and keep up a healthy regime. But follow these simple health tips and you should sail through winter unscathed and feeling more radiant than ever!
1. Drink Plenty
Don’t be fooled into thinking you need less in colder weather. Ideally try to stick to the recommended 8 glasses a day. Obviously if you workout intensely most days you will require more. Remember tea and coffee do not count as one of your glasses. Caffeine drinks are diuretics, which will dehydrate you and cause tiredness. One of our favourite drinks at this time of year is squeezing a whole orange, mandarin or grapefruit into a cup and filling it with hot water. Not only is it warming but it is a fantastic vitamin C hit. Try having at least one of these a day. If you are a coffee or tea drinker see if you can substitute at least one of your usual caffeine fixes for one of these! You may end up preferring it!
2. Avoid Sugar Rich Foods
Winter is the reason comfort food was invented! Due to less light hours people are more likely to be indoors watching television than outdoors enjoying the sunshine! People can get bored or depressed over winter and as a consequence tend to nibble more! Even though sugary snacks and drinks may taste good and give you a brief energy rush, this will be followed shortly after with a severe energy slump. Avoid things like refined sugar, white bread, white rice and pasta, sugary cereals, processed cakes, snacks and pastries. Eat foods that release sugar into the bloodstream slowly like brown rice, wholewheat pasta, wholemeal grain breads, fruit and vegetables. Amazing how the cooler weather makes it feel like soup time! We had friends come for lunch yesterday and I whipped up a quick hearty vegetable soup and some fresh hot spelt bread rolls. We were eating this delicious meal 45minutes later. Check out product of the month to see how we did it!
3. Never Miss Breakfast
Avoid a mid morning slump by making sure you do eat breakfast. Treat yourself to a slow release carbohydrate breakfast such as nut porridge with a small amount of maple syrup, or muesli with fruit and acidophillus yoghurt, or wholemeal toast and a protein fruit smoothie.
4. Eat Plenty of Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts & Grains
You hear it all the time but do you actually do it? At least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day is recommended. With the introduction of more fruit juice bars and home juicers this feat is now incredibly easy. In one glass you can attain a very healthy balance of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. We made a yummy treat this morning. Core an apple, add 1 tbsp Almond Butter and 2 pitted Dates. Blend in Thermomix or food processor – voila! A delicious healthy snack to have on its own or with yoghurt in a flash!
5. Graze Don’t Gorge
Sample but don’t over do it! Pass up items on the menu that you can get at home. Take small portions. If you really want a dessert go halves. To keep your metabolism more stable it may be better if you graze on 5 or 6 small well balanced meals a day rather than gorge on three huge ones!
6. Don’t Pig Out At Dinner Time!
One of the biggest weight causing problems is the amount of food eaten at dinner time. If meals have been skipped throughout the day hunger can be a problem in the evening. Eat lighter at night. Try to avoid heavy carbohydrate foods in creamy sauces. Opt for quality carbs mentioned in ‘Avoid Sugar Rich Foods’. Try to eat your evening meal at least a couple of hours before retiring to bed.
7. Supplements May Help
To boost your energy levels and immune system you could supplement your diet daily with a complex Vitamin B. Make sure you buy them in small bottles (30 maximum) and as fresh as possible (check the use by date) as they can deteriorate quickly. Vitamin B is needed to convert carbohydrates and fats into energy. Magnesium is good to help overcome fatigue and the body’s ability to cope with stress, Zinc is excellent for increasing energy and vitality and Vitamin C is of course required in higher doses when colds and flu’s hit or the immune system is challenged. An antioxidant supplement is also vital to mop up all those free radicals. Make sure it contains Vitamins A, C & E and look for healthy extras like selenium, zinc and biotin. These vitamins and minerals work well blended in an antioxidant formula. It is recommended you take your supplements at separate times, perhaps your Vitamin B in the morning and Antioxidant at night. Supplementation can feel like a good insurance policy if you are concerned.
8. Get Up Early Every Day
Even though it is darker in the mornings, still try to get up early. Lie-ins are great for catching up on sleep, but erratic sleep patterns can confuse your body and cause insomnia or broken sleep cycles. And forget all your lame excuses why you can’t get up early. We have heard them all!
9. Get Moving
The human body was designed to move! Not everybody likes the same form of exercise but a general rule of thumb is to make sure you try to approach your fitness in three ways - aerobic fitness (cardiovascular), endurance fitness (sustainability) and strength fitness (weight bearing). Each week try 2-3 good fast walks or jogs for at least 20 minutes. Go for at least one good long one that will last anywhere from 30-60 minutes, and twice a week aim to do some weight bearing exercise – yoga, pilates, or weights. It may be best to exercise first thing in the morning as statistics show those who exercise in the evenings are more likely to be distracted with the days events and miss their exercise all together! Don’t tell us you don’t have time! Sickness or injury will make you find time to think about why you didn’t make time in the first place!
10. Rehydrate Your Skin
Your skin can often feel a little surface dry in winter, due to heaters and fires, not too mention the wind. So once a week use a rich hydrating mask to replenish lost moisture in those top layers. This is important for all skin types. Keeping hydrated on the inside too by drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. This will make a huge difference in how your skin copes through winter.
11. Nourish All Over
It is easy to forget about moisturising or nourishing your whole body in winter. Often people jump out of the shower and get their clothes on quickly to stay warm, as well thinking - nobody will see my legs today anyway! Mix up your own skin nourisher that will feed your skin as well as warm you up with stimulating energising essential oils. To support your immune system there is the added benefit of the antiviral and antibacterial properties of high quality oils. Mix 50ml of Sweet Almond oil with 10 drops Rosemary, 10 drops Rosewood and 5 drops Bergamot. Massage 6mls – less is best when applying oils to the body - of this blend all over the body after your morning shower. It is a great way to start the day!
12. Take Time To Relax
It is important to find time to chill out and relax but this does not mean lounging about in front of the television or drinking out at a bar each night! Quality relaxation can be as simple as reading a book, yoga breathing techniques, visualisation, meditation or running a nice aromatic bath using 6 drops total of relaxing oils such as lavender, marjoram, orange, rosewood, sandalwood or frankincense. Give your mind and body the time it needs to recharge and de-clutter.
Book of the Month
We are in the BEST book club! Well, that's the name given to our bunch of women who get together, share beautiful food, fine wine and our favourite books! Here's our favourites for this month!
When In Rome by Penelope Green.
Because I love Italy this book really appealed. Its about a nearly 30yr old single woman who gives up her successful career in Sydney and heads to Rome not speaking the language, no friends, no job and nowhere to live. She describes the city and scenes so vividly you feel like you are right there with her. And I especially enjoyed her bravery and optimism! Definitely worth a read.
4 Ingredients
Well this would have to be one of the most amazing success stories ever and we are both proud and honoured to know Rachael Bermingham and Kim McCosker - authors of 4Ingredients. This cookbook has over 340 quick, easy and very delicious recipes that you can easily whip up to WOW your friends and family, and ALL with only 4 or fewer ingredients. We have even contributed to this whiz of a cook book! So if you haven't got a copy then click on this link and go get one here immediately! http://www.4ingredients.com.au
