Category: lifestyle

Need inspiration for a tasty afternoon snack? Don’t worry, we do too! Which is why we’ve asked our wonderful guest blogger Helen from Scrummy Lane for some suggestions – and of course she hasn’t disappointed. So why not give these almond, and blueberry chocolate rocks a go? They’re easy to make and as the name suggests, you only need three ingredients! They also make lovely gifts for friends and family. 🙂

According to goodfood.com.au: “The Australian households’ spend on meals away from home has jumped more than 55{c754d8f4a6af077a182a96e5a5e47e38ce50ff83c235579d09299c097124e52d} since 1984”. Interesting, right? But did you know that eating out can often add 1500+ extra calories to your daily diet too? Yikes! Luckily, we have Susie on hand to offer her advice on how to cut a staggering 800+ calories from an average restaurant meal, including her top 5 dietary food swaps.

Allergy vs. intolerance – what’s the difference when it comes to food? Susie advises: “While allergies are generally managed in conjunction with medical experts, food intolerances on the other hand can be more difficult to identify and control on a daily basis. The reason being that symptoms may be vague, sporadic and the specific food triggers difficult to recognise.” With this in mind, we asked Susie for her advice on the key symptoms to look out for and the correct time to consult with a medical practitioner.

In today’s post guest blogger Helen from Scrummy Lane combines roast chicken pieces, with garlic, maple syrup and orange juice to create a simple yet scrumptious evening meal. Served with chunky sweet potatoes and fresh toasted pitta bread, this is the perfect dish for a fuss-free mid-week meal.

How much takeout do you eat each week? Following on from our “better than a takeaway” Chinese chicken and cashew recipe, we decided to do some research of our own and the results were quite startling. For example, according to Choice: “42{c754d8f4a6af077a182a96e5a5e47e38ce50ff83c235579d09299c097124e52d} of Australians eat out or have takeaway three or more times a week, averaging a whopping spend of $280 per month.” With stats like this in mind, it’s not surprising that regular trips to your local takeaway outlet can have a dramatic impact on our waistlines (not to mention our wallets). The good news however, is that there are healthy options available and we’ve asked our very own Susie Burrell for her expert guidance.

Are you a fan of chinese cuisine? If so, you’ll love this simple yet classic “better than a takeaway” Chinese chicken and cashew dish courtesy of guest blogger Helen from Scrummy Lane. Perfect for a guilt-free evening meal, this recipe combines skinless chicken breasts, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger, crunchy peppers, onion and cashew nuts with a delicious homemade sauce which includes Helen’s very own secret ingredient! Even better – it’s ready within 30 minutes.

After recently identifying a point of confusion in the market, HIF believes it’s important for consumers to know that same-sex relationships can be covered on HIF’s couple and family health insurance policies.

Diet fails… we all have them, right? According to Susie: “It often comes as a surprise to my clients that it’s not the one-off treats, restaurant meals or fast food that sees our diets go off the rails; Rather, it’s the poor dietary habits that become so deeply entrenched that we are not even aware of them.” In this post, Susie explores the top three most common issues that prevent people from reaching their weight-loss goals and offers her solutions to counteract them.

Healthy kids = happy kids. Parents across Australia know the importance of ensuring their children have a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Today’s fast-paced, convenience-driven society, however, can sometimes lead to unexpected pressures and poor decisions when it comes to our family’s food intake. With this in mind, we asked Susie to share her top five rules for a healthy household, no matter how busy life gets!

Why are some people naturally fit? We all know someone like this… that one person who always seems to stay in shape, yet happily snacks on chips and other treats without fretting about kilos or calorie. You’re thinking of someone right now – aren’t you? But is that person ‘naturally slim’ because of a fast metabolism (and good genes) or is it just damn good luck? According to Brian – “Whilst your genetics do play a role in your physicality, the environment you create and surround yourself in has a large and influential effect too. And it is in this environment that you have complete control.” In this post, Brian discusses the top five habits of ‘naturally fit’ people and explains

In a recent post that explored the topic of muscle cramps and potential causes, our fitness blogger Brian narrowed it down to four main reasons – dehydration, poor circulation, mineral imbalance and medication. In this follow up article, Brian revisits the four key causes and suggests the best methods for treatment when a cramp strikes, and prevention in the long term.