What’s For Lunch?

Contributed by Kevin Bateman In my last blog I moaned about McDonalds® discontinuing my favoured lunch choice option. I often have Middle Eastern kebab salads for lunch. The food court in the BNZ centre in Wellington has two places that make these, Kebab Queen and Jim Bom. I prefer Jim Bom, a small place that also does pasta and pizza so eyes right there. For about $8 you get a heap of fresh salad with sauces and a generous serving of lamb or chicken or a mix of both. These meals come naturally without bread or rice. There are also Middle
More

Categories: Comments.

I’m Angry at McDonalds

Contributed by Kevin Bateman One of the perks of the Gold Card is free coffee at McDonalds® and an occasional coffee won’t do me any harm, especially a free one. With this incentive I checked out Mackers for a quick cheap lunch option and I discovered a reasonable choice that would be OK now and then to have with my now and then coffee. The McD Chicken Caesar Wrap. The cover on the seared (grilled) version showed per serving, protein 30.8g (4 blocks), fat 14.7g (5 blocks) and carbohydrate 29.3 (3.25 blocks). I discarded some of the wrap and enjoyed
More

Categories: Comments.

Why Do We Tend To Overeat?

Contributed by Kevin Bateman  The only processed breakfast cereal that I eat is small amounts of Kelloggs® All Bran that I add to my home-made muesli mix. There is a recipe in the ProZone book. All Bran has 45.4g carbohydrate per 100g, which is very moderate for a refined cereal, and it  has 29.5g fibre per 100g. This high fibre content helps slow sugar absorption into the bloodstream. So we can use a little All Bran and still maintain healthy blood sugar levels. I am referring to All Bran Original, the squiggly stuff, as there are several other varieties of Kelloggs®
More

Categories: Science.

Childhood Obesity

There was an article in the DomPost (June 5) about childhood obesity that made disturbing reading.  It quoted Otago University Associate Professor Rachael Taylor who stated that “30 precent of Kiwi children are already overweight or obese at 2 to 4 years of age and that 80% of parents of preschoolers do not recognise that there child is overweight because of the normalisation of the bigger person”.  She also said that “if you are obese as a teenager you are far more likely to be obese as an adult”. Zone nutrition is suitable for all ages.  We have children doing it
More

Categories: Comments and Science.

Affordable meals

Last Sunday (12 May) on the Good Sorts spot on TV1 there was a lovely lady who cooks good nutritious meals for her family of 6 for under $20 a day.  They always get protein and lots of vegetables.  She looks out for specials in the supermarket for both meat and vegetables.  It was a really heartwarming piece and dispelled the myth that people can’t afford to eat properly. I’ve been using a slow cooker for stews, soups and a few other meals.  I’m pretty new to cooking (just goes to show that you are never to old to learn!)
More

Categories: Comments.

Diabetes

Last weekend (12 May) there was an interesting Insight programme on Chris Laidlaw’s show on National Radio about diabetes.  The terrifying truth is that the rate of increase in diabetes in this country is threatening to overwhelm our health system in the not too distant future.  Barry Sears has made the same observation in America where he says that diabetes is going to ultimately bankrupt the country. Listening to the Insight programme there is so much positive work going on to try and educate people but there was an interview with a 52 year old woman who has Type 2
More

Categories: Comments.

Milk in Schools

A bouquet to Fonterra for introducing milk back into schools.  While many of us remember milk at school as being a warm and rather unpleasant experience, Fonterra are providing fresh milk and the fridges to keep it in.  For many of the children it will be the best nutrition that they get all day and it will definitely help them to focus and learn better at school.  Hats off to Fonterra for such a positive contribution to the community.
More

Categories: Comments.

Sleep and health

The 7 May 2010 Dominion Post reported on recent research published in the journal Sleep and carried out by the British University of Warwick in conjunction with the Frederico II University Medical School in Naples that involved analysing 16 studies involving a total of 1.3 million people. The study gave results that the researchers claim to be “unequivocal evidence” of a link between sleep deprivation and premature death. They noted that people who slept for less than six hours a day were 12% more likely to die before age 65 than those who slept the recommended six to eight hours
More

Categories: Client questions answered and Science.