Australians demand more when dining out

Over 70 per cent of Australians want to know more about what's in their meals when eating out, including nutrition and transparency of ingredients, according the a new survey entitled the "World Menu Report".

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MyPlate replaces MyPyramid

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently launched its new healthy eating awareness tool - the MyPlate icon. This easy-to-understand icon replaces the more complex and less helpful MyPyramid. The MyPlate icon which allows American families to understand what they should be eating at a single glance is part of an awareness package that was developed to encourage healthy food choices based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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Kilojoules and fast food – the “in-your-face” facts

From 1 February this year, all major fast food chains must display the kilojoule (calorie) counts of their food with the same prominence as the price. For instance, the Grand Angus has 2630 kilojoules (see picture right). This “in-your-face” information is designed to make consumers take stock of what they, and their children, are eating.

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Fish oil – let’s separate the hype from the facts

There's been a lot of publicity about fish oil in recent times but how much is fact and how much is hype? How useful are they and do you really need to take them? I've prepared a handy eGuide to Fish Oil and Health to help you decide whether or not you need to take them. Here in one handy document are the answers to the most frequently asked questions on fish oil.

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Cut your food wastage – save your wallet, save the environment

Wilted vegetables, milk past its use-by date, stale bread, last weekend's leftovers - who isn't guilty of throwing uneaten food into the garbage bin? While it might not feel like much at the time, as a nation Australians waste over $5.3 billion worth of food each year, according to a survey carried out by The Australia Institute.

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Nutrition highlights of 2010

From palm oil to the Parents' Jury, here are the 20 food and nutrition issues that caught my attention during 2010.  Read on and see if you agree ....

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Selling carrots like junk food

Should everyday vegetables like carrots or broccoli be marketed the same way as fries? Do vegies need to be 'fun' if we want our kids to swallow them? Or should they just eat what they're given? It's a tricky issue for parents and food educators.

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Bill Clinton's Diet - why I think it's "extreme and not sustainable"

Recently there's been a lot of comment on my opinions of Bill Clinton's diet, as expressed in the Sydney Morning Herald article of 23 September. I said that I thought his diet was "was extreme and not sustainable in the long-term". Here's why...

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Junior Masterchef: what does it teach kids?

What, if any, lessons does this popular TV show teach budding young chefs?  Riding on the wave of celebrity chefs and the sensationally-popular Masterchef comes this kiddie version where children as young as 9 cook complicated and gourmet recipes for the chef judges. But does it make for a generation of better home cooks?

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Dark chocolate - health food or guiltless treat?

Chocolate, with its comforting velvety smoothness, is everyone's favourite indulgence. We love each new study on its alleged health benefits which give us the green light to indulge. But what's the truth: can we now say that it's a guiltless super food packed with antioxidants or just an indulgence with great marketing?

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7 most-asked questions about trans fats

Monounsaturated fats are "good"; saturated fats are "bad"; but what about trans fats? They've been banned in California and listed on fast food menus in New York. How bad are they really? I've sorted through the research to bring you the answers to 7 essential, need-to-know queries.

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Stevia - a new sweetener hits the shelves

Stevia is a new sweetener that is 100% natural yet has no kilojoules, does not increase blood glucose levels and does not cause tooth decay. It is 250 to 300 times sweeter than cane sugar but tastes similar - certainly better than the older sweeteners like saccharin or cyclamate with their bitter metallic after-taste.

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Your daily bread - now fortified with iodine

Since October 2009, most bread in Australia is now being baked with iodised salt as part of a move to lift overall iodine intakes across the nation. At present just under half the population - some 43 per cent of Australians - don't take in enough iodine. Following iodine fortification, this is estimated to drop to a low 5 per cent.

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10 mega-trends in healthy eating

Home cooking, sustainability, mini luxuries, food allergies, wholegrains, super foods and trans fats take centre stage for 2010. What's hot and on the rise in the world of diets, nutrition and healthy lifestyle? Here's my take on what's taking off for the rest of 2010 based on what I've canvassed from industry publications, health magazines, conferences as well as websites, blogs and Tweets.

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Healthy eating on a budget

On a tight budget? Worried about the economic downturn? Trying to save as much as you can? Cooking at home saves you money and is much healthier than fast food. However it does take a little planning and some basic cooking skills. Here's 10 tried-and-true tips I've found can help you save both money and time:

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Beer - low-carb or low-alcohol?

First came Toohey's Maxim, then Pure Blonde, followed by Hahn Super Dry. These days, it seems the choice of low carb beers is forever expanding. Health-conscious Australians have taken to these beers with gusto, but the question remains - are low carb beers any better for your health? Well, like most things in nutrition, it depends on what you are hoping to achieve.

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Vitamin waters - health drink or sugar hit?

Vitamin waters make claims on their pack for energy, defence, focus or recharge. Are these true or are they just sugar-laden flavoured drinks masquerading as healthy drinks? Read and download my review of the four best-sellers in this category and see why I think they're in the category of 'lolly water' ....

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Ban on bottled water

The township of Bundanoon and the NSW State Government have decided to ban bottled water  (although the State Government is contracted until 2011 to purchase it for staff and offices). They're sick of plastic bottles in landfills and can't see why we can't simply drink water straight from the tap.  Sounds like a "bottler" of an idea but is it really? Here are the pros and cons...

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