Healthy Food Guide March 2022

How many do you do? Vegetables that is. Well, not just vegies, but how many different plant foods do you eat each and every week? You might have noticed the latest trend of plant-based eating. From frozen meals to fast food burgers, it seems meat is out and veg is in. But with all that buzz comes plenty of confusion. What does ‘plant-based’ even mean? This month, we get to the bottom of meat-free myths and misconceptions (p16) and share new ways to add more veg to your day that will excite even the biggest meat enthusiasts (from p38). Plus, you’ll find tasty work lunches to enjoy at home or in the office (p64), and perfectly portioned chocolate treats (p74). Yum! For most of us, the summer holidays feel like a very…

Mindful motion After recently being diagnosed with arthritis at 40, I’ve been unable to keep up with my regular exercise because of aches and pains. After reading about the benefits of tai chi in your January issue, I’ve started taking classes and they have been amazing — not only for my physical health but my mental health, too. Thank you HFG! Kelly Bailey, WA True to life I like reading about real people all over Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, so really enjoyed your ‘Real people, real results’ article (December 2021). I took something positive away from both Edwina and Alice’s stories. Liz Dowhaluk, NSW Sharing the love I have loved reading your magazine for more than six years now. I plan all my weekly meals based on HFG recipes and have even introduced my daughter and…

Write to us at ‘Your say’ and you could win a 30.5cm Shun Classic Hollow Ground Brisket Knife, valued at $349.95! Handcrafted in Japan from high-grade stainless steel, use it to carve clean slices of roast meat at family feasts and barbecues. The hollow grinds on the long, non-serrated blade allow for carving in a single pass, while the rounded tip ensures safety. Visit shunaustralia.com.au for further information. * Congratulations to Tanya Horsfield, this month’s Your say winner, who wins a Mod Cold Press Juicer valued at $499. Have your say at healthyfood.com and click WIN, or write to us at Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590…

Healthy Food Guide (HFG) magazine is your complete guide to healthy eating. Our recipes use easy-to-find, affordable ingredients. Cook with HFG and you’ll always enjoy a nutritious meal. You can trust our advice. All our health information is supported by solid scientific evidence, not media fanfare. We smooth out any confusion caused by ‘pseudoscientists’. We give unbiased opinions and are not affiliated with any food manufacturers. All branded food in HFG has been approved by our dietitians. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content. Dietitians review all our articles so they’re always accurate with up-to-date information. A full list of references is also available on request. Every recipe in Healthy Food Guide is healthy Our recipe writers work with qualified dietitians to develop all our meals. A nutritional analysis is provided for every recipe. We test each…

BETTER BALANCE A new balance-training app is reducing the rate of falls in older Australians living independently by more than 20 per cent. ‘Standing Tall’ offers 6000 increasingly challenging home-based exercises for those over the age of 70, and is currently the only e-health program for preventing falls. Visit standingtall.org.au to find out more. BMJ 56 .8 % The percentage of Australians who spent their leisure time stuck at home in lockdown reading magazines. Not surprisingly, the most popular topics were food and entertainment! Roy Morgan FUN FOOD FACT The pineapple plant takes about three years to grow to maturity, and produces only one fruit in its lifetime. Heart recovery THE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL RATE OF ANTIPODEANS WHO’VE HAD A HEART ATTACK IS AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD, A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND. JUST UNDER 60 PER CENT WERE…

Plant power! It’s hard to believe that just one generation ago, ‘meat and two veg’ was considered the hallmark of a good Aussie meal. These days, 74 per cent of us are trying to eat less meat to improve our health — and for good reason. A Mediterranean-style diet, full of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds, helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and obesity. Plus, eating 30 different types of plants a week boosts diversity of gut bacteria, improving digestion, immunity and mood. Now there’s plenty of reasons to veg out! Looking for meat-free meal inspo? Check out our tasty recipes on p44.…