News — Nutrition

Post-Easter Healthy Tips:

Easter – chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate! Did staying at home during Easter mean you had easy access to the chocolate-filled fridge and pantry? Or maybe your kids received too much chocolate so you had to eat most of it? Maybe you have a sugar hangover, and feel tired and cranky? Or maybe you ate too much chocolate that you have a sore stomach?

Trust us, we are complete advocates for a little indulgence every now and again.  But sometimes it’s nice to have a few tips up your sleeve for getting back on track and for feeling energized, motivated and healthy again.

Tip one:

Adopt a Guilt-Free Mindset: If you indulged in some sweets over the Easter break and you enjoyed it without any regrets then that’s great! Your thoughts are very important, especially the way that you think about yourself and the food that you eat/have eaten. If you enjoyed the Easter holiday, had a few treats and are now ready to get back to your usual routine, without any negative feelings, then you are already on the right track.

Tip two:

Start with one: It’s about having a start point, or set point for getting back on track after a period of over-indulgence. For nutrition, focus on that first meal. When you wake up in the morning, think “I’m going to have a great breakfast this morning”, whatever that looks like to you – porridge, toast with avocado, a fruit salad with coconut yoghurt and granola.

For exercise, start with just one walk, or one run, or one home CrossFit session.

For mental health (feeling stressed), start with one thing also, like a home yoga session, meditation session or mindfulness session.

As soon as you start with one small step, the next steps become easier. One small step will set the tone for the rest of the day, and for the rest of the week. This also helps if you’re feeling some decision fatigue about how to get back on track, or your feeling overwhelmed about what steps you have to take. Take one step at a time and it will help you get back to your normal routines (although our “normal” routines might have changed a lot over the last few weeks!).

Tip three:

Try a 4-week Wholesomeness detox: Gluten and dairy free meals, no added additives or nasties, no refined sugars, and made with love from our kitchen in Brisbane. Every week you will receive 14 vegan or low fodmap meals (your choice), snack packs, breakfast packs and a premium protein powder blend. You also receive gut health supplements to support your gut during the detox, detox tea to support and help your body expel toxins, and a detox welcome pack in the first week. We believe in still being satisfied during a detox, that’s why we make our meals healthy and delicious at the same time. Find more info about our detox plan on our website under '4 WEEK DETOX'. 

We definitely do not advocate for panic-buying food and supplies right now (especially if you already have enough), as it starts to create a cycle of stocking, depletion and restocking in the supermarkets that is hard to break, as well as potentially leaving others in the community to miss out on important items that they may really need.

It is normal to feel a little shaken and panicked in an uncertain time like this, especially since none of us might have ever experienced something like this in our lifetime.  

In times of extreme uncertainty when fear and feelings of anxiousness may be high, filling the fridge and pantry up with foods and supplies may be the only thing that we feel we can control. It gives us a sense of order and organisation, in a time when we might feel unprepared without a plan. Despite this though, panic-buying and spending lots of money on things you may not need is probably not the best solution. Read on for our tips on stocking your pantry, fridge and freezer the smart way…

• Remember that if you do want to buy a little extra, you only really need two week’s worth of food and supplies as that is how long you would be in quarantine for if you were exposed to COVID-19 (if you are choosing to self-isolate for longer or want to avoid lots of trips to the shops, then certain pantry staples that have a long shelf life will be your friend, read on for examples…).
• Take this extra time at home as an opportunity to give your pantry a big clear out. Before you hit the shops, take a look inside your pantry and evaluate what you have and what you might need. You might just find some hidden gems at the very back that you had forgotten about!
• A little extra supply of sturdy and reliable staples like dried beans, lentils and split peas, grains and frozen veggies can mean endless meal opportunities, with the use of different spices powders and mixes. If there are no frozen fruit or veggies left, you could buy some fresh ones and even freeze them yourself. Having a good supply of nutritious pantry goods that can be spread out for a variety of different meals will be more cost effective and will reduce the amount of shop visits you need to make.
• A few extra packages of pasta, rice and canned goods like beans, chickpeas, coconut milk and diced tomatoes.
• Fresh produce that have a longer shelf life –peppers, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, apples and citrus fruits all have quite a long shelf life and pack a lot of nutrition. Hardy root veggies like potatoes, turnips, beets and radishes can also keep for weeks in a cool, dark place in your pantry.
• Fermented or pickled vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi can add heaps of flavour and they immediately brighten up any dish, like a rice bowl or even just a sandwich. Dehydrated vegetables (especially dried shiitake mushrooms) to boost the immune system and add umami flavour to soups and broths. Freeze dried herbs for adding freshness, flavour and a pop of colour.
• Last but not least, a stash of hearty Wholesomeness meals in your freezer for those days when you don’t have much on hand, you’re in quarantine and can’t make it to the shops, or you just don’t feel like cooking!

Remember that if we all remain calm and mindful, purchase only what we need, try to help others and check on the elderly and vulnerable when we can, we can get through this together.

These natural home remedies may be good essentials to have in your home during the next few months, not only because of the COVID-19 spread, but also because it is nearing colder weather which means colds and respiratory viruses will be more common (of course if you do get sick, it is always best to see your GP first, especially with the current situation right now). 

Some research suggests that the following can help to treat respiratory viruses that may be responsible for excess mucus:

Berries

Berries contain a flavonoid called anthocyanins, which are beneficial for lung health. Eat berries fresh with yoghurt, on top of cereal or even in salads.

Ginseng

Ginseng is an Asian plant which is very anti-inflammatory. Studies have found it to have a protective effect against acute respiratory illnesses and the potential to reduce the severity and scores of symptoms. You can take ginseng in supplement form or in a tonic.

Guava

Guava is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium and fibre. Guava has found to be effective for control of different respiratory viruses. Guava is super yummy and sweet and you can eat it fresh.  

Echinacea

Echinacea is a plant herb loaded with antioxidants, as well as compounds called alkamides, which further enhance antioxidant activity. Evidence has found that Echinacea can help your immune system fight off respiratory viruses and colds, helping to make the recovery process shorter. Echinacea can be taken in supplement form.  

Licorice root

Licorice root helps the body to produce healthy mucus, which helps support the healthy functioning of your respiratory system. You can consume it in the form of tea, which can usually be found at your local health store.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate juice contains potent antioxidant power, as well as being antibacterial and antiviral. You can eat pomegranate fresh by breaking it open and consuming the seeds.

Zinc – take a supplement

Zinc has been shown to stop certain viruses from lodging in the mucus membranes of the throat and nose. You can take zinc in supplement form.

Drink plenty of water at room temperature – not ice cold, as it can make the mucus in your sinuses thicker, and more difficult to pass. A glass of warm water or a cup of tea is a good way to get your water intake in when you’re sick.

(This information is general only.  Please speak to your healthcare professional prior to taking multiple new supplements).

Nutrition Spotlight: Quinoa vs Brown Rice

Quinoa (Keen-wah) (1 cup): 222 calories, 39g carbs, 8g protein, 5g fibre, 53 glycaemic index, rich in antioxidants and minerals.                                               

Brown Rice (1 cup): 216 calories, 44g carbs, 5g protein, 3.5g fibre, 50 glycaemic index, rich in antioxidants and minerals.

When choosing a nutritious complex carb to balance out your meal, quinoa and brown rice are both great options. Both are packed full of antioxidants and minerals, healthy carbs and adequate fibre to help support a healthy digestion, keep you fuller for longer, and help curb cravings and keep you on track with your goals!

Quinoa comes from the flowering plant of the amaranth family and it’s the seeds of the plant that we use. Quinoa is unique because it is a plant-based complete protein, meaning it contains all 9 amino acids that our body needs and does not make itself. Because it’s a complete protein, you don’t need to worry about protein combining. Quinoa is also a good source of minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc. For a higher protein side that is a little bit lighter than brown rice and cooks quicker, quinoa may be the perfect option for you!

Brown rice contains minerals like phosphorous, manganese, selenium and magnesium. It also contains antioxidants like phenols and flavonoids which help protect the body from oxidative stress (which is a crucial factor in the development of chronic diseases). Like quinoa, it has a high fibre content which helps to keep you satisfied between meals, reducing the need for cravings and snacking, and supporting weight loss. Fiber also helps to keep food moving through the digestive tract, while certain forms of fiber called prebiotics feed and nourish the good bacteria in your gut, which is what we want!

A balanced meal of a protein (either animal or plant-based), a serve of brown rice or quinoa and some fiber-rich veggies makes for a pretty impressive dish, nutrition wise. Quinoa and brown rice are perfect for grain bowls, salads, snack bars, burgers, and heaps more things. Quinoa can even be used to make breakfast bowls, by using it instead of oats, with some maple, cinnamon and fresh fruit – yum!

Why do we love quinoa and brown rice?

Ok, so I guess it's not really a battle because we picked two of our winning grains. But certainly we choose these as the winners over other grains like... processed wheat e.g. couscous.  In the battle of quinoa versus cous cous, Quinoa wins hands down!

We love it because it’s gluten-free, fodmap-friendly, nutritious, it supports healthy digestion and it’s packed full of minerals and fibre.

Have you tried and loved any of our meals with quinoa or brown rice? We’ve been loving our Massaman Chicken Curry with Quinoa and our Mushroom Bourguignon with Brown Rice 😋 

What are FODMAPs?

FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, which are essentially a "family" of carbohydrates.

They are found in a variety of different foods in differing amounts.  Foods high in FODMAPs include garlic, onions, kidney beans, mange tout, peas, apples, apricot, peaches, raisins, plums, avocado, wheat containing bread, cereal and pasta, barley, rye, spelt, cashews, pistachio, cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk, soy milk, yoghurt, cream cheese.  (This is not an exclusive list).

Not all experts quote the same Low FODMAP lists so it can be confusing for some.  We typically refer to the Monash university as a resource for our list of low and high FODMAP ingredients. 

Why do some people avoid them?

Some people find it difficult to digest these types of carbohydrates, and eating foods containing these may lead them to experience symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea or essentially a group of symptoms often referred to as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). 

People who suffer with IBS often find relief in avoiding some foods containing FODMAPs.

How does it work?

Usually people can tolerate low amounts of FODMAPs or can tolerate certain foods better than others.  It is usually not necessary to exclude all FODMAPs which is why it is called a Low FODMAP diet.

For example, while beans are generally not tolerated, small to moderate amounts of canned, rinsed chickpeas are generally tolerated because the galacto oligosaccharides usually are leached into the water so the remaining chickpeas once rinsed are usually fairly low in them.

Garlic infused olive oil is well tolerated but whole garlic is not.  The flavour and the oil is low in the FODMAPs as the carbohydrate is in the garlic itself.

Wholesomeness is proud to be one of the first and only providers of Low FODMAP meals cooked, packaged and delivered to your door.

Click Here to Start Your Meal Selection