The Conscious Dietitian

Genetically Modified Foods – What This Means For Your Health And The Health Of The Environment

Written by Rachel on May 24, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Farmlands NSW, Australia

Living in Australia for the last 9 years I was relatively sheltered to the dangers of industrial farming. That is until I started following the works of authors such as Michael Pollan, an American author, journalist and activist. Being back in North America there is no doubt that genetically modified (GM) foods, which coincides with industrial farming, is a hot topic at the moment. More and more people are starting to ask questions about the health and environmental safety of these foods. In Canada and America GM labelling of foods is not required. Regardless of how we feel about GM foods, how can we as consumers possibly make an informed decision on a topic that potentially affects our health if we don’t have all the information? And do we also have the responsibility of ensuring the health of our environment for generations to come?
Read more »

Mexican Inspired Toasted Sandwich – Recipe Redux

Written by Rachel on May 21, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Open Faced Mexican Inspired Sandwich

Let me count the reasons why I love Mexican food so much.

AVOCADO – Creamy mouth feel, mono-unsaturated goodness,
CORIANDER/CILANTRO – A star in Thai, Indian and Central American Cuisine,
LEGUMES – Delicious bundles of fibre, protein and other goodies.

Japanese Miso and Soba Noodle Soup

Written by Rachel on May 13, 2013 · Leave a Comment

This is a regular dish in our household. Its super easy and adaptable. You can usually find some sort of vegetable in your fridge that would work perfectly with this dish. Miso is a little bit of a ‘superfood’, I use Genmai Miso as its made of brown rice rather than white, so it still contains the bran making it even more nutritious. None-the-less, miso is a great alternative to stock as the fermentation process undergone to make miso helps to create probiotics making our guts a happy place.
Read more »

Gluten Free Beetroot Chocolate Muffins with Chickpea Flour

Written by Rachel on May 8, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Celebrate this Mother’s Day with a healthy treat! Most moms would appreciate these low calorie, gluten free goodies on their special day. For those who do not tolerate gluten well, chickpea flour is a great alternative. Chickpea flour has a high nutrient density and it is also low GI, so good for lowering blood sugar levels.

Fair Trade Berry Cucumber Iced Tea

Written by Rachel on April 30, 2013 · Leave a Comment

It’s spring time in Victoria and beautiful sunny afternoons are spent on the patio with friends and a nice cold drink in hand. My new housemate Sage came up with the delicious concoction one afternoon and I thought it would be great to share. This naturally sweetened beverage with subtle hints of berries and the freshness of sliced cucumbers is super simple to make and is a no calorie drink that can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Read more »

Raspberry Almond Meal Cupcakes with Cacao Nibs and Citrus – Recipe Redux

Written by Rachel on April 21, 2013 · 6 Comments

The trick to making ‘healthy’ cupcakes is to omit the refined starchy white flour and replace it with delicious almond meal. Almond meal, which is basically just whole almonds ground up in a food processor, are the savior of gluten free baking. Not only does it make tasty, moist little cakes, but it is also super nutritious!
Read more »

How To Get Your Omega-3′s – For The Vegetarians

Written by Rachel on April 9, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Long dispelled are the myths of inadequate protein intake in vegetarian diets as now we know a well balanced vegetarian diet, containing nuts, seeds, tofu, eggs, dairy, legumes or quinoa, will provide adequate protein. One query that continues to linger is whether or not a vegetarian based diet provides sufficient omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in seafood.
Read more »

Seafood: Greenpeace Ranks Your Tuna

Written by Rachel on April 4, 2013 · Leave a Comment

If your a tuna lover then check out Greenpeace’s Tuna Ranking Guide available for many different countries including Australia and Canada. Many species of tuna have been listed as endangered which puts our entire oceans ecosystem at risk. By making small changes and boycotting the worst offenders, we can all make a difference and encourage unsustainable brands to pick up the slack.
Read more »

Raw Date Fudge Balls

Written by Rachel on March 27, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Skip the chocolate hangover this Easter and try these delicious and easy Raw Date Fudge Balls! Chocolate Eggs and Easter Bunny’s have been decorating the supermarket shelves since January! I love my festive holidays but hate the thought of giving in to clever marketing and handing my hard earned cash over to these seemingly evil corporations.
Read more »

Coriander Pesto Atta Wraps with Mushrooms, Feta, Capsicum and Fresh Salsa – Recipe Redux

Written by Rachel on March 21, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Coriander (Cilantro) Pesto on Atta Flour Wraps with Sauteed Mushroom, Roasted Capsicum and Fresh Feta

The theme for this month’s Recipe Redux was Green With Herb Envy – with an aim to use a fresh green herbs in a nontraditional way. This summer Coriander (Cilantro in North America) has been plentiful and I couldn’t wait to get creative with it! This pesto recipe was inspired by the Rebar Cookbook which is a must for any kitchen. If you have never had the pleasure of trying a coriander pesto, do yourself a favour.
Read more »