Our Contributing Editor tucking into a Luscious Affairs Lamington. Photo courtesy of Dannii Minogue.
I like the 'grazing' approach to food, eating small amounts frequently throughout the day. If I eat like this I can avoid getting light-headed and it helps stabilize my metabolism, keeping me feeling energized all day long.
I love a treat as much as the next girl but woman can't live on Lamingtons alone! Regular, healthy snacks are an important part of my eating plan – here are some of my favourites.
- Smoothie<p> You can’t beat a homemade smoothie for a quick, easy-to-down, energy boost. I like to mix half a banana with a couple of scoops of vanilla-flavoured protein powder, some cold soy milk and some ice for a yummy pick-me-up that I can sip in the car on my way to appointments. When I’m in a hurry I’ll pop some soy milk and protein powder in a GNC ‘blender bottle’ (without the banana). The bottle has a little ball whisk inside it so all I need to do is shake it vigorously for a smoothie on the go.</p>
- Protein bar<p> I like to have lots of snacks on me (it’s not the only reason I carry a big handbag, promise!) Protein bars are great for nibbling on while I’m at work because there are no crumbs and they’re low-GI so they release energy slowly, keeping me going during long days on set. Boots milk chocolate-coated strawberry-flavour high protein bars are a good option here in the UK.</p> <p> Buy <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Milk-chocolate-coated-strawberry-flavour-high-protein-bar-ndash-50g_857909/" target="_blank">Boots high protein bar</a>, £1.69</p> <p> </p>
- Omelette<p> Omelettes are packed with protein, low in carbohydrates and they’re light and yummy for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack when you miss a meal. I cook a mean omelet and I like mine the French way: very lightly browned on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside. I’ve popped my very own tried and tested omelet recipe at the bottom of this photo gallery for you to try…</p>
- Dried figs<p> Figs are great for an attack of the sweet tooth. They’re a little higher in carbs than some snacks but they’re also fat-free and high in fibre, calcium for strong bones, disease-fighting antioxidants and iron. The flesh is dense and sweet and the seeds are morishly crunchy. Yum!</p>
- Popcorn<p> The perfect snack when you're settling down for a DVD night, popcorn is high in antioxidants and fibre. It's a wholegrain so 30 grams of popcorn is equivalent to a portion of brown rice and it's great for keeping you feeling full and balancing blood sugar levels too. <a href="http://www.zaramama.com/" target="_blank">ZaraMama</a> ‘Pop-a-Cob’ is a fun, and super-healthy, alternative to traditional microwave popcorn.</p>
My omelette recipe:
Ingredients
2 eggs
Small handful of grated cheddar cheese or crumbled goats cheese
Fresh vegetables (optional)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Basil pesto
Method
1. Pre-heat a non-stick pan.
2. Whisk two eggs and pour them into the hot pan, continuing to beat as you pour.
3. Turn down the heat to medium and sprinkle omelette with a pinch each of salt and pepper.
4. Leave for about one minute, then sprinkle some cheddar or goats cheese, spreading it evenly across the surface of the omelette.
5. If you need help to get to your five daily portions of veggies, add yummy crunchy sliced capsicum, mushrooms, courgette or fresh spinach leaves.
6. Use a spatula or slotted egg turner to fold the omelette over on itself.
7. Gently brown each side of the omelette, leaving the centre a little runny (you don't want it to look like a pie-shaped piece of rubber).
8. Slide the omelette out of the pan gently and serve with a smear of basil pesto for a little extra kick.
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