I'm always looking for a hot snack in this cold weather. Is a two-minute instant noodle soup a good choice?
Let's start with this: the convenience factor of instant noodles is inversely proportionate to their nutritional value. There's some protein in there, but no fibre and lots of additives, so the short answer is a big ol' "no".
The worst thing about instant noodle soups is the salt content which is contained in the flavour sachet and amounts to about 50 per cent of the recommended daily serve of sodium. A lot of the noodle soups are popular with kids, but in my opinion they are particularly inappropriate for children because it conditions them to eating salty foods.
If you do like hot, noodley things as a snack, try fresh wholemeal pasta (which cooks in only two to three minutes) with homemade tomato, garlic and basil sauce stirred through (avoid the pasta sauces you buy in jars because they contain too much sugar). It's a much more nutritious meal, contains lots of fibre and tastes great.
Got a question? Then send me a private message at facebook.com/Mishy.Bridges.
I'm Loving: Gumboots
Nothing quite like the combination of winter rain and a hyperactive farm dog - Paddy - to make you appreciate gumboots. The best news about them is that they now come in a range of styles and colours!
Yoghurt and mint chicken skewers with freekeh
• 2 tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 4 (300g) chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 55g ( cup) cracked freekeh
• 1/2 Lebanese cucumber, trimmed and diced
• 1 small red capsicum, deseeded and diced
• 2 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 2 tsp olive oil
• oil spray
• lemon wedges, to serve
Method:
Combine yoghurt, 2 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of mint and garlic in a shallow dish. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare a salad. First, cook the freekeh in a pan of boiling water for about 15 minutes, until al dente. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the cucumber, capsicum, spring onions and olive oil, along with the remaining lemon juice and mint. Gently stir to combine.
Thread the chicken onto 4 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for at least 20 minutes beforehand). Spray a chargrill pan with oil and place over a medium heat. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through.
Serve skewers with the salad and lemon.
Workout makeover
Nadia Fairfax, Fashion blogger, 26
Nadia's workout: None! I walk twice a week - usually with a coffee in hand - and modify my diet rather than exercise to keep my figure in shape - bad girl, I know. I am very active on a day-to-day basis and I was an elite gymnast but now I have lost a lot of my fitness and flexibility. I'm a bit lazy, so I want to slowly regain fitness without pushing myself too hard so that I don't enjoy it.
Nadia's goal: I am very petite and wouldn't mind adding a little muscle to my gluteus maximus.
Michelle says:
None? Zero? Not even a gentle coffee jog? Unfortunately, Nadia, amplifying your butt is harder than reducing it. As a fashion blogger, you'll understand that fashion equals pain, so just think of "operation bubble butt" as a fashion exercise.
Modifying your diet to control your figure is actually the right approach (big tick!).
Use exercise for your overall health and to improve muscle tone (as well as the size of your tush).
Your past life as a gymnast will serve you well because you're no stranger to the rigours of training.
So here's the plan: Take a trip down memory lane, reintroduce yourself to the strengthening exercises you did as an elite gymnast, and ditch the coffee cup so you can amp up the walks to a light jog. Now for operation BB: deep squats (above)are top of the list, followed by deep decline leg presses with your feet high up the footplate to keep the focus on your glutes.
