Opinion - Parents Precinct

February 1st 2010 09:42

Did you send your little one off today with tears or triumph? Were you pushing them out the door or gripping on to their oversized backpack? Whatever the case, the facts are that if they’re at school then you might be looking for some fun, handy, healthy lunchbox tips.

Most dietary and nutritional resources will tell you that the ideal kids’ lunchbox includes something vegetable, fruit, dairy, protein and starchy carb. And what does that all mean? Here are some suggestions that my little man swears by…

Vegetables: Carrot or celery sticks with hummus dip.

Fruit: Fresh is best so stick with what’s in season. I alternate between an apple, banana, mandarin, grapes, strawberries, watermelon or if you’re stuck a fruit cup with diced pears or peaches.

Dairy: Cheese cubes or yoghurt (good tip: freeze the yoghurt and pop it in their lunchbox that morning, by lunchtime it will be perfect and the best part is that it has kept all the other food nice and cool.)

Starchy: A sandwich is perfect, on wholemeal bread if, like mine, they know no other! Ham, vegemite, avocado, chicken…the choices are endless.

Protein: If this isn’t already in their sandwich, perhaps add some shaved ham, chicken or lamb…leftovers from a roast are great as they can be easily eaten.

Also when you pack a drink go water all the way...they'll need the hydration during the day.

Added Extras: If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands…and hey who really does?! But all kidding aside, every now and again it’s nice to throw in a little homemade treat like a fruit muffin, banana bread or zucchini slice.

STAY ON TOP OF IT TIPS:

Make up the lunchbox the night before and refrigerate OR Make up the weekly sandwich of choice and freeze...this is gold!

THE LATEST IN LUNCHBOXES:

I swear this is not a paid endorsement…but I just love the new Nude Food Movers™ from Smash. You can feel a little better about the world by reducing packaging and waste and you can fit so much in with its nifty sandwich divider and leak proof removable containers AND there’s an additional insulated CoolSkin™ to keep all of your perfectly prepared food yummy for longer! Gee upon reading that, it does sound like I've had a hand in writing their latest ad but seriously I was really impressed with this product!!

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Posted By: Prue DeAraugo - Category: Opinion

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FLF #4 - Grilled salmon with Thai green risotto

December 4th 2009 05:18

I'm dropping Food Lovers Friday to FLF. I can't resist an acronym whenever possible...the result of being married to teacher perhaps!

This recipe is the first ever risotto I attempted. Struck with fear that risottos were complicated and tricky, I almost didn't try it BUT it was a grand success. So give it go! Enjoy

Ingredients (serves 4)

1/3 cup (80ml) sweet chilli sauce
1/3 cup (80ml) ketjap manis*
Plus a little extra to drizzle
1/3 cup (80ml) lime juice
4 (150g) skinless salmon fillets
3 cups (750ml) vegetable stock
1 tbs sunflower oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbs Thai green curry paste
4 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, crushed
200g Arborio rice
150ml coconut cream
1/4 cup mixed Asian herbs* (Thai basil/mint/coriander)
Plus extra to serve
1 tbs grated lime rind
Lime wedges, to serve

Method
Mix sweet chilli sauce and ketjap manis with half the lime juice. Pour it over salmon and set aside in the fridge. Place stock in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and keep at a simmer.

Heat the oil in a frypan over low heat; add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Stir in curry paste, cook for a few seconds, then add half the lime leaves, the ginger, garlic and rice, and cook for a further minute, stirring. Start adding stock, one ladleful at a time, waiting for the stock to be absorbed each time. Continue until all stock has been used. Stir occasionally to prevent risotto from catching. Check rice is cooked, stir in half the coconut cream, then season to taste. Remove from heat and cover.

Heat a non-stick frypan over high heat, remove salmon from marinade and cook for 2 minutes each side.

Finely chop herbs and stir into the risotto with the lime rind and remaining juice. Reserve a little coconut cream to garnish, and then stir the remaining into risotto. Divide risotto between plates, and place a salmon fillet on each. Drizzle with remaining coconut cream and ketjap manis. Garnish with remaining lime leaves, extra herbs and lime wedges.

Notes & tips
* Ketjap manis is a sweet Indonesian soy sauce from supermarkets and Asian food stores. Asian herbs are from good greengrocers and Asian food stores.

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Food Lovers Friday #3 - Warm Chicken Salad

November 27th 2009 07:45

Warm Chicken Salad

Serving size: Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 chicken breasts
1 red capsicum, cut into strips
1 yellow capsicum, cut into strips
1 cucumber, finely chopped
1 Spanish onion, finely sliced
100g mushrooms, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
100g salad mix
Pine nuts (roasted)
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp Cajun spice
Sweet Chilli Sauce

METHOD

Heat oil in a pan over a high heat; add garlic and then chicken strips. While the chickens cooking start on the salad. Chop, into small pieces, the cucumber, both yellow and red capsicums, Spanish onion, mushrooms, avocado, snow peas, and the cherry tomatoes.

Add salt, pepper and Cajun spice to the cooking chicken. Add sweet chilli sauce, once the chicken is cooked.

Serve the salad cold.

Plate the lettuce, then add the capsicum, mushrooms, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and avocado. Then add the chicken, pour the pan juices over the top and sprinkle with roasted pine nuts.

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V is for Validation

November 26th 2009 01:25

The other day I received one of those ‘what makes women special’ emails…you know the sort that your mum or girlfriend sends you because they have to forward it on to eight other strong women in their life. Usually aimed squarely at mothers, these poetic, sentimental and emotive emails are indeed very nice to receive but the whole concept of patting each other on the back made me think about validation. How do we get it? How much do we need it? Do some need it more than others?

In an attempt to crack the mystery, I’ve decided to examine my own life stage and my need for validation. The reason I say life stage is because I have an inkling that the level of validation women require is directly in proportion to a particular phase in her life…motherhood. I realise that I could be accused of generalising mothers here, but my theory comes from some very “extensive research” i.e. coffee with the girls, conducted over “several years” i.e. since we had our children

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Food Lovers Friday #2 - Summer Lasagne

November 20th 2009 02:35

This Ricotta, Ham and Tomato Lasagne is so quick and easy and perfect for a light summer meal.

Ingredients (serves 6)
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Food Lovers Friday #1 - Banana Bread

November 12th 2009 22:34

Food Lovers Friday is a first for Parent's Precinct. Every Friday I will post a tried and tested recipe guaranteed to please the family.

If you’re anything like me, the changing of the season has ensured that winter’s mundane rotation of warmers are done and dusted. I’m looking to feel inspired and reinvigorated about spring/summer meals and nothing beats discovering and sharing a new recipe to liven things up

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Is The Trick (Or Treat) On Us?

October 27th 2009 10:51

Are Australian retailers behind this palpable rise in Halloween promotion? Like me, you must have noticed their shelves recently stocked to bursting point with all kinds of spooky paraphernalia…costumes, plastic pumpkin baskets, witches hats, cobwebs et al. I have even found myself dutifully stocking up on lollies, or dare I say ‘candy’, just in case some innocent cog in this giant marketing helm/adorable young child from down the street, comes a knocking at my door this Saturday night!

Let’s face it, Halloween wouldn’t be the first thing Australian’s have borrowed from American culture but don’t you think it would be nice if we set the boundaries. You see, there are some who will naively embrace this seemingly happy (and giving) holiday, ah yes that would be the children. Then there’s the parent’s who, by and large, were not so lucky as to experience the phenomena of dressing up in scary costumes and forcing their neighbours, albeit perfect strangers, to hand over yummy, sugary snacks under the duress of being ‘tricked’. Then of course there are the true winners in all of this…the retailers. So good for them right? They’re businesses and their business is selling. Why not adopt a cash cow like Halloween and reap the rewards

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The Best Things In Life

October 23rd 2009 03:52

As it’s the end of the week and in the interest of rejuvenating any flailing spirits…mine included… I thought I would compile my very own ‘Best Things’ list. This is certainly a fun way to remember what is really important in life. Why not try it for yourself. Try to really think about your answers and not just put down the most obvious ones. See how it makes you feel.

Here’s my take on the simple things in my life that never fail to make me smile….in no particular order because they’re all fabulous

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Just a girl…not yet a woman!

October 6th 2009 05:33

I had a jaw dropping experience today when I read a story in the paper about the startling milestones young girls are aspiring to these days. As the mother of a one year old girl, I was truly astounded at the year long findings of Australian researcher Maggie Hamilton. Ms Hamilton, who interviewed thousands of parents, children and teachers, has made some shocking discoveries about how we, as a society, are overtly sexualising our young girls. The emergence of such things as make-up/spa parties, toddler bra and knicker sets and..wait for it…Brazilian waxes…are being blamed for creating a generation of confused, pressured and promiscuous young girls.

What a travesty. It makes me so sad that our girls are not going to experience the best aspect childhood…having not a clue or care for how they look or what/who they are wearing. I feel sad that these girls won’t be able to enjoy with some nostalgia the ‘awkward’ stage of changing from a girl to a woman. In all the madness it seems that we have managed to erase that very discernable line

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The Power of Positivity

September 10th 2009 06:04

Browsing online recently I came across the well known ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ range of frames, coasters, t-shirts and fridge magnets. It brought a smile to my face as I thought of mums all over the world uttering this to themselves throughout any given day. I wondered briefly if in fact I should be sending royalty cheques to someone, given the amount of times I’ve been telling myself this lately.

Now the history of this old adage is not unique to us mums…the Keep Calm and Carry On phrase was developed towards the end of World War II. Designed as a simple message from King George IV to his public to remind them they were doing everything possible to bring the War to an end. A rich history indeed, yet its philosophy rings as true today as it did back then. Granted, mums aren’t fighting a War but we do encounter adversity, struggle with our identity and experience emotional hardship…bottom line is we can all use the power of this positive little statement

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