Let me share why I just love using oats. They have a low GI, keeping you full longer and packed with beta glucan, they are fabulous for the heart as well as digestion. Oats are never boring.

A quick and easy fix can be extremely appealing, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This morning I was reading about "neophilia" or our fascination with new and novel ideas and how it applies to nutrition. It is this love for a new and novel idea that sometimes compels us to try ridiculous fad diets and products such as green kale smoothies and paleo diets.

I chopped up a pile of vegetables including onion, carrot, leek, celery, broccoli, swede and parsnip. I placed these in my slow cooker with a lamb shank, a good handful of soup mix (barley & split peas) and fresh herbs such as rosemary, bay leaf, thyme and sage. Lamb & Barley Soup is on the menu for dinner tonight.

An increasing body of research is linking our digestive health to many other aspects of health including anxiety, depression, weight problems, heart health, inflammatory disorders such as ulcerative colitis, arthritis and diabetes. So its not surprising that we are keen to learn more about the effects of food choices on our microbiome.

Breakfast eaters are better able to maintain a healthy weight. Eating breakfast kickstarts your metabolism and keeps you satisfied so you are less likely to consume excess kilojoules later in the day. Breakfast also improves mental alertness, concentration, mood and learning by stabilising blood sugar levels. Breakfast provides a range of important nutrients including carbohydrates, protein, fibre, calcium and B group vitamins

Diabetes is a chronic condition which impacts on the body's ability to make or use insulin. This causes high blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy level of blood sugar is needed to manage diabetes and prevent complications. Choosing nourishing foods and regulating your portion sizes will help you self manage your diabetes. It is important that any dietary advice is tailored to your specific needs. Dietitians are food and nutrition experts who have studied at university for at least 4 years and are up to date on the best diet to manage your diabetes.

After attending the 2016 ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference in beautiful, balmy Brisbane last week I decided to summarise a few hot tips about exercise, mental health and Mediterranean diet, willpower versus habits, how much sugar is too much sugar and how to improve your gut microbiome.

Spring is the time for a clean out. Toss away those habits which are not helpful. An organised and tidy kichen makes it easier to make healthy food choices. Here are a few ideas to get you back on track with your health goals: Spring clean the kitchen. Start with the pantry. Clear out those foods that are not helping you to achieve good health. An organised pantry stocked with healthy staples is a good start. Think tins of tomatoes, legumes such as three beans, lentils and kidney beans, beetroot, corn, brown rice and pasta. Choose high fibre breakfast cereals

Diabetes poses a big risk to the health of many Australians. Diet plays a role both in preventing diabetes as well as managing diabetes. Six top diet tips to manage risks of diabetes, choose mostly low GI carbohydrates, limit sweetened drinks, include healthy fats, eat more meals at home and snack wisely.