And now for a little me time
THE POWER OF ... SERIES
The power of breakfast
by Lorna Gordon
The old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day still stands true today , but it ’ s not just when you eat , it ’ s what you eat that ’ s important .
Studies have shown that having breakfast is beneficial to us starting our day , it helps keep our blood sugar stable which can help with insulin resistance and avoiding type 2 diabetes and it has been connected with long term heart health .
You can take the first meal of the day one step further and have a protein packed breakfast . Protein fills us up for longer which helps us to stay away from snacks , and it fuels our bodies , which is particularly important for children at school when they use up a lot of energy playing and learning new things . Eating first thing also helps your mood as you aren ’ t running on an empty stomach and reaching for coffee and a snack when you can ’ t ignore your hunger anymore .
If you are used to skipping breakfast because you are in a rush you can make your meal in advance . Overnight oats are easy to make the night before and can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days so you can make up a batch . Put them in a jar or container with a lid and it ’ s as simple as picking them up to take to work with you . Don ’ t fancy oats ? Try making some healthy savoury muffins or have some high protein yoghurt and berries or nuts to kick start your morning . Again , these can be sitting in
Start your day well with a good breakfast . Image : Gian Cescon , unsplash .
PODCASTS
Dear Menopause
by Lorna Gordon
For those of us nearing or in midlife , menopause and its younger sister , peri menopause are words that we are familiar with , yet so much of this transition in a woman ’ s body is not spoken about , or only spoken about in hushed tones .
Thankfully that kind of nonsense is becoming a thing of the past with many more women wanting to understand the changes their body is going through and take charge of them . Which brings me to this month ’ s podcast , Dear Menopause .
Dear Menopause is hosted by a Sydney woman , Sonya Lovell , who after having survived breast cancer was put into medically induced menopause and turned her love of health and fitness to becoming a menopause coach .
Having known Sonya for many years I can tell you this woman does your fridge , ready to put into your bag and eat on the go .
If you have a little more time , eggs are the perfect breakfast food , they are healthy and quick to make into an omelette or scrambled eggs . Feeling fancy ? You can throw in some cheese , ham , spinach , tomatoes or mushrooms to add an extra level of flavour and nutrients or you can make them into a wrap , muffin or burrito to eat on the go .
Whatever you chose to eat first thing to break your fast , know that you are doing yourself a big favour by giving it what it needs to start the day in the best way possible .
We are used to the convenience of cereal , you just pour it in the bowl and add some milk , job done , but cereal might not have the balance of protein and healthy fats that you need to start your day well .
* I am not a nutritionist or health professional . If you need advice on your food intake or diet , speak to your GP who will be able to give you medical advice .
not beat around the bush ( pun intended ), so expect honesty , laughs and a few swear words in amongst the insight she is providing . She talks to doctors , psychologists , MP ’ s and health workers about menopause and how it affects our minds , bodies and life in midlife and beyond .
The episodes cover topics like ‘ How to talk to your doctor about Menopause and Perimenopause ’ ( Episode 53 ), ‘ Mental Health and Menopause ’ ( Episode 22 ), ‘ Is your exercise working for or against you ?’ ( Episode 33 ). She asks her guests the kind of questions you want to know the answers to and does shy away from talking about the hard things .
So , if you are approaching or are in midlife , get Sonya in your ears to help you navigate your path to having a healthy and happy menopause . You can find the podcast on the Dear Menopause website www . dearmenopause . au or wherever you stream your music and podcasts .
Siena ’ s NOTEBOOK
Binge Worthy TV • Movies • Books • Reviews & News
I have just graduated high school and am passionate about all things movies , TV shows and the occasional book . I am excited to review these for you in a fresh and informal way . Siena Piggott
my most anticipated movies this winter !
Elemental ( Showing Now ) Perfect to take your kids to or if you ’ re just like me you need some good old fashioned comfort , Elemental is the new animated movie from Disney Pixar and a must see this winter . Set in a world where the elements ( fire , water , earth and air ) live together , firegirl Ember and waterboy Wade discover how much they really have in common . It ’ s a fun , lighthearted movie with a unique concept . No Hard Feelings ( Showing Now )
Jennifer Lawrence stars in this movie that is reminiscent of an early 2000s comedy . Desperate for money Maddie Barker embarks on a task to date a wealthy couple ’ s awkward 19 year old son before he goes to college . Maybe not the perfect family film ( at least not for young kids ), it looks like a raunchy comedy full of jokes so bad their good . And who doesn ’ t love Jennifer Lawrence . Indiana Jones : and the Dial of Destiny ( Showing Now )
Indiana Jones makes his return after a fifteen year hiatus accompanied by his goddaughter played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge . I am a huge fan of the Indiana Jones series however , I am mainly seeing it for Phoebe Waller-Bridge tbh . I just hope it ’ s better than the last one . Barbie ( 20 July )
Do I even need to say anything about this ? The soundtrack already sounds amazing , the costumes look stunning and we all know Margot Robbie is gonna slay being Barbie , and Greta Gerwig is gonna slay the whole project .
Source : IMDb
Credit : COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Oppenheimer ( 20 July ) You are either a Barbie or an Oppenheimer girlie and there is no inbetween . Seeing as they are the biggest movies of the year , packed with an all star cast - the fact that they ’ re coming out on the same day makes of a tough decision for movie goers like me . However , I am a sucker for historical films and so I have a good feeling about Christopher Nolan ’ s take on the development of the atomic bomb ( the Manhattan Project ). Asteroid City ( 10 August )
Wes Anderson makes his return with this retro , 1950s aesthetic dramady about a stargazing event in an American desert town . It looks like Wes Anderson ’ s most Wes Anderson looking film to date . The thing I love about Anderson ’ s style of direction is that it feels so cozy , like the film version of a hug . So to say I am excited for this is a major understatement . It ’ s also packed to the brim with celebrities such as ScarJo , Maya Hawke , and Tom Hanks , just to
Source : Deadline . name a few .
14 ISSUE 28 // JULY 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT