Q l really struggle to find fresh, healthy options for my workday lunches on the go, and end up resorting to fast food or heavy curries. Help!
A You will probably be as excited as we are about the opening of Freshii in Dubai. Something of a cult phenomenon in the US, Freshii is healthy food made hip. They offer typical lunch options, such as salads, wraps, soups and rice bowls - but in a unique ‘build your own' format, in which you get to customise your toppings, flavourings, etc. Not only is their food fresh and delicious, they have also included Arabic sauces to localise the taste. What's more, everything in Freshii is based on a sustainable, eco-friendly ethos, from the ingredients to the recyclable packaging - or even better, the bring your own bowl option! Their first outlet is now open in DIFC, with plans to open more around town. We can't wait for their BlackBerry and iPhone mobile ordering service to get up and running. Visit www.freshii.com.
Busting nutrition myths
Confused about what should make up your five-a-day? How many meals should you be ideally eating? There is so much conflicting nutritional info out there, it can get us in a spin. Nutritionist Nida Barqawi from Medcare Medical Centre shares her essential tips for a healthy diet, that are easy to apply:
>> For a balanced diet, ensure variety by including something from the main food groups: grains, milk, veg, fruits, meat and legumes, and good fats.
>> Latest research says it doesn't matter whether you eat three meals or five in a day, the total energy consumed in a day is what counts.
>> Since fruits are high in sugar, the ideal number of portions for a woman in her 30s is two; have three portions of vegetables to make up your diet requirements.
>> Milk and milk products are an essential source of calcium - as is Vitamin D to process it - and a woman in her 30s should be drinking two cups a day.
Chef's tip
Maple syrup has significantly lower calories than honey. Swap maple syrup for sugar or honey when cooking desserts, to get the same taste with fewer calories and more health benefits, suggests celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
More Multivits, Please?
Forget hard-to-swallow giant pills, multivitamins just got exciting with the launch of Bassett's soft and chewy vitamin pastilles. Already a well-respected name in the UK, these yummy diet supplements will be a first for this market. Their range caters to the entire family, with different formulations and ingredients for different energy, growth and lifestyle needs - from three-year-olds to busy professionals. A convenient blister pack makes it easy to grab the one-a-day you need to make up your daily vitamin and mineral requirements. But with its delicious, natural flavours (we love the blueberry), we can't guarantee you - or the kids - will be able to stop at just one! Prices start at Dh40, available at all leading pharmacies.
