
How to ‘cook once, eat twice' to save time and money on great family meals
She's been in the health industry for more than 15 years and is the cook behind the popular healthy recipe hub Our Nourishing Table.
Today, she will make Mexican-style mince, using it in three different ways.
The dishes will include tacos, taco bowls and school lunches.

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Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Herald Sun
How menopause can damage marriages, relationships
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mental Health. Followed categories will be added to My News. Fractured friendships and strained marriages are among the hidden tolls of menopause, as experts call for a 'Me Too-style' movement to push the topic into the spotlight. New research from News Corp's Growth Distillery has revealed the profound impact menopause is having on the lives of Australians, with nearly one in five of women saying it is eroding their mental health. The research commissioned for the Can We Talk? campaign, in partnership with Medibank, found a quarter of all Gen X ranked it as a top stressor. Experts say the mental health effects of perimenopause and menopause often interfere with work, relationships and daily life, but are too often misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Women's health psychologist Leanne Mulheron said it was a 'discombobulating, challenging time' that could be a 'make or break' for many relationships. 'There's a reckoning that happens for many women because they don't have the capacity to keep managing how they were before … and that can mean re-evaluating relationships,' she said. 'Menopause is like living in your house during renovations – our brains change so much with fluctuating hormones but we're still having to parent and be friends and be carers.' A lack of understanding from partners and spouses, dwindling libido and pain during sex could also cause tension. 'Menopause is often shrouded in lots of shame, so sometimes women endure painful sex, or continue having sex despite having no desire to,' she said. 'There's a huge impact from a relationship point of view. 'Communication is key, and being explicit about how people can support you.' Ms Mulheron said a Me Too-style movement could fuel much-needed awareness and support for women. 'If we all just got up there and said 'this is what's happening to me', it could pave the way for more conversations and validate how women are feeling,' she said. Monash University HER Centre Australia director and psychiatrist Professor Jayashri Kulkarni said many studies showed a sharp rise in mental health issues in perimenopause, and added that suicidal ideation was 'frighteningly common'. Professor Jayashri Kulkarni But some women were being misdiagnosed with conditions such as bipolar disorder. She said hormonal fluctuations could be a tipping point for many issues women grappled with. 'You get the arguments of 'women in midlife have complicated lives ... it's not the hormones, it's the life things',' Professor Kulkarni said. 'Of course, it's all the life things, but there is a tipping factor. 'The woman who was coping before, suddenly can't cope. 'The tipping factor, we think, is the hormonal shifts in the brain that create the chemistry and circuitry changes that lead to mental ill health.' She said it was critical to build understanding and education about the symptoms – including anxiety, brain fog, depression, rage, loss of confidence, paranoia and fatigue – as well as treatments. Podcast host Alex Merton-McCann, 53, said she suffered through 'hormonal chaos' for years, which manifested in depression, anxiety, brain fog and withdrawing from friends and family. Alex Merton- McCann (centre) with her friends Paula Woodcock (left), and Maddie Thomson (right). Picture: Julian Andrews. 'I hit really dark times but initially no-one, including my doctors, realised it was hormone related,' she said. She found herself unable to continue with her podcast, The Grown Up Girls Report, in which she ironically explored the topic of menopause. While her husband had been very supportive, she said he didn't have the 'tools' to help her navigate the period. So she turned to her friends who helped normalise her experience. 'I felt like I was flying blind but my friends got me out of the spiral,' she said. 'The shared experience is so powerful. 'I finally feel like the windows are open again now.' Meanwhile, some big businesses are starting to take action to help women navigate the challenges. Medibank is offering staff – 70 per cent of whom are female – a fully-funded telehealth service including a consultation with a doctor and a personalised care plan. Dr Shona Sundaraj, Medibank group medical director and GP, said up to 50 per cent of women in perimenopause or menopause experienced new or heightened symptoms of anxiety. 'We need to educate women about the connection between menopause and anxiety,' she said. 'We must encourage open dialogue and work to destigmatise mental health issues during midlife.' Tips from GP Dr Shona Sundaraj, Medibank Group medical director, on navigating menopause Educate yourself and others Understanding what menopause is – and isn't – helps reduce fear and stigma. There's a lot of false information out there — lean on reliable women health resources like The Jean Hailes Foundation and educate yourself and family and friends who are supporting you. Learn about common symptoms, like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances and memory fog. Trusted information Read from reputable sources or consult healthcare providers. Share what you learn with your loved ones. Normalising menopause helps create space for honest conversations. Prioritise physical health Lifestyle choices can ease symptoms significantly. Back to basics is really important: good food, quality sleep and body movement, in particular strength training, is crucial at this stage of life. Exercise boosts your mood, maintains bone density and supports sleep. A balanced diet should focus on calcium, vitamin D, fibre and whole foods. Try to minimise intake of processed foods that will add to belly weight gain. Sleep hygiene is important. Create a calming bedtime routine and limit screen time before bed. Talk to your doctor about hormone therapy, supplements or other treatments if needed. Talk with friends and family Don't carry the emotional load alone, it also helps if your loved ones are aware of the changes you're going through. Help them understand what support looks like for you – even if it's just listening. Practice self-compassion and flexibility Menopause can be unpredictable, and some days will be harder than others. Just remember, peri-menopause and menopause are normal stages of life and any woman that is in her 40s or beyond is going through it with you. You're not alone. Give yourself permission to rest, say no, or adjust plans. Remind yourself this is a phase, not a personal failing. This is a normal stage of life. Just like childhood, puberty or having children. Empathy is important Perimenopause and menopause doesn't signify ageing, it's a transition in life. We need to acknowledge that quite often women at this stage of their life are at the peak of their careers, while looking after teenage children and helping elderly parents. This can compound how women manage. Let's create space, understanding and empathy for women in their 40s to 50s. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, helping Australian families better tackle mental wellbeing. To follow the series and access all stories, tips and advice, visit our new Health section.


The Advertiser
5 days ago
- The Advertiser
Coca-Cola confirms cane sugar version coming to the US
Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not immediately confirm the change but promised new offerings soon. On Tuesday, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range "to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences". "We appreciate the president's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand," Quincey said in a conference call with investors on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not immediately confirm the change but promised new offerings soon. On Tuesday, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range "to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences". "We appreciate the president's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand," Quincey said in a conference call with investors on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not immediately confirm the change but promised new offerings soon. On Tuesday, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range "to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences". "We appreciate the president's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand," Quincey said in a conference call with investors on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not immediately confirm the change but promised new offerings soon. On Tuesday, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range "to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences". "We appreciate the president's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand," Quincey said in a conference call with investors on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA


7NEWS
6 days ago
- 7NEWS
How to ‘cook once, eat twice' to save time and money on great family meals
Sarah Bell is a nutritionist turned healthy recipe developer. She's been in the health industry for more than 15 years and is the cook behind the popular healthy recipe hub Our Nourishing Table. Today, she will make Mexican-style mince, using it in three different ways. The dishes will include tacos, taco bowls and school lunches.