The Wholesome Effect

This week’s blog: Answering My Nutrition FAQs!

This week I’m answering some of the nutrition questions I get asked most often as a Dietitian, keeping things simple, practical and easy to apply. ✨

From everyday nutrition to common questions around food, health and wellbeing, this blog covers some of the FAQs that come up time and time again.

Have a nutrition question you’d like me to answer in a future blog? Drop it in the comments or send me a message! 💬

Read this week’s blog below 👇

Pre-Training Nutrition, Vegan Protein & Creatine: What to Know - Dietitian Central Coast Discover Pre-Training Nutrition, Vegan Protein & Creatine: What to Know with evidence-based advice from Paris Mooney, Central Coast dietitian. Practical tips for better health & wellbeing.

Why I love snack pairing 👀
From a Dietitian 🍓🧂

One of my favourite snack tips? Snack pairing!

Pairing two or more foods together can help make your snack more satisfying, while also giving you a combination of nutrients like protein, fibre, carbohydrates and healthy fats.

And remember, snacks don’t need to be complicated! You don’t need a recipe or hours of meal prep, sometimes it’s simply about pairing two foods you already enjoy.

Try these sweet + salty combinations:
🍎 Apple + cheddar cheese
🍌 Banana + peanut butter + sea salt
🍉 Watermelon + feta + mint
🍑 Peach + cottage cheese + honey + flaky salt
🥜 Dates + peanut butter + sea salt
🍓 Strawberries + cottage cheese + balsamic glaze
🍫 Dark chocolate + salted almonds + protein shake
🍇 Grapes + cottage cheese + wholegrain crackers

My favourite snack formula:
Carb + protein + fibre AND/OR healthy fat = ✨ a more satisfying snack ✨

Save this for your next snack inspo 🫶
✨ Need help building balanced meals and snacks that actually work for you?

Book a FREE discovery call with Dietitian Paris 🤍
Available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at The Hybrid HQ Erina or online.

DM me for information about private health rebates and Medicare rebates.
📍 Book via the link in bio or send me a DM 🫶

Not all tomato sauces are created equal 👀
From a Dietitian 🍅

Tomato sauce can be a quick and convenient way to add flavour to meals, but supermarket options can vary quite a bit in their added sugar, sodium and overall ingredient profile.

So what should you actually look for? 💭
✔️ Tomatoes as the main ingredient — look for tomato, passata or tomato purée high up on the ingredient list.
✔️ Lower added sugar — some sauces contain quite a bit of added sugar, so compare labels where possible.
✔️ Lower sodium — especially if you’re using tomato sauce regularly or adding it to multiple meals throughout the day.
✔️ Simple ingredients — tomatoes, herbs, spices and oil are great basics.


And remember, you don’t need to avoid tomato sauce! It’s all about choosing an option that fits into your overall diet and how often you’re using it.

Try using tomato sauce with:
🍝 Pasta + lean mince + vegetables
🍳 Eggs on toast
🥔 Baked potatoes or wedges
🌯 Wraps and toasted sandwiches
🍗 Chicken burgers or homemade meatballs

Save this for your next grocery shop 🛒🫶
✨ Need help understanding food labels or making healthier supermarket choices?

Book a FREE discovery call with Dietitian Paris 🤍
Available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at The Hybrid HQ Erina or online.

DM me for information about private health rebates and Medicare rebates.
📍 Book via the link in bio or send me a DM 🫶

Not all pesto is created equal 👀
From a Dietitian 🌿🫒

Some supermarket options can be quite high in sodium and saturated fat, while others have a simpler ingredient profile and provide more beneficial fats from olive oil and nuts.

So what should you actually look for? 💭
✔️ Extra virgin olive oil as a main oil source for heart-healthy unsaturated fats.
✔️ Nuts and seeds such as pine nuts or cashews for healthy fats and micronutrients.
✔️ Basil and real herbs for flavour and additional plant compounds.
✔️ Lower sodium where possible, particularly if you’re using pesto regularly.
✔️ A simple ingredient list with fewer unnecessary ingredients.

Try using pesto with:
🍝 Pasta + chicken + vegetables
🥪 Wholegrain sandwiches or wraps
🥗 Grain bowls and salads
🍳 Eggs or omelettes
🐟 Fish or chicken as a marinade

Save this for your next grocery shop 🛒🫶
✨ Need help understanding food labels or making healthier supermarket choices?

Book a FREE discovery call with Dietitian Paris 🤍
Available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at The Hybrid HQ Erina or online.

DM me for information about private health rebates and Medicare rebates.
📍 Book via the link in bio or send me a DM 🫶