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Low-fat festive food ideas

There are many options when it comes to healthy meals at this time of year — it’s all about taking the time to plan properly. And it doesn’t mean losing out on taste, either — you just have to think laterally.

  • Don’t stand next to the food table — if you’re not near it, you can’t eat it.

  • Fill up on healthy salads before you arrive, so you only have room for a small amount of food.

  • Trick your mind and use a smaller plate.

  • Don’t eat all the crust in cheesecakes, pies and flans.

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Bindi’s health kick

Bindi's health kick

Bindi Irwin chats about her new Kidfitness video and how she’s coping without her exceptional dad.

Was the video fun to make?

A lot of fun. Especially fun because I got to get up and dance. That was really cool. I had some dance lessons so I could do all the moves with the Crocmen. The whole thing took about two months. One month to learn the dances and another month to learn the songs.

Had you discussed the reasons behind this video with your parents?

Yes, I talked to my mum and dad about the importance of keeping fit and healthy. Because a lot of kids are just sitting on the couch playing video games and eating fries – all of that bad greasy junk food. We want to remind people how you can have fun and live well.

Does your family exercise much together?

Yes, we always have. My dad and mum would get up and run around with us. And we’d love to swim together. We all do a lot of exercise. We usually play hide and seek around the house. Or we go to the zoo and run around to see the animals. Sometimes I go bike riding.

In the video you and Steve are joking around a lot in the cooking scenes. He even puts pie in your face!

Yes, in the video I’m the nine-year-old and he’s the eight-year-old. I’m one year older! He really can cook but he likes to pretend he’s having trouble in the video.

When you look at that tape and you’re having so much fun in the kitchen, you get a laugh out of that?

I do get a laugh and it’s really nice to look back on all the memories. Sometimes it’s really sad and I have to cry a little bit. But I really believe he’s just in another world, it’s not like he’s… tormented!

Do you cook much?

I kind of cook. I cook really good desserts. My daddy wasn’t a really dessert person. I can cook a dessert that has more fruit than ice-cream.

What’s your favourite Christmas meal?

Steak. My dad cooked, oh my word, mouth-watering steak. Oh, I loved his steak. He was like a chef with food, he was amazing. Just give him an oven, give him milk and flour and you have a beautiful gourmet dinner.

Was this all year or just at Christmas?

Terri: Through the year. He’d cook every night. We’d go to the property and he’d cook barbecues.

What would you normally eat in one day?

Generally I have toast and fruit for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and dinner I have curries and salads and all the nutritious stuff… steaks. Snacks in the day are apples, grapes, all of that. I have a lot of fruit. I think I’m actually a monkey, I eat lots of bananas. Sometimes I actually share with the animals. I go into the enclosure and I share with them. The lemurs, they give me a piece and I give them a piece and we feed each other. It’s so cute!

There must be something you like to eat that’s not so healthy?

I really like a little piece of chocolate, it’s really yummy… my mum’s addicted to it! She has to watch my Kidfitness Show!

Will there be other health and fitness videos?

Hopefully next year there will be another. Working with the Crocmen again. They’re really nice.

Are they the next Wiggles?

John Stainton: They’re catering for an older group than the Wiggles. They’re six down and we’re eight up. We’ve worked with the Wiggles before and we’ll be working with them again in January. They’re great friends of Bindi’s.

Bindi: Even though I’m eight years old I’m really good friends with the Wiggles!

So the video would make a good present?

I would love kids to get it for Christmas! It would be really cool if they could get up and dance along because it’s really scary to see kids getting so big. I don’t want people to stay still like a slab of concrete, just watching videos and not moving. It’s important to get fit and healthy so you have the energy to get out and do things.

What do you want from Santa?

There’s a series of books about different kinds of fairies which I would love to get. But most of all I want peace and happiness for Christmas Day.

Any New Year’s resolutions?

Next year, I think I would like to take my singing and dancing and my conservation to another level.

So you’re going to work with wildlife?

Yep. Just like my dad. I want to help conservation. I’m a Wildlife Warrior. I want to get out there and help!

Well, Bindi, thank you. A pleasure interviewing you. You know you’re better than a lot of grown-ups!

Thank you. Thank you very much!

Listen to John Williamson’s musical tribute to Steve Irwin.

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My practical joke nearly killed my flatmate!

My flatmate Joseph and I were in the middle of a practical joke war, but it was all done in fun. He would subscribe to embarrassing magazines in my name, I would get him back by bathing his Maltese terrier in food dye. He then put a fake plastic spider under the visor of my car (luckily I wasn’t driving when I pulled it down), so I responded by filling his glovebox with awful boy band CDs the night before he took a road trip to Sydney with his mates (and I took out all his good CDs, of course!) But when he announced over the loudspeaker at the department store where we both worked that “Kerry in women’s shoes” (that’s me) needed a date for her sister’s wedding, I knew it was time for Joseph to pay!

I didn’t know what to do that could possibly equal the mortification he had caused me, so I decided to just do a whole lot of little things that would make his life miserable. I had no idea just how miserable I was going to make him!

Joseph hated cooking and was into preparing one big pot of food on the weekend and freezing portions of it to last him the week. I knew that Joseph hated cinnamon, so one day I took a shaker and sprinkled it liberally into the pot on the stove. Joseph dished it up and froze it, none the wiser. A few hours later, it was time for dinner. I could barely contain my laughter as I waited for Joseph to eat something.

Finally, he took out a portion of his latest concoction and put it in the microwave. I waited in the kitchen, pretending I was doing something, but really just wanting to be there when Joseph realised how awful his food was! In the end, it was lucky I was so eager. Joseph took one bite and I instantly saw that his reaction was not one of disgust, but panic. He hoarsely instructed me to call an ambulance and I realised with dread that it wasn’t that Joseph didn’t like cinnamon — it could kill him!

Amazingly, Joseph never twigged that I had spiked his food. He thought it had been added to a packet mix he’d bought by mistake and actually ended up suing for quite a lot of money. To this day, Joseph has never found out that I nearly killed him with my practical joke.

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Top five best bras

Kayser seamless plunge

Kayser seamless plunge, $39.95

Berlei ‘Ultimate Comfort’

Berlei ‘Ultimate Comfort’, $54.95

Nearly Nude bandeau

Nearly Nude bandeau, $45.95

Short Stories at BNT ‘Milano’ 5-way

Short Stories at BNT ‘Milano’ 5-way, $39.95

Berlei Barely There gold bra

Fashion Editor’s fave!Berlei Barely There gold bra in mauve, $69.95

“Seamfree and amazing comfort.”

For more great fashion tips, see this week’s issue of Woman’s Day

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Frizzy hair

Question:

Ms. Zavaglia,

I have been straightening my hair for years now and have decided to go naturally, but find my hair looks frizzy and untamed. How can I get a natural wave in my hair with little effort?

? Kristie

Answer:

Hi Kristie,

Try to get into the habit of using an intensive hair treatment once every two weeks to restore any hair damage or split-ends you might have. For everyday at-home care, shampoo and condition hair every second day with an anti-frizz range. After every wash, towel-dry hair and apply an anti-frizz serum followed by a smoothing cream. Use a small amount halfway down the hair (not on the scalp) to avoid hair from looking oily and dirty. Comb product through your hair, style while it is still wet by scrunching hair with your hand to create a loose curl. Viola! Before you know it you’ll have natural wavy hair.

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Australian Princess makeovers

Stephanie

Australian Princess contestants Leanne Churchill and Stephanie Jenkinson received makeovers courtesy of Woman’s Day after winning one of the show’s weekly challenges.

Here’s how to recreate our Australian Princess look:

Step one

Make-up artist Fiona Corrigan-Robertson created a dewy complexion by applying a liquid foundation in a honey shade with a damp make-up sponge, starting down the centre of the face and working outwards.

Step two

A peachy cream blush was applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended upwards and out towards the temples.

Step three

A gold shimmer eye shadow was swept over the entire eye area and dark brown eyeliner was pencilled close to the top lashes and the edges blended. Deep mocha eye shadow was applied along the eye socket and blended upwards. To further accentuate the eyes, liquid brown eyeliner was swept over the top of the eye pencil and winged out at the edges. Lashes were given two coats of mascara.

Step four

A nude lip liner was applied just outside the natural lip line to give lips a fuller look, and then lips were filled in using a peach lipstick and a gloss.

Step five

Finish off by adding a soft silver shimmer to the tops of the cheekbones and along the collarbones.

Step six

Senior Stylist Thadious Kennedy from John Brennan Hair salon used Matrix products. Hair was shampooed and conditioned with the amplify XL colour care range. Then an amplify root lifter spray was applied to the roots to create volume without weighing down the rest of the hair.

Hair was blow-dried using a medium-sized bristle brush to create movement and body, then swept over to one side to create a sweeping fringe. The sides were tucked behind the ears for a polished and glamorous look.

A tiara was placed behind the fringe and secured with bobby pins. Hair was finished with a light mist of reflective shine spray and amplify hairspray.

For John Brennan Hair salon locations, visit www.jbhair.com.au

For Matrix stockists contact 1300 656 247.

Leanne’s make-up:

Benefit Get Bent Lash Mascara, $36.

Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in Poppy Love, $36.

Designer Brands Lip Pencil in Nude, $4.99.

Givenchy Prisme Again! Eyes Quartet in Brown Caress, $79.

Guerlain Terracotta Gloss & Shine in Caramel Sun, $43.

Jane Iredale Liquid Eye Liner in Black/Brown, $39.

Maybelline New York Pure Makeup Foundation in Light 4, $14.95.

Revlon Skinlights Instant Skin Brightener SPF 15 in Golden Light, $31.50.

Rimmel Duo Natural Bronzer in Sunset, $15.95.

The Body Shop Concealer Pencil in 04, $19.95.

Stephanie’s make-up

Australis Shimmer Stick in Pink Panther, $9.95.

Aveda Phlox Petal Essence Cheek Tint, $39.95.

Avon Daring Definition Mousse Mascara in Brown/Black, $14.99.

BECCA Glossy Lip Tint in Mimosa, $40.

Cozmetic Lab Shimmer in Gold Karat, $39.60.

Elizabeth Arden Double Intrigue Lipcolor, $38.

Glominerals gloBronze in Sunkiss, $69.

L’Oréal Paris Color Appeal Mono in Blushing Brown, $15.95.

Make Up Store Cover All Mix Concealer in Dark, $43.

MAC Hyper Real Foundation (30ml), $51.

Prestige Cosmetics Mechanical Lipliner in Rosewood, $11.50.

Pictures: Steve Baccon

Still-life pictures: Paolo Busato

Beauty assistant: Laura Iannitelli

Styling: Sally Hirst

Make-up: Fiona Corrigan-Robertson

Hair: John Brennan Hair

Stephanie and Leanne wear: Touché 2000 tiaras and jewellery, (02) 9267 9944; George Gross dresses, (02) 9326 2088; Dents gloves, (02) 9698 1144; Fine Lines bras, (03) 9416 3300; Wittner Shoes, 1300 137 463.

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Clawing dog

Question:

My three-year-old golden retriever insists on clawing at the carpet like a cat. We clip his nails each month yet he is unstoppable. Why does he do it?

Colleen

Answer:

Whereas scratching is a normal behaviour for cats, it’s quite abnormal for dogs. I would say that, instead of scratching, he’s actually digging. And while it’s unlikely he’ll be able to bury a bone in the hole he’s digging on your floor, damage to your carpet wouldn’t be much chop either. So why is he doing it? My feeling would be that boredom and excess energy is the cause. You see, the challenge to dig occupies both his body and mind. Being a golden retriever, he has a near endless energy supply and would experience a form of “cabin fever” if he is kept inside for too long. The result is an urge to almost “dig himself out” to freedom and exercise. I would think that an escape plan is the best solution for him. If possible, install a doggy door, or let him outside for regular romps to burn off that retriever fever! You will get the best results if you observe when he most commonly digs (mornings/nights) and give him his exercise at that particular time.

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Your health checklist for 2008

Your health checklist for 2008

If you’ve had a really busy 2007 and barely had time to think about your health, it’s time to do so.

Some medical checks are best done regularly, so make it your number one new year’s resolution to see your GP. “It’s a great idea to touch base with your GP once a year, even when you’re feeling well, to catch up on issues affecting your life, like work and home and relationships,” says Dr Kelly Seach, a Victorian-based practicing GP registrar.

“This helps us understand you as a person. Then if you do become ill, we already know where you’re coming from. It’s what preventive care is all about.

“And if you find you have a long list of things you’d like to discuss with your GP, we’d encourage you to ask for a long appointment when you phone. This just means we have the time allocated, so we can discuss everything.”

Which medical examinations and tests are required varies greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as family history and current state of health. But the following are some that Dr Seach says should be considered:

  • Pap test — all women aged 18-70 who have ever had sex and not had a hysterectomy should have one every two years.

  • Urine test for chlamydia for all sexually active people aged under 25.

  • Mammogram — every two years once you’re aged from 50-70.

  • Vaccinations — make sure any you need are up to date. Most people will need a tetanus booster at age 50. Influenza vaccine is recommended annually and pneumococcal vaccine five-yearly for people over 65 (50 for ATSI people).

  • Know your BMI (body mass index): have your height and weight measured.

  • Blood pressure and cholesterol check.

  • Blood test to screen for diabetes, especially if you have a family history.

  • Have any skin spots checked, if they’ve changed at all.

  • For the over-50s, a faecal occult blood screening should be done for bowel cancer, ideally every two years.

  • When was the last time you went to the dentist? If it’s been more than a year, it’s time to go now.

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December meal plan

By Judy Davie

For further information about food and nutrition, visit Judy Davie’s website at www.thefoodcoach.com.au

Summer is here. It’s the season for salads, soft fruits and outdoor eating. You hardly want to spend hours in the kitchen, yet at the same time you need to feel satisfied after each meal you eat. So it’s quick easy meals with little or no fuss, loads of antioxidants and fresh, fresh, fresh!

And of course it’s the time of year when we do a little more socialising, so the odd glass of wine here and there is more realistic than total abstinence.

To make you feel even better than ever, why not try and detoxify your system during these lovely, long summer days. Encourage sweat to eliminate waste through your pores and, with this high-fibre diet rich in plant food, even more toxins will be expelled through bodily waste. You’ll notice the difference in no time — weight loss, increased energy, improved sleep and glowing skin are just a few of the many benefits to be felt with this meal plan.

Throughout the day aim to drink as much water as possible. Still, tap, bottled or sparking, it’s your choice.

Day one

Day two

Day three

Day four

Day five

Day six

Day seven

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Train your cat