Tag Archives: tired

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Dinner To Beat The Heat: Japanese Soba Noodles With Sesame Seeds!

noodlesThis is so easy to make it’s ridiculous!

A perfect recipe for when the last thing you feel like doing is slaving over a hot oven to cook dinner, or for when you’re just so exhausted after your shift, that you really can’t be bothered to do anything except open the fridge door and slump on the couch.

OK, so it may require a little bit more preparation that just opening the fridge door – but not much I promise!

If you are also worried about being anywhere near an oven in this oppressive heat, don’t stress because the maximum time you have to be slaving over your stove-top is just 3-4 minutes to cook the soba noodles and then you’re done.

Ingredients

  • 270g soba noodles
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 inches fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 large carrots, thinly sliced
  • 100g snow peas, sliced
  • 3 spring onions, green portion finely sliced
  • 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Method

Boil a large saucepan of water.  Add the soba noodles and cook 3-4 minutes or until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, combine the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger and garlic in a large bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Add the carrots, snow peas, spring onions and soba noodles to the bowl and toss to combine. Top with the toasted sesame seeds.  Enjoy!

P.S:  You could also add prawns or chicken to the dish for a non-vegetarian version, or just to add a bit more protein.

Note:  Recipe inspired and adapted from www.foodnetwork.com

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Tomatoes: A Tasty Round Ball Of Energy!

TomatoesI have to admit as a kid growing up I really disliked tomatoes. Mum used to put them in my sandwiches and I’d be forever dragging the slices out because they made my sandwich go all soggy!

But fast forward a few years on – OK maybe LOTS of years, I now absolutely love my tomatoes.

Since discovering the Roma and Cherry tomato range I hardly go a day without having one of these luscious red fruits. Yes tomatoes are actually a fruit – not a vegetable.

There are a plethora of Health Benefits from eating tomatoes, some of which include:

– the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamins C + vitamin A help to control free radical damage. Free radicals break down body tissues (such as collagen and elastin) which can cause wrinkles and they have also been linked to many diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis and diabetes.

– They contain the phytochemical ‘lycopene’ which is known to help prevent cancer.

– They are great for sufferers of low energy as they high sources of iron + B vitamins including niacin, B1, B2 and B5. Now that’s music to the ears for a tired, run down and exhausted shift worker!

– They are a good source of vitamin K and magnesium which are good for our bones.

Important Tips Before Buying Your Tomatoes

– Always buy organic tomatoes as non-organic may have a wax coating which can trap pesticides. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) they can also contain some of the highest levels of pesticides so it’s safest to just buy organic.

– Always source local. If they have come from a long way they have probably been picked green which means they haven’t had a chance to develop the vital phytonutrients. They are then artificially ripened once they get to the store by using a gas. Yikes! That is definitely not good.

– Having tomatoes in salads are great, but according to research our bodies are able to obtain the benefits of the phytochemical lycopene from eating cooked tomatoes as opposed to raw.

So there you have it. So many wonderful benefits from including tomatoes in your diet, but probably the best part of all is how they can give us so much energy.

On that note, I’m off to an Italian restaurant for dinner so I’ll be making sure I definitely choose a tomato-based dish off the menu! Hmmm. A risotto, pizza or pasta …

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Low On Energy? Perhaps You Need A Healthy Shot Of Something …

It’s been a crazy kind of day at work today with lots of oversold flights so it was good to walk out the door and into the fresh air and sunshine.

After a long (and wee bit stressful) 10 hour shift, by the time I got home my body was craving a supercharged juice to help boost my fledgling energy levels.

So I decided to whip up this nourishing, plant-based juice containing Carrot, Pear, Cucumber, Coconut Water, Mint plus a shot of Wheat Grass which was jammed packed with energy-boosting sustenance.

Wheat Grass contains iron, protein and numerous antioxidants including a generous supply of betacarotene (enhances immunity) and chlorophyll which is a highly alkalising food that can help counter the over-acidity of many processed foods.

In fact the benefits of wheat grass are endless …

◾Strengthens the body by boosting the immune system
◾Increases energy
◾Assists with nutritional deficiencies
◾Cleanses and detoxifies, especially the liver and blood
◾Heals wounds, sores, infections
◾Is one of the best dietary sources of minerals
◾High in protein: contains all 8 essential amino acids
◾Removes waste that clogs your cells, blood, tissues and organs
◾Reduces cravings

So if you’re low on energy, then you might need a shot of something – or more specifically, a shot of wheat grass which is great in juices and smoothies and so easy to make. Perfect for when you’re too tired to cook after an early shift, night shift or extended shift like mine was today!

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A Shift Work Holiday Spent Earthing …

Well it’s back to work tomorrow after 2 blissful weeks away on holidays. Whilst it was a short break, we certainly made the most of it by spending a great deal of time outdoors including basking in the winter sunshine of Far North Queensland, bush walking through the spectacular Mossman Gorge and wandering along the beautiful pristine beaches Australia is so well renowned for.

I absolutely love this little holiday snap which I took of my husband Dale wandering through the crystal clear waters of Cape Tribulation as it captures him in a moment totally disconnected from all of the Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF’s) found in mobile phones, computers, and other energy-zapping appliances we’ve all become so accustomed to using every day of our lives.

In fact for most people, busy lifestyles prohibit us from spending any time in direct contact with the earth – ie; wearing rubber and synthetic footwear; and living and sleeping in houses which insulate us from direct contact with the earth.

So as Dale wanders along the sand in his bare-feet “earthing” himself (otherwise known as “grounding”), he is actually helping his body to return to its normal electrical state by reducing exposure to all of the Electro Magnetic Fields, and allowing his body to self-regulate and heal.

Other benefits of grounding may include:

1. Improved sleep
2. Reduced pain and inflammation
3. Improved circulation and …
4. Relief of tension in the muscles.

How can you earth yourself?

“Earthing” can be just going for a walk barefoot on the grass or beach – or perhaps going for a swim in the ocean. Either way, the benefits are many so even if it’s a quick dip in the ocean before work, or a brisk walk around the park during your lunch break and/or days off, try and make a conscious effort to earth yourself every now and then as it will go a long way in helping to reinvigorate a very tired, sleep-deprived body – which is definitely a good thing when you work 24/7!

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Tired, Unmotivated And Struggling To Overcome A High Rate Of Sick Leave?

Are you tired, unmotivated and struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave? That’s not a trick question by the way.

Because when you work shift work the term ‘sick leave’ pretty much goes hand in hand. In fact it’s pretty much a given when you work crazy and irregular hours.

But despite what you may think, when you’re struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave – the solution can be easier than you think.

Of course I’m not talking about serious illnesses here. Medical intervention is always going to be necessary if you fall seriously ill.

I’m referring to those shift workers who are prone to continual sickness – no matter what they do.

As shift workers we’re certainly more susceptible to suffering from colds and flu, headaches, migraines, stress and even depression.

And let’s not forget about feeling tired and unmotivated all of the time.

In fact it’s really easy to get caught up on the shift work treadmill (and I’m not talking about the one that is actually good for you here!)

It’s the one where you feel too exhausted to exercise and too exhausted to cook yourself a healthy meal which results in – you guessed it, feeling even more exhausted.

You feel a bit like you’re encountering Ground Hog Day – with an emphasis on constant tiredness and ill health.

So how can you overcome it?

Well just as I mention in my book Surviving Crazy Hours, you need to begin by focusing on all of the things in your life that you can change rather on those which you cannot.

For example, you may not be able to change your rosters or the fact that you work night shift – but you can certainly change what food you put in your mouth. And this simple thing on its own can make a HUGE difference in how you feel.

Start by taking a good hard look at your pantry and refrigerator. Does it contain a lot of fresh produce or is it filled with boxes, cans and packets of food?

Because gaining more energy and improving your health begins by eating more live foods – that is food that has not been processed to death.

And what’s really exciting is that you will quite literally thrive the more live foods that you eat because they are really easy to digest. Most people are blissfully unaware of just how exhausting the very act of digestion is on its own.

So if you’re sick of feeling tired, unmotivated and you’re struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave, throw out all of the junk that’s currently sitting in your refrigerator or pantry and replace them with foods that are as close to nature as possible.

Essentially anything that has a ‘list of ingredients’ has at some point, been processed. Eating processed food will only accelerate your exhaustion – the complete opposite to what a shift worker is trying to achieve.