Life Lessons through Conversations
Healthy Happy Habits Deborah Garber Healthy Happy Habits Deborah Garber

Life Lessons through Conversations

Stories are at the root of human communication. Our conversations are the stories we tell each other. Coaching is about having those conversations. As coaches we listen, observe, and reflect the essence of the stories our co-conversationalists are telling us. We ask questions and make observations about what is helping them move forward.

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The Sun - Friend or Foe?
Food for Health Deborah Garber Food for Health Deborah Garber

The Sun - Friend or Foe?

For years we have been told by the medical establishment, the cosmetic industry and now by the climate change aficionados that the sun is dangerous, that exposure to it causes skin cancer and we should wear sunscreen all day every day, no matter what.

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How Our Beliefs Shape Our Behaviour
Food for Health Deborah Garber Food for Health Deborah Garber

How Our Beliefs Shape Our Behaviour

It will come as no surprise that a good health span depends on our developing healthy habits throughout our lives. When it comes to changing our habits, an area of focus for coaches in general and health coaches in particular, we come up against the conflict between knowledge and beliefs. Dr. Chestnut uses the example of the doughnut and the apple. People know the doughnut is bad and they know the apple is better, but in their subconscious belief systems, they believe it’s better to have the doughnut, often for reasons of pleasure, reward and early life conditioning.

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The Fats We Eat
Food for Health Deborah Garber Food for Health Deborah Garber

The Fats We Eat

There is almost no topic that has caused more controversy over the last 50 odd years than the topic of dietary fat. There are the low-fat proponents, the high-fat proponents and those in between.

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 Low Sugar Apple Crumble
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Low Sugar Apple Crumble

This delicious and wholesome recipe is my version of Mary Berry’s Apple Crumble with Walnuts. I drastically reduced the amount of sugar, I use spelt flour - wholemeal or white - and I pre-cook the apples in a pot on the stove with just a touch of honey and cinnamon rather than pre-baking them in the oven.

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Breathe for Resilience
Healthy Happy Habits Deborah Garber Healthy Happy Habits Deborah Garber

Breathe for Resilience

IHT uses breathing techniques made famous by Wim Hof to induce alternate high and then low oxygen levels in the blood and the cells. When we do the deep breathing part of the training, we are increasing the oxygen in our blood, thereby elevating its pH levels. A more alkaline blood pH means we become more resistant to disease, suffer less inflammation and become more vital.

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Spanish Olive Oil Chocolate Cake
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Spanish Olive Oil Chocolate Cake

Since I discovered this Spanish Sabores recipe, it has become a firm favourite, competing very well with my delicious banana bread. I use spelt flour (80% wholemeal) and it works wonderfully well. Spelt contains less gluten than wheat and is also less likely to be genetically engineered. It has a lovely nutty flavour too. Although it is a fairly heavy flour, it is still light enough to create a moist, springy and satisfying mouth feel.

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Carrot Cake with Coconut Yoghurt Topping
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Carrot Cake with Coconut Yoghurt Topping

A lovely piece of something delicious, especially if it is also nutritious, is a gift we can give ourselves. Enter the carrot cake. This one relies on carrots, raisins (or cranberries) and a touch of maple to provide sweetness. It has a sumptuous topping which is made with CoYo (an Australian coconut yoghurt brand) and it works a treat.

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Stir Fried Salmon
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Stir Fried Salmon

Fatty fish like wild salmon provide you with an excellent source of protein and omega 3, anti-inflammatory fatty acids. Always look for wild salmon rather than farmed, as it is by far the healthier option providing a 10-1 ration of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. Salmon is one of the most versatile fish, if not eating it raw in sushi, you can poach it, bake it, grill it, pan fry it, and yes – you can stir fry it too.

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Barramundi Fish Balls
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Barramundi Fish Balls

Barramundi is an Australian fish meaning big fin, and I have enjoyed its delicate flavour in Australia, but never thought to mince it. My Netanya fishmonger offered me a pamphlet with beautiful Barramundi recipes. The fish ball recipe by chef Amos Hayun caught my eye. Off I marched with a kilo of ground Barramundi and a beautiful recipe to try out.

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Simple Stir Fry
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Simple Stir Fry

The key to the successful stir fry is in the preparation. This style of cooking is quick and effortless only if you put everything in place before you embark on the wok phase. Once you know what to cook first, what to cook separately and what to combine, you are well on the way to being a confident stir-fryer!

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Inflammatory Food
Food for Health Deborah Garber Food for Health Deborah Garber

Inflammatory Food

Some of the biggest health problems the developed world faces today are obesity, coronary heart disease and auto-immune diseases. We may be living longer lives, but we appear to be getting sicker. There are many reasons for this, one of the obvious ones is the food we consume. Never before in human history have we eaten so much nutrient-poor, calorie-dense, highly inflammatory food as we ingest today. Two of the biggest culprits are industrial seed oils the so-called “vegetable oils” and refined carbohydrates in the form of various types of flour, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juices, soda drinks, etc. These two offenders are often packaged together in the plethora of processed and convenience foods available to the average consumer.

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Beetroot and Dill Dip
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Beetroot and Dill Dip

If you are like me and have never mustered up much enthusiasm for this earthy root vegetable, you may tend to bypass it in favour of more familiar flavours when you visit your grocery or fresh produce store. However, I am hoping that once you try this recipe, you will become a fan of the jewel coloured, vitamin and mineral packing humble beetroot.

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Easy Choc-Nut Balls
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Easy Choc-Nut Balls

These cacao-nut balls that are super simple to make, and oh so indulgent! The good news for the health conscious is that cacao - the raw, un-roasted version of cocoa - is high in antioxidants and magnesium, a mood-booster, a fatigue fighter and may improve skin and digestion.

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No Fry Paleo Meatballs
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

No Fry Paleo Meatballs

I’ll admit it, I love cooking with minced meat. My preference is for beef, but lamb works well too. This recipe from the Hemsley sisters is particularly simple and tasty as it requires no frying, which means no need to clean the stove and the backsplash after the event. The carrots give it a lovely sweetness and moisture. The mixture can be made into burger patties or meatballs.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad
Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber Joy in the Kitchen Deborah Garber

Moroccan Carrot Salad

During my years of living in Israel, I became acquainted with this simple yet tantalising cooked carrot salad. It is quick, simple, colourful, full of flavour, and goes with any meal, whether vegetarian, vegan, fish or meat. Carrots are a rich source of Beta-Carotene a precursor to Vitamin A, Biotin, Vitamin B6, potassium and Vitamin K1.

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Nitric Oxide - Why Is It Important?
Food for Health Deborah Garber Food for Health Deborah Garber

Nitric Oxide - Why Is It Important?

In a time when we are living in the shadow of a virulent viral illness, we all need as much help as we can get to strengthen our immunity and fortify our bodies. In comes Nitric Oxide (NO) - a molecule that is produced in the endothelial lining of our blood vessels including the paranasal sinuses, and radically reduces cardio-vascular disease. It tells the cardio-vascular system how to operate and communicates with other organ tissue.

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