Niki Bezzant

A collection of thoughts, reflections and information from Niki Bezzant, editor-at-large and past editor of Healthy Food Guide.

Dinner for 120

Dinner for 120

It’s what they call the silly season, well and truly,...

What is workplace wellness?

What is workplace wellness?

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the...

Enough with the judgement

Enough with the judgement

I spent last week in Melbourne which, you could make...

Water only

Water only

I was chatting the other day to a group of...

Plain packaging for sugary drinks

Plain packaging for sugary drinks

It’s interesting to see sugar back in the spotlight, this...

Is the obesity solution in the garden?

Is the obesity solution in the garden?

Last week I spoke at the launch of the Empower...

Disordered eating and drinking double blow for health

Disordered eating and drinking double blow for health

I was shocked to read a recent Australian study which...

Beware the self-appointed expert

Beware the self-appointed expert

Paleo poster boy Pete Evans has been in the news...

Man up for your health – there’s no downside

Man up for your health - there's no...

It’s men’s health month, and I’ve been seeing lots of...

Sense about sugar – on labels at least

Sense about sugar - on labels at least

Have you ever been confused trying to figure out exactly...

Carrots and cupcakes

Carrots and cupcakes

Last month I had the opportunity to do something I’ve...

Carrots and cupcakes: healthy eating made simple

Carrots and cupcakes: Healthy eating made simple

Even though we're surrounded by healthy eating advice, we seem...

The top unhealthy eating traps for travellers and how to avoid them

The top unhealthy eating traps for travellers and...

When you’re in the habit, it’s not so hard to...

Would you like bugs for dinner?

Would you like bugs for dinner?

Today I received a very interesting delivery, all the way...

Pressure is mounting: let’s be brave and introduce a sugary drinks tax

Pressure is mounting: let's be brave and introduce...

At the weekend a group of over 70 public health...

Let’s do something about obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental health today

Let's do something about obesity, type 2 diabetes...

We’ve been hearing for a while now the alarming reports...

Sugary drinks tax petition: why are we doing this?

Sugary drinks tax petition: Why are we doing...

Media organisations – especially magazines – lobbying the government is...

Coconut: the good oil?

Coconut: the good oil?

It’s easy to assume that coconut oil is well-established as...

French say ‘non’ to food waste – should we do the same?

French say ‘non’ to food waste – should...

The French are a pretty innovative nation. They lead the...

Hot weather calls for cool food

Hot weather calls for cool food

Many of us have been sweltering lately with the summer...

Nigella is right: Clean eating is not healthy

Nigella is right: Clean eating is not healthy

Culinary queen Nigella Lawson recently gave a talk in which...

Cut veges: Boon for busy cooks or the ultimate in laziness?

Cut veges: Boon for busy cooks or the...

It was interesting to read recently about the initiative of...

Bacon, red meat, cancer and what it means for you, really

Bacon, red meat, cancer and what it means...

There’s been a lot of talk about cancer in the...

Stand up for a longer life

Stand up for a longer life

For most of the past 10 years I’ve been sitting...

Nuts

Nuts

Nuts are one of those foods that probably deserve the...

Lunchtime inspiration

Lunchtime inspiration

The other morning Healthy Food Guide editor Yvonne Kerr and...

What’s causing that bloated feeling?

What's causing that bloated feeling?

How’s your bowel today? It’s not something most of us...

Time to focus on food

Time to focus on food

I’ve had a lot of conversations about fat recently. That’s partly...

Is all processed food evil?

Is all processed food evil?

What do you look at first on a food label?...

The biggest killer of women: Are you at risk?

The biggest killer of women: are you at...

Did you know that 50 women will lose their lives...

Celebrities and nutrition advice

Celebrities and nutrition advice

Who do you trust for your health advice? This is...

Is that sugar ‘substitute’ really better for you?

Is that sugar 'substitute' really better for you?

How was your Easter? Did you (like the rest of...

It all starts with the gut

It all starts with the gut

How bacteria affects everything about our health. You might think of...

Nutrition on the internet: sorting the wacky from the wise

Nutrition on the internet: sorting the wacky from...

Okay. Now I’ve seen everything. I have been working on Healthy...

It’s time to ditch the scales

It's time to ditch the scales

Have you hopped on the scales yet this year? Many...

Chocolate Christmas pudding truffles

Chocolate Christmas pudding truffles

Use up any leftover Christmas cake and treat friends and...

Food labels are a minefield!

Food labels are a minefield!

We’ve just wrapped up the January issue of Healthy Food...

Chewy peanut butter, chocolate cookies

Chewy peanut butter, chocolate cookies

Learn to make delicious chewy, gluten-free, peanut butter and chocolate...

Make your own strawberry santas

Make your own strawberry santas

Learn how to make delightful strawberry santas with Healthy Food...

Is your diet setting you up for failure?

Is your diet setting you up for failure?

Recently I met a nice man who was trying to...

It’s time to treat health like wealth

It's time to treat health like wealth

How important to you is your health? Stop for a...

How do we really measure our health?

How do we really measure our health?

Spring’s here – so how about doing a personal health...

CORRECTION: HbA1c levels

CORRECTION: HbA1c levels

At Healthy Food Guide we do our best to get...

Go nuts for great health

Go nuts for great health

October 21st is National Nut Day. It’s a good opportunity...

Paleo? Raw? Clean? What are all these diets, and should you try them?

Paleo? Raw? Clean? What are all these diets,...

There’s a lot of confusing information out there about nutrition,...

Sugar – don’t forget the big picture

Sugar – don’t forget the big picture

When it comes to healthy eating, so much is about...

We don’t have to have a fat, sick future

We don’t have to have a fat, sick...

Well, the election is just a month away, and still...

Have our ideas about treat foods become warped?

Have our ideas about treat foods become warped?

I remember when I was a kid (and this will...

There’s something we need to talk about…

There’s something we need to talk about…

They say it’s not a good idea to talk about...

What headlines tell us about healthy eating (and what they don’t)

What headlines tell us about healthy eating (and...

The other day we were having a discussion in the...

Is gluten really the problem?

Is gluten really the problem?

Interesting research released recently suggests that the real reason many...

Can fat make you thin?

Can fat make you thin?

Diet is never far from the headlines. In particular, our...

Are vegetarians really healthier?

Are vegetarians really healthier?

An interesting piece of research came across our desk last...

Is protein really as bad as smoking?

Is protein really as bad as smoking?

If you’ve been following the news recently, you could be...

Are you eating more than you think (without realising)?

Are you eating more than you think (without...

Unless you are extraordinarily disciplined with your eating, chances are...

Are you making these common food mistakes that put you at risk?

Are you making these common food mistakes that...

Most of us go about our days without giving a...

Are our kids destined to be obese?

Are our kids destined to be obese?

It’s back to school and with the new school year...

Which ‘quick-fix’ diets really work?

ASK THE EXPERTS

Which ‘quick-fix’ diets really work?

Welcome to a new year – and the usual New...

Do you know how many calories you’re drinking?

Do you know how many calories you’re drinking?

Drinks – both alcoholic and sugary – have been in...

One in five Kiwis are at risk: are you one of them?

One in five Kiwis are at risk: are...

Look around next time you are in a group, on...

Could you eat healthily just from takeaways?

Could you eat healthily just from takeaways?

Recently I was booked on a trans-Tasman flight with my...

Should you give up grains?

Should you give up grains?

I notice low-carb diets are doing the rounds again, in...

Six easy steps to reset your health

Six easy steps to reset your health

The other day I read an article in a women’s...

Time for blokes to ‘man up’ and get healthier

Time for blokes to ‘man up’ and get...

It’s Blue September, which means men will hopefully be getting...

Grumbly tummy? IBS? You’re not alone…

Grumbly tummy? IBS? You’re not alone…

I spent a few days recently in Hamilton, where I...

Two simple (and fun!) things you can do right now to get healthier

Two simple (and fun!) things you can do...

If you’re reading this, there’s a pretty good chance you’re...

What Coke could really do to tackle obesity

What Coke could really do to tackle obesity

Coca Cola is no-one’s idea of a health food –...

Will fish oil give us cancer?

Will fish oil give us cancer?

People often feel frustrated when advice about what’s healthy changes. Just...

Does ‘natural’ always equal healthy?

Does 'natural' always equal healthy?

It was really interesting to see Tip Top announce last...

What’s the best thing about our job?

What's the best thing about our job?

It’s an exciting time for us here at Healthy Food...

Should we feed a cold and starve a fever?

Should we feed a cold and starve a...

We've all heard the saying: "Feed a cold, and starve...

The rise and rise of the gluten-free diet

The rise and rise of the gluten-free diet

Next week is Coeliac Awareness Week. It’s fair to say...

Do you have to give up any foods to be really healthy?

Do you have to give up any foods...

I read in a fashion magazine recently the ‘secrets of...

The new (super) food to add to your pantry

The new (super) food to add to your...

It’s always exciting to be introduced to new foods, especially...

Weighing in on popular diets

Weighing in on popular diets

It’s a basic aspect of human nature, and it drives...

Is there a perfect diet?

Is there a perfect diet?

What’s the best diet in the world? Is there such...

How healthy are your restaurant meals?

How healthy are your restaurant meals?

How healthy was the last meal you ate in a...

Can you eat yourself happy?

Can you eat yourself happy?

How do you feel when you’re eating a healthy diet...

Do you drink more than you think you do?

Do you drink more than you think you...

If you’re like me, over the summer holidays you may...

Spotlight on sugar

Spotlight on sugar

Here’s a prediction from me for 2013: we’ll be hearing...

Is it time for a detox?

Is it time for a detox?

The New Year is a time to think about new...

Ditch the guilt this Christmas

Ditch the guilt this Christmas

It’s the festive season, and chances are you’re going to...

What really happens when we drink?

What really happens when we drink?

When the Christmas decorations start to go up in early...

Can you reduce your belly, thighs or bum through diet?

Can you reduce your belly, thighs or bum...

Spring is here, and have you noticed the rash of...

Sweet flavour without sugar: impossible dream?

Sweet flavour without sugar: impossible dream?

Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of new products coming...

What do you like: high-fashion food or down-home cooking?

What do you like: high-fashion food or down-home...

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to...

How being told what to eat can make us fatter

How being told what to eat can make...

How do you feel when someone says “you shouldn’t eat...

The best roast lamb ever… celebrate lower lamb prices!

The best roast lamb ever… celebrate lower lamb...

Lamb is my favourite meat. Given the choice, I’d always...

What are your favourite healthy foods? Time to tell us…

What are your favourite healthy foods? Time to...

We see a lot of food products come through this...

Why do we believe things that aren’t true?

Why do we believe things that aren’t true?

I love getting emails, tweets and Facebook messages from Healthy...

Should we all eat like Olympic athletes?

Should we all eat like Olympic athletes?

We’re in the midst of Olympic fever right now. Isn’t...

Can you be healthy at any size?

Can you be healthy at any size?

There’s been a lot of discussion in recent weeks around...

The latest hot diet – and how to spot a fad

The latest hot diet – and how to...

The other day we heard about a new diet book...

Sugar – should we stop eating it?

Sugar – should we stop eating it?

Everyone’s talking about sugar at the moment. It comes in...

IBS: Our most common tummy trouble – what to do about it

IBS: Our most common tummy trouble – what...

Do you have ‘tummy trouble’? About 15 per cent of...

Beware the ‘health halo’

Beware the 'health halo'

Sometimes, the things we read about health and food are...

A change worth making to your diet: become a vegivore!

A change worth making to your diet: become...

Of all the research studies that cross my desk, the...

Where’s salt really hiding – and is some salt healthier?

Where's salt really hiding – and is some...

Like many people, I am a lover of savoury, salty...

Why does healthy eating make us anxious?

Why does healthy eating make us anxious?

Unsurprisingly, I have a lot of social conversations about food...

Is healthy eating really affordable?

Is healthy eating really affordable?

It’s clear to anyone who shops for food that many...

Foods on the ‘blacklist’ – should we stop eating them?

Foods on the 'blacklist' - should we stop...

You will have seen the list of NEEDN’T foods released...

What does ‘fat-free’ really mean on a label?

What does 'fat-free' really mean on a label?

How much notice do you take of food labels? Does...

Does your brain trick you into eating more?

Does your brain trick you into eating more?

Sometimes when it comes to healthy eating, we are our...

Back to school! The easy formula for a healthy lunchbox

Back to school! The easy formula for a...

It’s back to school time – an occasion for tears...

How the stars ‘really’ stay in shape…

How the stars 'really' stay in shape...

Now we’re back in the swing of the new year,...

Are superfoods all they’re cracked up to be?

Are superfoods all they're cracked up to be?

Our advice for a healthy, happy New Year! At this time...