With department store shelves brimming with backpacks and glittery pencil cases, it’s that time of year where people (begrudgingly) get back into the swing of school and work lunches.

You swear by the staff room Cadbury stash as your daily afternoon pick-me-up…but would you consider cutting back on sugar if you knew that it could assist in managing anxiety?

Spending the previous month galavanting around overseas, I learnt lots about the flavour-packed cuisine that bestrews the colourful streets of Northern India. First, that their version of mild spice is my idea of an inferno. And second, that spices can act as a nutritional powerhouse when it comes to maximising our health through food.

You swear by the staff room Cadbury stash as your daily afternoon pickme- up…but would you consider cutting back on sugar if you knew that it could help in managing anxiety?

Whether it be for environmental, ethical or health reasons; many people are now opting for plant-based dairy. But how can you tell if your barista-grade almond milk cuts the mustard? Below, I share my three top tips for meeting nutritional require­ments on a dairy-free diet.

It’s no secret, we Aussies love to drink. But it wasn’t until I committed to eight weeks of sobriety that I learnt just how deeply alcohol is embedded within our culture.

It’s the age-old debate, are artificial sweeteners even good for us? Hold onto your hat, I’m about to take you through the rollercoaster of confusing evidence that exists around the safety and efficacy of their use as a sugar alternative.

How many personal care products do you use? Do you know what’s in them? A long list of unpronounceable ingredients? What are they really doing to your skin, your health, and the environment?

Have you heard of the Danish concept of hygge? I came across it recently and it means a quality of comfort and coziness that gives you a feeling of contentment and well-being.

Well, winter is upon us in Hobart. One of my friends calls it the season of hiber­nation, hot chocolate and hot chips. She asked me the other day whether it was normal to feel hungrier in the colder months than the warmer ones.

My client sat in front of me teary and overwhelmed. “I’m exhausted. My days are so busy. At night I lie in bed and my mind races. When I finally get to sleep I wake around 3am and then can’t get back to sleep. Plus, my sugar cravings are out of control and I can’t stop eating chocolate. I need help.”

Intermittent fasting has been getting lots of attention in the me­dia and the wellness sphere, but what’s the big deal? Why would you choose to not eat and how could it be good for you?

Readers, if you’re feeling a bit worse for wear after the season’s festivities: tired, bloated or sluggish, how about a detox? But wait! Before you run for the hills, I’m not talking about gimmicky stints of deprivation where you exist solely on lemon water or cabbage soup or the like. This is not a smart or effective detox.

Hello readers. How are you? No, not the usual “how are you?” question that’s met with the usual “fine thanks” response. How are you really?

What’s your skin issue? Dryness? Dullness? Ageing? Let’s talk skin secrets. No, not swish beauty products that promise the world and empty the wallet, but the real inside story on gorgeous skin that glows with health.