Healthy eating on web menu

By RICHARD PAMATATAU

Auckland nutritionist Nikki Hart, known to her clients as the "evil diet witch" because she banishes foods they like, is casting spells in cyberspace with a new website that contains healthy eating information.

The just-launched site is designed to offer people basic information about healthy living and good food practice, says Hart, who recently gained a first-class honours masters degree in nutritional science through Massey University, where she looked at water retention in female endurance athletes.

Known for her work with athletes, particularly Jo Lawn, Ironman New Zealand women's winner, and Lynley Allison, who came second at Ironman USA a few weeks ago, Hart says everyone needs to eat better, which is easier than it sounds if people have a plan.

"Our lives are getting crazier and crazier as pressure mounts from family, work and friends, not to mention the traffic.

"Sometimes bad eating - grabbing a takeaway - might seem easier, but in the long-run we might be doing ourselves some nutritional damage," she says.

Hart wants the site to offer people an "eating map" so they can plan their meals for the week, and more importantly, the shopping as well.

Many people go to the supermarket and wander round "shopping" but not really making good decisions, she says.

Hart eventually wants the site to offer printable shopping lists that detail food down to the brand and portion size, to help those who know they need to eat a few meat meals a week and lots of vegetables, but run out of ideas.

"I just want to give them ideas."

The site also gives eating tips and information about food groups.

The first handy hint is a menu for a week's good eating, which Hart says has had a good response.

Menus are likely to be seasonal and will change every 12 weeks or so, she says.

As well as providing information for clients and sportspeople, Hart hopes the site will become the first point of contact for people with eating disorders.

On the plate for future development is a secure area where clients who are travelling can seek advice from Hart and her team at their Ponsonby clinic, and the addition of links to related good eating sites or food suppliers.

Sport & Health Dietitians