WIN

To enter the draw for any of these competitions visit www.eastlife.co.nz and enter this month’s code ELAUG2789. One entry per email address / person; entries close August 31, 2020. Winners notifi ed by phone or email.

‘Ringing’ may be the in thing at weddings, anniversaries and even at Christmas but this Father’s Day can also be the perfect occasion to mark with an eternal circle. Custom-made by expert, local jeweller, Brendan Kent, men’s signet rings are available from Kent Morgan Jewellery – see kentmorgan.co.nz for details. We have one of these superb rings (which can be customised with initials) to give away. Our winner must be able to collect their prize from Kent Morgan Jewellery in Howick.

Keep calm and carry on! Despite the weather and other conditions, remaining calm is a key component other conditions, remaining calm is a key component of living a healthy life, and that goes for our pets too. Featuring natural, non-narcotic herbs formulated to help pets relax and go with the fl ow, no matter how time may change, Pet Calm is on hand to help. We have bottles of 100 capsules to give away to FIVE lucky readers, thanks to our friends at Silberhorn.

A brave new (and strange) world appears to be on the cards for humanity. Journalist and documentarian, Jenny Kleeman, has interviewed a sex robot, eaten a lab-grown chicken nugget, watched foetuses grow in plastic bags and attended meetings where people learn how to execute their own demise. In this book, she shares such experiences. Not a work of science fi ction, it’s an exploration of what is already happening and, ultimately, questions whether we are ready to change what it means to be human.

Don’t forget, in winter or summer, rain or shine, cleanliness is the fi rst line of defence when it comes to good health. Designed to kill 99% of bacteria and viruses, Wet & Forget Indoor is specially designed to sanitise surfaces, while the popular brand’s Alcohol Free Hand Sanitiser provides the same protection for our hands. Thanks to Wet & Forget, we have packs (valued at $87.45 RRP each) featuring one bottle of each of these products to give away to THREE lucky readers.

The art of embroidery – decorating fabric using needle and thread to create a multitude of different stitches and incorporating other materials such as pearls and beads – has been practised for centuries. While today’s working women may not always have the time to acquire such skills, some are producing beautiful, and sought-after pieces. HELEN PERRY spoke to one such needlewoman.

If today’s modern misses lean towards ballet and jazz, gymnastics, music and netball or even horse riding as popular hobbies then give a thought to a not so long ago era when knitting, sewing and embroidery were considered essential crafts for young girls to take into adulthood.

It was an era Howick’s Karen Hewitt can relate to. “I started learning embroidery when I was about five years old beginning with the basics such as running stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch, chain stitch and a host of others including French knots. We worked with hessian and made oven cloths and aprons.

“Eventually I moved on to more intricate work incorporating both basic and complex stitches as well as learning specific forms of embroidery. I still love needlework and, along with sewing, crochet and knitting, it’s a skill which has stood me in good stead all my life.”

While she admits there were times when embroidery took a back seat, especially when her children were young and she was working too, Karen says that’s when sewing and knitting really came to the fore – “I made most of our clothes in those days.”

Although now retired, it doesn’t mean she is at a loose end. Karen has been a member of the East Auckland Embroiderers’ Guild for the past 13 years and hardly a day goes by when she isn’t working on one piece of needlecraft or another. beadwork and or nue – goldwork embroidery using couching where different coloured silk threads are stitched over the metallic base of gold threads to form patterns or designs.

“Of course, there are many different decorative ways to use embroidery. Some of my work is framed but I’ve also embroidered cushions, rugs, and tablecloths and I make Christmas decorations too. I’ve also employed crewel work to decorate clothing such as the back of denim jackets to give that added colour and character.”

Apart from embroidery, Karen and her partner Phil are avid travellers – here and abroad.

“With international travel off the table for a while we’re planning to do a lot more local touring in our motor home but right now I’m busy preparing for the guild’s upcoming exhibition at Uxbridge Arts and Culture in Howick from September 3-7.”

The East Auckland Embroiderers’ Guild runs a public exhibition every two years and Karen says, members are always keen to share this age old craft and to encourage younger people to come and try their hand.

“We meet twice a month – once during the day, the other at night. Some of our members have also initiated a class for pupils at Bucklands Beach Intermediate and the kids just love it. Hopefully, they might inspire some mums to come and try their hand. I’m willing to bet they’ll quickly become hooked.”

The East Auckland Embroiderers’ Guild 2020 biennial exhibition promises to set out an array of exquisite needlecraft covering a wide range of embroidery techniques.

The exhibition runs from Thursday to Monday, September 3-7 in the Malcolm Smith Gallery at Uxbridge Arts and Culture in Howick.

Guild members have entered a fascinating and colourful selection of work not only to showcase their skills but to invite interest in learning more.

“Our aim is to encourage embroidery in all its forms, design innovation and stitching excellence,” says Karen Hewitt. “We are keen to attract new members and offer both relaxed day and evening meetings at St Columba Presbyterian Church in Botany. Members are very friendly and newcomers are quickly caught up in making items for themselves and family members.”

We know Kiwis can produce just about anything from No 8 wire but their innovation doesn’t stop there. Now one creative has designed a range of bikinis made from recycled fi shing nets and reclaimed plastic bottles, which is make inroads into overseas markets. make inroads into overseas markets.

Former lifesaving champion Toni Burke turned to the sea for inspiration when she wanted to make an ethically manufactured swimwear range to meet the needs of sustainability-conscious customers.

She came up with her Kalakoa range made from carvico vita – a material created from discarded fi shnets salvaged from the ocean – and repreve lycra, which is made from plastic bottles and waste products reclaimed from landfi lls.

The bikinis are handmade in Bali and arrive from the manufacturers in biodegradable packaging. Orders are sent out in New Zealand-made compostable bags.

“I am constantly trying to make our brand as eco-friendly as possible and will have more ideas on the horizon as we grow,” says Toni, who came up with the idea for the brand after fi nding it diffi cult to purchase the type of swimwear she would like to wear herself.

“There was a limited range of stylish, colourful, reversible designs, which were good for the environment and stayed on in the surf! Swimwear is a very saturated market and I wanted to create a product that Toni in her designs

was beautiful, affordable and sustainable.

“The next step in closing the loop is to allow customers to send back the swimwear they no longer use so it can be up-cycled appropriately in exchange for a credit towards new product. That way the material won’t go to waste and we also “I am constantly trying constantly trying to make our brand as ecoto make our brand as ecofriendly as possible and will friendly as possible and will have more ideas on the horizon have more ideas on the horizon as we grow,” says Toni who came up with the idea for the brand after fi nding it diffi cult to purchase the type of swimwear she would like to wear herself.

reward customers for positive sustainability practices.”

Attracting keen interest from the USA, the UK and Australia as they begin to look at life beyond Covid19 restrictions, Toni says these markets are well developed when it comes to buying swimwear online and have a high level of demand for sustainable products. “I also think they are also a bit “I also think they are also a bit more daring with their swimwear more daring with their swimwear choices in terms of pattern choices in terms of pattern and design; in NZ we can be a and design; in NZ we can be a bit more conservative. That’s bit more conservative. That’s why I’ve made the swimwear why I’ve made the swimwear reversible so there is block colour reversible so there is block colour on one side for those who don’t on one side for those who don’t want a swimsuit that makes such want a swimsuit that makes such a bold or colourful statement.” a bold or colourful statement.”

Now, keen to expand the Now, keen to expand the business and create a range for all family members, including trunks for men, maternity and children’s swimwear, she says talks on marketing the range through New Zealand retailers have just resumed after being disrupted by Covid-19. She expects local sales to accelerate ahead of the 2021 summer season.

Winter is upon but there’s no need to lose that warm summer glow. When looking for luminous radiance check out Wet n Wild’s new dual Hello Halo Bllushlighters – one product with double the effect. These split-duos feature a blush and a highlighter which instantly sculpts, defi nes and highlights in one sweep. Each palette can be used together or individually and come in three shade duos – Highlight Bling, I Met Someone and Flash Me. Soft and buildable, each contains ultra refl ective, micro-fi ne pearl pigments ranging from shimmering champagne tones to warm raspberry. Wet n Wild Hello Halo Blushlighters (RRP $12.99) are vegan-friendly.

If there’s one thing every girl loves to nail it’s her nails – beautiful fi nger nails make for beautiful hands which can be shown with pride and now Ardell has made it easier than ever to have fabulous looking nails. Say goodbye to smudging, chips and drying down time – these luxury press on nails come in six chic styles and stay locked on for hours from the offi ce to glam nights out on the town. Each kit contains 24 pro designer nails of three to four unique designs, offering an array of customisable looks and multiple applications as well as professional nail glue, nail fi le and cuticle stick. With three nail shapes within the range: almond, square-oval and coffi n/ballerina, featuring rhinestones, chrome and embellishments in matte and high shine fi nishes, these beauties can nail it every time!

Some people feed the face with goodies from the pantry but beauty enthusiasts can look to Weleda Skin Food Light for a rich hydrating blend to ensure their skin is fed with ample moisture and relief from dry skin. Now available in a 30ml tube this light texture cream absorbs rapidly into the skin and is packed with skin-enhancing organic ingredients such as sunfl ower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, shea butter, beeswax, rosemary leaf extract and chamomile extract as well as organic calendula. Dermatologically approved and suitable for sensitive skin, Weleda Skin Food Light offer nourishing, protective, anti-infl ammatory and antiseptic qualities. Weleda Skin Food Light (RRP $13.90, 30ml and $22.90, 75ml).

Regardless of how well women look after their skin by time they hit 60 extra nourishment and care is usually needed. That’s why NIVEA has designed the new Q10 Power range for mature skin specifi cally for women over the age of 60. It combines two, highly effective nourishing ingredients – coenzyme Q10 and organic argan oil – in one formula. As the skin ages, the metabolism of skin cells slows down, resulting in lines and deep wrinkles; the skin often becomes drier too. Offering deep nourishing for mature women with dry-to-very dry skin, the formula is rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as Vitamin E and omega 6 and 9 and Nivea claims the appearance of wrinkles and fi ne lines will be reduced in just four weeks. The NIVEA Q10 POWER range for mature skin includes the Facial Oil (RRP $24.99), the day cream with SPF15 (RRP $23.99) and the Night Cream (RRP $23.99).

Kristine Jensen, owner – optometrist at Eyes of Howick explains the symptoms and treatment for pattern glare. eyelid spasms

Recently, I have met a number of patients who suffer pattern glare and while they had suffered this all their lives, they had never heard of the condition or known there was help available.

What is pattern glare? You can be forgiven for not knowing the answer as it is only in recent years I have become aware of this condition. Pattern glare leads to photophobia (extra-ordinary eye-teaming defi cits which would

sensitivity to light) in addition to sensitivity when exposed to stripy patterns.

This may also affect comfort and vision clarity and stability while reading a page of print. Text can appear as a series of stripes and therefore provides the same stimulus for the discomfort of pattern glare. It is thought that pattern glare occurs due to the visual cortex (the part of the brain responsible for our vision) becoming ‘over excited’ from certain visual stimuli such as bright may have pattern glare, feel

lights, fl icker or certain patterns.

• Headaches • Discomfort with artifi cial light, fl ickering or refl ections • Eyestrain • Reading diffi culty due to words

‘moving’ on the page

associations? Pattern glare can occur in an otherwise healthy individual, however, there can also be associations with the following; • Migraine • Acquired brain injury and stroke • Concussion and whiplash • Photosensitive epilepsy • Blepharospasm – uncontrolled • Visual snow – a persistent

‘static’ or white snow-like dots throughout the visual fi eld. • Autism • Reading problems and dyslexia

What helps? It is important to detect any underlying eye health issues along with any focusing or require treating fi rst.

If a pattern glare test is positive, tinted lenses can be benefi cial at reducing symptoms and improving reading comfort and performance. The tint colour is tailored to each patient and can be incorporated into glasses or as a clip on and even as a simple overlay to put over a page of print.

If you think you or a family member • Sensitivity to light

welcome to book an appointment with me.

A comprehensive eye examination is required followed by the pattern glare test to ascertain if clinical signs of the condition are showing. If positive, the best tint is established and recommendations would be made as to how best to incorporate this into your lifestyle. Feel free to contact me if you have queries with regard to this article.

100% QUALITY & STYLE.

* 100 Picton Street, Howick, Auckland 2014 for 12 months on any purchase over $250 T. 09 534 5565 *Offer valid for a limited time. T’s and C’s apply.

It’s cold outside! Well, that’s to be expected, it’s winter and most of us are wrapping up. But those folk whose feet turn to ice when the frost bites should know about a ‘jumper’ meant for one’s tootsies!

Ethically-sourced Australian kangaroo leather is being handcrafted into luxury slides, slippers and boots for men and women, sought after because they are practical, fashionable and will keep feet toasty warm.

In Australia, kangaroos are harvested using stringent ethical and environmentallysustainable processes to produce high quality meat but it took Karmine Leather founder, Ray Borda’s foresight to start a footwear business as a by-product of his kangaroo meat processing company. He saw it as a practical way to make principled use of the skins. Ray named the brand after his late mother who was a keen seamstress and cook. As one of her fi ve children, he was a natural entrepreneur; a pioneer of the Australian kangaroo meat market for more than 30 years.

Today, his Karmine Leather footwear is applauded for being sustainably and ethically sourced, light-weight and comfortable, handcrafted, water, stain and heat resistant and easy to clean with a hardwearing sole.

This product is not available in New Zealand at present but can be ordered online at www.karmineleather.com.au

Shop the latest and the very best of the best in top fashion brands sourced from both local and international labels. THREADS is your one stop shop for all things designer.

THREADS lets you fill your wardrobe with high-end fashion such as Sass & Bide, One Teaspoon, Rough Studios, Rails and D.O.F to name a few. Happy Shopping!

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JU1641

• Teeth whitening • All ceramic tooth filling materials using CerecAC omnicam, 3D technology • Permanent tooth replacements with dental implants • For gum health and maintenance call our hygienists Shelley Chadwick or Fernanda Flores • All aspects of general dentistry Evening appointments available

Junctional naevus: which sits between the dermis and epidermis.

Compound naevus: which lies in the upper dermis and epidermis.

Intradermal naevus: lies in the dermis and pushes the epidermis up, usually soft and fl eshy and may be pedunculated.

This year we have seen an alarming increase in the number of melanomas presenting to our clinic.

It’s time to show some pictures again to help educate people about the different types of ‘moles’ and pigmented skin lesions that the human skin can grow. It can be quite alarming to see the different spots and tumours that can appear on one’s skin, especially with advancing years. To keep it simple we are showing a few of the common pigmented skin lesions. Check yourself and or your partner’s skin next time you/he/she gets out of the shower. If there are any large dark lesions over 6mm diameter or small black ones 2-4 mm diameter see your GP initially to get them checked.

If your GP is concerned or unsure about what you have I’m happy to do a single lesion or a full body skin check (with underwear on). If you have any lesions of concern in your ‘personal parts’ I will check these for you with my practice nurse present.

keratosis: benign soft warty from light brown to tan to black and raised. May be crusty or irritated. Common on the temples, hands and backs of those over 60 who’ve had too much sun in the past. They are benign but some can mimic melanoma, a problem!

Dysplastic naevus: dark fl at lesion with irregular edges and colour pattern. It is benign but may turn into a melanoma later. It’s best to remove these early before trouble with melanoma occurs.

melanoma: may get over a cm in diameter, fl at, with blue/black pigment, or light to dark brown pigment with irregular edges. Needs removal before it begins to invade deeply.

7a. Raised and ulcerated, looks nasty. 7b. Flat, black with intense red/brown colour variation and a blue/white veil. It looks nasty, too.

7. Nodular malignant melanoma. Raised, thickened version of 6 above, may have intense colour variation, a blue/white surface ‘veil’ and ulceration. Once a melanoma starts to invade vertically down into the dermis of the skin it is getting dangerous to your health. Such lesions need urgent diagnosis and surgical excision and if there is a potential for spread internally the local lymph nodes need to be sampled as well, known as a ‘sentinel node biopsy’.

Marina Plastic Surgery First Floor, Compass Building, Ara Tai Drive, Half Moon Bay Marina P: 09 534 4040 E: info@marinaspeicalists.co.nz

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon

Jed’s on the ball! With a little help from Rhi’s Pantry, Jed’s Coffee has scored quite a hit with this tempting recipe.

1 Jed’s Coffee Co. Capsule 180ml cream 150g milk chocolate, finely chopped Pinch of salt 150g dark chocolate, finely chopped Chocolate sprinkles and/or cocoa powder for rolling

METHOD Using the Jed’s Coffee Co. capsule, pour a ristretto shot and stir into the cream with a pinch of salt. Place the chopped milk and dark chocolate into a microwave safe bowl, pour the cream and coffee mixture over the chocolate. Put the bowl into the microwave, and melt the mixture in 15 second bursts, stirring well in between. Repeat until the chocolate has completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a container and cover with a tight fitting lid.

Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours, or until the chocolate has set completely.

Once set, roll spoonfuls of the mixture into balls and roll in either the chocolate sprinkles or cocoa powder until completely coated.

Lay the rolled truffles on a plate, then return to the fridge to set for a final hour. Enjoy when ready, and keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Winter cocktails call for seasonal punch so check out this selection using non-alcoholic, sugar and sweetener-free Seedlip mixers (available from supermarkets and specialty food stores). Start with this delicious martini in which rhubarb and kaffir lime offer an exotic escape accompanied by a taste of the English countryside through the addition of fresh mint and rosemary. A sipping cocktail which will leave you craving another.

Combining Seedlip Spice with blackcurrant is a true walk down memory lane. It’s a cocktail with an adult twist – one for the crowds!

INGREDIENTS

(see recipe below) Add Seedlip Garden, rhubarb and kaffir lime shrub into a mixing glass. Fill with plenty of ice. Stir well to chill. Strain into a Chilled Coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Add garnish. INGREDIENTS Add all ingredients to a mason jar and muddle. Leave in fridge for 24 hours. Fine strain & bottle. The shrub will last 14 days refrigerated. • 50ml Seedlip Spice 94 • 25ml blackcurrant cordial • Top with sparkling apple juice • Garnish: Lemon Zest

Add Seedlip & blackcurrant cordial into a highball glass. Fill glass with ice. Top with

50ml Seedlip Garden 108 30ml rhubarb & kaffir lime shrub* Garnish: Kaffir lime leaf

3 rhubarb stalks finely sliced 5 kaffir lime leaves 1 cup cider vinegar 1 cup of caster sugar 1/2 cup of filtered water

Sparkling Apple Juice. Stir to mix. Add garnish.

Sure to be a favourite, is this hot toddy using some classic ingredients to create a wonderful winter warmer. Assam tea compliments the citrus & ginger flavours of Seedlip Grove.

A nice variation using coconut sugar to sweeten, this tea brings an earthy hue ideal for sipping. It’s a hug in a mug!

50ml Seedlip Grove 42 1 tsp of coconut sugar 120ml hot Assam tea made by brewing one Assam tea bag in boiling water for two minutes. Garnish: Fresh or crystallised ginger

Add all ingredients into a heatproof mug. Stir gently and add garnish.

There’s no shortage of advice for amateur chefs keen to develop gourmet cooking skills but for some, time is much too short for preparing meals fit for a king.

But now, top Auckland chefs Nic Watt, a former Half Moon Bay resident, and Darren Johnson have launched, Cookalong, a time-saving gourmet food delivery service offering fresh, pre-prepared, restaurant quality ingredients and meals for the home.

Drawing on their 50 years of combined experience in kitchens throughout New Zealand, Japan, Peru, the USA and UK, the duo is committed to creating delicious recipes using only the best local, seasonal and fresh produce.

Of course, Nic Watt is the name and face behind three Auckland restaurants – SkyCity’s MASU, Orakei’s Akarana Eatery and Newmarket’s INCA. His longtime friend and colleague, Darren has been executive chef at MASU and is now co-owner and culinary director at INCA.

Nic realises not everyone can dine- in at a restaurant but says there are occasions when people want a no-fuss, but truly delicious meal solution at home.

“Darren and I are drawing on our experiences both in the restaurant and through our travels to create and deliver dishes we would be proud to serve our friends and family.”

And they are doing so in a fresh format of changing weekly menus delivered every Tuesday. Best of all, most of the hard work is done in the restaurant so that meals require just 30 minutes or less of preparation and/or cooking time with customers abler to simple sauté and serve or heat and eat.

Included is a recipe card with easy to follow instructions but also the ‘full’ recipe – Cookalong from Scratch – to recreate those favourite dishes at home if clients wish to try their hand.

(subscription service): Serves two or more sauté and serve, chefprepared dishes with restaurant sauces and prepared garnishes, such as a beef and pumpkin ragu with orecchiette and lemon gremolata or the Master stock braised pork belly with daikon, shiitake mushroom, rice and bok choy.

Eat (subscription service): Serves four – delicious meals such as chicken, mushroom and hidden vege pie with wood-roasted cauliflower almond salad or beef cheeks and parsnip mash/ tomato, broccoli and toasted almond salad. Customers simply heat, eat and enjoy.

Serves two – sauté and serve, chef-prepared dishes, such as salmon tartare (entrée), Ginger miso free range chicken breast on roasted corn puree with spinach and ruby grapefruit salad (main), and vanilla bean rice pudding with roasted spiced pineapple (dessert). Date Night menus change fortnightly.

The chefs have also launched a Pantry Shop selling some of Darren’s popular sauces from INCA. These can be ordered as an extra when ordering any Cookalong product.

Furthermore, Cookalong has thought of the full dining experience by also including an option to add a virgin cocktail mix to orders – $10 per person.

Current options include a strawberry or pineapple daiquiri, with diners able to simply add ice, their spirit of choice, and blend and enjoy as a predinner cocktail.

Whether intent on (Mor)rockin’ the kasbah or simply impressing the family at home, this wholesome soup features spices offering a smoking fl avour.

2 Kallo Organic Stock Cubes (beef, vegetable or chicken) 400g can Chantal Organics Chickpeas 400g can Chantal Organics Chopped Tomatoes 100g Chantal Organics Red Split Lentils 1/2 a chopped onion 1 carrot, diced A handful of fresh coriander 1 tbsp Chantal Organics Olive Oil 1 tsp sea salt 1 tbsp harissa paste 1.5 garlic cloves, chopped 1.5 tsp cumin powder 1.5 tsp turmeric 1.5 tsp smoked paprika

Brown the olive oil and onions in a large pan on medium heat for approximately 7-8 minutes. Add in garlic, carrot and salt and stir to combine for 2-3 minutes. Add spices and stir until the vegetables are coated.

Add Kallo stock cubes, tomatoes, lentils and harissa paste. Simmer for 10 minutes while covered; remove the lid and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Add chickpeas and coriander and stir to combine.

Season and serve with additional coriander and chilli fl akes (optional). Serves two.

Thanks to the good fellows at Kallo for sharing this recipe – see kallo.com/recipes for more.

Worldwide, manufacturers are endeavouring to dump plastic bags once and for all but what can replace them? John Bostock from organic apple producer, Bostock New Zealand, is intent his company will be party to answering this question.

“Finding sustainable packaging solutions is a real focus for our company as we move to reduce plastic where we can,” he says .

“We are trialling our new pouch bags in Countdown stores around the North Island and some Foodstuff supermarkets... Home compostable packaging is very new for fresh produce.”

Made from rice, potatoes and corn derivatives, the bags feature a zip lock (an innovative addition to compostable bags) and they are strong enough to hold a kilogram of apples.

However, New Zealand stores aren’t the fi rst to carry these bags, with trials in Russia already showing promise.

Last year Bostock began using compostable fruit stickers on some of its apples, and the company has trialled other sustainable and compostable packaging including wood fi bre netting for its organic onions. The company has even begun using hessian strings on the apple trees, rather than plastic string.

The new zip-lock bags may not be as taxing, environmentally speaking, but they do come at a cost.

“Compostable packaging is a lot more expensive,” Mr Bostock confi rms. “We need to make [such] solutions more affordable, so they are fi nancially sustainable for our business and others following the same path. This will also enable us to roll out more environmentally focused packaging.”

Try our latest fl avours of the month and experience a range of new products with a real taste difference. EastLife is always on the lookout for new products to tantalise the tastebuds of our readers.

Why did the Moa cross (with) Lewis Road? To produce a batch of Salted Caramel Chocolate Stout, of course! The latest addition to the Milk Stout range (from Moa Brewing and their mates at Lewis Rd Creamery), this smooth 5.5% ABV beverage features decadent hints of chocolate, as well as caramel and toffee. Available from supermarkets and bottle stores nationwide (RRP $8.99) this range also features Milk Chocolate Stout and Espresso & Chocolate varieties.

Who doesn’t love the strong silent type? He may not be much of a talker but Jed is as strong as it gets. Available in four blends (Strong, Very Strong, Extra Strong and Extreme), Jed’s Coffee is now testing its ‘metal’ with new, recyclable aluminium capsules. Suited for use in Nespresso coffee machines, these capsules (RRP $6.99 per 10 pack, from selected supermarkets) are ideal for those who’d prefer a hot shot to a classy Clooney any day!

Busy working parents (in particular) are often driven nuts by being spread so thin. Luckily, thanks to two new premium spreads, we can whip up a healthy snack in next to no time at all! Packed full of plantbased protein, Chantal Organics’ Salted Caramel Peanut Butter and Cinnamon Spiced Almond Butter are perfect when preparing quick, nutritious lunches. Paleo and vegan-friendly, these two tasty spreads are available (RRP $11.99 per 230gm jar) from supermarkets and health food stores.

Healtheries Mittz may offer a quick pick-me-up when on the go but, carrying a 3.5 health star rating, these oven baked chippies are hardly ‘fast food’. With just 0.7gm of sugar per serve with no artifi cial colours, fl avours or preservatives, these snacks draw on the goodness of carrots, beans and potatoes. Each bag of Heatheries Mittz (RRP $5.29) contains six mini packs and are available in two varieties (Pizza or chicken) from Pak’nSave and New World nationwide.