5 minute speed date with Morlife's Nutritionists

Have you wondered who the faces are behind our functional products and delicious recipes? Then take 5 minutes to meet our 6 in-house research nutritionists!

In order to keep this date a quickie, we've skipped past the typical questions and jumped straight into the juicy stuff. This week, our adventurous nutritionists unveil their favourite go-to breakfast, healthy treat, pantry staple and even do a bit of myth-busting!

     

Sahar Marvasti, Morlife Research Nutritionist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

Lately I’ve been enjoying protein smoothies, they’re quick and easy to make and a great opportunity to load it full of goodies! It consists of caramel whey protein, banana, Morlife Inulin Powder, Morlife L-Glutamine, Morlife Chia Seeds, natural peanut butter, almond milk & ice.

What food is always in your pantry?

Chickpeas! I find them very versatile and easy to incorporate into a quick and nutritious meal to add carbohydrates and protein.

Favourite healthy treat?

I love making protein balls with dates, nuts, protein, coconut oil, chia seeds and honey!

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

I hear so many people say they cut carbs to lose weight, which is probably the worst as carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient in the diet! It’s definitely not sustainable and will cause more problems to the body in the long run. Rather than cutting carbohydrates, I think it’s important to be mindful of the types of carbohydrates you consume and look out for the sugar content in foods.

       

Kristina Vella, Morlife Research Nutritionist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

My quick and easy banana pancake is my choice for breakfast on most days. Simply mix a small mashed banana with 1 egg, 1 tsp Morlife Inulin Powder, 1 tbsp flour, a touch of vanilla paste and a pinch of salt. Heat a non-stick pan and pour mixture in, making 1 large pancake. I serve with warmed berries. Delish and only takes 5 minutes!

What food is always in your pantry?

Broad bean fettuccini is always in my pantry. Such a great alternative to regular pasta, with higher protein and fibre and I can quickly prepare a healthy pasta meal with any veggies that I have in the fridge.

Favourite healthy treat?

I am so happy that summer is almost here that I’m currently enjoying lots of fresh mango with coconut yoghurt and shredded coconut.

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

I wish that everyone can have the tools to follow a healthy lifestyle without the need for following fad diets. Many fad diets involve culling entire food groups (ie. high carbohydrate foods) from your diet. This can result in missing out on many key nutrients and important sources of energy. I don’t believe that cutting entire food groups from your diet is a healthy path to follow. Learning how to prepare healthy meals and snacks and consuming all foods in moderation, with a high intake of vegetables will help you feel satisfied and will make your life so much easier! 

        

Joana Graca, Morlife Food Technologist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

I am always in a rush in the mornings… but I never leave the house without a filling breakfast! My top breakfast is definitely a smoothie! I really love it! It’s super easy to make, tasty & nutritious! I just add to my blender: oats, ice, veggies & fruits that I have in my fridge & I blend them for 1 minute. Then it’s ready to grab & go! Plus I can never get tired of the taste, because every day I can change the fruits or veggies to create new flavours.

What food is always in your pantry?

Well I have quite a few products that are always in my kitchen! Olive oil, I add it to everything (cooking, breads, salads, etc…), avocados, oats, eggs, cinnamon & nuts! This is something that I always have at home no matter what! They make great snacks for any time; plus they are healthy and super filling options.

Favourite healthy treat?

My own pancakes! I just add in a bowl: oats, banana (half), 1 egg, water, cinnamon & flaxseed powder. I mix everything really well & and it goes to a frying pan with a little bit of olive oil. I top it with some nuts or blueberries. It’s super yummy.

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

“Eating fat makes you fat”! Nooo, not all fats are the same, and we all need fats in our diet. There are “good” and “bad“ fats, so you just need to make sure that you pack your diet with the good type of fats present in foods like olive oil, avocado, fish, nuts, etc… Also you can’t forget that our body does not have the ability to form certain fats (what we call essential fatty acids) so they must be obtained from food!

         

Lysanne Engels, Morlife Research Nutritionist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

Greek yoghurt, Morlife chia seeds & fresh seasonal fruits (my favourites are strawberries, blueberries and mango, depending on the season). This breakfast never bores me because there are so many different fruits I can add!

What food is always in your pantry?

Greek yoghurt. Greek yoghurt is so versatile; I have it as part of my breakfast but I also love to make dips with it, add it to curries and it works wonders as a healthy sour cream substitute! When I buy Greek yoghurt, I make sure I buy one that is high in protein and is unsweetened. I choose to buy full-cream yoghurt because I just love the creaminess and only a little dollop does the job!

Favourite healthy treat?

Dark 70% Cocoa Chocolate. Some days I just really crave something sweet after dinner: I’ll usually have about 2-3 squares which completely satisfies my sweet-tooth.

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

Fat burning foods. No food can magically melt your fat away! When flicking through Facebook I constantly come across advertorials mentioning how someone magically lost 10kg by eating one certain superfood or product. These promos really get to me because I know there are people out there who put their hopes on these products and are often disappointed. Not only do these products cost lots of money, they could even be dangerous to your health. Dieting is hard work and any product trying to make it seem like it’s easy, is most probably a scam!

         

Lauren Bester, Morlife Research Nutritionist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

I love a savoury breakfast. I usually have 3 scrambled eggs with parsley and pesto on wholegrain toast. It’s absolutely delicious and keeps me full all morning!

What food is always in your pantry?

Eggs! They are great for a nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner, super versatile and sure to fill you up.

Favourite healthy treat?

I love a quartered granny smith apple dipped in whatever nut butter I can get my hands on!

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

Sugar! Often I hear “but I used dates to sweeten it so its healthy” or “this contains natural sugar so its ok”. Don’t get me wrong, natural sources of sugar (eg. coconut sugar, date sugar, honey) do contain some vitamins, minerals and fibre that refined sugars don’t. However, this does not mean that foods sweetened this way are overly healthy! Often you have to eat a large amount of these natural sources (eg. dates) to consume a significant amount of the beneficial ingredients. A large amount of dates = a large amount of sugar! So please remember that at the end of the day, regardless of the source, sugar is sugar and should only be eaten sometimes as a treat!

       

Leisa Armstrong, Morlife Research Nutritionist

What's your favourite go-to breakfast?

My favourite weekend breakfast is an “Avo Smash” with Persian Feta, spinach, a poached egg and a sprinkle of chia seeds

What food is always in your pantry?

Morlife Chia Seeds are one of my favourite pantry go to’s, I use them all the time in sweet and savoury cooking. I love putting them in dinners like bolognaise as not only are they a nutritional boost, they are a great thickening agent as they soak up all the extra liquid, so I can get dinner on the table faster to keep my kids happy.

Favourite healthy treat?

It may sound boring, but I love a good old handful of mixed nuts or a handful of blueberries.

What nutrition myth annoys you the most?

Calories in vs calories out. I understand the concept and what was trying to be done with this, but I feel it totally missed the point of nutritionally dense calories vs totally empty calories. I would much rather eat 200+ calories from an avocado, than 200+ calories in a single serve bag of chips. I will always value what my body can actually take from the food to use (nutrients), over the energy content of the food alone.