Feel like a laugh? Watch this spoof on Star Wars starring the evil Darth Tatter, Obi Wan Canoli and Princess Lettuce! It’s produced by a pro-organic food group. I don’t think you have to eat organic to be healthy but the back to basics, less processed food message is pretty good. Mostly it’s fun – enjoy!

If you’ve decided to cut back on bread in an attempt to control weight, think again. Wholegrains were one of a handful of winning foods in a new study looking at long term weight control. The researchers from Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health found that people who ate more wholegrains actually gained less weight over four years.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine this study of over 120,000 people found that people who ate more unprocessed foods, specifically wholegrains, nuts, yoghurt (reduced or full fat), fruit and vegetables gained the least weight over a four year period.

These people didn’t just keep on eating the same amount over the four years; they actually increased the number of serves of these foods they ate each day. More food means more kilojoules so why didn’t they gain weight? These foods are all high fibre (apart from yoghurt) nutrient rich foods which provide long lasting satiety. They keep blood sugars stable without the rapid spikes that experts now think contribute to weight problems. If you eat lots of these foods chances are you won’t feel quite so desperate to munch on crisps or slurp on a soft drink.

I like the food analogies in this story by Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald today titled :  “ All Blacks revenge dished up cold ” …

“Having had four years to stew over things, the All Blacks exacted a clinical and soul cleansing revenge at Eden Park last night in their crucial Rugby World Cup clash. France were poked in the eye, jabbed with a stick then clubbed viciously with an array of weaponry they had no means to defend themselves against. Anyone who uses the scoreline as vindication the French were up to no good with a half-hearted selection and an equally lacking attitude really needs to dunk their head in boiling chip fat.”

What a game … read the story.  And , not only do the All Blacks of New Zealand bury their demons from 4 years ago, but the New Zealand Warriors win in an epic game against the Melbourne Storm to go to the NRL Grand Final in Sydney next week. My husband will be there!

• World’s rugby media reacts: ‘Hail the new world champions’
• NZ All Blacks vs France Video Highlights
• NZ Warriors vs Melbourne Storm Video Highlights

In an attempt to boost my body’s anti-inflammatory processes I have been eating more fish, especially salmon and the most delicious smoked trout from my local deli. It shouldn’t take a sprained foot to make me eat more fish. I know I should eat a couple of meals of oily fish each week to get the recommended 500mg of omega-3 fats a day but I have to admit that most of the time my seafood repertoire is limited to canned tuna with tomatoes for lunch.

Like all good Kiwi’s I have been watching the bone-jarring battle for the World Rugby Cup. Those boys could sure do with a few anti-inflammatory foods after a game. I hope they are eating plenty of New Zealand’s fantastic seafood – mostly because it tastes great but also because it’s packed with protein, nutrients and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.  Just one 150 gram portion of NZ King Salmon provides 2500mg -  enough omega-3′s to last a whole week.