‘A vegetarian pizza’: Why this day on a plate gets a dietitian’s tick of approval

Senhit is a musician. The 45-year-old shares her day on a plate.

Credit: Art by Eliza Iredale

5.30am Breakfast is half a bottle of still water with lemon, and a cup of hot tea.

6.30am After swimming and water exercises, then a gym session, breakfast is a soy cappuccino, cereal and a banana.

1.30pm After a meeting with my music producer, I have artichoke risotto with grilled vegetables, along with a green tea.

8pm After an afternoon spent being fitted for my Eurovision On Tour outfits, it’s time for an aperitif and dinner with friends. I’m teetotal, so I have a pineapple juice, and vegetarian, so I have pizza with vegetables.

Dr Joanna McMillan says

Top marks for… Your drinks. Water on waking is a good idea to rehydrate and both black and green tea are associated with health benefits due to the polyphenols they contain. The phytoestrogens in your soy cappuccino can be helpful for women in midlife, and the pineapple juice, while not as good as eating the whole fruit, contains both nutrients and antioxidants.

If you keep eating like this you’ll… Miss getting the optimal protein intake to prevent muscle loss as you age. And without wholegrains, legumes, nuts or seeds, you fall short on key nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and iron.

Why don’t you try… Having a wholegrain cereal or muesli for breakfast, going for brown rice over white in the risotto and choosing a wholemeal pizza base. Add a topping of mixed nuts and seeds to breakfast or snack on a handful of nuts or blueberries. Include beans or chickpeas regularly in your meals.

Senhit will perform as part of Eurovision On Tour in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney on November 13, 15 and 17.

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