Georgia Houston’s new eBook carries an important message  

Posted on 1 July, 2019

Georgia Houston’s health journey began when she discovered dieting at 19.

Like many other young people, Georgia became extra-aware in her late teens of what she was eating and how much she was exercising. However, in her case, these habits soon turned into a serious obsession.

“When I was 19 I started to become very health conscious and was doing everything healthy,” she remembers.”[I was] reading healthy magazines, cutting out food that the media said was unhealthy, carbs, fats, all of that sort of stuff, but in doing that I became very unhealthy and underweight.”

After 18 months, Georgia was anxiety-ridden and struggling to live a normal life, under-eating and over-exercising every day.

One day, her mum sat her down and told Georgia she thought she had an eating disorder. Georgia was studying Psychology at the time but up until this point – if social media and society’s obsession with thinness was anything to go by – she thought she was just “being healthy”.

Now an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Georgia explains that the conversation surrounding eating disorders is quite limited in Canberra, which can make it very difficult for people to want to reach out and get help.

When Georgia was 19, she knew she didn’t have anorexia because of the amount of food she ate, but the facts remained that Georgia had a serious obsession that had taken over her life.

It took many visits to dietitians, nutritionists and psychologists before Georgia was diagnosed with Orthorexia Nervosa. On the rise across the world in part due to social media, Orthorexia is an obsession with ‘healthy’ eating that has gone too far.

After seeing a Sydney based nutritionist, Georgia says she fell in love with food again.

“It made me want to look after myself rather than punish myself. I wanted to get better so I could help other young girls feel how I felt after seeing [the nutritionist].”

Georgia went on to study Nutritional Science and completed a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Canberra. Working out of her private GH Nutrition clinic in Kingston, Georgia specialises in disordered eating and women’s health, offering one-on-one consultations as well as workshops and talks that help people re-build their relationship with food.

Alongside her mum Melissa, Georgia also makes healthy muesli and bliss balls which can be bought in a number of shops around Canberra and it’s this passion for cooking has lent itself to her next endeavour–the release of her first eBook.

The GH Nutrition Signature Healthy Eating Plan eBook has been in the making for a year now, with the idea first stemming from how often Georgia would give recipes to her clients.

Working together with Canberra photographer Ashley St George and graphic designer Chloe Lester from Parade Agency, Georgia’s eBook features more than 45 different breakfast, snack, dinner and treat recipes, as well as Georgia’s 10 signature healthy eating principles.

These principles include everything from how to create a nourishing breakfast to how to stay hydrated and the importance of flexibility in our diets. It’s these messages that Georgia hopes help other young people create a healthy and balanced lifestyle – one free from restriction.

“Our bodies can’t sustain when we restrict and restrict and restrict, often we end up bingeing and blowing out,” she explains.

“[Following] the 80/20 rule–everything in moderation–is better. If you have something you love each day, that’s better than restricting all week and then blowing out on the weekend. Also, if you eat healthy majority of the time, you can have a bit of chocolate at the end of the day without guilt.”

Visit Georgia’s website for more information on her consultations, philosophies and to purchase GH Nutrition Signature Healthy Eating Plan (RRP $29.99 + GST).

Healthy Banana Bread

Georgia says…I absolutely love a slice of this banana bread with a chai in the afternoon or before bed.

Use wholemeal flour for extra fibre, vitamins and minerals.

MAKES: 1 LOAF

PREP TIME: 10 MINS

COOK TIME: 60 MINS

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 2 free-range eggs
• 2 bananas, mashed, plus 1 extra banana, sliced lengthways, to place on top
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 + 3⁄4 cups plain wholemeal flour

METHOD

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 165C and grease a loaf pan.

STEP 2

In a large bowl, whisk the oil and honey together. Add the eggs and whisk well. Then add banana and milk and whisk well to combine.

STEP 3

Add the baking powder, vanilla and cinnamon and whisk to combine.

Lastly, stir in the flour until just combined. Some lumps are ok.

STEP 4

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with sliced banana.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

STEP 5

Let the bread cool in the loaf pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool before slicing. Enjoy warm.

Storage: Banana bread keeps for one week. Or cut into slices and freeze for future snacks.

Photography: Ashley St George