Jessica Moulds
The professional netballer and dietitian is well qualified to advise herself on sports nutrition. However, Moulds, a defender for the Mainland Tactix, loves improving the health and well-being of other people through her work.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a dietitian? It’s the feeling when someone tells me how much more energy they have, how much better they’re sleeping or that they feel much happier – food choices can change lives.
Do you take food when you’re touring with the Tactix? I’ll often take snacks to eat on the plane, such as nuts, crackers or fruit. Because we regularly get drug tested, I also take my own protein powder, because I know it’s uncontaminated.
How would you describe your diet and lifestyle?
I love eating a variety of nutritious food. My focus is always on the food I want to eat more of rather than what I need to restrict. I find that mindset positive and motivating.
What’s your typical breakfast? Today I had a chocolate avocado smoothie – it was epic. Avocado makes it creamy.
What about lunch? I had leftover frittata.
What’s your favourite weeknight meal? I love curry, so I make some sort of vege-packed curry at least once a week.
What do you snack on, and how often? During the playing season, I snack every two hours. But in the off-season, when I’m not burning as much fuel, I have two to four snacks a day. Usually I eat nuts, grainy crackers and cheese, chopped veges and hummus, bliss balls, yogurt and fruit or muesli, or a teaspoon of peanut butter.
What is New Zealand’s biggest food issue? The number of “food experts”, all proclaiming that their way of eating is the best way. First, this is confusing. I see many people in my clinic who are fed up with such conflicting advice. Second, when you look at the range of countries with the best health statistics, they have quite different diets. It’s important to look at the big picture and not get bogged down in the details. Eat in a way that makes you feel great and don’t compare yourself with others.