Healing Through Food: Nourishing Versions of Your Favourite Aussie Meals

Healing Through Food: Nourishing Versions of Your Favourite Aussie Meals

Written by Elle Sproll

When you’re on a healing journey — whether it’s after cancer treatment, burnout or simply years of putting your needs last — food can feel confusing. You want to eat well, but you also want the familiar. The meals that feel like home. A good chicken schnitty. Warm pumpkin soup. A proper meat pie. But can comfort food still be healing?

Absolutely.

As a health coach working with women in recovery, I believe food should nourish, not stress you out. That’s why I’m here to help you enjoy your favourite Aussie meals — just with a gentle, anti-inflammatory twist.

No complicated superfoods. No shame or guilt. Just real food, made with real love, that supports your body as it heals.

Food as Medicine — But Make It Delicious

In Australia, we’re blessed with an abundance of fresh produce, wholefoods and traditional ingredients that naturally support healing. But the key isn’t just what you eat — it’s how it makes you feel.

Healing meals:

• Calm inflammation

• Support your gut

• Stabilise energy and mood

• Gently balance hormones

• And remind you that you deserve to feel good

And no, this doesn’t mean giving up flavour or fun. Let’s look at how we can lovingly upgrade some Aussie classics into gut-friendly, nourishing staples.

A Comforting Meat Pie — With a Healing Twist

Who doesn’t love a good meat pie? The classic combo of pastry, rich filling and tomato sauce hits all the comfort notes. But it can also leave you feeling bloated, tired, and inflamed.

Try this instead:

• Swap store-bought pastry for a sweet potato mash topping (like a shepherd’s pie twist)

• Use grass-fed beef or lentils, slow-cooked with bone broth, carrots, garlic and turmeric

• Add in healing herbs like rosemary and thyme

• Top with a spoon of gut-friendly sauerkraut for that tangy edge

It still feels like comfort food — but now it's rich in minerals, fibre and anti-inflammatory goodness.

Chicken Schnitzel — Reimagined for Gut & Hormone Health

This Aussie pub favourite is easy to modify without losing the crunch.

Try this instead:

• Use free-range chicken breast, sliced thin and coated in almond meal or gluten-free crumbs

• Pan-fry in extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil instead of deep frying

• Serve with a big side of steamed greens, roasted pumpkin, and fermented beetroot or kimchi

You’ll still get that satisfying crispiness — without the inflammatory oils or processed crumbs.

Pumpkin Soup — Boosted for Immunity

This one’s already a classic, especially during recovery or winter. But we can make it even more healing.

Upgrade it by:

• Roasting the pumpkin with cumin, ginger, and garlic for extra anti-inflammatory power

• Adding red lentils or a scoop of collagen powder for protein

• Stirring through coconut cream and a handful of fresh parsley or coriander

This version is rich in beta-carotene, gut-healing compounds, and comforting warmth that nourishes from the inside out.

Sweet Treats Without the Crash

You don’t have to give up dessert — you just need to swap ingredients that stress your body with ones that support it.

Try this instead:

• Chia pudding with coconut milk, cinnamon, and fresh berries

• Bliss balls made from dates, almonds, cacao and flaxseeds

• A slice of banana oat bread made with almond flour and no added sugar

These options still feel like a treat, but they won’t spike your blood sugar or leave you feeling sluggish.

Eating for Energy, Calm & Recovery

Here’s the truth many women aren’t told during or after treatment: your body is still healing, even when you “look fine.” The foods you eat daily can either support that healing... or make it harder.

What to focus on:

• Whole, unprocessed Australian ingredients — think sweet potatoes, leafy greens, native herbs, grass-fed meats, and seasonal produce

• Healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and flaxseeds to support hormone balance

• Fermented foods to feed your gut

• Gentle cooking methods — steaming, slow-cooking, roasting over deep frying or charring

Food Shouldn’t Be Another Stress

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by diet rules, or you’ve been told to “just cut everything out,” I want you to know there’s another way.

Eating for wellness doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel good — in your body, your mind, and your heart.

And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Want to Chat About What Healing Food Looks Like For You?

Whether you’re rebuilding your energy after cancer or simply want to feel calmer and more nourished in your everyday life, I’d love to help.

Book a free 20-minute clarity call and we’ll talk about small, realistic changes to bring healing and joy back into your meals.

Because food should be your ally — not your enemy.