So the Easter bunny is on his way and as you may know by now I am a self confessed chocoholic so Easter is a very exciting time of year for me. However, I have been quite particular about the Easter egg I want this year much to my boyfriends annoyance. It’s a Booja Booja…
Oh my I love blissballs. I’ve made various versions of them and also buy the bounceballs when out and about too. If you haven’t tried them or tried making your own then you must because they are so easy and require no baking or cooking. As well as being super healthy they are pretty yummy.
These blissballs are the perfect snack for the afternoon when energy levels might be a little low. Rather than reaching for a chocolate bar or coke, make a batch of these raw energising blissballs to have on hand at around 4pm. Here’s the recipe…
I was so lucky to win a Sage Appliance Juicer from Planet Organic a few weeks ago and it has definitely come into good hands. This juice is so so delicious! Mango is one of my favourite fruits as it’s pretty naturally sweet and I wanted to change up my usual green juice. As the sun was shining I thought this tropical twist would be perfect!
Ingredients
Juice everything except the spinach, kale, mango, flax and chia seeds. Then add spinach and kale to blender with the juice and blend then add the mango, flax and chia seeds and blend. I also add some ice to make nice a cold! Enjoy!
Sometimes I follow recipes or really plan a meal myself from specific ingredients but other times I just see what I have in the fridge and cupboards and go with the flow. This is how I create some of my favourite dishes and it’s what I think cooking is all about, experimenting and having fun in the kitchen. This is exactly how I made My Chilli Garlic Tomato Prawns, they are so tasty and super quick to make so perfect for mid week dinner. This recipe is also the one you want if you are coming down with cold or flu symptoms due to the volatile oils in chilli and garlic.
Chillies, as well as adding such a strong spicy flavour to a dish, are so good for you. They have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which is why they are said to help remove toxins from the body and lower cholesterol. They can also aid digestion, reduce cravings and boost metabolism. Another super health booster in this recipe is garlic. Garlic is known for helping circulation and digestion as well as boosting the immune system. So get cooking!
I know we all lead busy lives and breakfast time is perhaps the busiest time of the day. But breakfast is, as you probably know, the most important meal to get right. I love a sweet breakfast, give me porridge, smoothies, honey and fruit any day but I rarely fancy eggs or savoury foods. So this recipe is basically a cross between scrambled eggs, porridge and a pancake!
I know that eggs are a fabulous food to have in the morning. The protein and fat in eggs will keep your energy levels way higher than the standard cereal or toast keeping you fuller for longer. As someone who doesn’t eat loads of meat, eggs are a great option for me as they are a complete protein containing all essential amino acids. Choline, an essential nutrient, found in eggs is great for brain development, function and improving alertness. As I say, just what you need in the mornings!
So this breakfast only contains 4 simple ingredients and you just need a microwave and 3 minutes. The banana and cinnamon means you won’t need honey or sugar making this recipe free of refined sugar, something you absolutely want to avoid in the morning.
My Root Vegetable Quinoa Recipe
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Vegan
Being healthy doesn’t have to be boring or expensive, it’s exciting, varied and fun if you plan and prepare. At this stage you might disagree but it’s only because you haven’t tried, experimented and discovered new foods and flavours yet and when you do a whole new world will appear before your eyes. You may have heard of ‘meat free Mondays’, I don’t eat a lot of meat during the week as I like to get meat from my local organic butchers when I do it eat it so I only have it a couple of times a week as it’s a little more expensive. I therefore love creating filling vegetarian dishes for my evening meal.
I try to take a packed lunch as much as I can, it normally ends up being 3 times a week depending on whether I am working late and have enough time to prepare but I always feel so much better taking a homemade lunch. The typical English option is a sandwich or roll however this is not the a great choice if you are using standard processed bread and stodgy fillings such as mayonnaise and butter.
There are so many healthier interesting nutritious alternatives you could prepare, it just takes a little experimenting,some planning on Sunday afternoon and a few bits of Tupperware.
This simple lentil lunch is so easy and quick to make. The mushrooms and red pepper give you a dose of vitamins and cooking in coconut oil means your get a delicious addition of healthy fats. I love anything in the form of stew, it must be a texture thing but I think everything tastes better in a stew. The ‘ready to eat’ puy lentils are so versatile and ‘faff’ free and the chickpeas are a filling crunchy extra.
I know everyone loves cereal but shop bought versions are full of sugar and preservatives. I am such a fan of cereal though and when I discovered the truth behind the clever marketing of “healthy” cereals, my world came crashing down! I had to find a way to still eat cereal so I now have my own healthy home made version that I enjoy with almond milk, yogurt or berries. The perfect breakfast or naughty late night snack hehe! See my video on how to make it and I’d love it if you’d subscribe to my youtube channel.
I get asked a lot by friends, family and clients for a meal plan or examples of what I typical eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and as I’m not a qualified nutritionist or dietitian I cannot give people individual diet plans however I do believe I have a lot of knowledge on nutrition and what the right things to eat are. I notice where people go wrong in their diets and I am happy to give advice.
I am very passionate about changing your lifestyle gradually, I don’t agree with restrictive diets and I would never suggest cutting out a food group to anyone.
I know the last thing you want to hear before Christmas is to be healthy, sugar free and balanced with what you eat. Believe me, I have been and will certainly be tipping the scales of my balanced lifestyle in the other direction over the holiday season. It’s time for all the years tension to melt away.
