Tag Archives: Nutrition

Cacao Smoothie Bowl

Cacao Smoothie Bowl

A Cooling Recipe for Summer

Try this tasty Cacao Smoothie Bowl

Try this tasty Cacao Smoothie Bowl

Since we’ve been having some proper summer weather recently (something that’s never guaranteed in the UK!), I’ve been enjoying having smoothie bowls for breakfast.

Inspired by @wellbeingsarah who posted a recipe on her Instagram I tried this cacao smoothie bowl and it has become a real favourite.

If you’d like to try this for yourself, then blend spinach, frozen banana, avocado, raw cacao power and milk (I used almond milk) together to your desired consistency. I’ve also added a greens power to mine or you could add a scoop of protein powder.

(The addition of frozen banana makes this very cooling which has been especially welcome on hot days!)

Complete your smoothie bowl with toppings of your choice and enjoy! :D

Dessert for Breakfast?

Dessert for Breakfast?
Dessert for Breakfast?

Rosemary, Apple & Pear Crumble

This quick, easy dessert recipe from Honestly Healthy works just as well as at breakfast time. The addition of rosemary adds a lovely flavour too. Ever since a friend kindly gave me the Honestly Healthy cookbook as a present last year I’ve enjoyed experimenting with their various recipes.

You can find the recipe for Rosemary and Apple crumble here at the Honestly Healthy website. As I didn’t have coconut flour I tweaked my crumble topping (pictured, left) by swapping porridge oats for ground almonds and mixed those with some coconut oil and coconut sugar. I found this worked just as well, and importantly, still tasted delicious! :) I like mine served with coconut milk yoghurt.

Give it a try for yourself. Enjoy!

Creamy Banana Buckwheat Porridge

Creamy Banana Buckwheat Porridge

As the Winter sets in there are few things better than a warming bowl of porridge.

If you’re a fan of porridge too, then you’ve no doubt tried all sorts of combinations to boost your porridge bowl. One of my current favourite things is to stir in some coconut oil for extra richness and a burst of healthy good fats. I’m also enjoying this Creamy Banana Buckwheat Porridge recipe from Deliciously Ella‘s fantastic blog. So simple, speedy and tasty. Also, if you are avoiding gluten and grains, with this recipe you can have your porridge and eat it too :) In fact, if you are following a gluten-free diet and you’ve not checked out Deliciously Ella’s website and blog already, then I’d highly recommend it for lots of fantastic recipes and ideas.

Chunky Kale & Vegetable Soup

Chunky Kale & Vegetable Soup

Chunky Kale & Vegetable Soup simmering on the stovetop

Here's some I made earlier - Chunky Kale & Vegetable Soup simmering on the stovetop

It’s a wet, cold February in London and in this kind of weather I crave comforting soups. Sally Parkes shared this recipe with me and it’s one of my favourites to make at the moment. I’ve been doing a bit more writing at home lately, working on a script, so it’s perfect for lunch and also nice for when I get home from teaching yoga in the evenings. It’s tasty as it is, though sometimes I like to serve this with quinoa. You could try it with rice too.

They always have some fantastic soups on the menu at Florence House in Seaford where I will be teaching with Sally on our twice-yearly Relax and Restore Retreat from 14-16th February. I’m really looking forward to a weekend of delicious, nourishing, hearty vegetarian food. We get to have (healthy) dessert too :) . There are still a few places left if you’d like to join us for a weekend of Yoga, Pilates and Relaxation at this lovely Sussex venue. There will also be a range of treatments on hand with therapist Jo, so you can pamper yourself with a massage too. Find out more about the retreat and details of how to book here: Relax & Restore Retreat – 14-16th Feb 2014.

Here’s that soup recipe for you :)

Chunky Kale & Vegetable Soup
Serves 4-6

With vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient packed kale, heart-healthy garlic and fibre-filled and cholesterol-lowering beans, this soup really packs a nutritional punch.

Ingredients:
Half a tablespoon of olive oil (I’ve substituted with coconut oil)
1 small red onion
1-2 garlic cloves
1 large bunch of kale
1-2 large carrots
1 stalk of celery and inner leaves
2 courgettes
½ teaspoon of pepper flakes
5 fresh sage leaves
2 large tomatoes (or tin chopped tomatoes)
1 tin of cannellini beans
2 or 3 pints of water depending of desired level of consistency

Method:
Chop onions, garlic, carrots, celery and sauté with oil, sage and pepper flakes.

Chop tomatoes, courgettes and kale and add them to the pot. Rinse beans and add them to the pot too. Mix to coat the vegetables and beans in oil. Add water and bring to the boil..

Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

Serve on its own or for a more substantial meal, over quinoa or brown rice.

Enjoy! :)