tasty Archives - Cyntra in the City

Recipes

Avocado and Pomegranate Tabbouleh | Recipes

Avocado and Pomegranate Tabbouleh

It’s Sunday and you’re planning your lunches for the week ahead!

The buzz words in your head are CLEAN LEAN PROTEIN GOOD FATS LOW CARB VEGAN

and then your mind goes blank…

Well here is a perfect little dish that you can make ahead of time and will last up to 3 days in the fridge! It is easily transported in Tupperware and just tastes better and better…

Ingredients:

80g quinoa – read packet instructions on how to make nice and fluffy.

6 tomatoes, diced into small chunks

1/2 cucumber

5 large handfuls of roughly chopped fresh, flat-leaf parsley

1 handful of chopped fresh mint

1 large ripe Hass avocado

2 tablespoons of toasted flaked almonds

Pomegranate seeds (you can buy these at most supermarkets pre-seeded if you need) If you can’t find pomegranates sultanas can be used as a substitute

2 large handfuls of leaves such as watercress, spinach and rocket

Dressing

6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 grated garlic clove

2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons of good quality honey

Sea salt and Black Pepper

Method

Drain and rinse the quinoa well – make sure there are no bubbly bits in the water as these are the natural saponins which are not good for digestion. Cook according to packet instructions, usually 15 minutes, then drain and set aside to cool. Run a fork through it to lightly fluff up the quinoa

Put all the ingredients for the dressing in a jam jar (if you have one) and shake or grab a glass and whisk with a fork

Chop the tomatoes and cucumber – remove the seeded bit of the cucumber as this can make the salad go quite wet. If you cut the cucumber in half then half again lengthways – grab a spoon and run it down from top to bottom you will find the seeds will pull out quite easily.

Combine the warm quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber and herbs with the dressing.

At this point, if you wish to save for lunches this week – leave to cool till cold. Then seal in Tupperware and keep in the fridge (see more info below)

Make a gorgeous bed of salad, place the tabbouleh on top, and add chopped avocado and pomegranate

Dry fry the flaked almonds few minutes on a medium heat until toasted and scatter over the tabbouleh.

Serve warm or cold

Transport

Keep the tabbouleh in the fridge

On the day of lunch: chop the avocado and place in a container with a squeeze of lemon/lime on top (this will stop from going brown) and place pomegranate.

Grab some toasted almonds (you can buy them pre-toasted) and sprinkle on top – just before eating for extra crunch

Place salad leaves on top in order to keep them fresh

Nutrition

Quinoa is full of protein

Avocado is a great healthy fat

and the rest is made up of beautiful skin nourishing herbs, fruit and veggies

Delicious, Nutritious and Perfect for anyone on the run!

For More Stress-Free Nourishing Recipes Click Here: Nourish

Recipes

Rosewater and Orange Gin & Tonic | Recipes

Rosewater and Orange Gin & Tonic

After a long and stressful week there is nothing better than coming home, meeting with some friends and letting the week unwind over a tasty G&T.

Gone are the days when a standard G&T was the go-to – now we are surrounded with opportunities to really spice up a simple classic.

Zesty, floral and autumnal twist on an old classic – I have been working on the perfect serve creating Rosewater and Orange Gin & Tonic Cocktail using Bombay Saffire gin to share with you all.

This cocktail was inspired by the change in season, this is the perfect way to unwind after a long week.

With delicate floral notes, blended with the citrus of orange and mixed with the soft botanical’s of the gin, it has a romantic and elegant touch – perfect for any occasion.

Recipe

Add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small pot and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Let it cool and add in 1 teaspoon rose water extract.
Chill the syrup in the fridge to allow to cool.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour in the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake for more than 20 seconds so the ice can melt and dilute the ingredients.
Using a knife carefully, gently spiral the peel of a fresh orange to get that beautiful orange zest.
Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with the orange twist and rose petals.

Pour in the tonic water, then the gin, then the rosewater, and top off with a bit more ice.

Perfectly made and simply enjoyed!

This post was a sponsored post with Bombay Saffire but the thoughts and recipes are my own and would only share with you if I enjoyed myself

Recipes

Breakfast: Healthy on the Go

Travelling for work can sometimes be tricky while trying to follow your lifestyle rules. I don’t know about you but a lot of breakfast places I go to is the usual death by carbs or rush by sugar.

Many of us do our best to lead a healthy lifestyle but succumb to the poor choices available in most commuter stations.

I have been doing a bit of research and about the most important meal of the day and have tracked down my favourite healthy breakfasts on the go from some well-known chains.

I have given a Lean Option and a Good carbs alternative.

ITSU:

Yes, you read this right – our favourite sushi chain! Well ITSU has now brought out a breakfast range that is full of delicious and healthy breakfasts.

You can choose from Supreme Superseded: a delicious and hearty bowl of seedy jumbo oats sweetened with agave to the lean options of Fit Eggs: Poached eggs in miso soup with tofu and spinach. This one is low carb and great for those who are on a low carb on training day.

These can all be found in many train stations throughout the UK. Pair with a big bottle of water and an americano and that right there is the perfect start to the day.

PRET:

Pret is a great stop for brekkie – once you see past all the carb-loaded sandwiches, baguette and every other white based wheat loaded item on their shelves.
They have a 5 -Grain Porridge which is vegan and gluten-free. This means for those of you who dairy intolerant or wheat intolerant you can enjoy this with no risks.

Apart from that it gets a bit more difficult for a standard breakfast with Pret as most of their products come in a brioche or croissant but you can pull together a lean option by grabbing an Egg and Spinach pot and one of their fruit pots.

Pair this with a green juice and an Americano. Breakfast of champions.

VIRGIN TRAINS:

The fastest train! On here they do have some good gluten-free options – if you ask.

Travelling First Class: Ask for gluten-free alternatives when they take your order – if you do not ask you will not get

Travelling standard: There are gluten-free packs available in the shop on board.

There is also a hummus and crudite option and occasionally fruit. It is nothing special but if you are in a rush and do not have the time it is available. They also have soy milk too for dairy-free alternatives.

Vega Protein:

If I am getting up really early in the morning for a long trip I will quite often bring a protein shake with me. The delicious Vega Essentials Proteins from Vega can be mixed with water on the go and is so tasty and delicious snack that keeps you fuller for longer.

It’s tasty and completely Organic and Clean. This company really makes sure they go beyond to make sure that everything in their Proteins is Organic, Natural and Delicious.

Check them out online or Instagram for more info.

Travelling

for work shouldn’t have to make poor food choices and see the pounds creep on. Careful planning and a little extra time to research you can maintain all your goals without having to spend much money or be unsatisfied.

What are your favourite places to grab brekkie on the go! Share with me as I would like to check it out.

Want more stress-free lifestyle tips? Click here: Balance

Balance/ Recipes

Mocha Choca Protein Oats

This delicious combination of Chirpy Choca Mocha Protein, oats, dark chocolate and blueberries is the perfect post-workout treat when you are feeling a little indulgent.

When you have a tough session in the gym you need to reward your muscles.

Protein is important to support muscle growth. This means turning your bottoms into beautiful pert round muscle and keeping your abs strong.

Carbohydrates post workout take energy to your recovering muscles and boosts your glycogen levels to give you energy. Chocolate – well chocolate is wonderful in its own right – but it also boosts serotonin levels. Blueberries, as we all know, are a Superfood so the perfect addition to this wonderful treat.

Ingredients:

2 scoops of That Protein Chirpy Chirpy Choca Mocha Protein Powder

1 cup of Oats

Couple of cubes of Dark Chocolate

1.5 cups of Coconut/ Almond / Alternative Milk

0.5 cups of Water

A handful of Blueberries

Method:

Place protein, oats and milk in a pan and bring to a simmer

When the mixture is fully mixed together add the cubes of dark chocolate

When the mixture has simmered and starts to look like delicious porridge take off the heat and add to a bowl

Top with Blueberries

Delicious and nutritious this perfect little pot of goodness is a sure fire way to leave your stomach feeling happy and your body feeling nourished.

For More Stress-Free Nourishing Recipes Click Here: Nourish

Recipes

Peanut Butter Cups

Another little stress-free treat from me to you. This delicious recipe was inspired by the incredible Joe Wicks from The Body Coach.

Its the perfect weekend indulgence that is full of protein and great after a hard slog in the gym.

Really simple to make and incredibly tasty.

Ingredients:

Dates
Mixed Nuts
Protein Powder (I used That Protein)
Cacao Powder
Coconut Oil
Natural Peanut Butter
90% Dark Chocolate

Method:

Blitz all the ingredients except the peanut butter and chocolate in a food processor.

Heat your oven to 150c

Grab a cupcake tin and grease the bottoms

Spoon a nice dollop of all the mixture into each cup

Then add a nice layer of Peanut Butter

Place in oven for 10 minutes – then remove from oven

Melt the dark chocolate and drizzle over the top

Voila – delicious and nutritious

These Little Cups are Perfect to Take to Work!

If you store in an air-tight container in a cool dry place these should last a few days. Take them to work in Tupperware and enjoy a little treat when you need.

For More Stress-Free Nourishing Recipes Click Here: Nourish

Recipes

Pumpkin and Chia Seed Protein Porridge

Let me introduce That Protein

Natural and organic, cold pressed and pure. Never processed by heat over 40 degrees.

Dairy free, no added sugars, non-GMO, no sweeteners, free from anything artificial – this is the range you have been waiting for! Developed by nutritionists with a true passion for plants and how to get the best from them to help you look and feel your amazing best!

Its perfect to combine into your daily life to hit those protein goals to build lean muscle, have luscious hair and keep yourself fuller for longer!

I literally could not have been more excited when my pouch came through the letterbox. Pumpkin seed and chia protein powder tick…

To have vegan, organic and supernatural protein powder is always the best option.

My brain started racing and the internal recipe maker switched on… what can I create to make this powder pop!

The below recipe is gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian…(sounds like dust!)… seriously it is beyond tasty!

Pumpkin and Chia Seed Protein Porridge

Ingredients:

That Protein I heart Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder: 1 scoop

Sprouted Oats: 1 Cup

Coconut Milk: 3/4 Cup

Water: 1/4 Cup

Toppings of your choice

Method:

Put all the contents (except the toppings) in a pan and put on low heat

Gently stir until consistency is how you like your porridge

Serve and add your toppings… I went for blueberries and honey – simple and delicious.

If you don’t have time to eat this before work – package up in some Tupperware and take with you to work.

Splash a bit of water on the top and microwave at work

For More Stress-Free Recipes Click Here: Nourish

Explore

Made of Dough: Pop Up to Peckham

Sexy B*tches Eat Pizza

Peckham’s Bellenden Road has opened its doors to a brand new pizza joint, Made of Dough. Originating from Pop Brixton, Made of Dough, have gone from strength to strength and have climbed up to claim the title of London Pizza Champions! With slick branding and sexy slogan – these boys are tantalising the taste buds of South Londoners one slice at a time.

Their Neopolitan-style pizzas are made with dough that is fermented over sixty hours, topped with carefully sourced produce and local meats from the local butcher, Flock and Herd. Carefully curated and deliciously made – this should definitely feature on your summer hit list.

Made of Dough: Highlights from the Menu

The doors were opened last weekend and the word about the popular pizza place is spreading fast. There may be a small queue when you arrive, but you will be seated in no time, with one of their sumptuous cocktails in hand.

The menu invites you in, with small bites, sides and dips (which are a must). The Scotch Bonnet Romesco packs a punch for those who like the spice of life, while the basil aioli is perfect for dipping the leftover crusts.

But let’s face it, we are not here to talk about dips… what we knead (gettit) to know is about the Pizza!

With over 6 to choose from… here are my personal faves!

Truffle

Delicious! Hands down my fav. The Burrata is decadently creamy and melts in the mouth with its freshness. The mushrooms are flavoursome but not overpowering and marry together perfectly with the truffle oil. This is a great alternative for those who fancy a change from a traditional tomato base.

Margarita

Simple – just like a pizza should be. But do not mistake its simplicity for lack of flavour. The San Marzano tomatoes intertwined with the Fior di latte is mouth watering. A light drizzle of olive oil and the finish of basil – for traditionalists – this one is for you.

Serrano

The fresh wild rocket is a colourful pop to the eyes while the succulent serrano ham delivers with flavour. Not overpowering like some cured meat pizzas can be – this pizza was a crowd pleaser.

Sweet Tooth

Not usually a fan of a dessert, my bae Donna, dragged me straight towards the sweets, to indulge in the Motherf*cking Peanut Butter Shake. Note – the founders are not foul mouthed young men but this decadent dessert carved its name from its main ingredient: Jackpot Motherf*cking Peanut Butter.

And its motherf**cking good!

Atmosphere

Think dining alfresco with a hint of Soho House and a side order of chill – this is the perfect spot for friends, family or date night.

The cocktails are a must – these boys really know their stuff – with Amalfi inspired bellinis, fruity twists on Espresso Martinis and a classic favourite Aperol Spritz.

If you like your wine see if one of the founders, Ed, is in the joint – he will be able to talk you through their wine list with expertise. If you like your red – try the Chaval.

Final Thoughts

All in all – a 10/10 experience to be enjoyed by all. If you happen to be nearby at lunchtime, you can get a margarita special for just £5! Also, every Monday is half price on all bottles – #winner.

Note: If you’re gluten free – there are plenty of sides to choose from however there is no option available currently.

Balance/ Recipes

Guide to Wedding Guest Season

Wedding Season has begun.

Our diaries are populated throughout the spring/ summer with engagement parties, hen doo’s and weddings.

The first things that comes to mind when I get the invite is What to Wear and Wedding Gift.

This can be quite stressful – especially if you have more than one wedding and it’s the same group of friends.

This is my little guide to staying on it this season and without blowing the budget.

The Outfit

This is always hard for me because – guess what – it’s not ok to wear black to a wedding.

An occasion dress is like no other dress. It’s not partywear it’s not workwear. Its finding that graceful balance between the two.

My suggestion is to keep it simple and accessorize.
This means you can wear the same dress to a couple of weddings and mix up the shoes, bag and fascinator.

Monsoon is fantastic for jackets, fascinators and accessories to change the look of a dress.

Beautiful and really effective in dressing up a simple dress.

You have to make sure you are comfortable as Weddings are a long and often move from Church to Reception to Dancing – so plan ahead with those shoes.

My go -to’s for Weddings are: New Look and Louboutin ( I know a bit of a difference but they really make the comfiest shoes)

Dresses: House of Fraser, Monsoon, ASOS, Reiss.

The Alternative Outfit

Now this is another great trick using the best network you have: Your Friends.

Team together with your best friends. If you have similar styles and shapes to your friends – then reach out – share! Everyone looks different in a dress so if your summer is choca block with Weddings and you’re saving for other occasions – then bring your network together use your resources!

Stylish and Saving money = win/win

Wedding Gifts

This is a tricky area. Most couples these days have already set up their homes so wedding lists are often to guide those who want to get them a gift but not end up with duplicates.

Again these can often be costly.

If you’re not sure what to buy the newlyweds: sometimes the token of a little bit of money in a card would be greatly appreciated to put toward the honeymoon or their new life together. Weddings are expensive and honeymoons too. Every little helps.

DIY Wedding Gifts

These are the cute touches you can do for someone special if you want to give a personal touch. Something homemade something original.

A close family relative is getting married this weekend and has strictly said no gifts. But I am bending the rules a little bit.

I have made her Wedding Breakfast Granola

Ingredients:

Coconut Oil: 1tbsp
Oats: 400g
Coconut Milk: 200ml
Honey: 1tbsp
Cinnamon: Sprinkle across
Dried Fruit: Handful
Flaked Coconut: Handful
Edible Gold Dust

Method:

Preheat your oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

Melt the coconut oil, either in a small pan on a low heat or in the microwave. Combine the oats, rice milk, coconut oil and honey in a bowl and mix together using your hands. You want to create little chunks and the mixture will naturally stick together.

Spread the oat mixture evenly in the lined baking tray and bake in the heated oven for 20 minutes.

Spread the pecans on another baking tray and put into the oven to toast with the oat mixture for the last 10 minutes of the cooking time.

Remove the oats and pecans from the oven and leave to cool. Once cold, mix them together and add the cinnamon, fruit and flaked coconut.

Once the mixture is cooled – sprinkle edible gold dust all over the granola for that extra special touch.

Get a cute Kilner Jar and a nice label and you have a personal touch present that the happy couple can enjoy in together in their new lives together.

Balance/ Recipes

Q&A with Pollen + Grace

Making lunches can be so difficult when you are trying to eat healthy. Sometimes you open your lunch box and you have a bit of kale and quinoa looking up at you and you start to feel slightly depressed…

Well let me introduce you to Pollen + Grace this beautiful little company that serves gluten free, dairy free and free from refined sugar beautiful lunches to keep our stomachs happy and full of flavour.

I wanted to find out more about this wonderful company so I met with Steph the founder to have a Q&A

1) How was Pollen + Grace born – where did the idea come from?

Pollen + Grace came foremost from a love and passion for cooking healthy, delicious food but secondly from the frustration of never being able to find a healthy, free from lunch option when working in London and having to prepare lunch each night.

2) What makes you passionate about Pollen + Grace, did you start by eating that way and became a passion…?

Pollen + Grace was such a huge risk to take, but it was something I(Steph) had to do as I felt it was what I was meant to do. I started eating this way due to gluten and dairy intolerances, then learnt how exciting it was to make delicious options that actually made you feel good.

3) Who was your first customer?

Our first customer was the brand events office, but our first customer who found us without being a friend was Amanda Cauldwell – she would order 3 lunches a day from us, one for her lunch then two for dinner (one for her and one for her daughter)!

4) Where was your first pop up?

The Old Street pop up has actually been our first, but we definitely plan on doing more now!

5) Where are you based – how big is your team?

Our kitchen/office is based in clapham junction and we have a full time team of 6 now – 3 office and 3 kitchen!

6) What is your favourite product?

This one’s easy, definitely our paleo banana bread, it’s delicious!

7) If you could give people one piece of health advice – what would it be?

Focus on eating delicious wholesome food that makes you feel great, but learn that it’s also about balance – if you want the ice cream, eat the ice cream!

If you have a bit of time at lunchtime and you are near Old Street Station you must pop on down and meet the lovely Steph and try out her delicious food.

If not check out their beautiful website over at Pollen + Grace

Recipes

Neat Protein: Tasty, Vegan, Delicious and Nutritious

January 2016 has landed and the recurring conversation I am hearing around the office is which Health Plan people are joining. From Joe Wicks The Body Coach, Clean and Lean, That Sugar Diet to a whole host of plans that are swimming about there – people are really pulling their socks up to knock off that winter bulge.

However, when reading through the plans I hear people shriek!

THEY WANT ME TO ADD PROTEIN SHAKES!

Many of the plans contain protein shakes!

“Hang on a second isn’t that the stuff that body builders drink to make you bulky!”

No ladies it is not. Protein shakes help support you in enabling your body to build lean muscle when doing exercise and following a high protein diet plan.

Lean muscle is what makes you less wobbly and helps you work toward a bikini body with less jiggle and more wiggle.

Genetically we are not built to be body builders..so do not fret adding a protein shake to your diet will not end up with you waking up like Arnie!

So back to the protein shakes. The market is saturated with protein shakes that are FULL OF CRAP! Excuse my language but some contain all sorts of chemicals, sugars, artificial god knows what and taste like a chemical s**t storm.

I usually like to stay close to the Vegan Proteins as I find they are easier on the stomach and not full of animal whey (milk basically) so if you are trying to cut out dairy are better for you.

Let me introduce: Neat Nutrition Whey Protein

This little taster packet was delivered in my gorgeous Fitty London Blake Box

I had been to the gym after dinner and had a little itch for something before hitting the bed to keep my muscles going so I thought “why not”.

I AM NOT KIDDING YOU WHEN I TELL YOU THIS TASTED LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A MCFLURRY AND DAIRY QUEEN FOR 130KCAL!

My Protein Shake Recipe

I had the Vanilla flavour (always my favourite as you can mix it with anything and the flavour suits) and I opened the sachet and emptied into my blender .

I added 250ml of Alpro Coconut Milk (20kcal per 100ml)

Then a massive hand full of ice

Finally a tsp of Vanilla Essence

and BLITZED!

It made two portions which I shared with my Boyfriend and we were gobsmacked how good it tasted. So gobsmacked I think I whatsapp’d my friends the world over to share the news!

So if you are starting on a health plan this January and need to add some extra protein I would really recommend trying out this brand.

If you are worried about not liking it and spending £34 – why not try one of the FittyLDN boxes so you can receive a variety of other health goods and try out the protein?

Please comment below if you try this! I want to hear what you think and also share any recipes!

START THIS 2016 AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON: STRONG, LEAN AND FULL OF PROTEIN!

This post is in collaboration with fittyldn but all opinions and recipes are my own.

Recipes

Post Christmas Alkalising Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

Spinach
Broccoli
Celery
Ginger
Lettuce
Banana
Lemon
Parsley
Mint

Method:

Blitz – Drink

Reset and re-alkalise after the festivities of Christmas Day. This smoothie will aid with digestion, help the hangover, tastes the delicious and start your day in an alkaline way.

Enjoy x

Explore/ Recipes

Blue Brick Cafe, Dulwich

Have you heard of Blue Brick Cafe? No? Well, that’s ok cus’ neither had I!

Well, that was until I went for a beautiful Autumn Stroll with one of my favourite ladies, Claire.

She and I often take to the parks of London on the weekend to meander and discover as we go. This weekend after a beautiful Sober October Stretch at HotPodYoga we ventured out of Lambeth via Brockwell Park to go and explore the neighbouring Boroughs.

We found ourselves hungry and in search of food on Lordship Lane in Southwark. The quaint little street is littered with shops that are perfect for browsing – I would highly recommend for a stroll on the weekend.

Anyway back to the hunger…

We started making our choices when we saw a little blue sign with had an arrow… Blue Brick Cafe it then stated it sold Vegetarian food – which was what we were looking for. We took the risk and decided if it looked rubbish we would carry on… Thank Goodness we did!

We poked our head into this cute little cafe. The design was like a garden picnic with a mismatch of wooden furniture which added great character.

The staff were welcoming and warming as they advised us through the menu.

In true style, neither of us could come to a decision so we decided to get two things and share.

We opted for the Halloumi Salad with fennel, apple and salad

Followed by the Tomato and Ginger Vegetable Curry

Both were beautifully presented with edible flowers. The Halloumi Salad dressing was divine! The curry was perfect.

The grand total of the bill was less than £14 – winner

The ethos and character of this bistro really attracted me…

If you are looking for a winter warmer, in a beautiful cafe that is full of charm I would highly recommend visiting.

14 Fellbrigg Road
SE22 9HH, Dulwich

tel. 02082998670
mob. 07903522282

For More Top Brunch Spots in London Click Here: Brunch

Explore/ Recipes

Travel With Work: Healthy in Manchester

I travel a lot out of passion and for work. When I travel with work it means I stay in hotels and it can be very easy to eat out a lot and unhealthily. I am hoping to put together a guide to the places I stay and the gems I find to help those keep healthy in the places I stay.

I am also going to apply this to holiday hot spots – as its nice to find perfect little gems to fit in-between the cocktails and the tanning

Healthy in… Manchester

Food

Let’s begin with some food. I found this wonderful place for breakfast – lunch called…

55 Thomas Street,
Manchester, M4 1NA.
0161 832 3233

As I wandered through the Northern Quarter in the hunt for something that wasn’t in a burrito, burger, or dripping in some all American sauce, I stumbled across the Teacup Kitchen. I had a look inside and was taken by their advertisement of Healthy and Hearty lunches. I chatted with the host and asked him what the Soup of the Day was… (my eyes glanced to their pledge to get the best ingredients and sourced from the best places)

To my delight, he said “Celeriac with Truffle Oil”

Sold!

I was seated in this beautiful little restaurant that was informal and casual and had a buzz. I also ordered from their list of juices (tick) and went for the booster.

All in all, they have a delightful selection of healthy and not so healthy therefore if you are with guests or colleagues who give you a bashing for being “too healthy” then you can bring them here and they can shovel away the sugar while you peruse the goods.

Unit 2, Brazennose House East, Brazennose Street, Manchester M2 5BP

I was lucky enough to stumble on Shlurp a soup bar that makes everything fresh, all locally sourced and in season. They have options from Value to Skinny, Veggie to Meat. There is an offer of soup and a salad which is perfect to cover the nice comfort of the warmth and my snack later in the afternoon. Their ethos is incredible and they really care about the contents of their food. They let you know the Fat, Salt and Wheat and all other factors which concern those who look after their health.

Workout

Getting a workout when you are away from home is hard. You can though tactically book a hotel with a gym.

Here are some of the Central Manchester Hotels with Gyms

Doubletree Hilton

Radisson Blu

Britannia Sachas Hotel

Malmaison

Be savvy when you book accommodation as it will be your home and make sure you get all you need.

Eating Out

Manchester has a plethora of great restaurants. There are the more hipster ones in the Northern Quarter but those are usually the not so good for your waistline ones.

My favourite has to be…

I walked through the Northern Quarter and up to Oldham Road where I discovered this small little family run restaurant.

The insides were humble and I was greeted by a small but welcoming host who asked how she could help.

The restaurant prides itself on being a family run establishment providing the healthiest and freshest home cooked Vietnamese food to the heart of Manchester

I read through the menu checking out all the delicious offerings from Vietnamese Salads to the traditional Pho

I settled on Prawn Summer Rolls and Chicken Pho.

Phở, (pronounced fuh) is one of the healthiest and most delicious Vietnamese dishes eaten every day by the Vietnamese for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Pho is a fresh, nutritious & tasty broth-based noodle soup. The dish is served with a side plate of fresh herbs, sliced-up chillies and lime wedges. The best part is that you can customize your Pho to what you desire to suit your taste.

My Summer Rolls arrived – so fresh and low in calorie.

The Pho arrived and it looked and smelt beautiful

I added my fresh veg and some added chilli to give it a kick. Chillies despite their infamous reputation of adding heat to a meal – have a plethora of health benefits from lowering LDL, high in vitamin C, A and B and high in a number of minerals

I left Saigon Lotus with a belly full of goodness and a smile on my face. I would definitely recommend for dining on your own, with a partner or out with friends.

tip: When eating out stick to Asian food or simple protein and veg combos for a healthy alternative when it’s not your choice of the venue

So I hope you like it – and find it informative. Please comment below and let me know of any healthy finds you have in Manchester. Always on the hunt and word of mouth is always better!