Recipes

Coconut Tofu Curry With Courgetti | Recipes

Delicious, Nutritious, Low Calorie, and Full of Good Fats and Protein!

Coconut Tofu Curry

This meal is perfect to throw together when you get in from work! Its really easy and takes no time at all. There are little shortcuts which make this recipe perfect to make your family, friends or housemates without breaking the budget! Its completely clean, gluten free, dairy free and sugar-free – so you are ticking all the healthy eating boxes with only a handful of ingredients!

Difficulty: Medium

Lasts: 1 day

Travels: In Tupperware

Storage: Fridge

Ingredients:

Courgette – 1 spiralized (to make this easier you can buy prepared from Courgette Spaghetti from Tesco)
Tofu – 1 Pack
Sugar Snap Peas – Few handfuls
Peppers – 1 red
Onion – 1 white
Garlic – 1-2
Coconut Milk – 1 400g can
Chilli – 1 red
Ginger – 1 knob
Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
Lime – 1 lime

Method:

#1 Heat a wok to a medium heat and add your tbsp of coconut oil

#2 Chop Tofu into small squares and shallow fry in the coconut oil until slightly crispy. Remove from wok and place in a bowl on the side. (try not to pick 😉 )

#3 Chop up your onion, pepper and garlic into small chunks and put in the wok. Simmer these on a low heat for a few minutes.

#4 Add can of coconut milk and turn the heat up to a medium. Chop the chilli an garlic into small pieces and add to the wok.

#5 Grab the courgette spaghetti. Heat a frying pan to a high heat with a little drop of coconut oil and pan fry the Courgetti for about 2 minutes.

#6 When the mixture is simmering nicely – taste – if you have a well-rounded taste with hints of garlic, chilli and ginger – add your sugar snap peas.

#7 Once the sugar snap peas are looking cooked (they should still snap but not be raw) add the tofu and season with a squeeze of lime.

Dish out into a bowl and enjoy this little spicy healthy treat to warm your belly

Let me know if you try this recipe! @cyntra.in.the.city on Instagram or share with me on facebook! I love getting your feedback!

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5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Stress-Free Lifestyle Tips

You’re sat at your desk and all of a sudden your inbox is full to the brim, that colleague of yours is constantly asking questions, your boss is putting pressure on you… not to mention all the washing, chores and other odds and sods waiting for you at home.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

You thought this week would be the week you start eating healthy and ditching the crap. You’ve realised you skipped breakfast for the caramel latte and all of a sudden its 11 am and you’re stressed, hungry and about 10 seconds from hitting the vending machine!

STOP!

Here are some top tips of how to stop emotional and mindless eating at work.

Say “No” and Supply Alternative

Stop yourself.

Pause and say to yourself – will this sugary sensation help?

Will it get me closer to getting my jeans to feel comfortable?

Will it make my day less stressful?

Saying no means sometimes eating what you know will make you happy later on even when you really want chocolate cake now.

Fill your bag and desk full of healthy alternatives. Pull out those carrot sticks and homemade hummus.

Go and get a glass of water or make a cup of tea. Get up and go for a walk. Distract that pang and focus on what will truly make you happy.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Chocolate Won’t Make Stress Go Away

The sweet sensation of sucking on a piece of chocolate may make you have a few minutes of taste but this will be followed by a sugar rush.

You will have a brief period of increased energy followed by a severe low.

You may even go through the guilt cycle of “I shouldn’t have had that” “I was supposed to have a healthy week” etc etc.

Sugar is never the answer to a stressful situation – in fact, it can make it a thousand times worse.

Find out what is triggering your stress at that moment. Pause. Take 5 minutes to deal with it. Acknowledge the want for the chocolate and then let it go.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Don’t want to eat like a rabbit? Then don’t!

Unless you love salad, in which case, crack on, however, if you’re like the majority of the human race, we associate eating lettuce leaves with “being on a diet” and that automatically makes you feel restricted.

Instead, fill your lunchbox with some delicious whole food recipes. Try new things. Find out what you like and try out something off the wall. Get some new recipe books in and have a research.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Love Your Body Its The Only One You’ve Got

Right now is your prime! This second is the youngest you will remember.

You will look back at photos and look at this time and wish you still had that youth. When mindlessly eating or feeling stressed out and grazing… think about the future.

You are what you eat and you will want your body to be full of the most nourishing foods out there.

Think skin: avocados

Think hair: coconut

Think body: lean protein and these triggers will guide you

Think Cellulite… yes vending machine I am looking at you!

Get Support From Your Friends

Making the right choices can sometimes be hard if people around you are not making the same choices. Share with a friend.

Make yourself accountable to someone at work… someone who can stop you mindlessly reaching for the 3 pm biscuit tin, or when you’re out for coffee saying the no-way to the Hazelnut Latte!

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

For More Stress-Free Lifestyle Tips Click Here: Balance

Recipes

Anti-Inflammatory Vegetable Coconut Curry

Anti-Inflammatory

You may have heard the word Anti-Inflammatory thrown about. It usually comes in the same sentence of alkaline and alkalise but not really know what it means?

Do not worry you are not alone. However, if it is one new word you can put into your mind this month I would highly recommend

When we talk about inflammation and the body we are talking about: joint pain, chronic fatigue, acne, digestive issues or any amount of pain in the body.

Inflammation is one of the largest root causes of disease today. Diabetes, heart disease and other major health problems all stem back to inflammation in some way or another. When the body is out of balance, the pH levels of the blood are affected. This not only disturbs the body’s natural processes but also makes you feel pretty horrible in the meantime.

Many people are even suffering inflammation and possibly don’t even realize it.

What can you do to minimise Inflammation?

Well, first things first an alkaline diet helps with inflammation.

Filling your body with:

Ginger
Garlic
Turmeric
Broccoli
Avocado
Salmon
Walnuts
Almonds
and of course lots and lots of greens!

The main culprits that cause inflammation are the usual CRAP

C – Caffeine
R – Refined Sugar
A – Alcohol
P – Processed Food

So if you cut down on these and boost on the others your body will start to feel refreshed and vibrant.

Anti-Inflammatory Coconut Curry

Here is a little recipe I make when I am feeling a little inflamed to put my body back in check.

I cook this up, package it up and take it to the office with me to keep my body de-stressed even if it’s stressful at work!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2cm root ginger, peeled and grated
3 tablespoons curry powder
4 teaspoon turmeric
1 fresh chilli, seeded and sliced
500g butternut squash, diced
400g tin chopped tomatoes
5 tablespoons coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method
Prep: 15min Cook: 30 mins Store: in fridge or freeze

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, turmeric and chilli for about 2 minutes.

Add in squash and allow to brown slightly.

Stir in tomatoes and coconut milk.

Simmer gently for 20 minutes until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For extra leafy goodness – add some spinach at the end when cooling.

The Turmeric which I use for this recipe is Wunder Workshop Organic Golden Turmeric Powder.

A Notting Hill based food brand focussing on health promotion & disease prevention.

Set up by Tom & Zoe, WUNDERWORKSHOP is inspired by Ayurveda – the Science of Life, whose principles are based upon a preventive approach to health. WUNDERWORKSHOP uses functional ingredients to maximize life‘s potential, enabling you to live better, work harder and to be stronger (for longer!).

What are you waiting for! Tackle Inflammation head on!

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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.

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Balance/ Recipes

Healthy Homemade Hummus

Stress-Free Homemade Healthy Hummus

Delicious and stress-free healthy hummus recipes. These easy recipes are great go-to for lunches, snacks, dinner parties or just to have in the fridge when hunger strikes.

Beetroot Hummus

1can of chickpeas
4 beetroots – cooked and peeled
2 cloves of garlic
a squeeze of lemon
olive oil
1 tablespoon of 0% Fage yoghurt
cumin
salt and pepper

Put all in a pot and blend. Season to taste

Caramelised Red Onion hummus

1 can chickpeas
2 cloves of garlic
a squeeze of lemon
olive oil
1 red onion
Paprika, salt and pepper
Tahini
Water

Caramelise the onions in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Leave to reduce and simmer down. Blend all other ingredients together – season to taste.

Place in fridge to cool and when onions have cooled – add onions and leave to cool again.

For More Stress-Free Recipes for healthy snacks:

Recipes

Review: Press London Juice Cleanse

Every now and again life can come a little unbalanced.

Late nights, too much coffee, client lunches and general burning the candle at both ends can often leave your body like it needs a reboot.

Following the Christmas Festivities, I was starting to feel a little unbalanced and therefore decided to try a juice cleanse to feel more alkalised.

I decided to do Press London 3 day Juice Cleanse and diary the ups and downs for y’all so you know what to expect before you begin!

Continue reading my detox diary…

Before you start:

Read the booklet about the Juice Cleanse
Come off coffee and other stimulants
Eat lightly – try to have no big heavy meals
Plan your week to avoid dinners out
Plan your work week to avoid breakfast/ lunch meetings
Practise yoga – no heavy exertion

Day One

The juices arrived in a cooler box ready to go! I would recommend getting the delivery when you’re at home or somewhere you can immediately store the juices to keep them fresh.

Clearly labelled with the order that you need to take the juices – it could not be easier to start!

There is a guide sent to you to get you prepared prior to the cleanse – I would highly recommend sticking to this as it really does help you set up ahead of the cleanse.

Pros

Enough juices that you do not feel hungry
Lots of flavour variation and incredible flavours to enjoy
Beautifully packaged and the colours are incredible

Cons

You need to forget about meal times which can be hard especially if you work in an office where there is lots of food around. Try and keep yourself distracted and go for a walk when you know there may be temptation
You feel cold – it’s an odd sensation but I felt really chilly
ATTENTION: Read the booklet prior to starting day one. Otherwise, the coffee withdrawal catches you out!

Day Two

Day two began and it felt calmer knowing what to expect. You know what the juices taste like and you can start to plan when best to have the different juices and mylks to suit your day.

Pros

You will start to feel less bloated
Leaves more time to focus on other things
A natural sense of feeling lighter
You feel sleepier in the evenings

Cons

Caffeine – this part really sucks – the caffeine withdrawal is bad and this is why I cannot stress enough to wean yourself off prior to the cleanse
Saying no to friends and events
No gymming

Day Three

By day three you will be really in the swing of things. Your stomach would have shrunk and the benefits of no bloating will be noticeable to you.

There is a sense of pride as well knowing you have stuck to the challenge.

This is the day I would say it would be wise to look at the post cleanse instructions which give you advice on how to re-introduce foods back into your diet to help maintain your new alkalised state.

Pros

No hunger pangs – your body really gets used to it quickly
There is a sense of achievement which makes you feel great about sticking to something

Cons

None by day three – you really do feel like you’re winning!

Top Tricks

Also discovering incredible ways to ‘juice’ up the cleanse…

Top tricks:

if you have a Nespresso milk frother or hand held gizmo… set it on the cold milk and froth up your nut mylks! Oh my game change
Add ice to the juices
Add some accessories… a little cocktail umbrella… why not!
If you can get to a sauna and steam – do it! Help cleanse yourself from the inside out – you will be positively glowing

Reflection

Also, there will be people who want to sabotage you… the people who make comments…

‘Oh you’re not eating’

‘Oh go on it’s only vodka’

‘Life is for living’

And all that jazz

Just remember you’re doing this for you. To reset. To re-alkalise. To re energise. Quite frankly what you do has nothing to do with anybody so keep calm and stay positive.

Juice Cleanse

This part is almost as important that sticking to it

Go veggie to start: light soups, salads and keep it easy. Your tummy has been hibernating to don’t scare it back into action

this is your time to start with new lifestyle changes – so maybe lay off sugars, alcohol, creams and fried food
Enjoy that post cleanse glow
Treat yourself / you’ve earnt it

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

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Recipes

Easy Cream of Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus is a treasure trove of vitamin k, which your body needs to bolster bone strength and regulate blood clotting. The carotenoids found in asparagus make for its pretty green hue and double as anti-inflammatory compounds. Asparagus can also claim high levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that guards against cell damage from intense exercise and everyday living.

To make this delicious and nutritious soup you will need:

Half an onion
Bunch of Asparagus
Pint of Vegetable Stock

This Asparagus Soup recipe is healthful and low calorie but filling all at the same time.

First, chop the onion and sizzle till soft.
Grill the asparagus to with a little salt a pepper to bring out that beautiful flavour.
When soft and slightly charred chop and add to onion
Add Stock, bring to boil, then simmer until all is tender
Whizz

There is no cream added as the asparagus soup does this all by itself

PER SERVING

• Calories: 74

• Protein: 6g

• Carbs: 7g

• Fat: 3g

• Fiber: 3g

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Balance/ Recipes

Pip The Queen of the Nut Butters | Selfridges

Pip and Nut

Peanut Butter

For many years Peanut Butter has been one of those condiments that came out at breakfast. Usually a weird camel colour and an ingredient list that went on for miles. Used predominantly on toast – it was just another kitchen cupboard lurker in between the marmalade and jam.

Then came the PB and Jelly phase – many of which us Brits found confusing until we realised that Jelly was Jam – something that the more adventurous people would go to this side of the Atlantic!

Roll on to 2017, Nut butter is now becoming a superfood! Smear it on celery, dip in your apples or enjoy a dollop on a spoon – the ideas have been growing each year for more innovative ways to use these nuts.

Nut butter used to have a bad rep – loaded with chemicals and palm oil – until Pip Murray entered the scene!

The Nut Butter Cook Book

Pip Murray and Pip and Nut came on to the scene in 2015. Fuelled with her ideas from her marathon running days, Pip created a unique, fun and original set of nut butter’s, which have been growing in popularity.

Intertwining ingredients and introducing new flavours, you will find an array of choice from Limited Edition Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter (personal fav!) to delicious Coconut Almond Butter.

Not only has she brought flair and originality, Pip has now opened the world to a variety of new dishes to use these butter rather than just being relegated to a slice of toast! In her new cookbook, Pip shares a number of recipes including:

Coco-Nutty Banana Pancakes and Cashew
Blackberry and Pear Porridge
Peanut Soba Noodle Salad
Vegan Almond Fudge
Baked Peanut Butter and Raspberry Cheesecake

As nuts can be used across a variety of cuisines, the range provides you with a pot of flavour that can be mixed into a variety of dishes from sweet to savoury.

Vegan-friendly, environmentally friendly and sustainable – making this the ultimate cookbook for people looking to give a healthy, protein-fuelled boost to their diet.

Selfridges Pop-Up Nut Bar

Want to try some of the delicious recipes straight out of the book? Head over to Selfridges Food Hall to try!

With flavours ranging from Almond, avocado and spiced seeds to Peanut, chilli, lime and coriander you will be left wanting more! (see picture)

Available until February 12th, I would head down before the Nut bar hits the road! In the mean

In the mean time you can grab Pip’s book from a number of places including here for any of you who cannot make it.

Buy the Cookbook

Balance/ Stress Free Style

Do you check your Ingredients?

Do you check your Ingredients? Answer majority is usually Yes

However

Do you check your ingredients in your Beauty Products? This often leads to a few less in agreement.

Green for All Seasons is hosting a series of events to investigate, educate and discuss the importance of Clean and Organic living through in the products that we use on a daily basis.

First in the series was to discuss Organica and Clean Beauty. In attendance were a panel of experts to discuss Wellness and How your beauty regime is a key player when talking about holistic Wellness.

Victoria- Anne founder of Green for All Seasons opened the session by calling out some harrowing facts.

“11% of the 10,500 products approved by the FDA have actually been tested for safety”

“2000 new chemicals are registered daily in the US to be used in beauty products”

“An average woman uses 12 personal care items a day…exposing yourself to 168 chemicals daily”

We often spend time making sure the food we put inside us if of the top standard but may forget to check the finer print when it comes to our beauty regime. We went on to discuss the importance of skin and how we can make small and simple changes to thrive and seek wellness holistically in our day to day routines.

Looking after your wellness and well-being is a holistic action. It is all about living without extremes and operating in a balanced way. We often hear the remark that you can’t live a healthy life if you smash hours in the gym but fill your fridge full of processed food. We check labels, search for organic food, are on a quest to reduce sugar and fighting against the big companies to be honest with us yet we seem to be missing out on some crucial items that we put on our skin everyday.

Victoria-anne opened up her questioning to the expert panel – Here is what the experts had to say

The panel started with Tanya Hawkes from Therapi. Tanya was a bee keeper and found her passion for skincare and bee-keeping and combined these to create her product line.

“Honey is Nature’s liquid gold, a precious elixir containing the nutritious nectar and therapeutic essences of a thousand flowers in just a single drop. Our certified organic products combine honey with active botanical extracts in exceptionally pure and gentle formulations, using cold-pressed organic oils and nourishing plant butters to keep your skin looking beautifully radiant and healthy day after day”

She expressed Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food as she handed around a shot glass filled with Therapi toner which we proceeded to sip. One should not put anything on their face which one would not put in their mouth.

Tanya’s top skin tips: Radiate with Wellbeing: Balance Work, Love, Exercise. Secondly use Japanese Konjac Sponge and Honey Gel Cleanser to clean the face leaving your skin soft and hydrated.

Next to discuss Clean Beauty was creator and founder of Twelve Beauty: Pedro Catalá

Pedro started as a pharmacist and through his passion created Twelve beauty. Pedro used his extensive research and knowledge of plant extracts to develop and create TWELVE BEAUTY, his revolutionary range of nine skin care products which are highly suitable for various concerns, especially stressed, sensitive and reactive (allergy-prone) skin.

His values revolved around: Simplicity.

He expressed how you should keep it simple with only a few products that your skin likes. There is no need to own a whole range of products. Find something that works and keep to the basics.

TWELVE Beauty range is a divine and has a simple yet sophisticated branding. Using powerful anti-oxidants and beautiful elixirs – his products are recommended by experts. You can find him online or at Content Beauty in Marylebone.

Pedro’s top skin tips: Don’t be stressed. Relax – and be happy and your skin will Glow

Next on the panel Natalie and Marie from Aevi

They are the ladies behind a beautiful Wellness Box (see above). Filled with gorgeous products which are natural and good for your skin.

Marie was very passionate about Wellness. She and Natalie created the boxes having both suffered from skin problems caused by high street products.

Look after your heart, mind and skin
You have to be the healthiest version of you

This echoed the feeling of the day where it was not about forcing you to take on certain products but find something kind and natural for your skin in order to flourish.

Aevi’s top skin tips: Stay Hydrated, Eat foods high in Vitamin E (nuts, avocados) Exfoliate – all over

Finally we moved to our last panelist Sjaniel Turrell from Chemistry of Wellness

A nutritional therapist and holistic make up artist she spoke of the importance of making sure your products are a reflection of health and not chemicals.

She gave us a live demonstration on Chessie King and showed us products that will make you glow without putting harmful chemicals on your skin.

If you are un-sure where to go with making your make-up more natural and kind to your skin you can book consultations with Sjaniel Turrell here

The day was rounded off with some light refreshments and divine teas provided by Pukka Tea and Charlotte Pukka discussed with us their new Turmeric range and the power of healing herbs such as Matcha and Turmeric. Their new Turmeric range is in store now.

Join the turmeric revolution.

Caring about your skin from the outside in can really make a change to your overall well-being. From a mental health point of view: when you feel and look tired it can often bring you down. You may eat all the right foods and hit the gym but if you expose your skin to the wrong and harmful products you can lose your radiant glow and be left feeling dreary and washed out.

Don’t feel you have to go to your cupboards and throw everything out, this should be a transition. Start by reading the labels, asking the questions and sourcing the right products.

The Soil Association has a list of products which have been certified clean and organic to start your education here.

Check out some of the Chemicals to look out for and where you will find them!

Love the skin you’re in

If you have any questions surrounding clean beauty or any other questions raised in this article please feel free to comment below and I will get back to you or put you in contact with the right people

Recipes/ Stress Free Style

Eat Pizza and still look like a Victoria Secret Model?

One of those days when only a big slice of cheesy pizza will let go the pressure of the RatRace?
Then you remembered that this weeks goal was to lose half your body weight and look like a Victoria Secret Model?

Well check out this little recipe to hit both goals in a tasty delicious slice.

Gluten Free Pizza

Pizza – one of the best exports from Italy. Comforting, tasty and the ultimate indulgence – there is never a dull moment with Pizza involved. Unfortunately I am allergic to wheat which kind of puts a dent in my pizza escapades until I discovered this tasty recipe. Its perfect if you’re making it for flatmates or boyfriends who may be a little bit adverse to the healthy way of life. All round belly pleaser.

Simple and easy to make after a long day in the office. You can let go of the stresses of the day while tucking into some comfort food. Bring the flavours of Italia right to your home.

Ingredients

Base:

2 1/2 cups cauliflower, grated (about 1/2 a large head)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups shredded light mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toppings:

1/4 cup tomato sauce/ paste
Mozzarella cheese
Fresh Basil
Chilli flakes
Spinach
Olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 220c

Find a pizza slate or a baking tray and line with parchment paper

Grate the cauliflower using a box grater until you have two cups of cauliflower crumbles. Place in a large bowl and microwave for seven to eight minutes, or until soft.

Remove from the microwave and let cool.

Strain through a dish cloth by putting all the mixture inside a clean cloth and squeezing out the excess water

Mix in the egg, one cup mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper.

Using your hands roll into the amount you need for base and then put the ball in the middle and push out mixture until you make a circle

Bake for 12-15mins or until golden

Remove from oven and add your toppings – this is where you can freelance from vegetarian to meat pizzas

Cook for a further 10 mins or until the cheese has that perfect glow and brown shade

And there you go – low carb – delicious treat for you when you fancy a little naughtiness.

You can package it up for work the next day and serve with a side salad or save it for about 2-3 days in an air tight container in the fridge.

As it contains no nasties and all fresh ingredients its best not to leave it too long.

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.

Explore

Best Bloody Mary Brunch in South West, Cafe Fleur

Cafe Fleur Wandsworth

The perfect Weekend starts with Brunch and I know of a place which is the perfect way to finish the weekend.

Cafe Fleur, tucked away in Wandsworth invited locals in for homemade nutritious food, organic coffee, delightful healthy smoothies and killer Bloody Mary’s.

Recently, the cafe has been granted a liquor license, Cafe Fleur has been stocking Organic Wine, local Craft Beer, Prosecco and Bloody Mary’s

Best Brunch in South West London

Strolling up St.Ann’s Hill, Cafe Fleur is situated on the corner to welcome you in.

The menu is made up of a traditional brunch and lunch menu interspersed with their own specialities.

The Fleur Bubble is a delicious twist on a bubble and squeak and their Avocado, chilli and whipped feta on toast leave the mouth watering.

After some tough decision making as everything on the menu looks divine, we settled on the Avo Toast and Chicken Goujons.

The atmosphere is vibrant and chilled and the perfect place to relax back in the Sunday atmosphere while sipping on our cocktails and smoothies.

Homemade Chicken Goujons w/ Sweet Potato Fries and Roasted Veg

The chicken goujons are homemade. Crunchy, tasty and seasoned perfectly – it is the perfect comfort dish

Avocado Toast

Piled high and oozing with flavour the avo toast is rustically drizzled with the feta whip.

If you order this I would really recommend getting the poached eggs as well as the chorizo to really set off the flavour.

Best Bloody Mary’s

My brunch partner decided to keep it clean and sip away with coconut smoothie. I was feeling a little dirtier… so I opted for the Bloody Mary.

Spicy, smooth and with a perfect kick – I was left wanting for more!

Winner of Time Out’s Love London Awards Cafe Fleur is definitely worth the visit.

Venture on down to check out the fresh homemade food, home-baked goods daily, organic coffee and friendly staff.

Their menu includes an all-day breakfast. Vegan and Vegetarian options. Eat in or take away.

Enjoy.

For More Top Brunch Spots in London Click Here: Brunch

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

Delicious Spinach and Aubergine Parmigiana

DELICIOUS SPINACH AND AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA

This little dish fills me with so much warmth. It is the perfect winter warmer which just keeps getting better. The ingredients cost little but the flavour is insane.

You can have it hot and eat it straight away or you can package this little delicacy up into some tupperware and take into work for a healthy treat.

My recipe has been updated to have all the flavour but less calories, hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 x Aubergine
Glug of Mellow Yellow Rape Seed Oil
1x Red Onion
3 x clove Garlic
1 x 400g chopped Tomatoes
4x sprig of Basil
1/2 bag of Spinach
Splash of White Wine Vinegar
Grated Parmesan

Method:

Grab a griddle pan and heat up with a splash of Mellow Yellow Rape Seed Oil. Slice the aubergines and add to the pan to get a nice charred effect.

In another pan add another glug of Mellow Yellow Rape Seed Oil and chop the onions and garlic and add to the pan. Add some salt and pepper at this point and leave to soften. After 5-10 minutes add the spinach. Leave a few more minutes and add the tomatoes, basil and a splash of white wine vinegar and simmer to reduce.

Heat the oven to 190c and grab a over proof dish.

Take the charred aubergine and place a layer on the bottom. Add layers of tomato mix and aubergines until it is all used up. Sprinkle some parmesan on top of the mix for a nice crispy topping. This is up to you how much you add – but this is where the calories come from – so you can have too much of a good thing – however if you burn it off in the gym the next day – go nuts.

Crack some black pepper on top and place in the over for 30 minutes

Leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving

A delicious meal to keep you warm this chilli winter. Perfect as a main with a side salad or to accompany some baked chicken.

In this recipe I have used Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil. Not many people know but using the right cooking oil has a big impact on health. Olive oil should be had cold and never heated. Coconut Oil can be heated but also leaves a subtle flavour. So I have been trying out this delicious cold pressed rapeseed oil. It has the lowest saturated fat content of any commonly available cooking oil – it contains less than half the saturated fat that is found in olive oil and is packed full of Omega 3. Mellow Yellow has a wonderful subtle nutty taste, it is ideal for salad dressings, while its high smoke point makes it perfect for high temperature roasting and stir-frying oil.

Enjoy xx

Older Posts

vegetarian

Delicious, Nutritious, Low Calorie, and Full of Good Fats and Protein!

Ingredients:

Method:

Dish out into a bowl and enjoy this little spicy healthy treat to warm your belly

Stress-Free Lifestyle Tips

STOP!

Here are some top tips of how to stop emotional and mindless eating at work.

Say “No” and Supply Alternative

Chocolate Won’t Make Stress Go Away

Don’t want to eat like a rabbit? Then don’t!

Love Your Body Its The Only One You’ve Got

Get Support From Your Friends

Anti-Inflammatory

What can you do to minimise Inflammation?

Anti-Inflammatory Coconut Curry

Ingredients:

Method Prep: 15min Cook: 30 mins Store: in fridge or freeze

ITSU:

PRET:

VIRGIN TRAINS:

Vega Protein:

Travelling

Stress-Free Homemade Healthy Hummus

Beetroot Hummus

Caramelised Red Onion hummus

Before you start:

Day One

Pros

Cons

Day Two

Pros

Cons

Day Three

Pros

Cons

Top Tricks

Top tricks:

Reflection

Juice Cleanse

Let me introduce That Protein

Pumpkin and Chia Seed Protein Porridge

Asparagus Soup

To make this delicious and nutritious soup you will need:

Pip and Nut

Peanut Butter

The Nut Butter Cook Book

Selfridges Pop-Up Nut Bar

Buy the Cookbook

Related articles across the web

Cafe Fleur Wandsworth

Best Brunch in South West London

Homemade Chicken Goujons w/ Sweet Potato Fries and Roasted Veg

Avocado Toast

Best Bloody Mary’s

For More Top Brunch Spots in London Click Here: Brunch

Method
Prep: 15min Cook: 30 mins Store: in fridge or freeze