The freshness of ingredients is *critical* in the pursuit of optimal nutrition. I’ve written extensively about purchasing fresh produce in the past, but a consideration which has been often overlooked and which is starting to be highlighted in new studies, is the importance of the packaging itself. This post touches upon that subject, and is in partnership with Noluma, leaders in light protective packaging technology and certification – together, we hope to raise awareness as to why this is an important consideration for consumers. To me, the reassuring knowledge that I’m *actually* getting the promised freshness, taste and nutritional content (vitamins & minerals) from my food is important. I’m a cynic, and often question whether the label tells the honest story. Noluma’s commitment is to provide light protective packaging technology that will help consumers get the nutritional content they are expecting, and that works for me. Click MORE to see the full take… (more…)
Posts tagged 'milk'
LENTIL, BUTTERNUT + SWEET PO SOUP!
With the change of seasonal climes comes a more vulnerable immune system; it goes hand in hand with this time of year, and you’ll invariably have noticed more children picking up Spring bugs, more colleagues suffering runny noses etc. Having yearned for the sun for what seems like an eternity, perhaps we’re all a tad too eager to dash outside liberated from our coats and armed instead with little strappy sandals! Well fear not, for today’s post, as part of my ’30 Ways to Goodness’ collaboration with Blue Diamond, covers off a warming and nutritious Spring soup to combat any colds that may be going around and keep your immune system well supported! As ever with my recipes, it requires practically no cooking skills, takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish, and is packed full of ultra-delicious goodness! (more…)
DELICIOUS SPRING VEGGIE FRITTATA!
Spring has sprung in London, so as part of my ’30 Ways to Goodness’ collaboration with Blue Diamond, I’ve created this seriously delicious-yet-healthy recipe using a range of fresh and tasty vegetables; this is a super quick and easy dish which requires virtually no accomplishment or finesse in the kitchen, and delivers a punch of health, flavour and goodness! Click MORE to get the ‘Why’ and ‘How To’ for this, my Spring Veggie Frittata!
MAKE YOUR OWN ALMOND MILK!
When I was 14 years old in Sweden, I stumbled across an enlightening article about dairy products and decided there-and-then that I simply didn’t need to consume as much of it! Fast forward to today in England and the supermarket shelves are stocked with countless milk alternatives to cater for the 5% of Brits who are lactose-intolerant along with those who’ve intentionally adopted a different approach. These substitutes are hewn from the likes of soya beans, rice, oats, hemp, hazelnuts and, perhaps the UK’s most popular according to Waitrose, Almond milk. Making your own version of the latter is the subject of today’s post; it’s ridiculously easy, takes no longer than 10 minutes and can save you money in your quest to eat healthily! Plus, you’ll also have peace of mind from knowing exactly what’s in your drink, and that you’re optimising the nutritional value to max!!! Click MORE to see it all… (more…)
SNACK ON THIS !!!
It’s cold and wet outside and if all you want to do is snack – at least graze on something healthy!! Part of my daily goal is healthy snacking, so here is my recipe for heart-healthy ‘Protein Cookies’. These cookies are the ultimate snack for the working day – full of protein (c. 15g per 50g cookie), low in carbohydrates, and the mild sweetness comes from natural fruits and a couple of spoons of immune-boosting Manuka honey. I’d suggest taking two generous protein cookies to work with you, eating one between breakfast and lunch and the other towards the end of the day when you are ready to give in to the vending machine! The four different flavours I make are apple, carrot, banana and peanut. I usually add pecan nuts, raisins and flaxseed to all four different cookies to give them a bit of crunchiness, and to release sustained energy. Experiment and use your own favourite nuts and seeds! I personally LOVE flaxseed (aka linseed), and try to use it in/on almost everything – in my uber-muesli, sprinkled on salads, soups, and broths. It’s one of the richest sources of the fatty acid Omega 3 (c.7.2g per 30g) – it boosts heart health, it reduces inflammation throughout the body, the joints and in the blood vessels. There’s also a school of thinking that suggests omega-3 may help lift depression and ease rheumatoid arthritis. Since the body does not naturally produce omega 3 fatty acid this is such an easy way to make sure you get enough of it on a daily basis.
GO COCO-NUTS !!!
This recipe for my super-nutritious Asian Coconut Broth is meant to prove that Asian food can not only be incredibly full on flavour, but can also be very healthy. To tick the ever-important protein box, I’ve thrown in prawns, but chicken also works fine with this dish (see photo below). To make it interesting, I’ve given it some more substance by adding quinoa (a low GI seed which packs a complete protein, as discussed in my previous post ‘Nature’s Protein’, here). I’ve also used coconut milk, which apart from being gluten and cholesterol-free, is very rich in manganese (to balance blood sugar), calcium and phosphorus (for bone strength), iron (1 cup provides 25% of your daily requirement, for energy & healthy blood oxygenation), vitamin C (for immune health) and mounds of dietary fibre. Note, coconut milk whilst rich on flavour, is relatively high in fat (20g saturated fat per 100g milk, but no transfat) therefore I only used half a tin, and diluted it with an equal part of water, which still gives it all the taste it needs. Lime gives the dish a sharper kick, but also supercharges the vitamin C content, whilst the flavoursome chilli and ginger raise the body’s metabolic rate, helping you burn your calories quicker! Served piping-hot, it’s a massively hearty (& healthy) option for a midweek meal! Here’s the ingredients list and the ‘how-to’:
Enjoy! Faya x