I’ve been making this quiche dish for years and have come to depend on it as a reliable hit with friends and family, right when I need something to deliver! It’s similar to my approach to soups in that you can get creative and throw in pretty much any veggies to the mix, free-style; perfect if you have a few veggies in the fridge which are on their last legs (we Swedes hate wastage!). Also this dish is delicious both hot and cold, so it’s perfect to bring to work for lunch the next day, or as a cheeky picnic now that the British weather is finally looking up! As always on this blog, creating the dish is quick and easy, and relies on fresh ingredients you can find in your local supermarket. Click MORE to see the ‘How To‘!
I recently spent some wonderfully peaceful days at the beautiful Chateau de la Chèvre D’Or (full ‘active escape’ review forthcoming) in Eze, France, where I enjoyed some exquisite and healthy mediterranean cuisine, and have returned freshly inspired! Apart from seafood, the locally-grown organic vegetables are a recurrent feature in the region’s cuisine, often prepared via steaming. Whilst I may not be able to replicate the beauty of the piece we photographed above (I’m not Michelin-starred!), I believe it IS possible to simulate that same mix of flavours and textures at home! Click more to see this mediterranean-inspired vegetable recipe, focussing on the benefits of steaming, and which is a fantastic pre-workout dish to help fuel your session! (MORE) (more…)
I was recently invited to juice master Jason Vale‘s film premiere in Leicester Square, where I got the opportunity to sample his latest creation, Super Juice Me… In the docu-film, 8 chronically ill individuals go to live in a Portuguese retreat and subsist on Jason’s juice concoctions; through juicing, they try to tackle their ailments and improve their quality of life. It’s a fascinating film, and was very much an inspiring day, which got me fired up to make two of his quite delicious recipes – ‘The Berry Crunch’ (sumptuously sweet and perfect for someone with a little bit of a sweet tooth, like me perhaps) and ‘The Natural Energiser’ (a refreshingly zesty power-elixir to wake you up with a bolt!). Click MORE for the recipes…
I’ve now completed my very first ‘5 day juice detox’ as part of the World’s Biggest Juice Detox event, and as you can see from the above pictures, they looked and tasted gorgeous! As I mentioned in my post last week when I set out on this venture, my ethos is to favour the long-term, sustainable and healthy lifestyle choice of eating clean for most of the time, aside from the occasional treat. ‘Diet’ is not a word I typically associate with nor do I cut out entire food groups; the last 5 days, in my book, have been extreme, but in the name of investigation I have guineapigged myself, as detoxing is such a controversial topic that evokes equal passion from its devotees and critics alike. Views vary from beneficial and essential, to dangerous and pointless…. Below are my 10 observations from the week, along with the thoughts of a qualified doctor and nutritionist. Enjoy! Faya x (more…)
ETHOS: To tackle this at the outset, I don’t associate with the word ‘diet’ because of all the unrealistic and futile notions it conjures up. Regular readers of Fitness On Toast will know that I favour the long-term, sustainable and healthy lifestyle choice of eating clean for most of the time, and indulging in the odd treat on occasion. But between today, 13th January, and Friday 17th, I’ve been asked by Philips to take part in “The World’s Biggest Juice Detox”, which will involve me giving up on solids!
SCANDAL WAIVER: I’m not undertaking this ‘detox diet’ because I want to “lose 5lb in 5 days” as the literature implores. Neither am I looking to enter the controversy around whether it’s healthy to sustain the body on what is essentially just nutrient-infused fructose (fruit sugar). I recognise there are benefits and disbenefits, but that’s not what I’m after here. I am undertaking this in the spirit of discovery, to find out whether I feel a perceptible difference in myself by consuming only assorted blends of juices 6x a day. It’s an experiment that might very well (more…)
This colourful fish recipe has all the key fuel your body needs at lunchtime to stay on track for the rest of the working day! It consists of only three simple ingredients; 1) Sweet potato to provide the slow release energy needed to keep going 2) Monkfish, a great source of protein, and a meaty fish at that, and 3) Kale, a nutrient-dense vegetable loaded with vitamins and minerals, with 0% fat content. But to understand why this recipe is so effective, I think you have to look at the ingredients in more detail:
1) SWEET POTATO – A DETAILED LOOK !
I once thought that anything with ‘sweet’ so clearly in its name, couldn’t possibly be healthy. I was wrong. Aside from being delicious, Sweet Potato’s also;
– a great source of beta-carotene (converts into vitamin A for healthy skin, an immune boost and strong vision)
– high in dietary fibre (for effective digestion and absorption, along with heart & blood benefits from the vitamin B6 content)
– super low GI, for slow-release energy throughout the day (with a glycemic load of 9, which is super-low for a food who’s calories come 93% from carbs!)
– very low in sodium, with practically no fat content (& 0g saturates).
– contains peonidins and cyanidins (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to maintain the body)
– high in potassium to lower blood pressure by banishing excess sodium, and regulating the body’s fluid balance
2) KALE – A DETAILED LOOK !
Kale is the superfood equivalent of Cara Delevigne’s eyebrows; all the rage right now, it’s versatile, and you see it everywhere. Why?:
– you can eat it raw, blend in a smoothie, steam it, stew it, or toss it in a salad or soup!
– it’s low in calories (28cals per 100g)
– Incredibly low in saturated fat and cholesterol – 0% for both!
– a fantastic source of iron (crucial liver function and cell regeneration), with more than you find in the equivalent weight of beef!
– rich in vitamin K (essential to bone health and with anti-carcinogenic properties) and vitamin C (immune health).
– it’s also a strong anti-inflammatory, weighs in with a glycemic load of just 3 (!), and leaves you remarkably full for something of such mini calories!
3) MONKFISH – A DEEPER LOOK !
Once thought of as ‘poor man’s lobster’, this fish has since climbed to its equivalent ‘social elite’. The meaty texture makes it a perfect low calorie filler, plus:
– it’s a good source of lean protein (14g of protein per 100g, with just 2g of fat per 100g)
– the little fat it has is mono/poly-unsaturates inc. ‘Omega fatty acids‘ (can reduce risk of heart attack and stroke, and promote healthy neural function)
– a fantastic source of vitamin B6 (aids metabolism and the breakdown of fats, helps regulate blood glucose levels) and vitamin B12 (maintains the nervous system)
This colourful fish recipe has all the key fuel your body needs at lunchtime to stay on track for the rest of the working day! It consists of only three simple ingredients; 1) Sweet potato to provide the slow release energy needed to keep going 2) Monkfish, a great source of protein, and a meaty fish at that, and 3) Kale, a nutrient-dense vegetable loaded with vitamins and minerals, with 0% fat content. But to understand why this recipe is so effective, I think you have to look at the ingredients in more detail: