Category: vegetarian

detox, homemade, nutrients, superfood, vegetarian

Simple Spirulina Smoothie

Spirulina is a wonderful superfood packed full of nutrients. It’s a cyanobacterium, (blue green algae), and is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids.  As a protein, it doesn’t actually compete with meat or eggs as an example but it is, however, superior to typical plant protein such as that from legumes.  This makes it a great protein option for vegetarians or vegans.
Spirulina is an excellent source of many nutrients; particularly B Vitamins thiamin and riboflavin, and also dietary minerals such as iron and manganese.
It doesn’t exactly have the best taste unfortunately, I would love to find someone who has tasted Spirulina and doesn’t reference it to what must only be pond scum, but nevertheless it is very good for you.
So I drink it, whilst trying to mask the taste as much as possible.
I blended this really simple smoothie with banana, spinach, avocado and ice with one tablespoon Spirulina.

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homemade, nutrients, vegetarian

Really Easy Five Bean Chilli

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I think many of us love a good chilli and I’m fairly certain we all know how to make it, but did you know how packed full of goodness this delicious spicy dish actually is?

This is one of my favourite meals to make because it takes no time, you can vary it as much as you like, it’s full of goodness and it tastes delicious.

If you have children, you might want to tone down the spice but otherwise, add as much as you can tolerate and enjoy the burn!

I like to make a huge chilli at the beginning of the week then you have lots of options for the week; you can add meat, have it cold with a salad or reheat it with rice or a sweet potato.

I made this chilli with the following beans, vegetables and spices. I chose these beans particularly because they were the organic selection in boxes in the supermarket (I try to avoid canned food wherever possible as canned food contains BPA).

Beans
Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Butter Beans
Canelloni Beans
Chick Peas

Vegetables (use Organic where possible)
Two red peppers
One white onion (I prefer red for this but I didn’t have one at home)
Five cloves garlic
One box organic Passata
Two red and two green chillis (with seeds)
Two carrots, chopped

Spices
Turmeric
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
Cumin
Coriander
Black Pepper

The Goodness

Vegetables, legumes, herbs and spices, and fruits are excellent sources of important cancer-fighting and anti-ageing phytonutrients and antioxidants.
A couple of examples in this chilli are Capsaicin, which is the active compound of chilli and hot peppers; it helps to protect DNA from damage and is a powerful anti-cancer phytochemical.
Garlic contains Allium Compounds, an important phytochemical with proven health benefits. Studies from China show that people who eat a lot of garlic are protected against stomach cancer, which may be because garlic is able to block the conversion of nitrates and nitrites (found in many preserved foods) into cancer-causing nitrosamines.
Curcumin, the principal curcuminoid of Turmeric, has been regarded as a medicinal herb for thousands of years and is often mentioned as having the ability to kill or prevent a number of cancers including breast, colon, prostate and skin.

We can see with just a few examples the powerhouse of goodness and nutrients packed into just one bowl of one of our easiest and most popular dishes. I hope this encourages you to make it more often.

nutrients, superfood, vegetarian

Healthy & Simple Snack Ideas

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I often hear people say they’re too busy to eat healthily, but with so many variations for healthy food these days, it really isn’t difficult to eat well or snack wisely.
Getting out of the habit of snacking on crisps, biscuits, chocolate or cereal bars  can be a challenge initially, but once these things are replaced with healthy, energy-fueling and nutritious foods, it honestly isn’t difficult to give up the less-than-healthy habits.

Raw veggies are always a good option, always. Not only are they a great low-calorie option, vegetables also pack in a ton of nutrients and are essential for our health.
I’ve chosen here;

Cucumber – full of B vitamins and skin-friendly minerals like magnesium & potassium. Cucumber is also great for flushing out toxins and keeping you hydrated.
Celery – known to reduce inflammation, helps to regulate the body’s alkaline balance and is rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and potassium.
Carrots – rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, potassium, iron and manganese, but most importantly; beta carotene – an antioxidant essential for helping the body fight against free radicals and protect against disease.

These three vegetables pack a powerful punch of nutrients and can all be prepared the night before to make it even more convenient. Try with organic hummus; a healthy protein-packed dip which also contains cancer-fighting garlic and sprinkle with cinnamon, which helps to control blood sugar.

One of my favorite sweet treats in the afternoon if I’m peckish is apples and almond butter. There’s something about this combination of sweet and nutty, with the crisp and tartness of an apple that I find literally irresistible.
Apples are full of polyphenols which function as antioxidants, they also contain fiber and vitamin C. It’s important to eat the whole apple, including the seeds (no, you won’t get an apple tree growing in your belly) as most of the fiber is contained in the skin and the seeds contain vitamin B17, which has been show to fight and protect against cancer.

Nuts are not only delicious, they are packed full of protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids such as a-linolenic acid.

I eat either sliced avocado (which contains very healthy and necessary fats!), or almond butter and sliced apple on oatcakes for a quick and healthy snack if I get hungry before lunch or dinner, which sustains my energy levels and stops my stomach rumbling.

Snacks like these examples are perfect when combined with a cup of Organic Green Tea, which can support a healthy metabolism and most importantly, contains the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which studies have shown can reduce the risk of cancer.

Make smart and clean choices about food; eat REAL food and when possible organic. Be kind to your body and it will thank you in return!

homemade, nutrients, vegetarian

Quick and Easy Veggie Lunch

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Struggling for nutritious ideas for lunch?
Want a healthy alternative to sandwiches?

Try this gluten-free wrap with smoked tofu & sesame seeds, raw carrots, cucumber, avocado and hummus. It was delicious and took minutes to throw together.

Not only do I love mixing flavors with food, I also love mixing textures and I’m sure I’m not the only one, it definitely makes things more interesting. The crunch of the carrots with the softness of the tofu and avocado was deliciously satisfying.
I used a gluten and dairy free wrap for this, which had the added bonus of containing quinoa, chia seeds and flax seeds for added omega 3.

This is an all-round healthy, vegetarian, protein-packed lunch that won’t cause an afternoon slump by spiking blood sugar and should sustain energy levels for the afternoon.

As always, try to eat organic where possible (easy with the veg and hummus.)
I added some falafel because, well they are good for you and I love them.

So what’s even better than eating fresh raw veggies for lunch? Eating fresh raw veggies while sat outside, if you can. Maximise every opportunity you have for fresh air and sunlight, your body will thank you for it.