by Siobhan | Jun 4, 2018 | Desserts, Grainfree, snack, vegan
This has got to be one of my all time favourite recipes ever!!
These bars have such a soft, fudgey texture with a lovely taste AND contain five, yes FIVE different fruit and veg in them meaning they aren’t just delicious but absolutely packed with the good stuff!
These are mostly made of fruit or veg meaning you’re properly nourishing your body with every bite which makes it hard to stop at one, which you’ll soon find out for yourself!
These are so nourishing that although they look like a very rich dessert, they’re actually more nutritious than what most people eat for breakfast plus they’re:
-grain free/flourless
-high in fibre and protein
-contain good fats that help with the feeling of fullness
-use accessible, affordable ingredients
For a similar recipe that you can make if you haven’t got the black beans in your kitchen at the time is my bean blondie recipe. I took this recipe one step further by adding a bottom brownie layer and trying to create a denser “cookie dough” layer on top and then cramming as much goodness as I could into the recipe to make each bar something that nourishes not only your body but soul too because we all need to treat ourselves now and again.
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by Siobhan | May 8, 2018 | Breakfast, Grainfree, snack, vegan
I love using the MissFits nutrition pea protein powder sachets but it got even better when I combined their chocolate flavour with some avocado and peppermint extract because the result was a creamy, sugar free, high protein smoothie that tasted like the After eight chocolates!
A great choice for breakfast before a workout or as a recovery snack between the gym and your dinner later on that day.
Why I like this protein
This brand of protein is naturally sweetened with stevia meaning you don’t need to add any fruit or sugar so it’s a great option for anyone looking for a low sugar smoothie and also a good option for when there’s no fresh fruit in your kitchen or you have a ripe avocado begging to be used up.
Also, it contains added green tea extract for an energy boost which is great in the morning but it also acts as an antioxidant that can help protect the body from any exercise induced stress, great for those who workout hard or regularly. Their added vitamin B12 is the natural and more bio available form (methlycobalamin) compared to most varieties that are not (cyanocobalamin). Another added bonus is the digestive enzymes which help you digest the protein and other compounds in your meal.
Where to buy
These single serving sachets are really easy to get in Holland & Barrett and allow you to try each flavour out for yourself which I really recommend, so give this one a go and see what you think. They’re only 1.99 each and usually some kind of deal on them at the same time making them quite affordable to try before buying anything bigger. You can also get them online or at certain Tesco stores.
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by Siobhan | May 2, 2018 | Dinner, Grainfree, Lunch, vegan
Forget the Buddha bowls and power up with this plate full of plant based goodness!
This makes a great post workout meal with a good mix of healthy carbs, fibre, plant protein and lots of nutrients and antioxidants to help you recover well.
This couldn’t be simpler to make, it takes only 5mins to throw together and makes a great lunch for the next day too. Although I used carrots here you could also use some fresh/cooked peas if you only had these in your fridge/freezer, they also help to up the protein content so don’t be afraid to free style this one with whatever you have in your kitchen at the time.
Optional add ins that I like are chilli powder/flakes to give it a kick and a sprinkle of shelled hemp seeds for omega 3 & 6 fatty goodness!
Good mix of colours & nutrients
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by Siobhan | Apr 25, 2018 | Dinner, Grainfree, Lunch, vegan
So what’s so super about this soup?
Well, firstly, it’s jam packed with allll the good stuff, green good stuff to be specific, hehe hence the name.
It’s made creamy with avocado, one of the most popular green foods but also includes a hefty dose of broccoli, one of the least loved green foods but one that’s so very good for us. Even I struggle to get as much broccoli as I’d like into my diet, partly because I hate the tough texture of it that always ends up stuck in my teeth, which is one reason why I like this soup so much, because it gets blended, removing this issue.
“Soup”er nutrition!
Broccoli has so many health promoting compounds in it but some of the main ones are called glucosinolates which then become isothiocyanates (another helpful compound) via an enzyme reaction. These compounds are responsible for heart health, boosting antioxidant effects, promoting the formation of enzymes involved in the livers detox pathways and may help reduce the incidence of cancer.
To get the benefits of these compounds it’s best to consume the cruciferous veg (cabbage, rocket, kale etc) uncooked to enable the enzyme reaction to occur, but this isn’t always possible or pleasant so if you want to maximise on your cooked cruciferous veg then pair them with some raw rocket, watercress, mustard or horseradish as these foods will mimic the enzymes needed for the reaction to occur. But don’t worry you still get some benefit from consuming cooked veg so don’t use it as an excuse not to eat them!
The avocado is packed full of monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and fibre which are helpful for the heart and vitamin E which is great for skin plus the good fats help you to absorb fat soluble vitamins.
The next super green in here is the humble pea, yes peas. They’re a great source of fibre, B vitamins and protein, finally, I included fresh basil to amp up the flavour and pair with the garlic and herbs in the veg stock.
crackers & soup
All these foods are super nourishing and super accessible as well as affordable, no excuse not to make this soup in order to squeeze in more veg at the end of your day, especially if you’re other meals haven’t been as stellar.
I also give a few optional additions in the recipe below in order to help you boost its goodness but they’re completely optional, it’ll still be one of the healthiest soups out there!
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by Siobhan | Apr 18, 2018 | Breakfast, Lunch, snack, vegan
What better way to have a delicious, nourishing, quick breakfast ready to go when you are than by baking these brownie breakfast bars the night before!
bursting blueberry breakfast brownies
They are made from jumbo oats, fresh blueberries, ripe bananas and a touch of cacao powder to give a decadent, chocolate taste and once baked they’ll provide you with a quick, healthy breakfast option in the mornings meaning it’s easier to get out the door. They’re also a great recipe to use up any overly ripe bananas you have hanging around your fruit bowl.
These taste best when slightly warm as the cacao chocolate flavour comes through more and with your favourite yogurt to contrast with the berries and rich cacao.
Benefits
-No oil or eggs
-vegan & gluten free
-1 bowl
-No sweeteners, fruit only
-High fibre & portable
Top with yogurt, fruit & cinnamon
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by Siobhan | Apr 4, 2018 | Dinner, Lunch, vegan
This is a great, quick, healthy meal made from simple ingredients that you can whip up within 15mins and when paired with a big plate of greens it’s highly nutritious too. It also makes a good meat free dinner/lunch option and is handy for when you haven’t been shopping in a while as we all tend to have some oats and beans tucked away somewhere in the cupboard.
I love using beans in cooking, they are such a nutritious cheap ingredient and are so versatile. I love the combo of chilli and lemon as it’s refreshing and full of flavour which is what you need to perk up plain beans.
To add more flavour I’ve created a creamy harrissa dressing, If you’ve never used harrissa before then you’re really missing out, It’s a spicy paste similar to chipotle which I’ve paired with creamy tahini/yogurt (choose your favourite) to create a lovely silky dressing for these nuggets which you definitely won’t want to leave out as it gives much needed moisture to the dish.
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