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Pancake Day!

Try this delicious gluten and dairy free pancake recipe for Pancake Day!

We, as a nation, love ‘foreign’ foods.  This is possibly because of their exotic aromas and the fantastic array of spices used to enhance their flavours.

There are over 200 herbs and spices on this planet but on average, we only use about 5 of them in the UK!

Herbs and spices are Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet.   In fact, when I worked in the jungles of Belize, the local people used the herbs from the rain forest for their every day needs such as for snakebites, fever, antiseptics, contraceptives, headaches etc – it was fascinating to see first hand how they relied on their surroundings to survive and used their knowledge of the medicinal powers available.

Are you one of the many who are detoxing this January?

Well, here’s some food for thought! Did you know the average person uses about 10 products a day?

This means that everyday on average we absorb about 126 different chemicals through our skin. How?  Lead is often used in red lipstick, aluminum in deodorants and flame retardants on our furniture. Then we drink the BPAs that seeps into our coffees from the plastic cups and eat the pesticide residue that is on our unwashed fruit and veg. This is in addition to all the shampoos, toothpastes, moisturizers, hair dyes etc which that all contain chemicals.

As a child, I disliked Brussels sprouts and I know I was not the only one! You either love them or hate them. The latter is mainly due to their horrid sulphurous smell that fills the room when they have been over cooked.
 

Today, I love Brussels sprouts. So now, it’s become my aim to help the rest of the Nation fall in love with them too!

Below is a very simple, quick recipe for you to try, not just for Christmas day but throughout the whole winter.

In winter, Mother Nature  provides us with a power house of nutrients needed to protect us against the colds and flus that are flying around this time of year.  

Stressed out?

Are you aware that you might be suffering from a stress related illness? 

Are you lacking in energy? Do you crave sweet and/or salty foods? Are you putting on weight? Do you suffer from headaches or skin problems? Are you having digestive issues such as IBS, heartburn and food allergies? Are you suffering from excessive sweating or depression and mood swings? Do you have a low sex drive?

Any of these symptons could be an indication that you are suffering with long term stress.   So what is stress?

Food of the gods! The Royal Aztecs drunk a bitter, spicy, frothy drink called xocoatl. Today we know it as chocolate.  Like gold to the conquistadores, the cocoa beans were very precious, so much so, they were used as a currency.

In modern times, chocolate is still worshipped all over the world. Yet, it is often perceived as the irresistible temptation and sinful indulgence.

So, for this Halloween, lets take a closer look at this edible gold and find out if it is a trick or treat!

Here’s another breakfast idea that the children made themselves in one of our sessions in school that I did with “Eat Yourself Fabulous”. It took them 5 mins to make a very creative, colourful breakfast. They all enjoyed it because they chose the ingredients themselves.  

We had bowls of sliced bananas, stewed apple with cinnamon,  dried cranberries, Greek yoghurt, oats, almond flakes, pumpkin seeds and ground walnuts.

This provides both a crunchy and creamy layer as well as some fruit for a natural sweet flavour.

It  was a great success….

Skipping breakfast seems such common practice these days. Time pressures, dieting or just the lack of appetite in the morning are some of the many reasons I hear in my clinic sessions. Working in schools, I’ve also found that about 30% of the children do not have breakfast but picked up energy drinks and chocolate bars on the way to school.  

So, lets just focus on why it is so beneficial to find time for breakie.

Salmon with avocado and olives and a rich mixture of herby, leafy salad.

This simple dish is very quick and effortless and full of health promoting nutrients. It took me 15 mins to prepare and cook!