If you’ve ever wished you could be a confident cook, be more creative in the kitchen, eat more healthily or just enjoy cooking more, then this is for you! So often the missing piece of the puzzle with those seeking better health, wishing to improve diagnosed illness, find success with permanent habit change, achieve…
Asparagus season. One of the first spring veg, and something Cornwall happens to produce, so that’s an extra big bonus! Even better? How beautifully it pairs with that occasional Sunday brunch treat, fresh local soft boiled eggs. What easier way to get a veg portion into breakfast (followed by a piece of fruit for more…
I asked you all about your health and well-being goals and you told me. And you’re an ambitious, energetic bunch when it comes to healthy eating! And I was so excited to see how many of you had already taken huge steps towards improved nutrition and were experiencing the benefits already. Since there were many…
Rice and broccoli might look a bit boring, but don’t skim past yet! The fibre in rice is an obvious benefit, but did you know that rice, especially organic brown rice, is a good source of the B6 required for promoting weight loss and has some protein too? Rice salads are incredibly versatile, and even…
If it’s a healthy alternative to crisps you’re after, this is it. Extremely easy, cheesy and moreish, it’s a great way to get greens into kids as well as into yourself. Kale is a real powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and paired with only a couple of other ingredients it can be turned from…
What a whirlwind life has been since Christmas! Besides being offered a twice monthly radio show (more details soon!), I’ve been busy loading fabulous recipes, health advice and resources onto the Functional Foodie membership, course and recipe hub website in preparation for launch later this month/early February. Here’s my new logo, looking amazing on an apron…
While this might take a while to marinade, it’s spectacularly quick to cook, and delivers a comforting dish in no time that the whole family will love. Chicken is one of the best foods for supporting brain function, stress, mood and mental health, so if you’ve had a hard day at work, this is what…
Cake with veg? Absolutely! Kids love these, and they’re just as popular with adults. Being able to stuff in two such nutritious veg that adapt so well to baking needs little introduction. With a raft of ingredients like nuts and spices on top of the veg that add different nutrient profiles, fibre and health benefits,…
I’m not a fan of supplements, and this is why. It’s been known in the functional medicine world for a long time – real food first, and then (and only then) add anything that’s still required, specifically, advised by a professional. The only supplements that I designed for my range are those that support specific…
Top five tips for a flat stomach – fitness classes or the gym might be the way to get abs you can bounce a coin on, but try the following things to get a flatter midriff today: 1. Swap white, processed carbs for granary/wholegrains: avoiding bread, pasta and rice should only be done under professional supervision, after…
Potatoes are one of those foods many cut from their diet as we head towards beach season: perceived as highly starchy, calorific carbs, the humble potato has had quite a bad press in recent times. The truth is very different! Any potato smothered in butter or eaten in large quantities is, of course, going to…
Spinach is one of those green leafy veg that mothers and grandmothers have exhorted us to eat for generations. Clearly they knew something, well before the age of nutritional research! Calorie for calorie, spinach provides more nutrients than any other food, topping the rankings for nutrient richness and diversity. Bursting with high levels of a spectrum…
Whizz up this Brain Boost Smoothie for breakfast if you have a busy, mentally demanding day ahead – the protein, healthy fats, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins will keep blood sugar release steady, brain function sharp, and concentration focused. Just one of the smoothies in the smoothie and juice mini-book I’m currently writing – taking the…
It’s apple season! Apples are a quintessentially English fruit, and the beginning of autumn sees us almost literally rolling in them. The old adage about keeping doctors away by eating a daily apple isn’t actually far from the truth, and as healthcare goes, there are much less delicious ways to keep the change-of-season bugs at…
As summer ends and autumn approaches, courgettes really come into their own. Whether green or yellow, these members of the squash family have a mild flavour, but with an array of health benefits, give them a starring role while they are so fresh and juicy. Chock full of manganese and vitamin C. courgettes don’t just…
Mushrooms must be just about the only vegetable that has so many varieties nestled under that one umbrella name – chestnut, portobello, morel, chanterelle, ceps, shitake, oyster, enochi, and any number of other varieties, native or exotic, increasingly available. Mushrooms have been celebrated as powerfully nutritious for thousands of years, especially in far eastern cultures.…
As a cruciferous vegetable, pak choi is fast becoming a more popular vegetable in its own right, not just used as part of asian cooking. A member of the cabbage family, it’s one of the highest nutritionally ranked vegetables, providing high amounts of more than 21 nutrients. Even more brilliantly, as well as the usual…
Rocket isn’t just a lovely low calorie part of a summer salad; it has a wonderfully spicy flavour that can add a peppery note to omelettes, pizzas, or savoury tarts. Not just a tasty ingredient, rocket is a potent health weapon. A rich source of phytochemicals such as indoles, thiocyanates, sulforaphane, and isothiocyanates as well…
Want to supercharge your summer salads? Then make sure that crunchy cos lettuce is on your plate and it will be packed with nutrients before you add anything else. The rich nutrient profile, fibre, extremely low calorie and high water content combine to make the humble cos (also called romaine) lettuce a health superstar. An…
Food is fabulous all year round, but in summer, the freshest flavours really explode onto our plates! I’m a firm believer in all fresh foods as superfoods, but broad beans are one of those real nutrient powerhouses that absolutely must be seen regularly in a healthy diet, making the most of the seasonal stars. Health-wise,…
Are you overwhelmed by the thousands of ‘proven diets’ out there and do not know what you should be eating? Do you tend to reach out for food when you’re stressed, angry or sad? Are you feeling sluggish, low of energy and unhappy with your weight? Are you fed up and frustrated that you keep…