Print Crunchy Spiced Beans Print Recipe A satisfying snack, high in quality protein, healthy fats, fibre and all sorts of nutrients. Make them your own with whatever flavours you fancy – I love paprika for its smoky depth, but other spices and herbs are fine too. Harissa, ras al hanout, za’ataar work brilliantly, or toss…
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…
Print Apple Cake With Almonds Print Recipe We all love cake, but how do you make cake healthy? Apples are definitely a fruit to eat as near to daily as you can – great for the lungs, for fighting allergies, for a healthy microbiome, and produced in the UK. Plenty of ticks in the right…
This is for whoever is looking after kids this Easter hols! Keeping the wee ‘uns occupied on rainy days while satisfying their relentlessly voracious appetites can be a session of culinary medicine education and life skills making a healthy Rocky Road sweet treat. What is this sorcery, I hear you cry? Yes, an easy Rocky…
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 absolutely love wild garlic season. Such an easy ingredient to use, so much flavour, free to forage (responsibly), and prodigiously healthy. Wild garlic is a great way to change up how you get your 3 portions of folate-rich greens every day – yes, I said 3! That doesn’t have to be hard when you…
Our energy levels are one of those health aspects that we can be guilty of vastly underestimating. Slumps and peaks are seemingly so common that we almost accept them as ‘normal’ – trust me, they’re not! If there’s one thing that can significantly improve our lives and our mental state, plus make completing those to…
The summer’s here, and the summer means strawberries. There are many ways to use them, apart from the ever-wonderful lusciously red slivers drizzled with cream. They go surprisingly well with pepper, basil, and in salads and savoury dishes, expanding their versatility beyond cakes, desserts and preserves. So I’m sharing a way of maximising the seasonal…
If your consumption of sea vegetables thus far on your culinary journey has been limited to a bit of sushi from the supermarket, then you’re missing out. Whether it’s for flavour or health, seaweed is a fantastic food to add to your diet, and best of all, it doesn’t have to be from imported sources…
As we hit the Easter celebrations, if you’re preparing to entertain the family for Easter Sunday lunch, you might be wondering what to make for dessert that is light yet indulgent, easy to do, and people-pleasing with a seriously healthy edge. For me, a cake using healthily alternative ingredients like ground almonds, polenta and dark…
Gluten isn’t always the culprit when we have problems with digestion or the gut in general. Bread isn’t the enemy! In reality, proper bread is your gut’s friend. So, how do you know whether you really do have a problem with gluten, or whether it’s something else? And how do you find a loaf that…
One of the things that I end up talking about a lot, whether in classes or with clients, is the importance of keeping blood sugar balanced throughout the day. Avoiding the late morning or mid afternoon slump that has us reaching for a quick fix is a key factor in sidestepping a number of niggles…
This seasonal recipe makes a lovely meal for all the family. Swiss chard may not be considered a staple in the diet of many in the UK, but it should be, especially when locally grown. Part of the beetroot family, it’s incredibly versatile and nutritious, but low in calories. An array of vitamins and minerals…
Whether you’re exploring the health benefits of switching to vegan or a more plant based diet, or you already eat this way, it’s crucial you make the right food choices to ensure it really is the health boost that you want it to be! It’s still very easy to eat unhealthily on a vegan diet…
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…
SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is more common in the UK than we might think. Weak, watery winter sunshine, if we get any at all, doesn’t exactly encourage us to get out and about, leaving us at risk of low vitamin D and serotonin levels. So if you, or someone you know, seems to retreat…
As the season of the flu bug approaches (and there’s always a rash of autumn colds when the schools go back) bump up your immunity by paying special attention to your fruit and veg intake. We should be eating at least 5-7 portions a day, and at least 1 portion with every meal (including breakfast). Are…
Breakfast, we’ve all been told by our mothers or grandmothers, is the most important meal of the day. If you believe what you read in the media, this ‘fact’ has been proved and disproved a thousand times in recent years, as different fads arrive and go out of fashion. The truth? Breakfast is crucial. Our…
You can’t drive anywhere in our beautiful county at the moment without seeing fields of sweet corn ears standing tall and straight, waiting for harvest. As a child, I loved nothing better than freshly picked corn on the cob, hot from the pan, and dripping with melted butter which ran down my chin as I…
After a few days of strange, unusual, and if I’m honest, chaotic events (culminating in nearly running over a suicidal seagull focused only on the lollipop clamped jealously in its beak, proving how dangerous junk food is!), I was thrilled to receive the inaugural copy of Walnut magazine – I was approached to write foodie health articles…
If you’re looking to reduce carbohydrates and increase protein in your diet, one of those foods that is the most difficult to replace is potatoes, the staple of so many meals that revolve around the traditional meat and vegetables. When it comes to family meals too, removing potatoes, and wishing to reduce tons of pasta…
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…
Pizza immediately gets classified as junk food or fast food, but in truth, a properly, or consciously, made pizza is an exceptionally healthy meal. If wheat is an issue for you, using a heritage grain like spelt can help get around that. Remember those symptoms could be due to a number of factors – see…
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…
Eggs are the ideal breakfast or light lunch choice. As a direct source of acetylcholine, the substance that works as a neurotransmitter in the brain promoting focus and concentration, it’s perfect for a day that needs you to stay sharp mentally. It’s also great for keeping you feeling fuller for longer, and getting a portion…
Early summer veg are a joy, and those first broad beans are among my favourites. Beans are such a healthy food, particularly for women – research has shown that women eating beans and pulses three or more times a week are at least 25% less likely to be diagnosed with a hormonal cancer like breast…
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…
Finding an inexpensive, simple but tasty meat option for an evening meal can be a challenge, so here’s a great way to get a nutritious, lean and delicious dinner on the table with very little effort. Pork loins are very versatile, and as long as they are not allowed to dry out or overcook, they…
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…
When it comes to healthy comfort food, soup and curry are kings! This is an absolutely gorgeous hybrid of both. Whether it’s the depths of a frosty winter, or a sunny summer’s day, Thai food goes down a treat, bursting with health and flavour. The protein of chicken and the good fats of coconut milk…
This is a lovely, indulgent meal when you have a bit more time, and want to produce an impressive supper with healthy credentials. It doesn’t get healthier than kale and mushrooms. Kale is one of the most nutritious greens, and the humble mushroom has been shown to be a veritable supercharged superfood with recent research…
There’s a perception that making your own bread is time-consuming, tricky work that can just as easily see you end up with a doorstop as with a fragrant, fluffy loaf. Fear not, though – there are some recipes and ways to make bread that almost guarantee an edible result you can be proud of! To…
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,…