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…
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…
Want to supercharge your smoothies and your salads? Make sure that romaine lettuce is added to the mix and your smoothie or salad will be packed with nutrients before you add anything else! The rich nutrient profile, fibre, extremely low calorie content and high water volume combine to make the humble romaine (also called cos)…
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…
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…
For those who want to know exactly how aspartame (and other artificial sweeteners) damage our bodies, here’s a good article by Dr H J Roberts, well respected medical researcher and scientist. Scary stuff, but hopefully it will get people to understand and spread the word (especially to friends and family buying anything they think is…
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…
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…
So, for a recipe to start the new year, what about something ‘clean’? A chicken recipe, but a chilli too? After the seasonal indulgence, with a plethora of diets, detoxes and all sorts of regimes flying about (my thoughts on these later in the week!!) what we could do with is maximum nutrition, fantastic taste…
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…
How about this simple but luscious, comparatively light and healthy recipe for a bit of NYE entertaining? Really useful if you have to feed lots of people, and also easy on the crockery as napkins or picnic plates could be used Bring a fragrant, exotic flavour to your celebrations, no matter how large or small, to…
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…
Everyone who knows me and what I do will tell you that my passion lies in helping others use real food to live real life to the full, and attain real health via delicious, easy healthy eating – busy women especially, who so often put themselves last on the list because they are trying to…
To go with the release of Supercharge, and in celebration of boosting health the right way in five minutes a day with smoothies and juices, I filmed a series of video demos giving some easy hints and tips to all the health-conscious fruit and veg fans out there. You can find them on my Youtube…
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…
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,…
You might think the green juice thing is a bit off-putting for a number of reasons, but there’s nothing easier or more refreshing than cucumber and mint in a smoothie made for a summer’s day, for breakfast or a cooling snack. Peel a whole cucumber, cut small chunks straight into a smoothie maker or blender,…
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…