COOKING IN THE KITCHEN WITH HELLOFRESH

A few weeks ago I was invited to London for a super fun blogging event that involves one of my favourite things...food! Good food at that! I headed over to the very trendy HelloFresh HQ office in London with some other fab bloggers to whip up a storm and put our my limited cooking skills to the test – Masterchef eat your heart out.

Apart from delivering goodness to the nations doorstep with their recipe boxes, HelloFresh have just launched their new range, a tasty affordable takeout style bag called HelloFresh GO. I love the concept of this healthy hybrid that sits somewhere between take out meets homemade cooking.

CLEANSING GINGER AND LEMONGRASS TEA RECIPE

If I had shares in coffee companies I would be laughing all the way to the bank –  no joke – with my current caffeine consumption at an all time high, I swear I'm single-handedly keeping the industry afloat. Every now and again it's good to curb my intake and take stock of my habit, making room for cleansing teas and detoxifying drinks to help boost my immune system and keep me from the jitters. So I thought it would be good to post about my current health kick in an attempt to get back on track, with this cleansing Ginger and Lemongrass Tea.

I've noticed that my taste for good old English Breakfast tea has totally left me and I only seem to manage a cup of builders tea when in the throws of a hangover *shhhh*, instead opting for a cup of boiled water if I fancy a hot drink. Now although this is good for you it can get a little boring, you can imagine the conversation at friends houses over a good gossip:

 them: "ooh do you fancy a cuppa?' 

me: "mmm yes please can I have a cup of *ahem* boiled water"

 them: ".....erm yeah...sure...do you want a tea bag with that?'

So why Ginger and  Lemongrass tea? Well it packs a punch with anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, disinfectant and diuretic properties that allow you to detoxify the pancreas, kidneys, bladder and the digestive tract, while helping you eliminate excess fat much faster and reduce water retention in the body amongst other amazing health benefits. Plus when made with filtered water you know you're getting the healthiest version of this hot beverage.

It's easy to make, all you need is:

• 4-6 thin slices raw ginger

• 250-375ml water

• 1-2 tbsp honey or agave nectar

• 2 lemon slices

• 1 stick lemongrass, outer leaves removed

To make, simply peel the ginger and add to a pot of water, allowing it to boil for around 10 minutes to release the flavour and goodness. Pour into your cup or glass and add a couple of slices of lemon and sweeten with a little algarve honey. Serve with a stick of lemongrass. Alternatively to create an intense flavour crush the lemongrass with the flat side of a knife and boil alongside the ginger to create your tea. 

Now I'm not crazy enough to give up coffee completely, but I am trying to alternate my drinks in the hopes of helping kick start my health routine after a stressful few months. Kinetico have released a simple water recipe book which is free to download and is packed with refreshing summer drinks that give water a fun twist.  

*This is a collaborative post.

HEALTHY HOMEMADE FRUIT ICE CREAM RECIPE & GIVEAWAY

Since we returned from our travels there has been one thing on F's mind, and that is ice cream. Not a day goes by when I'm not being begged to buy a cone piled high with sugary vanilla or chocolate treats, and as much as I like to indulge him now and again I thought it was time to come up with a healthy homemade fruit ice cream substitute.

I've been making a real conscious effort to balance F's sweet tooth and include some goodness into his everyday diet, and even though he likes fruit and is great with savoury foods, he's often quick to ask for anything chocolate related. So when I was asked to try out the VonShef Frozen Dessert Makers the timing couldn't have been better, and I immediately started testing a few recipes to see what would work as a healthy ice cream substitute.

The machine is super easy to use and so compact that it can fit easily on the smallest of kitchen work surfaces. All you need is frozen fruit and a bowl to tuck into healthy soft scoop style ice cream, but without the preservatives, sugar, fat or dairy. Once you have your frozen fruit ready simply turn on the switch and place your fruit in the feeding chute while pressing down the plunger and out it comes.

F loved it and didn't really notice the difference which is great as I'm sneaking all sorts of goodness in, plus it's really easy to make. Here is his favourite recipes so far:

Banana and Pineapple Fruit Ice Cream

You'll need:
2 Bananas chopped
1/2 cup of Pineapple chunks
Mint Leaves

To make:

• Place chopped bananas and pineapple chunks into a container and freeze over night.
• Using the VonShef Frozen Dessert Maker, insert one frozen banana, then the pineapple chunks and then the second banana.
• Stir in a bowl to combine and serve in a dish with mint to garnish.

So simple, since then we've tried banana with strawberry and raspberries which was was promptly scoffed and I'm looking to find a way of adding avocado into the dessert for an extra health kick.

The peeps over at Domu are offering one you lovely readers the chance to win yourself your very own VonShef Frozen Dessert Makers so you can get ready for summer and make some super healthy fruit ice creams. All you need to do is enter using the options below. Good luck! x

*T&C Giveaway will run for two weeks and the winner will be drawn by random using rafflecopter on the 9th June. All entries will be verified. Prize will include a vonShef Dessert Maker. This is not exchangeable. By entering you are signing up to the Wild & Grizzly E-newsletter. Open worldwide. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FAMILY FITNESS

A few months ago we were asked whether we'd like to be involved in a Family Fitness campaign with Argos and immediately I said yes. Since January I've made a huge effort to exercise and eat healthy in a bid to be the best version of myself and I was excited for Paul and F to get involved too – you can see my last fitness update here.

We were asked to wear fitness trackers and were allowed to choose equipment that would help us in our bid to get exercising. F was super excited and straight away asked if he could get a skateboard, something he's been wanting for a while, so when it arrived with neon knee pads he couldn't wait to get outside and try it out.

Click here to read more.

MY PERSONAL FITNESS JOURNEY AND EATING HEALTHY

Over the last eight weeks I've been really focusing on getting fit and have been making dramatic changes to my eating habits. So far I've been keeping this rather quiet on the blog and IG, but I have been inspired by friends/lovely bloggers who are also on a personal fitness journey such, Keri-Anne  Gingerlilly Tea, Hayley from Southwood Stores and Catherine from The Triple Triangle, to get myself into shape. After a very over indulgent Christmas full of rich food, chocolates and crisps, I was left feeling sluggish, tired and not fitting into my usual clothes, but now spring is here I want to get back in control of my bad habits.  

I've never really been one to do sports, at school I was the kid that was last at every sport in P.E and being naturally slim I've not really paid much attention to what I eat, but as I get older I'm becoming concious of being a good role model for F when it comes to healthy eating and exercise. 

So for the last month or so I've been exercising 25 minutess a day and trying to swap meals for healthier options, using Deliciously Ella for inspiration and using an eat clean diet where possible, making sure to avoid any processed food, sugars, dairy and wheat. 

I've created a seperate IG account to keep track of my fitness progress and snap pics of my meals to keep me motivated, and I'm using my FitBit to track my progress too. 

I find exercising makes me feel happier, probably all those endorphins being released, and making smarter choices with food has really boosted my energy levels. Here are some of my recent meals:1. Fruit! I've been using fruit as a snack rather than reaching for biscuits, crisps and cakes. Plus F really enjoys coming along for the fruit haul. 2. Raw energy Coconut and Cacao Bites from Deliciosly Ella. I made a load of these with F and keep them in the fridge incase I need a boost. 3. For lunch I've been eating more open sandwiches. My favourite is Organic wholemeal Sunflower Rye Bread, avocado, tuna, sprouting lentils and tomatoes.4. Breakfast has always been a tricky one for me as it is the meal I tend skip even though it's the most important. Instead I've been trying to have an energy filled start to the day with a bowl of porridge made with Almond milk, topped with cinnamon, whole almonds and poppy seeds. 5. I have rediscovered my love for salads with this healthy Nicoise Salad made with tuna, sprouting beans instead of olives and potato, fresh peppers, egg and poppy seeds.6. Homemade soups for lunch are great as they are healthy and filling. I've been trying different recipes and always accompany it with some fruit and hot lemon water.7. Pomegranates are one of my favourite things to snack on in front of the TV. This is my weakness as I want to eat lots of crisps and dips, but as this fruit is fiddly it occupies me while wanting to snack and it's super tasty too. I'm really hoping to stick to this new way of living and I have invested in some work out gear and equipment to get me going. I'm going to post once a month about what I've been eating and also a bit more about my workout routines to keep a log of my progress and in the hopes it might be inspiring. I hope you'll follow me along my journey.

JUICE YOURSELF TO GOOD HEALTH // GREEN JUICE RECIPE

So we've all see those pictures on Instagram of glasses filled to the brim with green, and I'd always wondered what on earth was in it. I knew it was healthy and full of goodness but I'd never really tried one, preferring a fruit smoothie instead with its inviting berry hue.

So when I was asked whether I would like to try a VonShef 990W Max Fruit Juicer it seemed to slot right into my get fit health kick for 2015 and I readily went and bought a box full of fruit and veg to fill myself with goodness. On first impressions the VonShelf juicer looks great and it's not big like most juicing machines, which is handy as storage space in our kitchen is limited, plus it's a great price.

So after looking on Pinterest for different green juice recipes for inspiration I decided to wing it and create my own, something full of goodness but also naturally sweet tasting so F would enjoy it too. We set the juicer up on the kitchen counter and got started. I made sure that I cut any larger pieces of fruit into smaller pieces and cut of any stalks, and couldn't believe how simple it was to use. You put fruit in and juice comes out into the jug, et viola. Health in a glass.

It does take quite a lot of fruit and veg to get a decent glass of goodness, so I can see this being a slightly pricey option, however by shopping at our local independent grocer I can pick up a crate of fruit and veg for £15 which is about half the price of a supermarket chain, making this a more affordable health choice.

Once you've juiced the machine comes to pieces easily for cleaning, with some parts dishwasher safe making it that much more convenient, and the remaining pulp is easy to dispose of. I even used a small disposable bag tucked into the fruit pulp holder, which you can then just lift out with everything inside and throw away. I found this juicer so easy to use, easy to clean with no real faff and it makes quick great health drinks.

So there it is, another small change I've made this year in my bid to get fit I'm starting my day with a healthy juice which F also enjoys, and I'm secretly smug as he happily drinks spinach and other leafy goodness all before 8am.

To make your super green juice you'll need:

100g of baby spinach
2 red apples
3 pears
one stick of celery
half a punnet of blueberries

Juice each one remembering to cut off the stalks and half the apples, pears and celery before adding. If you're going to use lemons, oranges or limes remember to cut off all the zest and pith as this will make your juice taste bitter. Now all you need to do is pour it into a glass and enjoy. I've had helpful comments since on Instagram suggesting I try and add coconut milk or almond milk, which I can't wait to try.

I'm officially hooked on the green stuff and the best thing is there are so many great combinations to try and once you become accustomed to the taste you can reduce the amount of fruit in your juice, which in turn reduces the amount of sugar. Now I just need a great juicing recipe book, have you got any you would recommend?

DINNER TO YOUR DOOR WITH GOUSTO BOX

Image via Unsplash

In a massive effort to feel fit this year I have taken the plunge into changing my daily habits. Even though I'm a slim build my fitness levels are awful, last night I attempted my first run of 2015 and let's just say I wasn't out there for long, plus I keep promising myself I'll get back into my daily exercise routine since New Years Day, but as always there's an excuse. F is sleeping so badly at the moment that I'm scraping around 5.30 hours sleep each night, with at least several interruptions so no wonder I want to hibernate and lay low on the sofa.

So rather than push myself, I'm taking a more relaxed approach. Eating well, drinking plenty of water, daily green smoothies, 10,000+ steps a day and fitting in active exercise where I can. My one downfall after a busy day is coming up with a healthy and nutritious dinner when all I want to do is order in noodles.

So when I was asked whether I would like to try Gousto, a healthy meal delivery service I was all ears. Our box arrived filled with goodies which would allow us to cook three meals, using organic products locally sourced (where available) in the exact quantities needed to prepare a fresh dinner from scratch.

No planning, no fussing, I dived straight in and pulled out one off the three recipe cards. I decided to try the Pomegranate Glazed Kofta, which was as amazing as it sounds. This Turkish dish was ready to eat in 35 minutes alongside fluffy couscous and natural yoghurt with lightly toasted pine nuts. Mouth watering yet? If the sound of Kofta's doesn't take your fancy how about Homemade Turkey Burgers in a Brioche Bun and Caramelised Leeks and Pork. As you can tell we opted for the meat box but there is a veggie box option too.

The box also includes next weeks menu with the option to choose from 10 different meals so you can customise your box to your tastes. You can choose a 3 meal box for two people at £34.95, and for four people for £49.95, and with your first order you receive a £15 discount and there is the option of a flexible subscription.

For me I would love to have one of these delivered every other week as a great way to break up the lack of meal planning that goes on in our house and a smaller box would probably be suffice for us. It's so nice not have to worry about cooking. Oh and I'd love to show you the finished meal but the boys got to it before I could snap it, so it's a thumbs up from them!

Do you meal plan in batches or just buy groceries on the go?

*We received a meal box c/o Gousto for the purpose of this post.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I have always been keen to educate F on the delights of food and was spurred on even more when I read French Children Don't Throw Food. I discovered the curious toddlers across the channel were sampling fine cheeses such as Camenbert and Bleu d'Auvergne and *NEWS FLASH* not only surviving the experience, but enjoying it. 

I went through the whole weening stage pureeing every thing in sight to try and cultivate a seasoned palate in my small friend; I wasn't quite brave enough to try baby led weaning after a small choking incident. The outcome is a kid that will pretty much try anything but certainly has an opinion about what he won't eat. For example avocados are a big no in our house at the moment, even the smallest amount can be detected in its trojan dish and there's only so many times I can pretend that F is a giant and the broccoli on his plate is in fact a tiny tree.

Are the hours I spend letting F help prepare dinner and making food fun worth it, or will he run for the first fast food joint as soon as he hits 15? To continue this exploration of food and much to the annoyance of our local grocers, I spend time letting F touch and smell the fruit or vegetables when we are shopping, asking him questions about the colour and texture, basically pawing it for the next person to buy (sorry). If this is a way to lead him to have a healthy relationship with food when older, and by healthy I mean happy, then I'll readily take that scornful look from the lady reaching in for a peach after us.