Fellow Cookie Monsters - This one's for you!

Do you ever remember as a child coming home after school to the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house? That feeling when you're floating on clouds and happy at the thought of eating cookies? A feeling that lasted the whole afternoon. Or perhaps it's the childhood memory of a burnt finger with the excitement of releasing your inner-cookie monster and gobbling down a few delicious bites? Or fighting with a sibling over who was going to get the last one?

I'm sure you'll all agree that here's nothing quite as wistfully wonderful and terrifically tasty as cookies that have just been airlifted out of the oven. 

That's why I wanted to create a new kind of cookie- a healthier version 2017 style! Not only are they the perfect cookie to have with your afternoon tea, they’re a great balance of equally chewy yet crunchy; a combination any cookie connoisseur will understand.  These will leave everyone in the household smiling because of that delightfully homey and oh so nostalgic: we-just-baked-delicious-cookies smell. If that doesn't make for a nostalgically good cookie, I don't know what will! 

Different from your regular sugar-laden, gluten-filled, artificially coloured cookies, mine are all the frees and tummy friendly. The main two ingredients are banana and quinoa and they make for a tasty, yet unlikely duo.

I have combined the magical power of protein-packed quinoa with comforting coconut flour to make these cookies gluten-free and because I'm all about gut health, I've added a sprinkle of my magical Love Your Gut Powder! Just a little bit of LYG powder can really go a long way. Sneaking it into treats, like these cookies, is a great way to give your gut a nice boost without ever having to think about it! I’ve done the all the hard work for you, I'm nice like that 😉

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In my life, I like to embrace nature in everything whenever and wherever possible. I enjoy my food clean and from the earth and I like the people I surround myself with to be real and honest. There’s no reason why I would want the beauty products I use be to be any different.

Unfortunately, many products that label themselves as natural are not as ‘natural’, ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘organic’ as they want you to believe.

As there is no governing standard in Australia that brands have to meet to call themselves natural, brands can do two things without breaching Consumer Laws. Firstly, companies can use words such as ‘naturally inspired’ to lead consumers into thinking that their products are natural when that is not the case.

They can also use words, like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘botanical’ so that the consumer believes they are natural, when in fact they’re not. They can also include ingredients in products that aren’t truly natural – in a ‘fake natural’ product, it’s often you might see a natural oil listed next to a mineral oil.

This lack of governing standard means there’s lots of confusion amongst those seeking out truly natural products, and an even greater need to be vigilant to know what phrases and ingredients to look out for and which ones to avoid.

It’s unclear if this level of regulation is likely to change in the future, however if people continue to voice their concerns about misleading labels then hopefully we can see some change.

Often, companies will mask unnatural products by throwing them next to a natural one in the label so it can get really confusing when searching for truly natural skincare. It’s my mission to encourage and provide you with information about how to read a label and understand what is best to avoid so that you can be on your way to becoming a naturally glowing version of yourself.

Natural, to me, means both the product’s activities and its formulations are plant-derived ingredients. I define fake naturals as products that call themselves natural but aren’t truly natural. Products that contain fake naturals can cause serious skin issues such as allergic reactions, dermatitis, skin sensitivities and blocked pores.

While these may not seem so serious to the average person, what we put into our skin is absorbed into the blood and then the rest of our body! There’s never been a more important time to take care of your skin and be aware of what you’re applying onto it.

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The humble apple is one of my greatly adored kitchen staples and today I'm sharing an apple recipe from my brand new book Fast Your Way to Wellness.

Affordable, nutritious and versatile, they’re a scrumptious fruity must-have that I love to continually replenish within my kitchen. Whether sliced thinly and thrown into salads, baked and stuffed with nuts and oats, stewed and made into apple sauce, or lovingly formed into a classic crumble, apples are the jack of all trades and a loyal friend that awaits transformation into all kinds of delectable creations.

Apples are nutritional ninjas, boasting loads of wellness boosting properties. Did you know that apples are a wonderful ingredient for regulating blood sugar? Recent studies have shown that the polyphenols contained within apples can help to prevent rollercoaster blood sugar spikes. Particular flavonoids like quercetin have the effect of inhibiting enzymes like alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase which normally break down carbohydrates into simple sugars. Therefore when you eat apples, your body deals with less simple sugars and releases you from spikes in blood sugar. (more…)