When it comes to looking after your gut, one of the most important lessons in gut health is learning how to slow down, take time for yourself and savour every single little moment in your life.  This helps to relax the digestive system and make the digestive process easier.

Today I’m sharing three gut-health secret weapons, my Chamomile and Lavender Tea, a little Cumin Digestive Aid; the perfect liver detox and my delicious Anti-Inflammatory Toddy.

As soon as you wake up and reach for your daily cup of coffee- if you want to improve the health of your gut, why not try making a delicious digestive tea instead?  Certain teas are one of the easiest ways to start the day right and set you up for a good gut day.

Tea can help rejuvenate you, lift your spirits, bring you comfort and soothe an irritated gut or worried mind.  Coffee on the other hand can be acidifying, chemically laden and highly processed, for some people too much coffee can cause pain and irritation in the gut and for others who have it in latte form, the dairy can be hard to digest and lead to symptoms such as bloating and pain.

So much satisfaction can be found from hugging your favorite tea-filled mug with your hands. It’s a ritual you should never take for granted. Engaging in such a ritual helps you reconnect to yourself and digest not only the tea, but the day you’ve had or the one you’re about to embark on!

If you or your digestive system are feeling out of whack, teas and toddys can help hydrate you, relieve tension and settle down anxiety, switching your digestive system over to rest and digest mode; exactly where you need to be for optimum digestion and zero discomfort.

Some of my favorite gut-healing beverages contain the soothing blend of chamomile and lavender.  I’m also sharing my favourite anti-inflammatory warming toddy which contains cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, a pungent household spice with a long history.

If you're feeling time poor and need an instant golden latte or smoothie, my Golden Gut blend is your golden ticket to glowing gut health.  For an iron-rich morning pick me up, Love Your Gut powder can also be stirred into a smoothie or warm drink of choice.  Just taking that extra five minutes in the morning to set yourself up for a good gut day means no more bloating, aching belly, quick dashes to the loo or falling asleep at your desk. 

Particular herbs for the gut, such as chamomile and lavender are natural stress relievers. They’re both lovely herbs to soothe an upset stomach, so they’re great for people who suffer from poor digestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The delicate combination of these two calming herbs will settle your nervous system and simultaneously relax your digestive system.  It can also act as a brilliant tonic for the liver; remember this drink after a big night when you’ve had too much to drink! 

Chamomile settles down the stomach due to its antispasmodic properties. Delving in a bath filled with chamomile can bring a state of calmness to your stomach and your mind. Chamomile’s dynamic partner in relaxation, lavender, slows down the nervous system. If you’re struggling with sleeping issues, spraying some lavender oil on your pillow can help lullaby you softly to sleep.

Chamomile and Lavender Tea

Serves 2

• 2 teaspoons lavender buds
• 2 teaspoons chamomile buds
• 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) boiling filtered water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Put the lavender and chamomile in a teapot. Pour over the water, then add
the lemon juice. Infuse for 10 minutes, then pour into mugs or glasses (or strain it if you prefer) and serve.

In the cooler months, I often turn to herbal teas to hydrate me. In traditional Ayurveda and Indian style, cumin digestive aid (Jeera Vellam) is consumed like water and sipped throughout the day.

In Hindi, Jeera translates to cumin, while vellam in this context means water. In Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old approach to health, agni, known as digestive fire is kind of like the Western term for metabolism. It helps the body absorb nutrients, eliminate waste, generate warmth, and transform physical matter into energy.

At the start of the day, agni is said to be quite low, and so, it needs an easily digestible meal followed by Jeera Vellam. This beverage is also often consumed after a meal or after celebrations to help aid digestion.

Cumin has been hailed to help us assimilate nutrients and even speed up our metabolism!  Also if you’re in need of a liver detox my Cumin Digestive Aid may just be the answer. It’s filled with antioxidants to help excrete toxins from the body and help regulation.

The longer you allow the cumin seeds to soak in the water (if you have time, overnight is preferable), the more effective this drink can be. It’s my answer to reflux, gas, diarrhea and bloating.

The zing of ginger in this drink complements the earthy aroma of cumin so beautifully, I would love you to try this one and it’s so easy to make with a just a spice from your spice rack and a knob of ginger.

Cumin Digestive Aid (Jeera Vellam)

Serves 4

Drink this shot after eating to improve digestion.

• 250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) filtered water
• 1 heaped teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2.5 cm (1 inch) piece of ginger, peeled and cut into thin sticks

Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to
the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and set aside for 2 minutes before straining. Cool
to room temperature and divide between four glasses to serve.

And now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for: it’s turmeric toddy time!

My delicious anti-inflammatory toddy is perfumed with healing spices to help soothe the body.

Turmeric is one of the wonder foods we’ve heard so much about lately. The compound curcumin found within turmeric is the reason why. Curcumin is reported to reduce inflammation and pain in the digestive system.

Maybe you’ve tried making turmeric recipes before and you’ve noticed that it says to sprinkle on some black pepper?  Adding black pepper, like I do in this recipe, helps the body absorb and digest the curcumin due to its pungent piperine content. 

Black pepper has a myriad of anti-inflammatory properties too.  It’s an antioxidant that’s anti-bacterial and full of anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Another one of my favorite root herbs, ginger, is also having it’s time in the spotlight.  Ginger is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and is good for soothing headaches and aiding stomach upsets.

Turmeric and ginger can pacify the lining of the stomach and soothe the digestive tract. This is why both herbs are often prescribed as digestive aids in traditional medicine.

Some of you may be thinking – this sounds more like an intense shot or some like drinking a curry, but don’t worry.  This is where cinnamon comes in, as it’s great for adding flavor with a subtle sweetness. It’s a healthy sugar-substitute which can be sprinkled over warm beverages, breakfast cereals and desserts.

More than its flavor enhancing ability, this sweet spice can help to ease swelling after injury, lower blood sugar levels and increase immunity.

This healthy tea can be enjoyed by anyone at any time and if you don’t have cashew milk don’t worry you can use any milk you prefer, coconut is nice. By the way if you don't have all the ingredients, an easy way to make this toddy is by using one tablespoon of my Golden Gut Blend in warm milk. It's delicious! and can be used in baking and cooking too.

You’ll find these and many more recipes in my book Heal Your Gut.

Turmeric Toddy

Serves 1

• 250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) cashew or coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4  teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4  teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• pinch of vanilla powder
• pinch of freshly cracked black pepper
• 6 drops liquid stevia (optional) or raw honey
• 2 star anise (optional)

Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes or until just warmed. Add the spices, ginger, vanilla and pepper, and then stir to remove any lumps.
Remove from the heat and pour through a fine sieve to remove the grated ginger. Add the sweetener and enjoy warm.

Enjoy these soothing teas for a healthy sparkling gut. 

Have you noticed a lot more articles popping up about food waste and frugal living and the effects it can have on healthy eating?  Me too....so I today figured I’d share my thoughts on eating well on a budget. It is possible!

Being thrifty doesn’t mean we need to compromise on health or taste.  Often, frugality means not splurging on organic groceries and choosing the home brand when it comes to stocking up on necessities because their organic counterparts are jaw-droppingly expensive. But, eating well shouldn’t be expensive or difficult. Food is part of our everyday lives so it’s important to make eating well as easy and enjoyable as possible!  

Whether you’re a meat-eater, flexitarian, keto lover, paleo, vegetarian, vegan or somewhere in between, there is a way that healthy eating can work for everyone. 

So, how do we begin?

Let’s start in the kitchen, by supercharging your pantry, fridge and freezer!

Every Sunday morning, I take stock of what I have in my kitchen. I then make a list of the ingredients I need to buy so I can use up what’s already in there. If you're on a budget it helps to do a quick price comparison and check the prices at your supermarket or local grocer and think about bulk options that are available in your area.

With the busy lives that most of us lead, we tend to do many of our tasks online. We catch up with our friends online, shop for clothes online, order products online, and now, we can do our groceries online!

Sometimes, online grocery shopping can be even cheaper than your usual store and as an added bonus, it's delivered straight to your door. How easy is that?  For busy people, (working moms and dads I’m looking at you!) switching over to online shopping means you'll also avoid the hustle and bustle of the supermarket.  Plus, online stores often have special offers so keep an eye out for them. 

Depending on how often you cook and how many people you're food shopping and prepping for, you might find it worthwhile to invest in an annual membership at stores such as Sprout Market which allow you to buy natural groceries at cheaper prices. Who doesn’t love a bargain?

When I'm cooking, I like to cook simple recipes from scratch and use natural foods, herbs and a range of oils such as olive and avocado which are great for seasoning a variety of foods. When you cook yourself, you avoid buying ready-made foods which can often be loaded with unwanted ingredients and lacking in taste. So the trick to economise is,  supercharge your pantry and use economically-friendly ingredients, then choose simple recipes that make meals last the distance.  To get into this flow, all it takes is a little upfront planning.  Today I'm going to share four recipes that really go the distance from my eBook The Renewable Table, a way of eating that produces less food waste, saves money and is healthier than the average convenience meal. I call it continuum cooking.

Like good wine and cheese, some foods only get better with age (but not too much age!). Foods that improve with taste the following day have an important commonality; they consist of a multitude of herbs, spices and ingredients that add loads of flavour to a dish – think onions, garlic and peppers! Yum! 

Here is how I like to supercharge my pantry fridge and freezer with the basics so I always have options on hand to create quick, easy and affordable meals.

Herbs and spices

Keep a wide range of herbs and spices lined up in your pantry to lend a punch of flavours to your dishes. Adding an alluring blend of your favourite herbs and spices will ensure your dishes taste even better a day or even three after you’ve prepared them.

The herbs and spices you keep on hand will depend upon your particular tastes and preferences. Start by looking through the recipes that spark your interest and check to see which flavours you’ll need. They all add a delicious aroma to your meal in addition to loading your dish up with health- promoting properties. These are some of my favourite herbs and spices:

• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper

Always stock some good quality sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, which you’ll find packed full of minerals to add even more nutrition and great flavour to your cooking.

Flavour providers

Onions and garlic both from the Allium family are two of my favourite flavour accompaniments to use in cooking. Onions and garlic don’t just play an important culinary role; they also contain a plethora of health benefits.

When you start by sautéing onion or garlic at the beginning of your cooking, you’ll find they’ll unleash a powerful flavour that lends itself to releasing the aromas of other ingredients in your dish.

When continuum cooking, this is a really important first step, as the strong flavour combinations will only increase the longer you wait to eat it. This is perfect for renewable dishes you plan on reheating in a few days’ time.

Both onions and garlic can play a vital role in protecting your immune system and keeping you feeling strong and well. Onions can reduce the symptoms of bronchitis and the common cold. Garlic has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can strengthen your immune system overall, making you less vulnerable to contracting infections.

Some of my favourite flavour providers:

• Nutritional Yeast
• Tamari
• Natural seasoning
• Coconut Aminos
• Organic Sprinkles

Grains and Staples

An absolute staple, grains, are one of the most affordable ingredients you can add to any meal of the day. Use grains and seeds such as brown rice, quinoa, and quinoa flakes to create hearty and nourishing dishes.

Each one of these grains and seeds is versatile, budget- friendly and last for months, sealed in a jar in your pantry, alleviating the need for excess waste.

When reheating renewable meals, add some brown or green rice to bulk up the dish, allowing it to serve a larger group of people whilst at the same time, becoming even more affordable. Both brown and green rice are full of fibre and a great way to satisfy your tummy when you’re famished or in need of an injection of B vitamins.

Re-purposing last night’s roast meat or vegetables into a fried rice is super-fast and makes for a tasty and convenient work lunch.

Quinoa has become more popular over the last few years and is one of the more affordable and versatile ‘powerfoods’ of today. One of my favourite renewable sequences that you’ll enjoy going on a culinary adventure with is my garlic and lemony chicken roast, and then the following day, turning the uneaten portions into a chicken quinoa meal with roast vegetables.

Supercharged Tip: Be sure to soak your quinoa the night before. This century-old process of soaking helps to break down the anti-nutrients and hard-to-digest components of the seed to avoid tummy upsets or bloating.

Buckwheat is another grain that has become popular in recent times and is a scrumptious alternative to rice or made into porridge for a warming winter breakfast. Diets that contain buckwheat have been linked to lowered risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. If you’re feeling adventurous, try scattering some activated buckwheat grains over your berries or yoghurt to add to your daily nutrient needs and for added texture.

On a cold winter’s morning, creating porridge with oats is a perfect way to start the day. Affordable, tasty and tremendously satisfying, oats are high in fibre and a perfect way to ensure the family are ready and alert for an energised day ahead.

If you’re gluten intolerant, you may find discomfort with ordinary oats, so look for the gluten-free oats or use organic quinoa flakes, to ensure your tummy has a pleasured experience and not an excruciating one.

Tinned Tomatoes

From pasta sauces, to vegetable bakes, soups to casseroles, there’s no limit to what trusted tinned tomatoes can do for your kitchen.

Adding a richness of flavour to your meal, tinned tomatoes are a versatile and low-calorie product imperative to have on hand in your pantry.

When transforming a roast into a stew, or converting unused vegetables into pasta, tinned tomatoes and tomato puree are essential for simple and budget-friendly continuum cooking.

Dressings, oils and vinegars

To add some instant flavour and bring your ingredients together, maintain a few basic dressings, oils and vinegar. Start with wheat free tamari, apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Wheat free tamari is a thicker, less salty, fermented soy sauce and can be used in Asian and non-Asian cooking to add a full, savoury, umami flavour to your dishes.

Originally used as a food preservative, vinegar is a must-have condiment in your kitchen to add flavour and an acidic balance to your dish. Apple cider vinegar, different to apple cider is delicious as a marinade or salad dressing, and is known for its vast list of medicinal benefits, including balancing blood sugar levels, promoting heart health, aiding weight loss, supporting digestion and providing an energy boost.

Try adding two tbsp of apple cider vinegar to 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic and pinch of sea salt as a delightful dressing to drizzle over your next salad or vegetable dish.

Extra virgin olive oil is a necessity in a renewable kitchen and you may find yourself using this tasty condiment daily.

The “extra virgin” refers to the oil being of the highest quality and usually has to pass a large number of tests and meet a range of strict standards to be classed as extra virgin. It should be produced by olives that are disease-free, harvested at the right time and processed immediately.

Extra virgin olive oil is completely natural, very high in antioxidants and contains anti-inflammatory qualities, making it a nutritious addition to your dish. Plus it tastes so rich and charming; no wonder the Italians add it to everything!

Other Dressings and Oils I'm loving at the moment include: 

• Hemp Seed Oil!
• This low-calorie dressing of Olive Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar and yummy herbs
• Coconut Vinegar
• Coconut Liquid Aminos

Seeds and nuts

Nuts and seeds are some of the most versatile ingredients, adding a rich flavour to your sweet or savoury recipe. When creating a renewable table, the addition of nuts or seeds can transform the texture of your next meal while adding a boost of nutrients to help you meet your daily nutrition quota. They also taste great on their own as a cheeky little nibble.

Keep on hand almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios. Each of these nuts contain essential good fats that promote skin and heart health and are a good source of plant-based protein.

If you haven’t experimented much with seeds, try chia and flax seeds. Sprinkle chia seeds over your breakfast parfait, or simply scatter over a fruit salad for some added protein and fibre.

When handling flax seeds (sometimes referred to as linseeds) you can eat them whole, sprinkling over your breakfast or using them to create homemade muesli bars – a great afternoon snack for the kids. 

Another way to consume flaxseeds is by blending them into a meal, or you can buy the flaxseed meal already blended at your local supermarket or health food store; this is a handy grain-free ingredient for creating breads and muffins.

Nut and seed butters are becoming more popular and are a tasty and nutritious spread to add to biscuits or for dipping vegetable sticks. A favourite of mine is tahini, which is made from ground sesame seeds. You can purchase hulled or unhulled tahini; however the unhulled version is more nutrient-rich, with more than ten times the amount of calcium.

Other nuts and seeds I'm loving:

• Hemp seeds (of course)
• Cacao nibs
• Super Seed Sprinkles
• Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter with Choc Chips
• Super Smooth Peanut Butter
• ABC Nut butter

Non-Dairy Milks

For those who are dairy intolerant or looking to reduce dairy intake, start celebrating for the vast selection of non-dairy milks now available. A natural nut milk or oat milk is a delightful non-dairy option to add to your breakfast muesli or porridge. If you want an extra treat, I'm going nuts over hazelnut chocolate milk and the almond-chocolate milk. If you’re extra handy in the kitchen, make your own!

Natural sweeteners

An alternative to refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners like rice malt syrup or raw honey, are the perfect solution to satisfy your sweet tooth whilst protecting your waistline.

Creating fun recipes like my Coconut Banana Bread will enable you to stay on track and avoid binge eating or ice cream remorse that can often accompany a overdose of processed sweet stuff.

After a natural sweetener with zero calories? Try stevia, which is a sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species stevia. Add a pinch of stevia to your tea or in place of other sweeteners while creating sweet treats. As stevia is much sweeter than natural sugar, you only need to use a fraction of stevia. For example, for every tsp of sugar, you only need a pinch of stevia. Taste as you go, and then add more according to your liking. If stevia's not your thing, coconut sugar and coconut syrup are a great alternative. 

Fresh vs. Frozen 

Contrary to popular belief, 'fresh produce' doesn’t always necessarily mean it’s really fresh. The fresh fruits and vegetables you buy at your local supermarket may already be a week old by the time they put on display. If you don’t have access to a farmer’s market nearby, it’s not a bad idea to opt for frozen. Whilst the texture might not be the greatest, frozen produce might sometimes be even healthier because they are frozen immediately which locks in all the essential nutrients.

You get home from work hungry and tired, and there are no fresh ingredients in the refrigerator but you want to eat something right away. Your first thought might be what’s the number to order in?

The perfect solution is to have a couple of packets of snap frozen vegetables in your freezer. Stock up on edamame peas, spinach, broccoli and green beans. They’ll come in handy when you need a quick healthy bite.

Then all you need to do is fling open the doors of your pantry and add your choice of pulses and tinned tomatoes or a pre-made sauce, and voila! You have everything you need to create a nutritious dinner that takes just minutes to prepare.

Frozen berries

A final must-have for your freezer is frozen berries. Anti-oxidant rich berries assist with aiding weight loss, diabetes management, and lowering blood pressure. Loaded with vitamin C, berries can protect with health of collagen, promote radiant skin and healthy hair, and may reduce the risk of cataracts, arthritis and macular degeneration.

Apart from the extensive list of health benefits, you’ll find yourself eating berries simply because they taste so sweet and satisfying.

Fresh berries are delicious, however if you know you have a busy week and may run the risk of wasting those sweet fruits, keeping frozen berries on hand gives you that sense of security knowing you won’t have a wastage situation on your hands.

Frozen berries are a convenient solution for an uplifting smoothie or a refreshing breakfast idea, scattering berries over a granola or yogurt. Try mixing frozen berries in your next sweet dessert recipe,

So, now we've stocked the cupboards, what's next?

It's cooking time!

I know you’re probably taking out your phone and about to open your favourite delivery app because cooking your own food every day sounds like a hard task but listen up! It can actually be easier AND cheaper to go from takeaway meals to homemade meals.

This may sound like a hard task but when we replace the convenience of buying store bought meals in a bid to be savvy and eat healthy, food choices don’t need to be a challenge.

I have come up with four recipes that are part of a renewable table. This means that we can use base ingredients to create four (yes you heard that right, four!) meals over four days. Have a cooking day on a Sunday and you'll save yourself a lot of time through the week.

Recipe A: Chickpea Curry 

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic clove, crushed
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon brown mustard seeds
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 cups home-made vegetable stock
• 1 tin diced tomatoes
• 3 x 400g canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked brown rice and steamed green vegetables to serve, enough for 4 people

Method

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until onions slightly sweat.
• Add the garlic and spices, cooking for a further 2 – 3 minutes.
• Add vegetable stock and tomato, and then bring to the boil and let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add chickpeas and let simmer for a further 5 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Split the mixture into 2 portions, setting aside half to be used for the remainder of recipes in this sequence. Store as per instructions below.
• Add the cooked brown rice to 4 serving bowls, and top with 1/4 of the chickpea curry in each. Add steamed vegetables and serve.

Once the unused portion of curry has cooled to room temperature, place in a sealed glass container and store in the refrigerator. Curry will last for 4 days in the fridge.

Recipe B: Gourmet Sandwich with Indian-spiced Hummus

Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

Hummus

Leftover curry from Recipe A above (half of the original curry recipe)

• 50ml olive oil
• 1 tbsp tahini
• ½ clove garlic
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• Juice of ½ lemon

Sandwich

• 8 slices of gluten free bread or bread of choice
• 20 slices of eggplant, grilled (setting aside 12 slices for future recipes in the sequence.)
• 8 cos lettuce leaves
• 1 large tomato slice.
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Separate the chickpeas from curry liquid. Place chickpeas into a high-speed blender and all other hummus ingredients.
• Blend until smooth and combined.
• • (Note: save the remainder of the curry liquid as a nourishing drink or as a base for your next curry or stew by storing in a jar and leaving in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freezing for up to 2 months).
• Set aside 2/3 of the prepared hummus for Recipe C and D of this sequence by storing in a tightly sealed bowl and refrigerating for up to 4 days.
• Prepare sandwiches by laying out 4 slices of bread, spreading hummus evenly across each slice, and then adding 2 slices of eggplant, 2 lettuce leaves and ¼ of the sliced tomato across each slice.  Season with salt and pepper, then cover with partnering slice of bread.

Recipe C: Mezze Plate

Place all of the below recipes onto your mezze plate.

Ingredients:

Hummus

• ½ of the leftover hummus from Recipe B, with the remaining portion for Recipe D below
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil
• Sprinkle paprika

Parsley, goat’s feta and pine nut dip

(Tip: Make a batch of this on your cooking day to save you time later)

• 2 bunches of parsley, without stems
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ½ cup pine nuts
• 200g goat’s feta (reserve 100 gms for Recipe D)
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra pine nuts and parsley leaves to garnish

Wheat-free Tabbouleh

(Tip: Make a batch of this on your continuum cooking day to save you time later!)

• 70g quinoa, rinsed
• 80g flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 handful mint, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 80ml lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small Lebanese cucumber, diced
• 4 vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
• 3 spring onions, sliced

Method

Hummus

• Add leftover hummus to a serving bowl and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• Sprinkle with paprika.

Eggplant

• Chop 4 slices eggplant into squares and sprinkle with sea salt.

Parsley, goat’s feta and pine nut dip

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until combined.
• Place into a serving bowl and sprinkle with extra pine nuts and parsley leaves to garnish.

Wheat-free Tabbouleh

• Cook the quinoa in a saucepan of simmering water until tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a bowl, place the parsley, mint, garlic, salt, lemon juice and zest, olive oil, cucumber, tomatoes and spring onion, mixing all ingredients until well combined.
• Season with freshly ground black pepper.
• Stir through the quinoa and mix thoroughly.
• Place 2/3 of the mixture into a bowl to serve. With the remaining 1/3, set aside for Recipe D below, placing into a sealed container and storing in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe D: Baked Falafel Burgers with Tabouleh and Spicy Hummus

This the perfect mid-week dinner, or a mouth-watering lunch meal that’s easy to store and take to work. With most the elements already prepared, you’ll effortlessly create this gourmet burger with plenty of time to sit and enjoy.

Makes 4 burgers

Ingredients:

Falafel balls

• 75g sunflower seeds
• 80g cashews
• 1 tbsp organic nut butter, softened
• 2 tbsp basil leaves, chopped
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves
• 2 tbsp chopped red capsicum
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ shallot, chopped
• Pinch sea salt
• 40g toasted sesame seeds, for coating

Burger

• 8 x slices of gluten free bread/quinoa bread/rosemary and flaxseed bread to make 4 burgers
• Leftover Hummus
• Leftover tabbouleh
• Leftover eggplant slices
• 8 crispy lettuce leaves
• 100 gms leftover goat’s feta
• Pinch of sea salt to taste

Method

Falafel balls

• Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius and line a baking tray with baking paper.
• Place all falafel ingredients, except sesame seeds, in a food processor and pulse until thoroughly blended.
• Use a spoon to form 4 falafel balls, flattening out the ball to form patty shapes.
• Coat in the sesame seeds, transfer to the baking tray and bake for 15 minutes until crispy.

Burger

• To build burger, heat each slice of bread under a grill for a few minutes to slightly heat and colour the top.
• Lay out 4 slices and spread hummus on each.
• Stack the 2 slices of eggplant, goat’s feta and falafel patty on top, place crispy lettuce on the plate and spoon in some tabouleh.  Top sandwich with the second piece of bread to form the burger.

I hope this has given you a few ideas to supercharge your kitchen and meals!

Lee xo

Here in Sydney we're in the midst of a cold snap.  Food-wise, soups are one of the most popular winter meals for chilly nights. They’re warm, simple, nourishing and oh-so-satisfying. And they’re healthy too.  Creating a homemade soup can increase your intake of veggies, water and fibre which can help relieve that sluggish feeling that often accompanies the colder weather.

When you think back in time to your favourite winter soup, do you dream fondly of grandma’s homemade chicken noodle soup, or a massive bowl of fragrant Thai noodle soup?.

Today I’ve recreated these favourites with a modern zoodle twist.   If you’re attempting to satisfy your cravings for your grandparent’s famous soup by picking up quick takeaways like pho or ramen all winter long, I’ve got an easy trick for you to make your own healthy versions, minus the additives and sugar and double the taste!

I’ve modernized two of my favourite old school noodle soups and they do indeed, feel like a cuddle for your insides. They’re as warm and nourishing as they are delicious and perfect for the cold weather. I’ve created a Chicken, Edamame and Zucchini Noodle Soup plus a Thai Prawn and Peanut variety.

But first, I bring you – Zoodles.

If you’re unfamiliar with zoodles, they’re zucchinis, or courgettes, that’ve been spiralised into a noodle-like shape and texture. Spiralizers are inexpensive and super handy. You can spiralise so many vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots and even cucumbers! If you don’t have a spiralizer and aren’t sure you’re ready for the commitment yet, you can try improvising with a peeler or mandolin.

For those of you avid noodle fans who think that zoodles are just an impasta, you may be rolling your eyes and not willing to try out zoodles but hear me out! Zucchini’s are high in fibre so they’ll keep you fuller for longer and help get things moving on the inside. They’re also known to help you lose weight and boost the nutrient value of your diet. Zucchini’s are high in vitamin C and vitamin A which means they’re great for your overall immunity, heart and eye health.

It’s so easy to zoodle your way through winter with some delicious zoodle soups! They’re just like grandma used to make, only upcycled.  

Chicken, Edamame and Zucchini Noodle

There’s a reason mum used to make chicken soup when you were sick! Chicken soup is satisfying and the perfect meal to help cure a cold and supercharge your winter.

Ginger, garlic and onion, are full of wonderful flavours and anti-virals that help reduce inflammation, stimulate circulation and boost the immune system. The edamame beans are the perfect swap for your regular croutons because they’re high in protein, don’t raise blood sugar levels and may help to lower cholesterol.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1 brown onion chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 5 sage leaves
• 1 inch knob ginger grated
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• Pinch smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 4 chicken thighs, bone-in
• 7 cups chicken broth
• 1 lime juiced plus 1 tsp zest
• 2 TBS coconut aminos or tamari sauce
• ½ cup edamame beans
• 3 medium zucchinis spiralised

Method:

• Sauté the onions, garlic and sage leaves in the olive oil in a pot on medium heat.
• Once the onions become transparent, add ginger, celery and carrot. Sauté until browned
• Add in the paprika, thyme and oregano and cook for another 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Place chicken thighs into the pan and add broth, lime and zest and bring to the boil then simmer for 25 minutes
• Add the coconut aminos or tamari, edamame beans and zucchini noddles and cook for a further 5 minutes being careful not to over cook the zoodles.

Thai Prawn, Peanut and Zoodle

Why order takeout Thai when you can enjoy the pure flavours of this exotic zoodley soup? Prawns provide you a filling source of protein, whilst zucchini noodles (zoodles) offer a more easily digestible option to wheat and white rice noodles that send your blood sugars on a rollercoaster. Enjoy as a light lunch or dinner, or throw in a thermos and savour at the office.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs coconut oil
• 1 TBS green curry paste
• 2 TBS smooth peanut putter
• Thumb sized piece of ginger cut into matchsticks
• 4 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 anchovies chopped (optional)
• 1 400 ml can coconut milk
• 200 ml fish stock
• 2 TBS wheat free tamari
• Juice one lime
• 1 red chili finely sliced
• 200 gms prawns washed and patted dry
• 2 zucchinis spiralised
• Handful of coriander

Method:

• Heat oil and add curry paste, nut butter, and sizzle for one minute
• Add ginger, lime leaves, anchovies if using, coconut milk and stock and bring to the boil stirring for about five minutes. Add tamari, lime, and chilli and cook for one minute
• Stir in prawns and zucchini noodles and cook for a 4-5 minutes until prawns are cooked and zucchini is softened but still aldente
• Serve with coriander

Give these soups a whirl and let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Photography (Blue Rust Images). 

Clear some room in your tea cupboard and move your spice rack a little to the left. My brand new Golden Gut Blend is here to brighten up your life. 

If you're keen to get your daily dose of gut-loving golden spice and everything nice, then you've come to the right place.  Golden Gut is a versatile blend that can be used to create delicious fudge, gooey gummy bears, slurpable smoothies, toasty lattes, soothing nice cream, and even the most memorable curries and heart-warming casseroles for the whole family. And if that's not enough, you can also sprinkle it on soups and porridge!

So you may be asking, what powerful ingredients have I included in the Supercharged recipe and why is it helping people to win the gut-healing race?

In essence, Golden Gut Blend is a combination of tasty turmeric, spices and super premium 'Love Your Gut' diatomaceous earth. It contains organic food-grade diatomaceous earth, naturally de-bittered organic turmeric, certified organic ginger, certified organic cinnamon and certified organic black pepper! 

It’s a beautifully delicious, gut-loving addition to any drink or meal, plus it ticks all the boxes, as a raw whole food that's gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, low in fat and vegan-friendly with no added sugar or caffeine.

Wondering why you need Golden Gut Blend in your life?

If you've become accustomed to feeling lethargic, low on energy or find yourself feeling just plain worn out, my Golden Gut Blend may just be what you're looking for. It's high in absorbable iron to help boost your overall energy levels, brain function and immune system. It's also rich in minerals, particularly silica, which is great for strengthening your skin, nails and hair. 

The diatomaceous earth component helps to improve nutrient absorption, digestion and regulation. Golden Gut offers a super natural approach to gut health so you can say goodbye to indigestion, and embarrassing symptoms for good. Get ready to say goodbye to bloating and hello to that tummy you've always dreamed of!

Ready for your skin to glow? Golden Gut Blend contains curcumin, the active constituent found in turmeric. Curcumin has a range of anti-inflammatory properties and can offer a huge boost to your immune system. Turmeric can be extremely beneficial in weight-loss, lowering insulin resistance and activating fat-burning genes. 

Turmeric works wonders for pH levels and helps to create a healthy alkaline environment within the body, boosting your energy levels and making you less prone to over-acidity. I've also included organic pepper to help us absorb all of turmeric's goodness to to add a little spice.

I know what you're thinking - this is great and all but HOW do I use this magical gut-loving blend in my everyday life?

You can use the blend in smoothies, lattes, nice cream, roasted veg bowls, eggs, curries and casseroles, sprinkle it on soups and make delicious fudge and gummy bears with it too! Drink it. Blend it. Mix it. Sprinkle it. Bake it. Love it!

Let's start from the very beginning of the day, always a good place to begin.

I like to kickstart the day with a digestive shot - so just use 1/2 tsp of powder in a little shot of warm water before meals to aid digestion.

For breakfast, you can add the powder to scrambled eggs or tofu, sprinkle it on top of poached eggs, or even add 1 tbsp to smoothies. If you have a sweet tooth (guilty!) and the weather is warm, "nice cream" may be the perfect way to start your day. Just use 1 tbsp of powder with 2 frozen bananas, 2 tbsp nut butter and 1/4 cup of chilled coconut milk. Too easy!

When you're in need of a mid-morning pick-me-up, I have the easiest Turmeric Latte recipe for you. Just mix 1 tbsp of powder with your favourite hot milk. You can strain if preferred but it's absolutely not necessary, as the blend mixes easily with no clumps, then drink up!

Moving onto savoury foods... I love to sprinkle my blend into curries, stir fries and even baked veggies. Or, if you're looking for something hearty with a little sprinkle of golden magic, my Spicy Lamb Koftas are the perfect comfort food. They're great for a mid-week dinner and are sure to help put a spring in your step. 

In need of a tasty dessert? I've got a ton of deliciously golden gut-healing recipes! Try out my insta-famous One-Bowl Turmeric Fudge  or have a go at my favourite break-apart turmeric tummy bark. Yum!

This powder is made in Australia with the finest imported ingredients.

Storage: keep it dry, below 30 degrees Celsius and away from direct sunlight.

Gut ready for Golden Gut! You can order and find out more about it and it's benefits here. 

I'm going back to the future.

I love blogging and sharing my food adventures with you.

And you sharing right back.

It's what Supercharged Food is all about and why I started blogging in the first place.

So, I’ve decided I’m going back to basics.

You know, when the blogger make a recipe at home in their kitchen, away from the hullabaloo that is life?

Forget FaceTime! Let's get back to face to face time.

Say hello to good old-fashioned, simple Supercharged food blogs.

Here’s the first…

Curate your date night with my Oven Baked Veg and Garlic Soup with Toasted Seeds.

Whether you’re facing first-date butterflies and you want to seriously impress your first date or, you want to make your long-time partner feel a little more special, this SOUPercharged recipe is sure to do the trick. 

Get changed out of your tracksuit pants and throw on your fanciest get-up because date night at home need not be casual!

You don’t need a specific day to show someone you love them. Sometimes love can come through in the simplest of gestures - like making a warming pot of soup with some candles and soft tunes to gently sway to on the couch. 

This baked veg soup is husband-approved and absolutely fool-proof. You can even throw it together while you're getting home from a long day. It's sure to warm you both up from the inside out. 

So, what makes this soup so soupercharged? The cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower, can help fight inflammation because it's rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Whilst garlic can help lower cholesterol and combat heart disease!  Who knew healthy eating could be so sexy?

Don't forget the seedy topping! Seeds are rich in  zinc - a crucial but often forgotten mineral that helps with growth, immunity and can even improve our skin.

And of course, the best part of having a date night at home is what happens after dinner...... 😉

Get your head out of the gutter - I'm a food blogger after all! 

I'm talking about DESSERT. 

Be sure to try out my love heart chocolates. These indulgent delights, with their special smooth and velvety texture and chocolaty buttery taste, are melt-in-your mouth good.  

You'll wonder why you ever made reservations in the first place...

Oven Baked Veg and Garlic Soup with Toasted Seeds

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cauliflower cut into florets
• 2 zucchinis chopped into cubes
• 1 carrot chopped into cubes
• 1/2 bulb garlic unpeeled (about 6 cloves)
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• Pinch chili flakes
• 1 knob butter or 1 tbs olive oil
• 500gms veg or beef stock
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 2 tbs wheat free tamari
• 1 tsp ginger grated

Top with:

• 1/4 cup toasted seeds
• Fresh coriander

Method:

Heat oven to 240 degrees Celsius

Place veg and garlic on a baking tray and splosh with olive oil then add spices and stir to coat

Bake for 25 to 30 mins

Once ready heat butter/oil in heavy based saucepan

Squeeze garlic into pan and break up with a wooden spoon

Place veg into pan and stir

Add stock and remaining ingredients and stir then bring to the boil and reduce heat place on lid and simmer for 10 mins

Ladle into bowls and top with toasted seeds and fresh coriander

I think we all know those people who love and embrace everything about India, the sights, the culture, the colours and especially the FOOD!

Some of them take trips every year, stay at a minimalist yoga retreat and come back totally ‘spiritual’, #cultured and a changed person. 

If you're one of those people or anything like me, half Indian and half English and living between two cultures, or if you're just looking for a gentle reminder to get your 'Eat Pray Love' on, then you’ve come to the right place! 

If an Ashram sounds a little too hard-core right now, I’ve got the perfect dish that’ll make you feel as if you’re ‘connecting to your core’ and being healed internally by the local medicine man.

Transform your kitchen into an Indian land of spices with all of the aromatic colours and flavours of this beautiful country. I’m helping you put the authentic back into Indian food with a DAHLiciously easy dinner that is equally warm, comforting, wholesome and supercharged!.

Indian food has a way of catering to everyone’s food preferences – whether you’re gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free or anything else-free, this dahl can be catered to suit your needs. It’s Indian cooking made easy and people-friendly.

So, what is Dahl (or daal or dal)? It’s an Indian dish of curried, spiced lentils. It’s one of my favourite meals to make when I’m in a CURRY because it’s quick and simple. I’ve included anti-inflammatory turmeric, high-fibre lentils, antioxidant-rich garlic, nausea-relieving ginger and digestive-improving cumin to make this dahl rich in nutrients and perfectly grounding. This superb combination is warming and immune-boosting to help fight off colds all year long.

Growing up with my Indian background, lentil dahl has always made me feel at home.  If you want to know more about my ever-evolving love of India and Ayurveda, you can read about my Indian adventures or check out my Ayurvedic-inspired book, Eat Right for Your Shape. 

Let’s talk about the star of this Bollywood show - Lentils!

Lentils aren't just a good option for plant-based enthusiasts. These legumes punch way above their weight when it comes to protein, iron and nutrients.

Lentils are a low-calorie, nutrient-packed legume with a nutty and earthy flavour. They contain a great source of prebiotics which means they benefit our existing gut bacteria and feed our communities of healthy flora to keep  everything running smoothly :oops:.  Lentils also contain dietary fibre, protein, iron, B1, zinc, potassium and more!

Because they're high in insoluble fibre, they can help prevent constipation and even relieve irritable bowel syndrome.  They're a plant-based source of both protein and iron that can help lower cholesterol, stabilise blood sugar and look after heart health. These little legumes can also help with weight loss because they’re high in nutrients like fibre, protein, minerals and vitamins and low in calories which means they keep us full and satisfied - Bonus!

Just remember, lentils aren't everyone's best friend. They can increase flatulence so if you're trying them out for the first time, I suggest eating them with close friends or family or soaking them beforehand. 

Supercharged Dhal

Just like fine wine and cheese, there’s something about dahl that only gets better with age. This dahl makes for the perfect lunch the next day. That's, if you haven’t finished it before then!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups red lentils rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable stock or water
• 2 tsps turmeric
• 2 knobs unsalted butter
• 2 tsps cumin seeds
• 3 cardamom pods lightly crushed
• 4 cloves
• 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 fresh green chilli deseeded and finely sliced
• 1 inch piece ginger grated
• 1 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 inch cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp coriander
• pinch sea salt

Method: 

Place the lentils in a pan add stock or water to cover and bring to the boil (skimming off any scum that rises to the top).  Once boiled turn heat down to a gentle simmer and add turmeric and 1 knob butter. Cover with a lid, and let simmer (about 15 mins) stirring occasionally and adding more liquid if required.

In a small frying pan, over a medium heat place a small amount of butter and add cumin seeds, cardamom pods, cloves and fry for about a minute until fragrant (the seeds may pop).

Remove the tempered spices from the pan and set aside in a small bowl.

Melt remaining butter in the same frying pan over a medium heat and fry garlic, onion, chillies, grated ginger and tomatoes, add the cinnamon, coriander and tempered spices and cook until onion is translucent.

Remove from the heat and set aside until lentils are cooked through, then stir through spice mix.

Season to taste, ladle into bowls and serve with fresh coriander.

I know that after a busy day at work, the last thing that most people want to do is figure out what they should have for dinner, let alone lunch the next day!  Working for hours on end and trying to be healthy may seem like two things that don’t necessarily go together but I’m here to show you that healthy eating doesn’t have to be time consuming or over complicated. I’ve got some great recipes for you to take to work with you that are fast and easy to prepare.

Sometimes, the thought of picking up something on your lunch break from the local food hall or fast food chain might seem like the only available food option. However, pre-preparing healthy food for work can not only save you money, but it can also save you time in the long run so that you can sit down and enjoy your lunch that has already been made by you. 

Eating healthily and preparing meals to nourish can also help to improve your work performance, and it can be simple to prepare healthy food the night before so that you can just grab it and go in the morning. If you’re reading this and it seems to you like an impossible feat, I’m here to show you that healthy lunches can be an achievable change in your workdays and really, it all comes down to mindset. 

The number one word I’m going to use here is preparation.  Preparing food, the night before or even preparing a few meals on the weekend, can save a lot of time and unnecessary stress in the morning. I’ll often cook more for dinner and take the rest as a takeaway. For example, if I’m making a salad, I’ll take some out before serving and put it in a container, and then dress the rest. This means the next morning it will still be fresh and delicious for the day and then all it needs is a protein source like a can of tuna in olive oil which I put in my bag and I’ll take a lemon with me to work (I work from the local library) and then at lunchtime, I'll dress the salad from there.

I’d love to share with you two of my favourite "Totally Totable" recipes from my latest book Fast Your Way to Wellness.

The first is a scrumptious Bento Box and secondly my Vegie Nori Wraps which are fun to make. Not only are these meals simple to prepare and delicious, they’ll also make all your co-workers extremely jealous by how good they look! They’re easy enough to transport to work and will help keep you focused for the day ahead.

The Supercharged Bento Box is a combination of everything to satisfy you fully! There’s a section packed with protein, another filled with complex carbohydrates, the third with vibrant veggies and of course the last one has a sweet little treat. I like to keep my meals balanced and like most, love having dessert to look forward to.

Nori is the main star of my Veggie Nori Wraps. Nori is an edible seaweed that is low in calories and rich in protein, iodine and fibre, making it a perfect lunchtime mix. Nori is packed full of B vitamins, especially B12, which is hard to find in vegetarian foods. This simple seaweed is also high in minerals and amino acids to maintain health as it controls everything from the immune system to mood.

Supercharged Bento Box

421 calories per serve (1763 kJ)

Serves 1

This meal has saved me time and time again! It’s a little bit like a throw-all-the-good-contents-from-the-fridge-into-a-container and it will no doubt taste delicious kind of meal.  This is easiest to eat from a bento box or lunchbox with four separate sections. Once it’s assembled, just refrigerate it for lunch the following day. Easy!

Sesame slaw with tahini and orange dressing

• 15 g (1/2 oz/1/4 cup) shredded green cabbage
• 15 g (1/2 oz/1/4 cup) shredded red cabbage
• 40 g (11/2 oz/ 1/4 cup) grated carrot
• a few mint stalks, chopped
• a few parsley stalks, chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped spring onion (scallion)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted in a dry frying pan

DRESSING

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon tahini
• finely grated zest of 1/2 orange
• Celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine all the slaw ingredients except the sesame seeds and put in a section of the box. Combine the dressing ingredients, adding filtered water as needed, then pour over the salad. Top with the sesame seeds.

Sardines with Lemon and Pepper

• 45 g (11/2 oz) tinned sardines
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 lemon wedge

Drain the sardines and place in a section of your box. Season with pepper and add the lemon wedge.

Zesty Quinoa

• 110 g (41/4 oz/1/2 cup) cooked quinoa (make this the night before or on the weekend and store in fridge)
• finely grated zest of 1 lime
• Celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine the quinoa and lime zest, then season with salt and pepper.

Transfer to a section of your box.

Sweet treat

Put a small handful of berries in the last section of the box for dessert.

Vegetable Nori Wraps

181 calories per serve (758 kJ)

These wraps are satisfyingly simple. Feel free to make them your own – add any additional veggies you like to the mix! Packing these nori rolls for lunch will keep your nourished and grounded when you’re on the go.

Serves 2

• 1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari
• 2 teaspoons rice malt (brown rice) syrup or raw honey
• 2 nori sheets
• 1 tablespoon nut butter (cashew nut butter works well)
• a few handfuls of baby English spinach leaves
• 40 g (11/2 oz/1/2 cup) shredded red cabbage
• 1/2 large carrot, grated
• 100 g (31/2 oz/about 1/2 large) avocado, sliced
• small handful of coriander (cilantro), chopped

Note; You can add a protein source to this recipe too, tuna or salmon is nice!

Combine the tamari and rice malt syrup in a small bowl. Lay one of the nori sheets on a clean work surface with a long side facing you and the shiny side down, then evenly spread half the nut butter over it, leaving a 3 cm (11/4 in) border on the top side.

Spread about one-third of the tamari mixture over the nut butter. Spread a tiny bit of tamari on the top side to help the wrap stay rolled up.

Put your desired amount of spinach on top of the nut butter and tamari layers, followed by half of each of the remaining ingredients. Be sure not to pile on too much or the wrap could break when you roll it up.

Roll the nori up away from you until sealed. Cut into three. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Wrap in plastic wrap, seal in an airtight lunchbox and refrigerate until ready to eat.

I hope you enjoy these totally totable work day recipes.  Make them and let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Image by Kate Duncan

What do you do when life gives you lemons?

Make lemon slices! 

Think back to the first lemon slice you ever bit into. Was it equally decadent yet surprisingly fresh, classically creamy yet delicately chewy and beautifully zingy yet surprisingly sweet?

The lemon slices many recall from childhood were made with a chewy biscuity base that was complemented perfectly by a smooth lemony filling that achieved mouth-watering satisfaction. But, these desserts were often made with a biscuit base, loads of sugar, flour, milk, coconut and of course, luscious lemon.

While this may be the dessert you dream of, for some it is a nightmare for the gut. Sugar, gluten and dairy are all known to irritate the lining of the gut, causing various digestive disorders and serious discomfort in some people.

But there is no need to give up on lemon slices altogether.  I'm encouraging you to throw out everything you’ve ever known and thought about lemon slices right now, because things are about to get very interesting…

I'm going to share with you my raw, sugar-free lemon slice that's bound to impress and tastes just like the real thing minus the uncomfortable bloating after eating. 

To begin, lets work from the ground up, in this case it’s all about the base. Instead of a regular lemon slice biscuit base, this supercharged slice uses a delicious mix of shredded coconut, coconut butter and creamy cashews.

You may be looking at this and thinking: what’s the difference between coconut oil and coconut butter?

Well, coconut oil has been extracted from the meat of the coconut whereas coconut butter is a spreadable paste made from coconut flesh. Coconut butter can act like a metabolism booster that can help burn calories and increase energy levels. It's high in lauric acid which can boost immunity and ward off viruses.  It’s delicious in soups, curries or sometimes, off the spoon (I won’t tell if you don’t!).

Of course, you can’t have a lemon slice without a zingy squeeze of lemon. Lemons are rich in many nutrients like immune-fighting vitamin C and blood pressure-stabilising potassium. They can also help aid digestion, balance our internal pH levels and reduce fevers. If you are looking for an excuse to eat a lemon slice, this is it! 

And now for the filling. Not only do these slices contain lovely lemons, they also contain limes. Limes have been used for centuries for their medicinal purposes. They can help aid digestive disorders, relieve constipation and get your skin nice and glowy. Combine the lemon and the lime and you've got a really good show going!

I just need to warn you, these lemon slices will give any other lemon slice you've ever had a run for it's money. They're seriously decadent, fresh and delicious.

PS: If you're a slice loving kind of person, please promise you'll check out my Salted Caramel Slice and Australian Lamingtons.

Without further adieu, the lemon slices you've all been waiting for:

Lemon Slice

Ingredients:

• Base
• ¾ cup raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours in filtered water & drained
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• ¼ tsp stevia powder
• 60mL freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tbsp melted coconut butter

• Filling
• 250g raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours in filtered water & drained
• ½ cup coconut butter
• Zest & juice 2 limes
• Juice 2 lemons
• 1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp stevia powder
• 60mL coconut milk

Method:

• To make the base, combine cashews and shredded coconut in food processor and blend. Stir in remaining base ingredients, adding some filtered water
 if it looks too dry and won’t hold together.
• Use your hands to mould mixture into dough, then press dough into freezer-proof tray. Place in freezer for 30 mins.
• To make filling, combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
• Remove the base from freezer and add the filling, using the back of the spoon to smooth the top.
• Return the slice to the fridge for 30 mins or until set. Cut into slices and serve.
• Will keep in airtight container in fridge for up to 1 week, or 2 weeks in freezer.

Enjoy!

Lee xo 

There’s something that’s just so nourishing about starting the day with a big bowl of oatmeal. A spoon of porridge on a colder morning is like a warm hug for your insides!  

Oats are amazing for lowering our overall cholesterol levels, especially the ‘bad’ cholesterol known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein). High levels of LDL raise your risk of developing blood clots which can lead to heart diseases. While not all cholesterol is bad, LDL is one we need to look out for. 

They're packed full of soluble fibre, which reduces the absorption of LDL cholesterol in the blood. This means every morning you start your day off with a bowl of porridge, you’re fighting heart and cardiovascular disease!

Oats are one of the yummiest gut-healthy foods out there.  Not only are they delicious, they boost some beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract which can provide serious relief in cases of irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.

No bowl of oats is finished without beautiful berries. Berries have proven to help your brain think better and additionally, the antioxidant-rich fruits are great for maintaining control over our muscles – which is so important when it comes to ageing. If you want to get amongst the berry madness, why not try my Supercharged Summer Popsicles or Strawberry Teacakes?

I've combined the magical powers of oats with my Love Your Gut Powder for some extra gut-boosting love. This gutmeal is such an easy way to squeeze in some gut-healing benefits first thing in the morning. My LYG powder is remarkable for detoxification, aiding nutrient absorption and improving hair, skin and nails health. You can read more about the amazing benefits of LYG powder and purchase it here!

Now that’s a winning breakfast!

Gutmeal (Oatmeal with a Gut-Healing Twist)

Ingredients: 

• 1 TBSP LYG powder
• ½ cup of water
• ¼ cup of gluten free oats
• Pinch of  Celtic or Himalayan sea salt
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1/3 cup of mixed berries
• ¼ cup of coconut milk
• Handful chopped mint

Method:

1. Cook oats in water
2. Add sea salt and cinnamon
3. When cooked, stir in the LYG powder
4. Add milk and remove any lumps by stirring through
5. Top with berries and torn mint

Enjoy this tasty breakfast recipe to fill the belly and nourish the mind.

Why on earth should I eat sardines? Now before you turn your nose up on these commonly rejected tinned swimmers, you may be surprised by the answer. In fact there is not just one answer to this question. There are several reasons why a good old can of sardines should make an honoured appearance in your pantry.

Sardines might not immediately seem like the most joyous of foods, but they’re so insanely beneficial you’ll be sure to fall in love with them. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids and energy-boosting vitamin B12, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. This mash is an inexpensive and nutrient-dense meal for when you feel like a boost.

Here are the top six reasons why I love sardines, and why they're one of my favourite supercharged foods for good health.

1. A superior source of omega 3’s

Everyone needs more omega-3 fatty acids in their diets due to the use of processed vegetable oils in foods, and feeding livestock on corn and grains, rather than green pastures. Sardines are a wonderful source of high-quality omega-3 fatty acids. Research is showing that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA may help to support the tolerance of probiotic strains within your gut microbiome; making sardines an excellent gut health superfood.

2. No worries about mercury

The small size of the sardine means that it has less opportunity to pick up and accumulate mercury. The skinless and boneless sardines are even lower in mercury, with up to 50% less mercury than regular sardines because the mercury is stored in the sardine’s spinal cord. Many people say they also taste better. Larger fish, even salmon contain significant more concentrations of mercury than the tiny sardine.

3. High in vitamin B12

A Vitamin B12 deficiency, even a mild one, can cause symptoms including nerve damage, poor mental function, problems with oxygen uptake into cells, and depleted energy. One can of sardines provides a whopping 338% of your daily Vitamin B12 needs!

4. Anti-inflammatory

The numerous benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are related to their ability to act as an anti-inflammatory, making them a super effective treatment and prevention of hundreds of medical conditions. Omega-3 rich sardines have a remarkable ability to help defend against mood disorders like depression and anxiety, ADHD, arthritis, infertility, heart disease and inflammatory gut conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

As much as the health world idolizes the beauty of eating poached eggs and greens for breakfast – sometimes we just can’t hold back from our morning sweet tooth! Sometimes fluffy muffins, crunchy cereals and chewy choc-chip cookies are calling your name and the last thing on your mind is eggs and kale?!

Instead of fighting cravings, let’s embrace them! Listening to your cravings is so important and can indicate a lot about what you’re needing both emotionally and physically and can help to highlight the foods that you may have become addicted to.

If you’re craving chocolate, it could mean you're magnesium deficient. Magnesium is available in fish, dark leafy greens and nuts. Craving sweet foods like pastries, white bread and pasta may mean that you're chromium deficient. Chromium can be found in oats, sweet potatoes and eggs.

Thinking about cravings rationally and listening to them can help us lead healthier and happier lives.  So instead of ignoring cravings, why not just make healthier choices and fill up with healthy versions of favorite foods?

I'd love to introduce you to my new delicious No More Muffin Top Muffin recipe and I’ve made sure that they'll not only improve your gut health and waistline but also fill your daily ‘eggs and greens’ quota! 

If you’re not already on the healthified sweets train, these muffins will make you jump on board! Forget the traditional, sugar-filled, gluten-packed muffins and swap to a new world of healthy, refined-sugar free and absolutely tasty muffins. There are no strange ingredients here – just healthy wholesome baking ingredients.

Who could pass up the chance to start the day with fluffy, yummy muffins? The chromium-packed eggs and vitamin-filled zucchini makes sure these beautiful muffins stay moist, while my Love Your Gut powder (a raw vegan plant based whole food) ensures that you're getting good gut-healing straight off the bat.

My Love Your Gut powder is high in absorbable iron which helps to support tiredness and fatigue and it doesn't leave you constipated like traditional synthetic iron supplements do. That way you can get your necessary iron via real plant based foody-goodness.

Magnesium-packed almond-meal is a delicious gluten-free flour that is great for baking so I threw it into the mix too. This recipe also contains a touch of butter, which contains healthy saturated fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Butter helps these baked treats stay fluffy and keep their texture. Yum!

So, make up a batch and let me know what you think? They freeze well too!

No More Muffin Top Muffins

Makes 6 large or 12 small muffins

Make these the day before and then just warm them in the oven for 10 minutes before enjoying. They're surprising filling and full of veggie goodness.  Take them as a snack to work too.

• 11/2 cups) almond meal
• 1/2 cup) toasted walnuts
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 1/2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
• 1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 
1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp stevia powder
• 1 tbs LYG powder
• 11/2 cups grated zucchini
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup additive-free coconut milk
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Place zucchini in a sieve over a bowl and sprinkle with a little salt and let sit.

Line a muffin tray with muffin liners and preheat oven to 180°C

In a medium bowl, place all the dry ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon

With your hands, very tightly squeeze the zucchini to remove any excess moisture.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, coconut milk and butter together. Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and then very gently stir in the zucchini.

With a spoon, carefully spoon mixture into the muffin tray liners  and place into the oven for 45 minutes until cooked through- you can test with a skewer.

Let cool on a wire rack.  These can be kept in the fridge for 4 days in a sealed container.

Lee xo

I must admit that sometimes, I like to let my inner-Nigella free and venture into the kitchen for some secret midnight snacking!

This is an activity that is totally okay by me... just not something that should happen every single night -  especially when it often involves sugar-laden treats that can often leave your tummy feeling uncomfortable, your blood sugar levels sky high and your brain over wired.

So, what to do? Go for the celery stick instead? This moment is one that many people are often plagued with and a time when you might start to question all of the food decisions you’ve ever made up until this point. 

I know I’m not the only one who partakes in such activities and so, I thought I'd make myself useful and create something that is okay for an anytime treat. This is a recipe that you can keep in your freezer when hunger cravings strike. It's my favourite gut loving and satiating Turmeric Tummy Bark.   These fine chunks of goodness will satisfy your sweet cravings, keep you feeling happy and leave your tummy feeling fine. 

This delicious bark is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined-sugar free, nutritious and super scrumptious. I've made sure that it's packed with all the good stuff; turmeric, slivered almonds and my insta-famous Love Your Gut powder. Just one bite will leave you feeling better, rather than worse after you’ve eaten it, and that to me is a treat worth waiting for.