A Quick Message

Just a quick message to everyone on the quest for the hot summer body --->

Losing weight and becoming healthy is 80% diet and 20% exercise. If you are looking to be healthy you need both, unfortunately it doesn't make a difference if you are on that treadmill for hours on end; if what your putting in your body is bad, you won't get the results you want.

Eating a balanced diet will help your weight loss, health and skin so why wouldn't you do it? 

I know it's difficult to beat those chocolate craves (you're talking to Mrs. Sweet-Tooth) but that toned and slim physique won't come unless you make the change.

Are you ready to make the change?

Sweet Potato and Butter Nut Squash Soup

This soup is perfect for those cold wintery days we've been having in England at the moment. It's filling, so you won't go hungry throughout the day, and "souper" yummy (see what I did there).

Ingredients:
- 1 butternut squash
- 2 sweet potatoes (or 1 large)
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- olive oil
- vegetable stock
- salt & pepper

Recipe:
Peel then cut butternut squash and sweet potato into large chunks, put in a roasting dish, drizzle with olive oil and roast at 180 degrees for 45-60 mins (until soft). Take out and leave to cool.

Dice the carrots, celery, onion and garlic (I crush the garlic), season with salt & pepper place in sauce pan, cover with olive oil on low heat and sweat for 20 mins.  

Add to pan butternut squash and sweet potato, add 1litre of vegetable stock, bring to boil then simmer for 30-40 mins (or until veg is soft).

Place ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Serve in bowl with yogurt or creme fresh and if really hungry have with toasted bread.

Enjoy x

Healthy Upside Down Cheesecake

This is a healthy breakfast idea that puts a fun twist on cheesecake and takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.
Perfect to help you feel refreshed and motivated on a Monday morning.

Ingredients:
- Fruit
- Greek/natural yogurt
- Granola/bran flakes
- Drizzle of honey

Place fruit on bottom and dollop yogurt on top. Crumble to granola/bran flakes for a crunchy texture and if like me you're not the biggest fan of plain greek yogurt drizzle some honey on top to add some sweetness.

My favourite is mango but you can do this with almost any fruit.

With Mango

With Raspberries

Light Healthy Lunch

A quick easy salad that requires cutting only one ingredient, I know pretty incredible haha! This is for those of you like my mum who love beetroot and bread so enjoy!

Ingredients:

- 2 pieces of rye bread (or any bread that doesn't contain sugar)

- Rocket (about 2 handfuls)

- 3 diced beetroot 

- Olive oil

- Crumbled goats cheese (1/2 ball)

Recipe:

Not hard at all, butter bread place rocket, diced beetroot (I do 1/4s), drizzle olive oil over the top and crumble goat cheese over the top.

Done!

*sorry for pictures running into sidebar but they look better bigger

Sunday Soup

So if you haven't noticed yet I post on Mondays (health and fitness) and Fridays (beauty). As two blogs a week isn't a lot this will be my third blog each week. I will most likely post soup or Salad recipes for you to try every Sunday.

One promise I make to you, all the soups will be healthy and hopefully you'll find them as scrummy as I do!!
Now on with the blog...

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 celery sticks
• 1 large carrot
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 leak
• 1/2 savoy cabbage
• 2 large tablespoons (tbs) tomato puree
• Salt and pepper
• Mixed herbs (fresh and dried)
• 2 litres vegetable stock
• 1 tbs olive oil

Instructions:

1. Chop up all the vegetables
2. Put olive oil in a pan
3. Put the onion, garlic, carrot and celery in the pan over a high heat and stir making sure the olive oil coats it.                                                                                                                                           Once it begins sizzling turn down the heat and then leave to sweat - translation: put the lid on and leave - for 10-20 mins (dependent upon how much time you have and how soft you like your veg)
4. Season with salt and pepper
5. Add herbs
6. Add stock, bring to the boil and then bring down to a simmer.                                                         Leave to cook for 15 mins
7. Add tomato puree, leaks and cabbage
8. Stir, boil then bring down to a simmer again
9. Leave to cook for 20-30 mins
10. Serve with a side a rye bread to keep your calorie intake low ;)

*If you wanted to add pasta, to keep this soup healthy it would have to be brown whole wheat pasta, you would put it in after 15 mins of step 9 and leave for 5-10 mins.

Prep Time: 10 mins approx.
Cooking Time: 60 mins approx.
Serves: 6 approx.


Slim Tip:
You can make soups out of almost anything - stray away from potatoes and white pasta/rice (carbs) to keep it clean.