Keep some bananas in your freezer and you'll have an unlimited supply of vegan ice cream all summer long.
Read moreSuper speedy frozen yoghurt
Save yourself the guilt of overindulgence by making this delicious frozen yoghurt.
Read moreSalmon, sweet potato mash & greens
When in need of a nutrient boost, this trusted repertoire of fish, sweet potato mash and greens is what I rely on. This combination makes for a "well-balanced" meal.
So, what does "well-balanced" mean?
In any given day we need a certain amount of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). A well-balanced meal contains all of these in the right proportions.
There is protein and fats in the fish and seeds and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in the sweet potato and greens.
Stick to half of your plate/ bowl as vegetables, 1/4 of the plate as protein and 1/4 of the plate as carbohydrates to achieve the optimum proportions of a well-balanced meal.
This combination makes a great lunch and dinner so double up the portions for a healthy lunch the following day.
Ingredients for 1:
1 medium sweet potato
1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 lightly smoked salmon fillet
2 cups of any greens (I used asparagus and pea shoots)
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon of dukkah (optional) - (You can find dukkah in any Middle Eastern store and larger supermarkets. It is a spice mix containing roasted cumin, coriander seed, fennel and crushed hazelnuts or sunflower seeds.)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Pierce the skin of the sweet potato with a knife and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until a knife goes through the fattest part with ease (you want it to be soft all the way through).
Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Peel and mash with a fork.
Add the olive oil and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Wrap the salmon fillet in tinfoil or baking paper and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Steam or boil your greens lightly (obviously skip this if you are using salad).
To assemble, cover half of your plate in greens, a 1/4 with the sweet potato mash and top with the salmon. If you are using dukkah, sprinkle it over the salmon, if you aren't using it then season the salmon fillet with some freshly cracked black pepper.
Smokey chickpea salad
If salads don't fill you up, try adding some beans and pulses.
They are great sources of fibre as well as protein, all of which contribute to keeping you fuller for longer (or actually filling you up in the first place).
For this recipe, chickpeas are mixed with smoked paprika, tomato, tamari and ground coriander for a subtle hint of flavour. Balance it with a crunchy salad of fresh leaves and a honey mustard dressing add to sweetness and acidity.
Ingredients for 1 (multiply as required)
Chickpeas:
1 tin of chickpeas
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander
2 teaspoons of tomato paste
1 teaspoon of tamari or soy sauce
Honey mustard dressing
1 teaspoon of wholegrain mustard (ideally a sugar-free one)
1 teaspoon of honey
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1.5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 bag of mixed leaves
1/2 little gem lettuce or any other crunchy lettuce variety
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Mix the tamari, tomato, smoked paprika and ground coriander until it forms a paste.
Coat the chickpeas in the paste and pop them in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
For the dressing, whisk all of the ingredients until well combined (around 5 minutes).
Coat the salad leaves and lettuce in the dressing and top with the chickpeas.
Smokey super seeds
Get a daily boost of fibre, antioxidants and minerals by snacking on seeds.
Check out my previous post to discover why snacking on seeds is a smart move.
For this recipe, I combined pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds with smoked paprika for a hint of bacon-like flavour.
Try them, they make an amazing afternoon snack and also go well sprinkled on salads.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup each of pumpkin & sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon of tomato paste
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Combine the tamari, tomato paste, paprika and cayenne (if using). It should form a paste.
Coat the seeds in the paste by stirring it all together until well combined.
Put the whole thing on a baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes. Give it a good stir every 5 minutes to ensure the seeds toast evenly.
