carrots

Homemade Chunky Vegetable and Lentil Soup

January 18, 2018

There is nothing more satisfying than a homemade, chunky soup full of vegetables and all things nutritious. I prefer my soups with a bit of a kick so chilli flakes and paprika is always something I add to my soup to give it that extra oomph. Besides, a little bit of heat in the form of spice is always a good way to heat the soul in this cold weather. 

2018

Better Late than Never, Hello 2018!

January 16, 2018

It's been three months since I last wrote and posted a blog post because life just got in the way. As a full-time master's student and starting a job which I began in late-October, life got hectic. Working, University deadlines and Christmas meant a very busy end to 2017 for me with a trip to Prague over the New Year allowing me to escape reality for a few days; it was the perfect start to 2018.

almonds

World Porridge Day: Gingerbread Porridge

October 10, 2017

Today is World Porridge Day! Luckily for me, I love oats. I find them so filling and satisfying so I can actually go through the whole morning without snacking. Plus, you can make it as personal and be as creative as you want with toppings! And it takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Autumn

My Favourite 40 things about Autumn

September 22, 2017

Today we say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn (or fall to you guys across the pond!) Although I love summer so much, there is just something about autumn that excites me. Here are my favourite 40 things about autumn!

food

Smoothie Bowls: What are those Instagram Phenomenons?

September 18, 2017

Smoothie bowls. What the heck are those you may be wondering? Smoothie bowls are essentially a smoothie topped with fruit, nuts and anything else nutritious you can find! They are more satisfying than a regular smoothie as you can't just down it and you can really appreciate the taste and variety of texture. The best thing about a smoothie bowl is how creative you can be! The more diverse the colours, textures and types of food the better! I am pretty new in the smoothie bowl hype but my favourite recipes I have created so far are below!

authentic

PizzaLuxe: An Authentic, Italian Pizza with Fresh, Tasty Toppings

September 12, 2017

If you're ever around Leeds, you HAVE to take a trip to Trinity Kitchen found in Trinity Leeds shopping centre. Every 6 weeks, Trinity Kitchen rotates 5 street food vans allowing foodies and visitors to discover innovative cuisines all under one roof. Along with this rotating method, they have a few permanent outlets including Chicago Rib Shack, PizzaLuxe, Röla Wala, Tortilla amongst them, plus more!

banana

Healthy Spelt and Blueberry Pancakes

September 04, 2017

Monday has arrived! The start to the working week isn't most people's idea of excitement so what better day for you to deserve a treat than on a Monday? I call this a treat but it's actually not. It tastes like it should be way unhealthier than it is but these pancakes are both delicious and healthy!

Angelica Leeds

From Newcastle to Leeds

August 28, 2017

I hope everybody is having a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend! I can't believe how fortunate we have been with the weather this weekend; sunny and warm weather never happens on a Bank Holiday in the UK!

almonds

Healthy Flapjacks with a Nutty Twist

August 03, 2017

Flapjacks: the buttery, sweet and yummy treat made with very few ingredients which pack in a lot of calories! Our waistlines need to watch out when it comes to flapjacks because they are extremely moreish. Stereotypical flapjacks are made of oats, melted butter and golden syrup and they are then baked until golden and although oats are beneficial to health, heapings of butter and golden syrup are not. I absolutely love flapjacks and have been wanting to create a healthy version of flapjacks for a long time. I have finally created a recipe which satisfies those flapjack cravings!

cocoa

Review: Nut Bars by Meridian

July 26, 2017

I was recently doing a little food shop in my local supermarket where I came across Meridian nut bars. I knew they created nut butter and seed butter as I am a huge fan of their peanut butter range but I hadn't seen their bars anywhere previously (although they have been around for a few years after researching them).  I was immediately intrigued so I, of course, bought a couple to try.

food

Veggies and a Simple Steak Wrap, Perfect for Lunch

July 25, 2017

Vegetables are the main staple of my meals and they should be the main staple of yours too! 50% of your plate should be vegetable and/or fruit based. Many people believe their plate should be mainly made of protein and/or carbs which simply is not the case. Ensuring 50% of every plate of food you eat consists of veggies and/or fruit means you should easily be eating the recommended amount of fruit and veggies per day. Why are they so important?

avocado

Fruit and Veggies Filled Light Lunch/Snack

July 12, 2017

Studying for my master’s degree in Nutrition in Practice at Leeds Beckett University is edging closer and closer. I move to Leeds in just over a month – how exciting! I basically devote all my free time preparing myself for it. Whether that be reading, watching, talking or listening about nutrition and diet. Of late, I have been super interested in how beneficial fruit and veggies are to health.  

Arc de Triomf

City Break: Barcelona, the Cosmopolitan Capital of Catalonia

July 10, 2017

Barcelona has turned out to be my number one favourite city in the world. After being home from Tenerife for just 6 days, I was so ready for some more sun and Vitamin D. I had a day trip to Barcelona when I was younger whilst holidaying in the South of France with my family. Ever since, I have always wanted to return and fully explore the city. Although I explored the city, I couldn’t possibly see it all in 4 days. I didn't appreciate how vast Barcelona truly was until I was actually there!

beach

Tenerife: the Spanish Island of Volcanoes and Beaches

June 25, 2017

Hey guys. I firstly want to apologise for my lack of activity lately. On Friday I got back from a wonderful 8 days away with my boyfriend in Tenerife and I'm currently feeling like a tanned (if slightly peeling) goddess. I swear, having a tan makes me feel so much healthier although my holiday was not full of nutrition at all. Ooops. Everyone deserves a break from eating clean though but I'm back to eating healthily again after a sun-soaked week of sangria and delicious food. 

baby spinach

Smoothie: Vitamin-Packed Super Sweet Berry

May 22, 2017

Smoothies provide that instant solution to sugar cravings which I often get. When you're watching your weight and are wanting to limit your sugar intake, sugar cravings are really real! Especially when it comes to chocolate, my ultimate weakness. I have already created a solution to get my chocolate fix in a guilt-free way, check out my recipe for healthy chocolate brownies here. But with a busy week, you may not have the luxury of time to make and bake a batch of brownies. A smoothie provides a quick solution. I really didn't even think about what I was putting in this smoothie; I just threw in a load of things I already had in my house and hoped for the best!

Chinese

Healthy Homemade Chinese-Style Curry

May 10, 2017

About a week ago, my boyfriend said he really wanted a Chinese takeaway but after the recent bank holiday weekend escapades, I said no. We had eaten far too many calories and saturated fat that weekend. Although I didn't regret it as we have been super healthy when it comes to food lately, I still didn't think we deserved it after being a little bit naughty that weekend. Chinese takeaways are certainly a comfort food, full of warm, gentle spices and flavours.

So to satisfy his craving, I made my own Chinese style chicken curry which is tonnes healthier and is just as tasty as the curry from your local Chinese. It is also so simple to make and uses ingredients I always have in the house. Plus it is super cheap in comparison to buying a takeaway!

bean

Comfort Food: Three Bean Mexican Chicken Stew

April 25, 2017

There is nothing better than a warm bowl of comfort food full of flavour which delicately touches your soul. Comfort food is nostalgic, possibly even sentimental, and is often used when a person is either stressed, sad or has some other negative emotion. It is associated with unhealthy, high-carbohydrate or high-sugar based food but it doesn't necessarily have to be this way. Indulgence can be good for not only your taste buds but also your body. Comfort food is idiosyncratic and is unique depending on culture and country. 

avocado

Brunch: A Delicious yet Nutritious Meal Idea

April 18, 2017

Brunch. When it is a little too late for breakfast but slightly too early for lunch then a healthy and balanced brunch is the perfect option. My ideal perfect brunch is a range of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals so that I am set up for the day ahead. Tasty, fast and full of goodness, this brunch only takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Hard boiled eggs with spinach leaves and sliced avocado make the perfect brunch. Why you may ask?

blog

Brownies: Love Them but Hate the Guilt?

March 27, 2017

Brownies. Probably one of my favourite treats to bake and eat but they're not so good when it comes to health. Whilst traditional brownies are full of butter, sugar and chocolatey goodness (or not so chocolatey goodness when it comes to our waistline), they are probably one of the worst treats to eat. 

berries

Raspberries: How This Pink, Tangy Fruit is Fundamental to Health

March 21, 2017

Yesterday, I was having a wander around Grainger Market when I stumbled upon one of the many fruit stalls. One particular stall caught my eye as it had an amazing offer for raspberries, one of my favourite fruits. 4 boxes for just one pound. In other words, 500g of sweet, pink, tangy and delicious raspberries for just £1! I could not believe what I was seeing. At Tesco, you can get a 150g box for £2 or a 250g box for £3 so you can see why I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I bought the raspberries and wondered what the actual health benefits of eating raspberries are.