Healthy/31 recipes

Scones are one of the much loved and easy to make English teatime treats, this is the reason why we couldn’t resist but to create this healthy alternative. A little tip to help you get the best results is that the less you touch the dough, the crumblier your scones will be.

Mother’s day is a time of appreciation and what better way to show her than creating some indulgent and healthy chocolate waffles, amongst all the other loving gestures….In less than half an hour you’ll have made her feel extra special! A little bit of trivia – Mother’s day was originally celebrated in 1907 by Anna Jarvis as she held a memorial in honour of her mother and thereafter she embarked on a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognised holiday.

Here is a meat-free, gluten-free, nutrition packed recipe, which you can add to your collection in readiness for National Vegetarian Week, which starts on the 15th May. Chickpeas are a high protein alternative to meat, they contain a whole host of other benefits like Selenium (not found in most fruits and vegetables) which helps to detoxify cancer causing compounds and decreases tumour growth rates. The herbs not only provide flavour but each play a part in improving our health from boosting the immune system to lowering blood pressure. Enjoy this healthy, tasty twist on an Italian classic.

This recipe could be fun for the kids to do for a healthy father’s day, Pizza isn’t often considered a healthy meal but this option definitely is. Let’s look at the base – Cauliflower – high in Choline which helps liver function, brain development and nerve function, and Oats – contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that reduces blood sugar and LDL Cholesterol levels. Now for the cheese topping – Cashews contain Magnesium, older people can quite often be deficient in Magnesium and this is linked to Osteoporosis, Coronary Heart disease and Insulin Resistance. A last look at the sauce and topping – Oregano – a potent anti-oxidant and a good source of fibre that binds toxins and removes them from the body while Tomatoes contain Lycopene that has been linked to Prostate Cancer prevention and also protects the eyes from age-related Macular Degeneration. We think this is a great way for kids to show their dads’ how much they care. Happy Father’s Day.

This recipe is ideal for any get together but maybe bear it in mind for your New Year’s Eve party, easy to make and so healthy too – just in time for those resolutions! Cashews may be small but they have huge benefits. Studies have shown that eating a fistful of nuts may reduce the risk of heart disease, cashews contain powerful antioxidants called Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are absorbed directly by our retina and help prevent age related macular degeneration, they are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, they have a great percentage of dietary fibres and have many more positives. We know one New Year’s resolution you’re going to make!

A healthy vegan recipe, ideal for using up leftover Christmas day vegetables on Boxing Day. It’s a light dish perfect after the indulgences of Christmas day. Chickpea flour is naturally gluten free, chickpeas are a super source of protein, fibre and iron. The skin of vegetables and fruit are quite often a good source of nutrition in itself, the dark skin of the Zucchini/courgette is high in soluble fibre which slows digestion and stabilises sugar levels. The dark skin of the Eggplant/Aubergine is full of fibre, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants, Tomato skin is full of antioxidants too so before removing skins bear this information in mind.

An interesting fact is that wild rice isn’t actually rice, but a seed that is produced by some types of aquatic grasses in North America. There are many benefits, one of which is that these seeds contain high levels of antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are the by-products of cellular metabolism and they have the potential to turn healthy cells cancerous. Wild rice has a substantial amount of Vitamin C which repairs cells, tissues, organs and gives the immune system a boost. It has high levels of fibre which clears out bad cholesterol and also aids the digestive system. We think there are enough reasons here to go wild!

An alternative sandwich that’s full of fibre due to the plantain and lentils. They are both great sources of fibre which, as we know, aids digestion. This sandwich is healthy for everyone, but pregnant women especially will benefit from the iron and high quantity of folate in the lentils, one cup (200g) provides 358 micrograms of folate and considering the daily requirement is 400 micrograms it doesn’t take a mathematician to know this adds up.

A healthy flavoursome take on an Italian classic. Nutritional yeast has a nutty cheesy flavour making it a good alternative for a vegan diet, especially as it is a complete protein. Other benefits are all the B vitamins which are important for everyone’s health but more so for those on a vegan/vegetarian diet. This yeast is rich in Selenium which helps to repair cell damage therefore helping to reduce the risk of cancer. It has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, it improves digestion and as it is rich in folate pregnant women should include this in their diet. Just a few reasons to get familiar with this cosmopolitan dish.

This vegan shepherd’s pie is comforting, healthy, delicious and really easy to make. You can also make it in batches to freeze and serve when you don’t have much time to cook. We used lentils to make ours, but you could use chickpeas instead, if you’d prefer.

This healthy and delicious alcohol-free Pina Colada is so refreshing. It makes an amazing alternative to a regular Pina Colada using just fresh fruit and coconut milk – it tastes like sunshine in a glass. Transport yourself to a tropical paradise and give it a try!

These delicious salmon fish cakes are both nourishing and satisfying which make them the ideal healthy meal when you’re short on time, but want lots of flavour. They’re so easy to make and you can serve them as a nutritious starter, with a salad or for supper.

This baked egg in a portobello mushroom makes a fantastic healthy breakfast. It’s so easy to make, delicious and really nourishing too. We’ve added a sprinkle of nutritional yeast to the top of my mushrooms, which gives a similar taste to cheese (but it’s far more nutritious). It’s important to heat the mushrooms in the grill first as this will prevent them from going soggy.

This burger won the vote in this week’s healthy recipe pick, and these delicious veggie burgers are healthy, nutritious and super easy to make. They make a tasty alternative to beef burgers and the perfect healthy starter, lunch or main.

It took a while to get into the green smoothie trend. We much preferred a sweet tasting berry burst, but this delicious glass of green goodness is divine. The pineapple chunks add a delicious sweet taste to the drink so it doesn’t taste as bitter as other green smoothies. It makes the perfect healthy breakfast or post workout snack.

These mini apple tarts not only look amazing, they taste it too. We’ve made them by forming the apple slices into petal shapes so they look like roses. They’re so easy to make and are super healthy and nutritious too. Hope you enjoy!