Is there anything better than a side dish of delicious oven-roasted potatoes?! No matter whether you prefer sweet potatoes, white potatoes or any other variety. Roasted as chips, fries, whole baked, hassleback or chopped in chunks. Seasoned with herbs, spices, garlic, olive oil or simply salt & pepper. There is no denying the humble potato is versatile, incredibly delicious and so simple to cook! Here’s the low down the health benefits of potatoes, glycemic index, AND one of my favourite potato recipes!
Nutrient Timing Revisited: The Science
Nutrient timing is dietary strategy whereby specific nutrients (usually protein &/or carbohydrates) are consumed in and around training. The post-exercise period is widely considered the most critical part of nutrient timing. Theoretically nutrient timing is designed to optimize the adaptive response to exercise – rebuilding damaged muscle tissue and restoring muscle glycogen reserves. It is considered this speeds recovery, improves performance, increases muscle hypertrophy and strength gains and improves body composition. It is believed that there may an “anabolic window” of opportunity, a short time after training where these improvements can be optimized if the right nutrients are consumed.
Raw Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake Bites (gf/vg/df)
Hey lovers! ♥ Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Do you love it or loathe it? To be honest, I’m a little conflicted so it got me thinking. And I thought I’d share a little thought from my heart to yours…
Whatever your thoughts of Valentine’s Day, I have an utterly delicious raw vegan treat for you to impress your loved one, or make it for a special occasion. I can’t help but be excited over this recipe as it’s the first time I’ve made a raw dessert and I impressed myself with how it turned out!
Beauty’s Natural Dirty Secrets: Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening & Oil Pulling
Along with eating a natural whole foods diet, I often rave about the health benefits of natural toxin free beauty products. I believe we should feed our skin like we feed our body. And our teeth should be no different. So when it comes to teeth whitening and oral hygiene I only use natural toxin free products. For the past year or so I have been using EBONiiVORY Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening to whiten my teeth and EBONiiVORY Coconut Oil Pulling. I am loving the results so wanted to share my natural beauty secrets with you and the health benefits of using these products.
Beet Love Hummus (gf/df/vg)
Take your snack attack to the next level with this healthy, nutritious, super creamy, gorgeous hot pink homemade hummus dip. Perfect with raw chopped veggies, homemade roasted veggie chips, rice crackers, or as a sandwich spread.
Hello beet hummus & smashed avo toast!
Foods to Boost Your Fitness & Performance
What I LOVE about nutrition is the ability to use foods or manipulate macros and nutrients to use to our advantage. Nutrition is key to fat loss, muscle building, endurance and optimal performance. Time to eat smarter and train smarter, not harder!
Whether you’re a professional or everyday athlete, or regular gym goer like myself, it’s likely you’re constantly striving to improve your training. The food we eat has a direct impact on us physically. A good quality diet abundant in nutrients will help to increase your performance whilst training, recover faster, and optimize your body composition.
Relief for Gluten Intolerance with GluteGuard
When most people think of gluten containing foods they think wheat, bread, pasta, and grains like rye, oats and barley, etc. But there are so many common products we don’t realise contain gluten that can cause symptoms – soy sauce (Tamari sauce is a GF soy alternative), other sauces, marinades, dressings and seasonings (as they often use wheat flour to thicken), malt (including most beer, malt vinegar, Milo, etc.), Brewer’s Yeast, pre-made soups, processed meat and deli meats, some supplements and medications. Sometimes products containing glucose syrup, starch and dextrin are also made from wheat products (it should state this on the label). Not to mention cross contamination of gluten in kitchens, particularly when eating out or travelling when you are unsure of what you are eating. This is why it’s a good reason to consume a wholefoods diet free of processed and packaged products if you need to avoid gluten.
Fit Protein Balls (GF/VG)
Made with dates, seeds and vegan protein powder, these bliss balls make the perfect guilt-free healthy treat or pre-workout snack to satisfy a sweet tooth or chocolate craving.
New Years Resolutions & Goal Setting
Self-improvement is a shared hobby and why so many of us make new year’s resolutions and set goals. An Australian study found that 54% of new year’s resolutions made in 2016 were related to health and fitness, yet less than half were kept. Some statistics show as little as 8% success rate of new year’s resolutions.
Why do so many people fail at resolutions and more importantly how do we succeed at sticking to them?
Tips for Staying Healthy over Christmas
As the silly season approaches and many holiday travel plans are in sight, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips on staying healthy over the Christmas season. This is often a time of over indulgence with work Christmas parties and family and friends get-togethers usually involving an abundance of food (and drinks). It’s also a time to connect with family and friends and enjoy life, so there is no reason to feel guilty for relaxing, unwinding and eating treat foods you love.
There are sensible ways of balancing staying health-conscious without feeling like you are missing out on a fun time of year.