When it comes to spending money we’ve all got our weakness. If you’re a regular reader you’ll already know that Charlotte’s is make-up, see here if you didn’t. Lauren’s it’s safe to say is all things interiors especially crafty bits and bobs to make the creative DIYs you see on Rock My Style. Mine is anything that even vaguely comes under the heading of healthy.
From yoga/running/cycling kit and organic beauty booty, to meals or juices from the latest healthy eating gaff, to healthy cookbooks and kitchenalia to inspire me to knock up healthy recipes at home, I justify my purchases by telling myself they’re an investment in my health, as opposed to a frivolous item I don’t really need. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. I’m currently lusting after a Vitamix, but that’s one heck of an investment…
Here’s what I’ve bought (and loved) in May.
Leon Fast Vegetarian, Amazon, £20
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find it hard to eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day (and did you read we should be aiming for seven?!). I find that cooking mostly veggie meals gets me close, at least. So when I saw that Leon, my favourite fast food chain, had brought out a speedy veggie cookbook I’d slapped down my Christmas book tokens (yep, still going with those) before you could say kohlrabi’s the new kale. I’ve only made Rosie’s Pea, Mint and Sharpham Rustic Fritters so far (substituting the Sharpham for feta). They were good. Courgette and tomato gratin’s up next.
Click here
Gym Vintage Capris, Nike, £32
Somewhere between a legging and a track pant (a tregging?!) I’m crazy about the fit of these capri-length trousers. The vintage look makes me feel like I’m in one of those triumph-against-the-odds movies from the Eighties, the shade of dark grey marl’s spot on, and the fabric’s ridiculously soft to the touch. I’ve already worn them to a chilled out yin yoga class this past weekend and for a rainy Bank Holiday run around the Olympic Park. Seriously considering investing in a second pair for when these are in the wash.
You can buy a pair of Nike Gym Vintage here
My Very Healthy Snacks Lunch Box, Happy Jackson, £5.95
I’m one of those people who’ll be going along with their day just fine when all of a sudden I feel hungry and, that’s it, game over, I can’t think about anything else. And then I’m in danger of filling up with whatever’s closest/easiest/quickest, which, more often than not, isn’t particularly healthy. Carrying a healthy snack with me is obviously the answer and having a cute box like this makes it all the more likely I’ll remember to have something good to eat with me at all times.
You can purchase your very own My Very Healthy Lunch Box here
Mason Jar, Keeping House, £4.95
You can’t drink your fruity smoothie, cacao-almond-date-milkshake or LA-style green juice out of anything other than a Mason jar, it’s basically the law, at least according to my Instagram feed. I’ve been on the hunt for some classic Mason jars ever since drinking Bloody Marys out of one in a bar in Vegas last year and finally found them at Keeping House, a shop piled high with want-it-all kitchen kit on London’s Columbia Road (home of the Sunday flower market). Sadly if you don’t live in London they’re not trading online yet.
All the details of Keeping House here
Alex Monroe x Liberty x Nike We Own The Night finisher’s medal
In exchange for running 10k (which you can read more about here) and the £28 entry fee, I got this pretty Alex Monroe pendant and caught the running bug. Not a bad pay off, I’d say.
Do you own the Leon Fast Vegetarian cookbook? Which recipes have you tried? Any other cookbooks I should add to my list? What other healthy (in the very loosest sense) purchases have you made recently? Do share – and feed my addiction – below.
I LOVE Leon and am now seriously tempted to get this. I usually manage somewhere near my five a day but seven is pushing it! We get a veg box delivered which actually really helps to up your quota!
(though quite frankly, I’m totally over khol rabi now!!)
Haha, I have to admit I’m yet to try kohlrabi Claire!
I so want to steal your Mason Jar Miranda! I ordered one from the States and it took about three months to arrive (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean). It cost me loads and it was tiny! I shall be down Columbia Road very soon to copy x
Or I can pick some up and bring with me to the RMS meeting! x
🙂 x
I’d like help finding a healthy but exciting vegan cook book? anyone? x
Deliciously Ella was recommended on here a while ago (well, her instagram feed anyway), have a look at her website http://www.deliciouslyella.com as she has some gorgeous vegan recipes, she also has an app
She has a book coming out too, although not until next year.
I’ve just ordered Isa Does It, a vegan recipe book, but not sure how healthy it is! x
Leon is my all time favourite lunch time stop in London! I’ve also recently enjoyed their evening menus for two with a yummy serving of cranberry bakewell!!
I love Leon too Harriet and could happily eat three meals a day there!
This month I purchased my gym membership! Go me! And have already knackered my entire body with a Bodypump class…if you’re tempted by the sound of it…DON’T do it, unless you’re already mad fit, cause it hurts…lots!!
Other than that, I have no healthy purchases 🙁 none as good looking as your Nike gym treggings (thinking this word will catch on!!) Miranda! x
Haha, maybe I should copyright it?! Bodypump sounds a little too hardcore for me, I think I’ll stick to my yoga, running and cycling! x
I love this! I am obsessed with exercise and health at the minute as I approach 30 and have been since last august really when we began running properly. We have just started the paleo diet, it’s fairly strict and you can’t have sugar, wheat, dairy, fizzy drinks, tea coffee, legumes, beans or grains! But…it def helps you reach much more than 5 a day cos it’s all veg fruit salad and meat/fish/eggs. It’s not as bad as it sounds and makes me feel super healthy!
I also had a lot of bloating even when I did 5:2 for a bit, which I liked, I find wheat and car by things makes me blow up so hoping this helps me. We are on day 4 so far and have had some delicious meals from the recipe books.
We are also about to give Jillian a break (DVDs) and start the T25 challenge which is the brother of Insanity. It’s slightly less intense and more cardio based. That and of course still running, after doing the half marathon on the 18th which was a bloody scorcher of a day and slowed my time down a few mins I am training again for a personal best for the next half race next year lol!
Love the feeling healthy diet and exercise gives you and seen as I used to weigh just under 15stone I never thought I would be saying that!!
I’ve heard so much about the Paleo diet, it does sound strict, but good to hear that it’s not as hard as it sounds. Ooh, the T25 challenge sounds interesting, can’t wait to hear how you get on! Typical that you got a scorcher of a day for your half marathon, what a shame for your time. Agreed, love how I feel when I’m eating healthily and doing lots of exercise too!
I have had a ban by my other half of buying more workout gear and DVDs! He is constantly saying “so the more DVDs on the shelf and sports bras you have lying around the fitter you are yes?” A running joke that I don’t use it all that often- but this is about to change! With a new muffin top sprouted overnight and wanting to start to have a family in the next two years my body health is finally being taken seriously by myself.
Eating clean is my new obsession and I’m going to try try try to not buy those nike joggers you have bought!
Although I have just seen a lovely bright blue pair of workout leggings from lulu lemon, they’ll make me reach for the running shoes more easily right? Ha!
They’re an investment in your health Jill, you have to have them!
Miranda, I am now going to be POOR. I need the lunchbox. And the recipe book. AND the bloody joggers.
I love buying new gym clothes, but it is quite an expensive habit! Recently, the supermarkets have been launching more sportswear! This week I bought gym leggings in Tesco for £10- they are so comfortable, not see-through (which unfortunately some leggings people where to the gym are!), and are so much cooler- temperature wise- than joggers! Mason jars are so lovely to drink smoothies from, but for on the go I have found some really cute plastic smoothie cups with a lid and straw. I’d really love to invest in a Lululemon ‘the mat’ yoga mat, but finding a spare £65 is rare when planning a wedding and feels a waste when mats are provided for you at class anyway! What kind of healthy snacks do you enjoy?
Workout clothes are so expensive, aren’t they? More and more high street stores have workout lines too – Mango, Gap, Primark, Next, Bershka, Forever 21 and H&M are all worth checking out. Snacks wise right now I’m into Proper Corn (specifically the Sweet Coconut & Vanilla flavour), almonds, homemade spinach hummus with cucumber and carrots for dipping, kale chips and Bounce Bars!
[…] up for a long weekend yoga retreat in Cornwall in September. However, as I’ve said before (here), I happily write-off any and all even vaguely health-related buys as an investment in my health […]