It’s been a while since I’ve put together a Healthy Haul post, not because I haven’t been making healthy purchases, more because we haven’t gotten together for a RMS shoot for some time. Finally we were all in the same place yesterday (at Charlotte’s to be precise, lots of ideas discussed, much coffee drunk). So here it is, the best of the last couple of months, including a cookbook I can’t say enough nice things about and the smoothies I’m verging on addicted to…
Happy Hippy, from £3.75 for 100g, Lush
On cold dark winter mornings when I need a little extra boost to get me out of the house this shower gel does the trick. It’s an uplifting blend of grapefruit, lots of grapefruit (pink grapefruit juice, grapefruit peel AND grapefruit essential oil) and bergamont oil, which is supposed to clear the mind of anxiety and boost mental clarity. It certainly makes me feel more awake, lathers well and the name makes me smile. Buying on repeat.
You can buy it here
The Food Doctor Apple & Walnut Wholesome Bar, 95p
I grabbed one of these at my local Tesco (where they’re 80p, but you can’t seem to buy them there online) when I was feeling low on energy after an early morning yoga class and still had to negotiate the tube before arriving at the office to start the working day. It’s full of natural stuff including dried apple, raisins, linseed, walnuts, papaya, amaranth and millet and is high on fibre but doesn’t contain wheat or refined sugar. Just the right amount of filling for those times when I need a snack as opposed to a whole meal (post exercise, mid-morning, mid-afternoon). It’s healthy but still yummy (although one online reviewer said it tasted like budgie food, which I’ve never tried so can’t confirm or deny) and more portable than, say a pot of hummous and some carrot sticks.
You can buy it here
Innocent Super Smoothies, £2.35, Waitrose
My busy schedule during January and February has left me feeling under the weather from time to time. Innocent’s new Super Smoothies have helped. Antioxidant is a zesty blend of kiwi, lime, wheatgrass and flaxseeds with vitamins C, E and selenium. Defence is a smooth mix of mango, pumpkin, echinacea and flax seeds with vitamins C, D and zinc. I can’t decided which I like best so I alternate. (There’s another one, Energise, that I haven’t tried yet). Do they work? I haven’t succumbed to a cold all winter, so yes, I reckon they do.
You can buy Antioxidant here and Defence here
A Modern Way To Eat, Anna Jones, £17, Amazon
This veggie cookbook has quickly become one of my fave cookbooks full stop (it was a birthday pressie, so I haven’t broken my resolution to cook from cookbooks I already own, as opposed to buying new ones). Everything I’ve cooked so far has been easy to do and the results have been nothing less than lick-the-plate delicious. Special shout out to the dhal with crispy sweet potatoes – a crowd pleaser for visiting friends, works equally well heated up in the microwave for a work lunch. Especially useful are the pages that take you through the process of making soups, salads and pestos, giving you options for every stage and so allowing you to get creative. For pesto, for example, start with a nut, add a herb, then some acid kick, followed by some oil, then finish with an accent/flavour. There’s a handy guide to what’s in season when, suggestions for how to cook those weird vegetables you haven’t a clue what to do with and a timed plan for making a veggie roast dinner. The styling and photography are scrummy, I basically want to own all the props. Looking forward to trying all the spring recipes shortly.
You can buy it here
Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Mat in Seaglass, £35, Amazon
I like practicing yoga on my own yoga mat. Other people’s feet? Ew! But carrying a rolled up yoga mat around London can be a bit of a pain, not to mention downright dangerous on a bike, even though I like that when I wear my mat bag cross body style I feel a bit like Katniss Everdeen. I spotted a couple of people in class last year with foldable mats in various colours, which they put over one of the studio mats, for extra padding. On closer inspection I spotted the Manduka frog symbol, liked what I read about them online and asked for one for Christmas. It’s lighter than your average mat, folds up small, is grippy so great for all those warrior type poses and, bonus, it’s earth-friendly too, being as it’s made from biodegradable rubber and is free from toxic chemicals and dyes. Oh and I like the colour (seaglass) a lot too.
You can buy it here
What healthy buys have you made lately? Anyone else own A Modern Way To Eat? What are your favourite recipes so far? What food and drink is getting you through the winter months? Do share below!
Ooh, that recipe book looks lovely! Eek, now I’m torn – I have asked my boyfriend to buy me Hemsley & Hemsley but is this one better?!
I’m with Julia and would have to say that I prefer A Modern Way To Eat Kate. It’s fully veggie though, so if you’re after meat and fish options then H&H might be a better choice.
Thanks Miranda, will take a look at both and decide! 🙂
A Modern Way to Eat is amazing! my fave cookbook by far. (and Kate – I think it’s definitely better than Hemsley +Hemsley!). love that the recipes are all exciting and new, but still straightforward and easy to make.. and love that she gives different options for things that are in season. The sweet potato dhal is the best… also you have to try making the banana, blueberry & pecan pancakes, easy, delicious and healthy.. the best combo! sweet & salty tahini greens are delicious too. Tonight I’m going to make the roast squash with romesco, yum 🙂
Totally agree Julia, the recipes really are very straightforward and easy to make. There’s been the odd ingredient I’ve had to hunt down (took me a while to find chipotle paste) but most stuff is readily available. The sweet and salty tahini greens are next on my list to try, good to know they’re as relish as they sound!
Ooh good to hear. This has been in my amazon basket for ages but I’d not read enough about it to make the purchase. I’m also trying to cut down on my healthy cookbook buying adiction but there must be far worse things I could be spending on?! I bought my best freind the Nourish book by Sadie Frost, Amber Rose and Holly Davidson which I had a flick through and loved the look of the 3 sections dedicated to mind, food and body… she just devoured the whole book this week and met me this morning totally inspired by every single part of it. I might need to get one of those for me as well. Anyone else read that one?
Trying to cut back on my healthy cookbook buying addiction too Amanda, haven’t bought any yet this year. Really liking A Modern Way To Cook, has really expanded my veggie repertoire. Read about the Nourish book and liked the sound of it, with the mind and body sections perhaps it’s more than simply a cookbook, so perhaps I can allow myself that one…?!
Ooo this looks fab! Am addicted to the many amazing healthy cookbooks out there; I ordered the Deliciously Ella one and the H&H one last month and I have to admit I have so far made nothing from H&H, mainly as it appears a little faffy, even though some of the recipes are fab. Deliciously Ella is great although I was a little disappointed as quite a few of the recipes in it are already on her app. Am off to order A Modern Way to Eat now, it’s pay day after all!
It’s the perfect pay day treat Rachel! Had a flip through the Deliciously Ella book, it looks lovely and such a cute size, but for me there seemed to be a lot of sweet things in it, I’m always after savoury recipes, happy with fruit and yoghurt for afters!
Yup, too many treats and not enough main courses me thinks!
How long and thick is the yoga mat Miranda? I’ve got an old exercise mat and I was thinking of getting a proper pilates one, but I can’t find one that looks nice, at the right length and thickness – and that can also be transported easily. Thinking that I could get this one to put over the studio mats and my one at home for extra cushioning.
Just measured it Jo, it’s 180cms long by 60cms wide, which is around standard for a yoga mat, I think. It’s not thick, which is what makes it lighter, I suppose, but I put it over a studio mat as you suggest and because it’s grippy it doesn’t move. Is very portable.
My friend has lent me the Nourish I bought her and forcing me to spend the weekend reading it so that I might be inspired to join her on a 5.40am run while oil pulling… I will let you know what its like Miranda… but so far – def more than just a cook book. 2/3rds are not foodie so it’s got to be allowed?? Mmmm… I’m reading as I eat a Helmsley and Helmsley black bean brownie… I’m good at the cake bits of that book! There are just so many great foodie books around at the moment!
Ooh, love to hear how you get on with it Amanda. Eek, 5.40am is early to be running. And oil pulling? I’ve heard of it, but not sure exactly what it involves! An H&H black bean brownie would be so good around now, yum!