Yey its Friday! I am now all officially registered on my Diet and Nutrition Advisor course and my camera and Garmin have been delivered so I’m buzzing!
Thursday morning I did 5 minutes cardio (jumping jacks, bum kicks etc) followed by a 20 minute Yoga for Runners podcast then some core and abs work. Breakfast was fantastic! I made up some porridge using 1/4 cup of oats, 2 tablespoons of oat bran and 1 1/2 cups of water on the stove. I then added 1 heaped tablespoon of my Viva Pure Chia Super food porridge mix and another tablespoon of my vanilla hemp protein powder. I also added some sweet freedom sweetener. I topped it with fresh blueberries, some of my tofu yoghurt, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and goji berries. I also had a maple walnut coffee with kara coconut milk:
Such a good breakfast, I love oaty yoghurty layer ups! I was very impressed with the chia porridge super food mix. I actually think its designed to be made into a porridge in itself but I really liked the taste it added to my oaty porridge – plus it will last longer being used this way!
Lunch was a bowl of heaven, i.e. the yummiest soup I’ve made in a while:
Pea, Broccoli and Pesto Soup (inspired by Nigella Lawson recipe, makes 4 portions)
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into florets
- Hot veg stock or bouillon powder and hot water (I use marigold vegan vegetable bouillon whenever I make soup)
- 450g of frozen peas
- Half a small jar of basil pesto (I used la sacla organic vegetarian pesto)
Begin by gently frying the onion in a little oil until transparent. Add the broccoli and cover with hot vegetable stock. Allow to simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until the broccoli is tender. Add the peas and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and blend the soup until smooth using a hand blender or regular blender. Add the pesto and either blend again or stir well.
This soup is the bomb! So simple and easy to make and really full of flavour. You could make a vegan version using vegan pesto if desired. It also freezes very well too.
I also had a kiwi and nectarine:
Mid afternoon I snacked on a dried apricot, dried fig and some brazil nuts and pistachios:
Last night we went out to see KT Tunstall play a gig in Newcastle. Before we went I had a quick dinner of a herbed socca wrap (usual socca recipe but with added chopped fresh basil and parsley) filled with roasted beets, carrot and broccoli and some organic feta. I also had raw carrot, cucumber and an apple and pear:
The wrap was delish! I loved the herbs in there, so tasty.
The gig was brilliant, I have a huge girl crush on KT Tunstall! Here’s a quick OOTD hastily shot in the loos at Cafe Nero ;-)
Jacket: H&M, floral jacket: River Island, grey vest top: Topshop, scarf: Dorothy Perkins, jeans: Next, Bag: H&M, cocktail ring: Topshop
This morning I had a big bowl of Dorset Cereal Tasty Toasted Spelt Muesli with blackberries and kara coconut milk. I also had a butterscotch coffee with sweet freedom:
Lunch was some of my super tasty Spicy Black Eye Bean Soup followed by plums and kiwi:
Mid afternoon I decided to treat myself to a 9 bar:
I haven’t had one of these in ages, so good!
I then hit the gym for my strength and HIIT workout. It was a bit of a half arsed workout to be honest, I did do mostly all I’d planned to but I know I could have put more effort in! I did my usual 5 minute treadmill run warm up followed by my usual full body strength workout and 30 minutes of HIITs on the cross trainer, step machine and bike.
Dinner was inspired by the Rainbow and Super food salads recipes in Leon: Ingredients and Recipes:
I mixed roasted broccoli, carrot and beetroot with some red cabbage, quinoa, alfalfa sprouts and feta then added some fresh chopped parsley, viva pure spicy pumpkin seeds and a quick squeeze of lemon juice. This was so so good! I loved this salad, so full of goodness and taste.
Dessert was double chocolate coconut protein ice cream! I blended up a scoop of chocolate sun warrior, tablespoon of raw cacao, tablespoon of coconut flour, kara coconut milk, ice cubes and xanthan and guar gums then topped with coconut and cacao nibs:
Awesome!
I really enjoyed the gig last night. James is a huge music fan so we like going to see live music when we can. Are you a fan of live music? What was the last gig you went to?
So happy its the weekend! I have another fun one planned including a trip to town so I can stock up on fruit and veggies at the market, catch up with the family and my gorgeous nephews, play with my new camera and Garmin, finish reading Crazy, Sexy, Diet (which I just can’t put down) and a run!
I also may be making an attempt to change up the blog a bit and move over to a new domain so if you visit and things look a little funky please bear with me.
Hope you have all had a great week and have a fab weekend planned! I’m off to play with my new toys, catch you later x
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, you dinner this evening looks ESPECIALLY amazing! I love Leon, and I love the idea of that chocolate coconut protein ice cream!
I love going to live events, though more jazz and classical than pop. I do love KT Tunstall though — you’ve made me want to dig out her album again.
Enjoy your weekend! :-)
That socca is looking amazing! Love your protein powder ice cream. I have been battling a serious ice cream addiction, and this looks like a healthy version :)
Glad you had a good time at KT Tunstall! I love live music – the last gig I went to was Bright Eyes on Valentine’s day which was fab.
The socca wtap looks so good. I love 9 Bars too, need to stock up on some this weekend :) x
Yay to your course your gonna love it! If you have any questions fire away I also did a long distance nutrition course before doing my personal trainer course.
The last live bands I saw were at Glastonbury it was needless to say AMAZING! I love going to see bands I so need to get my ass in gear and sort something out! x x
I was wondering if you could offer some advice on the best cameras to go for DSLR cameras as I’m shopping for my birthday gift.
What specific features do you look for on a good DSLR? Which are the best brands?
I can’t wait to get one, but all the techno jargon is a little scary!!
Loving all of your eats. I will really have to try that socca wrap some time. x
That herbed socca wrap looks divine, love the combination of beets and feta! Oh dear, shouldn’t have clicked on the Viva Pure link 3 days before payday :-/ haha!
Yum to the protein ice cream and the socca! I still can’t get the taste/consistency of the former exactly right though. I blame my ancient blender…
I love live music, although I tend to get squished whenever I try to see my favourite bands (all Industrial or Death Metal) so it rather puts me off. My best ever live experience was when I saw Rammstein at the MEN arena Manchester: they fired flaming rockets over the audience and played about with flamethrowers/pyrotechnics a lot. All part of the act ;)
Have a brill weekend and have fun with your new toys.
xxx
How are you finding the Leon book, is it worth getting? x
Wow you went to a KT Tunstall gig?! Cool!! My cousin is a HUGE fan too, so she’d be very jealous!!
And I’M jealous of your new camera!! I need a new one, mine’s kinda broken…
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR GARMIN!! You’re gonna LOVE it!!
I’ve tried that Nigela recipe (my friend made it for a dinner party) and it was delicious – I must try it myself.
I look forward to reading more about your new course. I’d be interested in doing something similar myself. I’m in the middle of doing my professional qualification at work, so maybe after I’ve finished that.
I can’t wait to see some of the photos you take with your fancy new DSLR camera!!
Well done – I am still procrastinating about which course to take!
You’re so lucky, I love Katie Tunstall but I never seem to get a chance to go to any gigs these days. My sister, on the other hand, has just booked her third visit to see Seth Lakeman in about as many months:)
I love live music, but I’m more into classical music.
Oooh, I’m glad you like the superfood porridge (:
I made it up on its own and it was yummy! I mixed 1/4 cup of it with warmed almond milk and left it for five minutes or so to thicken. I recommend it! Having said that, your way would make it last much longer!
So happy for you about the course, it sounds perfect for you xxxx
Alison – that salad was pretty immense! Sounds like you have an electic taste in music :-)
Kate – yep the protein ice cream manages to satisfy that craving for creamy goodness!
Lily – the wrap was lovely, hope you got your 9 bars in, I have a few that are past their sell by date so I need to eat them up!
Tam – thanks for the offer of support I’m sure I’ll need it! I would love to go to Glastonbury!
Jemma – I’ll email you x
Bronagh – I know, that site has so many goodies, I’m going to have to ban myself from it!
Jessica – that sounds like an awesome gig! I used to see a lot more hardcore bands like that when I was younger and didn’t mond getting crushed at the front!
Becky – I love both the leon books, even as a veggie they have so fab recipes and ideas, I think it would be right up your street x
Emma – you were so right about the garmin, I love it!
Sarah – For such a simple soup its amazingly tasty I think!
Stacey – thanks! I’ll try my best ;-)
Scarlett – I’ve decided to do that one and then do the Clinical Nutrition course too, so looking forward to it!
Lana – I should have linked back to you as it was via your blog I found out about viva pure so thanks! I’ll definiely try eating the porridge that way it sounds amazing!
the spicy black eyed bean soup looks immense. i’ll defo need to try this recipe. have you ever done a post about what you buy weekly/monthly from the supermarket – id love to know so i can imitate it! i always feel i just buy ingredients every day for my tea that night, and i’m spending a fortune! xxx
Just had to say that I’ve just noticed the new blog title and I love it in every possible way. It seems as though you’ve made the move/switch to self hosting with very few problems (noticed the blog’s address) The tweaks to the layout look great too :)
Here’s to Keeping Healthy and Getting Stylish in 2011 and beyond!
Hope you had a fab weekend
xxx
That soup looks good! I love going to gigs! I also love going to Festivals, but unfortunately haven’t been for a few years. When I was around 17 I used to travel to Manchester or Liverpool all the time for gigs, but I don’t seem to have the time to go anymore! The last gig I went to was Deftones in Manchester before Christmas. I hope to go to a few more this year!