HAPPY MONDAY!

So it's Monday again and I, like everyone else working full time whether they love it or not, can't currently stand the thought of hearing the alarm tomorrow morning and having to get up to another freezing cold rainy day and an inbox full of emails I can't be bothered with.

So this morning I am sharing what I do to make Mondays, and every day, more enjoyable.  Yes it might sound cliche, yes you might have heard 100 other web sites say similar things, but after years of just being generally wound up on Sunday night's I've found the following works for me.


1. On Sunday night do something you love and can look forward to.  For me, I have a Sunday night ritual of a glass of wine, a face mask, good-bad TV (you know the stuff - reality shows, local travel shows, whatever's going) and a longer-than-normal shower.  

2. Prepare for your day in advance.  The night before work, choose your outfit and leave it hanging where you get dressed, make your breakfast in advance (overnight oats, get spreads out for toast, hard boil some eggs, whatever it takes), make sure that if you pack your lunch all you have to do is take a container out of the fridge and put it in your bag.  A million people have said it and it really seems true - the less decisions you have to make in the morning, the easier it will be.

3.  Give yourself a Monday morning treat.  Mine is that I always stay in bed an extra 15 minutes on a Monday morning (and a Wednesday morning, actually).  I start my tea while I do my make up and eat my breakfast in less time (or take it to work) to make up for it.  It works, gives me something to look forward to and I love it!

4. Decide to be happy.  I know this sounds silly but try deciding to see the good side to everything.  If you don't believe it or don't feel it, fake it until you make it.  If someone asks you how you are, (unless there is something very wrong or you really are out-of-sorts down beyond Monday morning blues - I'm certainly not suggesting you suppress feelings!), just say you're really well and had a great weekend.  It might not work for everyone but it sets me in the right frame of mind for the whole day!

5.  Realise you're not stuck.  You can change jobs if you want to, you can take an annual leave day next week and have a rest, you can walk away from your emails for 5 minutes during the day for a breather.  You can even sell your house, or move overseas.  Often knowing we can change something we don't like makes the situation more bearable.  


I leave you with this!

I love it.

How do you cope with day 1 of 5?
.. or are you lucky enough to work a job that you adore beyond words and can't wait to attend daily?

Happy Monday!

Nat x

AN APPLE A DAY

I always buy loads & loads of granny smith's when they're on special at the fruit & veg shop or market knowing I can stew them and eat them for breakfast - especially good in the colder months.

Give the skins a thorough wash (I scrub them), put 2-3 cms of water in the bottom of a pot and add a cinnamon stick, a sprinkle of mixed spice & some star anise.

You can add some honey if you have a sweet tooth (or your kids do).

Cook on a medium heat stirring every 2-3 minutes.

This will take 2 minutes to prep and around 10 minutes to cook for 5 apples and gives you a super easy way to eat an apply every morning without even trying.  In fact, 30 seconds in the microwave from the fridge gives you an awesome warm base for some oats or muesli and a bit of yoghurt - it really does feel like apple pie for breakfast.

I never go a day without eating fruit as I love it so much, especially at breakfast.

How do you get your daily fruit?

Have you ever quit fruit as part of a sugar-dropping regime?  I could never!

Nat x

OPEN FISH TACOS

I shared this post on my other blog I just decided to ditch, so I thought I'd bring it over.

My whole thinking at the moment revolves around a little annoyance that, if you look at many health-promoters, you might get the impression that protein powders and chia seeds are required for health.  They are so insanely not.

Health and eating well should be simple, and mostly affordable.  Most people (think time poor, or young families, or those on a budget) do not have time to make a raw cheesecake with a hazelnut crust.  The people that seek out these recipes are already healthy.  The coconut oil is already in the pantry next to the cacao powder.

I'd much prefer to help those not already living healthy lifestyles and eating good food realise it's not hard and give it a go.

Let me know what you think of this recipe as a start...

OPEN FISH TACOS

Serves 4.

White fish (we used flake, you could use any white fish or prawns) - 3 small portions will work fine for 4 people with all the other ingredients.
Marinate in 2tsp of olive oil, 1/4 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (omit this if you're feeding it to kids!  Or you can substitute with paprika), zest of half a lime and a few shakes of salt.  Cover and put in the fridge while you prep everything else.

Shred 1/4 of a red or green cabbage, 1/4 of an iceberg lettuce and grade 1 carrot. Toss together and add 2 tsps of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of Greek or plain yoghurt (if you don't keep any in the house, you can use sour cream or a little more mayo, some olive oil and water to help coat the mix), the other half of your lime's zest, salt, pepper and a little water to help it all mix through.  (I usually make this dressing separately then add it).

Dice 3-4 fresh tomatoes (remove the pulp if you can be bothered) and stir in 1/2 tsp of paprika (I use smoked but whatever's handy is fine).  Set aside.

Peel and mash 1 whole avocado with the juice of 1/4-1/2 a lime (or lemon), 1 small clove of minced garlic, salt and pepper.  Set aside.

Lay 1 piece of mountain bread (this is the healthiest option, but you could use any flat bread) on the plate.

Top with even amounts of your lettuce/cabbage/carrot mix.

Cook the fish you marinated earlier in a hot pan until you know it's done.

Lay the fish on the lettuce mix, top with your diced tomatoes, mashed avocado and finish with the Greek yoghurt (or plain yoghurt or sour cream).

Serve with wedges of your zested lime!

Fresh coriander or fresh mint is amazing added to these if you can get it - just chop and add at the very end so they stay fresh and crunchy.  Coriander is by far my favourite and doesn't even need to be chopped - just add the whole lot in like it was more lettuce.  Don't buy one of those squeezie herbs for this, it won't be as nice - better to keep it fresh without.
Don't be scared to serve them with a side of a corn chip or 3 (the plain ones work best).

Finished!  Yummy, simple and good for you.
.. and if you have kids, laying the fish in the wrap and then putting all the other ingredients on the table so they can put them together themselves could be a fun.


Let me know if you try it or if you have a similar recipe or just some feedback on if you think this is simple.

Happy eating,
Natalie x

I MISS FOOD!

So guys, I re-started my blog at another site and find myself wanting to talk about food all the time.

Food, nutrition, health is my biggest passion.  I am mad for it.  I can't leave it alone.

(last night's din - Prosecco joined us at the table)

So I am back here.  For good.

Speak very soon, 
Nat x