This recipe is a treat not only for baby but for mama too! Roasting vegetables not only prepares solid meals for your little one but also contributes to meal prep for you and the rest of the family.
Balinese Gado Gado
This dish was inspired by my love of and travels to Bali. This is my take on a very traditional dish and the fun part is that you can change things up when it comes to the vegetables. There is so much wisdom in traditional culture and I hope to honour tradition in some small way through recipes like this. Western culture often considers Eastern medicine and culture as ‘woo woo’ medicine. The truth is wisdom that has been passed down is centuries older than Western medicine and if we just take the time to learn, we can heal.
Matcha and turmeric smoothie
Matcha is made from green tea and comes in powder form. It is naturally high in antioxidants and can boost brain function because it contains L-theanine, which also supports sleep. Matcha also relieves stomach pain and supports digestion. With matcha being naturally high in caffeine, it is something that I include in my mornings and avoid in the evening.
Easy vegetable pasta
Comparison is the death of joy and looking at what others are eating, their body shapes and their lives will only make you unhappy and exhausted. It causes you to lose your special shine because you feel less valuable based on a flawed system determining success and worth. You matter, just the way that you are. Gaining health, self worth, good self esteem, energy and happiness in your life is something that you deserve.
If you want to be healthier then you need to take control of the aspects that you can control. It’s that simple. Don’t overcomplicate things and break your victim mentality through thought swapping. When you hear a negative comparison pop up in your head replace it with something that you are grateful for. If you repeat this three times a day for a week you will start to feel things change. Practice patience with yourself.
Everyone needs a good pasta in their arsenal. Whenever you eat something that is classified as an indulgence such as a pasta, not only can you substitute the pasta with a healthier option, but you can also load it up with as many veggies as possible to keep the balance. Eating more vegetables reduces the risk of chronic diseases and provides the body with vital nutrients to maintain homeostasis.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons coconut oil
400 g cherry tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 medium-size aubergine, cut into small cubes
2 cobs sweetcorn
1 cup vegetable stock
250 g buckwheat pasta
salt
4 kale leaves, stalks removed and leaves torn
zest and juice of ½ lemon
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (or grated Parmesan)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 handful fresh parsley leaves
Heat the coconut oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cherry tomatoes and sauté for 10 minutes. Add the paprika, oregano and aubergine cubes and stir well.
Remove the kernels from the sweetcorn by slicing down the length with a sharp knife. Add the kernels to the tomato mixture and stir well. Add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a saucepan of salted water as per the packet instructions. Once ready, drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water, and set the pasta aside.
When the sauce is ready after 20 minutes, add the pasta and gently mix in along with the torn kale leaves, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of the nutritional yeast. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Serve the pasta in a bowl, drizzled with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with parsley and the remaining tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
Daily healthy smoothie
This smoothie is a very healthy one. It may take some getting used to as it isn’t overly sweet. That being said, I love it. You can train your palate to love anything if you just give it a chance. This smoothie is high in fibre and the plant-based protein keeps me full for longer.
Serves: 1
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana, peeled
½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
5 strawberries fresh or frozen
1 handful baby spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 serving plant-based protein powder
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 tablespoon barley or wheatgrass (optional)
1½ cups coconut water
2 ice cubes
Instructions:
Place all the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.
Hint: Use organic pea protein if you have a sensitive digestive system as it helps with digestion.
-Melissa
