Green Tea: Get Over The Taste & Reap The Benefits

I'll be honest, the first time I tried green tea, I wasn't interested in drinking it ever again. Its taste wasn't anything to write home about but like most things, it's an acquired taste. It didn't help that I was never really a tea person, I could do without tea for years so the properties of green tea played a huge part in my going back to it! The way it settled my stomach, which was an instant result, helped too!
Now it's part of my daily routine and I always have at least one cup daily.

You could start out by having it with a natural sweetener eg stevia or raw honey. And slowly wean yourself off the sweetener. Another way to enjoy green tea is making homemade iced green tea. Again, you have the option to use a natural sweetener but slowly reduce it.

Green tea is also great for the skin, read this --> http://www.blisstree.com/2011/07/21/beauty-shopping/drink-green-tea-for-younger-looking-skin/

For more on green tea, read:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea
http://www.blisstree.com/2013/02/25/food/nutrition/green-tea-benefits/

Dinner & A Bug

The title's ridiculous right?! Read on and it'll be explained... I think! If not, let's blame it on me feeling a little under the weather ;)

Anyway I've been fighting some kind of bug/flu all day! I'm one for resting completely to recuperate but I had a 7am Fitter London Spin class which I taught off the bike so shouting and standing were the limit of my exertion. 

I listened to a friend's advice and had a long sleep until 1pm before trying to get some work done including writing up one short recipe and throwing together today's dinner. Then it was back to bed for a couple more hours.

I also increased my Vitamin C dosage, drank a lot of ginger/lemon tea, green tea and water.

I had an evening class (Fitter London Kettlebells) which was fun to teach as always, with more of standing and shouting at people (ha!).

Hot shower on returning home and served a massive portion for myself fresh & hot from my slow cooker. Yummy and so so warming!

Now it's time for a LONG sleep.

Quick & Healthy Recipe: Turkey and Kale Stir Fry

I love this recipe because it's so simple and can be modified in many ways. This was inspired by a turkey mince and green peas meal I put together a few weeks ago, on a Thursday night.

If you read my blog posts, you'll know I find it quite hard to eat a raw salad (no matter how good it is for me). I much prefer making green smoothies or stir fries using highly nutritious green leafy vegetables like spinach, collard/spring greens and kale.

I was at the supermarket last week and saw packs of kale calling my name so I bought one and decided to follow the same steps as the turkey mince/peas stir fry...

INGREDIENTS

- 400g turkey mince

- 200g kale

- 2-3 tbsp tomato puree

- 1/2 onion diced

- 1tbsp coconut oil
- Seasonings

- Salt to taste

1. Heat the coconut oil in a pan. Fry the onions until they start to brown.

2. Add the mince and start to cook in pan. Stirring in pan often to ensure it cooks evenly. 

3. Season as desired.

3. After it's been cooking for 5 minutes, add the tomato puree. Leave to simmer for a coupl eof minutes.

4. Add the (washed) kale, cover, turn down heat to medium and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

Enjoy :)

• Sweet potatoes can be used instead of plantain. 
• Kale can be replaced with spinach, greens, peas, broccoli, etc

Take It Off (Healthy Tip)

I'm not in my usual (better) shape right now, I usually can tell when my abs are more defined and my tummy is leaner.

I usually resist temptation by following these tips:

• Freezing It! (watch video)
  or 
• Keeping It Far Away (watch video).

This is a great way to stay away from the temptation of unhealthy food if you're home for an extended period of time with some unexpected temptation in sight.

I've Been Cooking... and Recording!

I've been meaning to record (and/or blog) recipe videos more often but things life & work keep getting in the way! I was so tired on Tuesday, I overslept and woke up TWO hours late! T-W-O!!!

Anyway, I did a lot of cooking this week and decided to record a couple of recipes. I still have a pack of pork ribs in my fridge, that's another potential recipe video/blog right there. I'm thinking spicy ribs? We'll see :)

The turkey mince recipe will be uploaded later today so stay tuned (& subscribe) to www.youtube.com/HealthyDury

*Get Trimmer* Challenge Progress

Just some more mouth-watering, healthy meals from the challenge :) Three weeks down, three to go!

And the ladies are starting to see results three weeks into it :) Someone's lost over 4kg and another has lost 2.5kg with many inches lost too :)

If you're wondering why you can't see any posts from the challenge here, it's because it's a private challenge available only to paid members.

Another challenge will start in April :)

Healthy Pancakes With All-Natural Ingredients

Hello and Happy Monday :)

I've been asked for healthy pancake recipes for Shrove Tuesday (tomorrow). I decided to use the opportunity to test out a new recipe inspired by banana pancakes.

I also posted a link to another pancake recipe from my archives.

Enjoy :)

PS These are gluten/wheat free with natural, unprocessed ingredients.

Plantain Pancakes

This is so so SO easy and you just have to try it.

I'm always looking for new ways to cook plantains so a banana pancake recipe inspired me :)

I prefer this recipe because there's no need to sweeten the mixture as plantains are naturally sweet.

What kind of plantains are needed?
As shown in the video, ripe (yellow) plantains although very soft plantains would work even better as they'll be sweeter :)

Watch the video below for how to make these very simple, healthy and yummy pancakes:

Only two ingredients are needed for this simple recipe and it's become one of my favourites after only one try :)

Ingredients
2/3 of a medium plantain
2 eggs

1. Cut the plantain into three pieces (don't peel)
2. Boil for 10-12 minutes
3. Peel the skin off two pieces, add to a bowl.
4. Add the two eggs.
5. Mix
6. Grease pan, add a small portion of mix when hot.
7. Allow to fry/cook on either side for 1.5 minutes (max)

I used 2/3 of a medium plantain because I tried a whole plantain with two eggs and the mixture was too thick. What did I do with the last 1/3? I ate it with some stew of course ;) I'm not one to waste food!

And from the archives...

Almond Flour Pancakes

These are low in carbohydrates, high in protein and healthy fats. The coconut milk is optional because I've made these pancake many times without adding coconut milk and they're still yummy :)


The recipe is detailed here: http://www.adura-o.com/2011/06/pancakes.html


You can use any nut flour alternatives in this recipe. Coconut flour is another option.

So you see - you can still enjoy Pancake Day the healthier way :)

Week TWO Already :)

The challenge is well and truly on its way :) It's Week Two!!

Well done ladies, I can't wait to see how you all do this week. This week's challenge is a tough one but very doable :)

If you missed out on this, I'll be running another one in a couple of months. Registration will be much earlier than this one so you'll have more of a chance of entering. I apologise for having to turn a few people away but the deadline was on Friday 1st February.

Don't wait till the next challenge to start eating healthy, make small changes every week and you'll start to see a difference :)

A New Video With Healthy Tips & Ginger/Paprika Beef Soup

I uploaded this video earlier this week and forgot to post on here. It's been a long but very productive week :)

With the start of the The Get Trimmer Challenge (entry is officially closed), some interesting things coming up and life, I've been a little distracted.

Luckily I recorded and edited this video a while back so all I had to do was upload it to YouTube.

I have a blog post that goes hand in hand with this, as I used a step-by-step approach to reach my goal.
Read more here: "How To Cut Down On Carbs"

Watch the video here:


I'm playing with spice/herb combinations so I decided to try ginger and paprika. I love ginger with chicken but I hardly ever season my meat (goat meat, beef, etc) with it. Paprika is something I just started using more often last year after I ate some chicken my Aunt made. I went back for seconds AND thirds!

1kg Beef
4 medium carrots
2 medium onions
Seasonings: Ginger, paprika, mixed herbs and salt.

Cooked till tender :)

This turned out great and I can now say the ginger & paprika combination is a winner :)

Enjoy your weekend!