The Wellness Boxes You Need To Subscribe To Now!

Written by

In recent years, subscription boxes have gained popularity throughout the beauty, fitness and foodie realms. At Hip & Healthy, we love nothing more than treating ourselves to the finest and tastiest treats the wellness world has to offer. This month, we have picked some of our favourite wellness (subscription) boxes so that you too can indulge in and enjoy these healthy delights as much as we do, all in the comfort of your own home.

tea_top

Calling all tea enthusiasts!

Our favourite box for all tea lovers out there is by London Tea Club, created by tea-enthusiast Cecilia Lau who has sourced more than 100 teas for the monthly club since it launched its subscription service in 2013. Offering premium teas, which are carefully handpicked from around the world, the company brings inspiration to everyone who loves tea and wants to learn more about the art of brewing the perfect cuppa. Members of the club will receive a parcel each month of three premium, loose-leaf teas (tailored to your personalised profile, of course), each incredibly fragrant and delicious. Tea varieties, some of which can also be purchased in the online shop along with other beautiful tea essentials, include blends such as a ‘jade’ oolong type titled Frozen Summit, a fruity Rooibos Blossom & Berries, and a classic Ceylon black tea infused with butterscotch pieces. The teas should brew 3-4 cups each and are all accompanied with a description card, unlocking the secret of the tea’s origins, tasting notes and brewing instructions. We also love that London Tea Club wraps its teas in elegant packaging, making the experience all the more enjoyable!

Fitty_151102_003224

Fitness fans behold!

Fitty London is London’s coolest new fitness box. Each month, fitness enthusiasts will be surprised with a beautifully wrapped box filled with the latest must-have fitness essentials. If you simply can’t wait that long, fitty also offers a one-off box called The Felix. Whichever one you opt for, you’ll certainly uncover a range of carefully hand picked products sure to satisfy all you Hip & Healthies. Boxes contain anything from resistance bands to protein powders by The Organic Protein Company (the UK’s first organic whey protein company) and even a frother to whisk up the tastiest matcha lattes in town – think of it as the Glossybox of the fitness world. What makes Fitty London quite so unique is its bold and confident personality, as founders and best friends Laura Fullerton and James Smithers, hope to make the world a healthier, sexier place, fuelling the city’s sweat game in the process. We can’t get enough!

 

BarrecoreSavannah34-1170x657

Paleo heaven

The UK’s first Paleo snack subscription service, Primal Snack Box, founded by Molly Clifford and Mark Fordham just two years ago, joined forces with Paleo advocate and Barrecore founder Niki Rein to create a bespoke Barrecore box, with the items chosen by Niki herself. The box features a selection of high-protein mouth-watering snacks such as Paleo original biltong by Barefoot Biltong, hot chocolate by Sweet Revolution and a coffee & hemp chocolate bar by Almighty Foods, ensuring you’ll be spoilt for choice. We particularly loved the Himalayan Salt Chocolate Brownie by 100% Natural, which is infused with Goji and Acai Berry. While this isn’t a box for the vegan-loving gal, we do suggest you try Primal Snack Box’s Forest Box instead, which is vegan and vegetarian friendly featuring tasty Paleo biscuits and fig and orange chocolate by Pana (to name but a few). Whichever one of the fives boxes at Primal Snack Box you will be tucking into, we promise you will not regret it, as this is Paleo Heaven at its best.

 

superfoodio

For the Artisan Aficionado

Superfoodio was “born out of a passion for good, wholesome food”, making superfood discovery simple in the process. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle and sense of wellbeing, Superfoodio was created by Nirali and Jag Mankodi in 2015 after finding themselves travelling through South America where they unearthed some of the world’s finest superfoods, which would later become the inspiration and birth of Superfoodio. The brand is now in the process of launching a Healthy Artisan Snack Box to accompany its growing, vegetarian-friendly line of boxes. With four unique and nutrient-rich snacks, such as a savoury sweet potato granola, tiger nut flour and cashew and cocoa nibblers, the snacks are gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free. We loved Superfoodio for helping us discover new, exotic flavours and bringing out our inner gourmet cook by expanding our palate, as each box features between 1-3 easy to follow recipe cards (depending whether you choose the mini, classic or sharing box) and also one cooking ingredient. With unique flavours, Superfoodio takes us on our very own culinary journey and there’s certainly nothing we love more than a box that opens up a world full of adventures.

 

FilledBox_030

The new health top up!

Designed to be a ‘health top up’ rather than just another cleanse, THINK Press is a Kent-based juicery that was created by Alex Auger and delivers anything from cold pressed juices (which boast 6kg of freshly squeezed vegetables, fruits and nuts) to creamy nut milks and bone broth cleanses across the UK. Sourcing the finest and freshest local ingredients, THINK Press keeps produce seasonal and always British where possible. Its latest addition comes in its Bone Broth Cleanse. By teaming up with Osius, this nourishing cleanse programme was especially designed for the colder winter months (and non-vegans for that matter), as the cleanse features either a chicken or beef broth as well as three delicious cold pressed juices, and a protein packed nut milk. As the first and only on the market to offer it, THINK Press and Osius’ are one step ahead of the crowd!

 

SpringBox-V2

One for every season!

This beautifully curated wellness box, titled Aevi Box was created by friends Natalie Viklund and Marie Hansen, finding its inspiration in the word Aevi, which comes from an Old Norse language meaning life. Aevi Box is built on three simple foundations: love yourself (aevi), love your body (heart, mind and skin), and to love others (share your light). Aevi is a way of life. By encouraging mindfulness of the heart, mind, skin and caring according to the seasons as Ayurveda teaches us, (Aevi’s boxes come out four times a year), each box is carefully adapted to each season without compromising on the brand’s luxurious handmade design or feel. With the simple wish to encourage others to love themselves and in turn love others better, Aevi not only makes the most pure and radiant skincare more accessible but it more importantly reminds us that we deserve true wellbeing by serving as a gentle reminder of what’s truly important in life. Check out their current Spring Box for delightfully luxurious treats!

 

IMG_0006-124

Perfect on-the-go snacking!

When YouTube sensations Marcus Butler and Niomi Smart were tired of spending hours hunting around to find healthy, natural snacks, the duo joined forces in 2015 to create SourcedBox. After transforming their own diets and seeing amazing results, they decided to share their health and wellness knowledge with the millions of viewers across their YouTube channels. With an overwhelmingly positive response, the idea of SourcedBox was born – as a simple, exciting way to discover healthy snacks. Offering a monthly subscription as well as a limited amount of one-off boxes, each month subscribers receive a different variety of hand-picked snacks made from natural ingredients, including superseed trail mixes, dairy-free chocolate mylk by Rebel Kitchen, and broccoli crisps to name a few! Hoping to set out and change the mixed messages we might receive from friends, family, and the media who lecture us what we should and shouldn’t eat, SourcedBox proves that being healthy doesn’t have to be hard.

Use the code HIPHEALTHY25, you’ll receive 25% off your first monthly subscription (valid until the end of April). Enjoy!

Words by Jessica-Christin Hametner

Fitspiration – Hollie Grant (Founder Of The Model Method)

Written by

How did you first get into pilates?

After a terrible, stressful, depression-inducing year as a Pastry Chef – the only job I had wanted to do from a very young age – I made the heartbreaking decision to never go back into the professional kitchen, quit my job and refused to work my notice and was suddenly without any dream job or income. After a few months soul searching in New York working for a charity, I came home to a receptionist job at a Reformer Pilates studio where I hoped I would be able to re-assess my life. I was immediately hooked with Reformer Pilates! I had always been super fit but found Mat Pilates very boring, Reformer Pilates just felt amazing and I couldn’t get enough! I used it to train for a multi marathon charity event I was running and was told by the instructors that I should study to become a Pilates teacher too. I did and it was the start of the best, most obvious career path ever.

How did you go from teaching pilates to creating The Model Method?

After teaching hundreds of clients, and thousands of classes, I was noticing a real trend. Women who came to Pilates tended to do so because they were not fans of cardio-based exercise such as running and spinning. They were super strong but often asked me how they could ‘get rid of this’ (and point to their stomachs or bums). What they were really asking was how could they reduce their body fat. As someone who wholeheartedly disagrees with diets my advice was always that they needed to get some cardio into their regime. I was asked more and more to help clients with this and realising there was a gap in the market began my journey to creating The Model Method. I studied for further fitness qualifications, did some serious research and begun testing out some formats on my private clients. Results were amazing – reduced body fat, inches lost, huge improvements in fitness levels and physical health….and then the waiting list began.

Tell us more about The Model Method and how it differs from traditional pilates workouts?

Pilates, as a standalone workout, is a fantastic way to improve muscle tone, strength, posture and flexibility. It gives you an incredible body AND gives you a healthy, safe, pain free body. However it does not have any real cardiovascular benefit, of which these benefits include reduced risk of chronic illnesses, and it is so important that this system is strong too! To improve our cardiovascular system we need to get our heart working hard – this is where HIIT comes in. The Model Method combines HIIT, Reformer Pilates and weight training to target the bodies different systems and cover all bases! Clients burn a large amount of calories during the session but the main benefit is that post workout their bodies start to break down body fat – and it is high levels of body fat that are most dangerous for the body. Clients can expect to feel stronger, more lean, have more energy and reduced body fat.

 

You also offer an online Model Method plan; what does this involve?

The Model Method is a truly personalised fitness and food programme. It’s a 6 week plan combining video workouts, nutritional information, recipes and fitness testing. The plan consists of videos you can stream from anywhere, any time, on any device and also includes a Starter Pack from LifeBox Food Co containing all you’ll need to get started with your new life. At the start of the plan you fill in a 4 stage online consultation form which asks questions about your current health, levels of fitness, body confidence, motivation levels etc. You also have the opportunity to add start photos to your form (optional) for us to assess your body shape and posture. Once this is all submitted you receive a Starter Pack which has been designed with LifeBox food co and consists of some of the newest and most powerful superfoods, supplements and drinks, a resistance band (needed for the videos) and the book Nourish which was written by myself and Integrative Nutrition health coach Jenny Millichip. The book is centred around Nourishing yourself (rather than calorie restriction and diet plans) and features 22 recipes including recipes by Gizzi Erskine and Julie Montagu. I then assess your consultation form and based on your responses assign you 6 videos to be completed each week for 6 weeks (you have 1 rest day). These videos normally consist of 3 x 30 minute HIIT workouts, 2 x 15 minute dynamic Pilates workouts and 1 x 30 minute dynamic Pilates workout. After 2 weeks you receive a questionnaire assessing how you are finding your videos and this gives us the opportunity to adapt your videos if needed. At the end of the 6 weeks you fill out a final consultation form and are given your results/changes in body confidence etc.

 

Why do you think your classes are proving to be so effective compared to other workout methods?

I believe its down to the fact that it was created by a woman, for women, with real research, science and motivational techniques involved. The focus is always on strength and creating bodies that are functional and fit. This is not about aesthetics or ‘losing a stone in a month’. This is about making women healthier, happier and a little more comfortable in their clothes.

 

What benefits does pilates have compared to other forms of exercise?

Pilates is all about bringing the body to its most effective, functional, safe state. Our lives nowadays really aren’t conducive to this. We spend many hours sat over our laptops, walking looking down at our phones, slumped on the sofa watching tv. This is not what our bodies were designed for and with this our bodies start to suffer and change. Pilates aims to correct this. Good instructors will be able to spot imbalances in the body and fix them. This not only reduces any potential aches and pains in the body but helps you look taller, slimmer and happier. I can always tell someone who practices Pilates – they are super strong, flexible and have rock solid tummies!

Why is it so important to have a strong core?

Our core muscles protect and support the spine which houses the most important part of the body – your central nervous system (CNS). Your CNS transmits messages from the brain to the rest of the body and when damaged can cause death of major muscles and more severely – paralysis. Your core also has the tough job of carrying the weight of the upper body and holding the spine in the position it was designed to. If our core is not strong our posture is affected and this places the spine in an unsafe position (which again can affect your CNS). Most of us have really weak spine extensors (the muscles that run along your spine and keep it held upright) and overtime we start to hunch forward. Common side effects include headaches, migraines and back ache.

What pilates stretch would you recommend for those who work slumped at their desks all day?

Wall Roll Down – stand facing away from a wall with your bum, spine and head touching it but your feet 1 foot away from it set hip distance apart, knees soft. Inhale to prepare and as you exhale  start to peel your head and then spine away from the wall, one vertebrae at a time until you are as low as you can manage with just your bum touching the wall. Inhale to stay here and on your exhale roll back up again one vertebrae at a time to meet the wall. Repeat 3 times to loosen and articulate the spine and relax the neck.

What are your three top tips for leading a healthy lifestyle?

  • Download Headspace – The app is amazing, although not strictly essential for mindfulness, as it teaches you first how to meditate and then assists you in doing so guiding you through various topics of your choice eg anxiety, depression etc. Mindfulness is fantastic for reducing blood pressure, reducing tension, controlling overeating and generally improving mental health. Mental health should be seen as the most important aspect of your health.

2) Love yourself – try to put your health goals into some perspective. I have heard every fitness goal under the sun in my 6 years in fitness and the one that yields the best results is to learn to love yourself. When you love your body you don’t want to poison it with terrible food, you don’t want to abuse it with over exercising and dieting, you treat it with less disdain and appreciate it for all it does for you. When this happens your body thanks you by being strong, pain free and healthy. Forget aesthetics and dress size and care more about function and capabilities.

3) Consistency – nailed 6 spin classes in 6 days? Completed the 28 day Bikram challenge? How lovely – now how is that ever going to fit into your normal life? There is no point binge exercising to cover up for the fact you’ve been on a bender in Ibiza for 10 days. Consistency is key and some of the fittest women I know only exercise 2-3 times per week but have ALWAYS done that and always will. It is part of their life not their whole life. They will never get bored of it as it is a smaller part of their life but they will always have a great base level of fitness that will never fade.

What is your typical day on a plate?

Breakfast – Toasted Rye Bread, avocado, scrambled egg, sunflower seeds, chilli flakes, udos choice oil, lime juice.

Mid morning – Sunwarrior Vegan chocolate protein powder, almond milk, banana and hazelnut butter shake.

Lunch – homemade soup (my favourite is my Thai spiced crown prince squash soup)

Mid afternoon – Bone broth and a banana

Dinner – Ostrich steaks or Salmon, grilled asparagus, green beans with pine nuts and a sachet of ready cooked quinoa or wheatberries.

Dessert – I LOVE chocolate so usually a couple of Paul A Young truffles or Rococo dark chocolate (I love their Chuao bar).

 

Book your class here!

Beach Body Prep With Pilates PT!

Written by

We couldn’t think of a better person to whip our bodies into shape than the lovely (but tough) Hollie Grant, owner of the award winning PilatesPT studios on the New Kings Road. Loved by the likes of Ella Woodward (Deliciously Ella for those that don’t know) we knew we’d get our sweat on to the max but in a fun, enjoyable way. Yes, its possible! Our Editorial Assistant, Flora, shares her experience and below and reveals why you should definitely go to Hollie for you beach body prep!

 

During the session, Hollie recorded my weight, muscle mass, bodily water percentage (Ideally 55% is what we should be aiming for so I was very pleased that my constant water guzzling was paying off  –  my results showed that 54.2% of my body weight was water). She also told me my calories burned per day were 1,458 – that is, if I were to stay still all day long. This proved to be really fascinating to me as exercise and movement on top of that would mean my body required over 2000 cals per day. She then told me if I were to continue with PilatesPT, we would aim to strip my body fat down to around 21%, that of an athletes body. It is definitely a very challenging workout, but I left feeling energetic and of course looking forward to my next sweat-inducing meeting with Hollie!

 

It is no wonder that she is in demand and people see great results – I did a variety of exercises, beginning with a little interval training on the treadmill, followed by short bursts of HIIT training, such as burpees and box squats, and lastly the pilates reformer machine, my new favourite. I wore a heart rate monitor belt, so my heart rate was displayed on the screen of the watch I wore – this definitely kept me really motivated as I wanted to keep it high! I practiced lower intensity exercises on the machine, providing a welcoming contrast to the intense bouts before.  These seemed to lengthen, stretch and tone my muscles and I felt my arms were more defined the next day; my hard work was reinforced in the slight aches throughout my body! However the series of stretches we ended the lesson with would have definitely helped with this and made me far less sore. There were some lovely deep stretches to release tension, especially around the neck and shoulder area.

The Model Method shoot 010

Hollie’s super toned body is definitely a great source of motivation as well! You can tell that she is an expert in her field of pilates, on how the body works, continually giving me interesting pieces of pilates advice. Her calm support and encouragement, rather than any aggressive shouting, (which I have previously encountered and completely disliked), really kept me focused and able to complete each exercise. She was quick to point out that my posture could be improved and my shoulders slumped a lot which I know is due to working at a desk all day. My hamstrings were also pretty tight and I had a curved back which could be improved by tightening my core. She gave me a number of stretches and exercises to improve these areas which I really appreciated. Netflix and chill? No, more like Netflix and stretch!

 

Each session will aim to burn between 500-800, so it’s very likely you will tone up in no time at all if you are putting enough effort and time in. Hollie believes that the combination of different fitness methods is the key to faster driven results; much of which is inspired by pilates with a focus on strengthening that all important core. Expect slimmer legs, toned arms, tighter core and reduced body fat –  yes please!

 

Check out her website here to book in your session; http://www.pilatespt.co.uk

If You Only Do One Think This Week – Sculpt Your Abs!

Written by

Summer is literally just around the corner and with the thought of baring all on a beach, we’re definitely ready to get our abs in tip top shape! Maintaining a strong core will give you so much more than that flat tum – many other benefits will also fall into place, from reducing our likelihood of injury and back pain to better posture, confidence and overall strength.

 

What are the benefits of a strong core?

Preventing any nasty injuries. When we have a trim and taut tum, we are generally fitter, and our likelihood of getting injured will decrease a significant amount. Little do some of us know that most of the movements we perform throughout our everyday lives are deeply connected to our core, so having a rock solid centre will help ensure that our movements are strong and pain free.

 

Exude confidence – Weak core muscles usually results in slouching over at our desks. Strong core muscles will create a much healthier posture. Yes please! Our breathing will also be made easier as our lungs will open up, encouraging deeper breathing. With a strong, healthy core and body, we will effortlessly begin to carry ourselves around with, and naturally project more confidence. You will also look more confident too – Even if you aren’t feeling that way inside!

 

Banish away any back pain – If we do have a weak core, it is very likely that we may experience back pain which can be seriously painful and debilitating. Our abs support our spine from the front and side, so if our abs are weak, then the other muscles supporting our spines will have to work harder causing strain and muscle fatigue. If we want to train and strengthen our tummies without causing any niggly back pains or problems, we need to engage in exercises that get the whole body moving whilst stabilizing the spine

 

Top exercises that target your core!

 

Front Planks – Make sure to keep your tummy engaged and your back straight. Get in to press up position and lower yourself on to your forearms. The plank works all the deeper muscles in your tum, as well as your thigh muscles, calf, lower back, bottom and biceps! A metabolism-boosting must!

 

Side planks – Keep your tummy sucked in as you lift off the ground in a straight line from tip to toe and hold for 30-60 seconds. If you get the shakes, this is a good thing; you are working those muscles! This is perfect for working the obliques, the transverse abs, as well as your bottom, hips and leg muscles! It’s a full body workout in one! Start with 30 seconds each side and work up to a minute.

 

Hula Hooping – Hula hooping is often overlooked, but just ten minutes a day will work those inner muscles that are really hard to target with other exercises! Practise on one leg to really test your core strength and balance or hula hoop in the opposite direction for an all over core cinching workout! Top tip – constantly engage your core to really benefit from this workout!

 

Forward lunge with weights – With your shoulders back, lunge forward with your abs held in tightly and lifting your arms forward and up above your head keeping them nice and straight in a Y position. You need balance for this move and the tighter you hold your abs in, the easier you will be able to perform this move. If you feel you can add a dumbbell or two, this will enhance the move and core workout further. Push yourself back to starting position. The leg constitutes a huge muscle group, and the more you work them the more your muscles have to work and the more fat your burn. As you need to steady yourself, your abdominals get a great workout.

 

Superman – This looks pretty simple but if your core is weak, it will be a challenge. Start on your hands and knees and suck your tummy in. Gently, stretch your left hand forward and your right leg backwards so create a long stretch and hold for a few seconds before gently lowering. Repeat on both sides times ten.

The Six Books That Will Make You Healthier!

Written by

 

READY STEADY GLOW – Madeleine Shaw
Maddy’s second gorgeous cookbook will hit the shelves this April 7th. We love her healthy and happy attitude to cooking, and this collection of recipes reflects easy, yet delicious meals, that can be whipped up in under 30 minutes, all wheat and sugar free. A focus on natural ingredients to nourish your body from within and banish any cravings for those fatty or sugary treats. Expect speedy breakfasts, lunches for those that are on the go, and and fuss free dinners to fuel you from morning to evening with boundless energy.

Maddy … “You’ll be feasting – not fasting – on food that tastes so good you’ll forget the things you’re cutting out”

 

PRETTY HAPPY – Kate Hudson
Kate’s new book is far more than just a book on losing weight. Instead, it teaches us about how to connect with our bodies on a deeper level, understanding what our body needs and wants, all the while creating a great relationship with ourselves. Kate focuses on four pillars of Health to bring about the best version of ourselves; cultivating an intuitive relationship with your body, eating well, awakening our bodies through movement and the miracle of mindfulness. It features body type and stress level questionnaires which will help you identify your areas of concern and what you need to work on to feel your happiest and look your very best. We love the shift away from striving for perfection, and the emphasis on self-love and tips for boosting self-esteem and confidence.

Kate… “When you understand yourself and connect to how you can become body smart, you realize pretty quickly that the perfect, the ideal is not the goal. Instead, the goal is feeling good in your body.”

 

HONESTLY HEALTHY IN A HURRY – Natasha Corrett
Natasha’s book was created to help those who are busy busy busy, with no time for healthy eating and cooking. The book has many simple recipes that will nourish our bodies with real foods, whilst ditching the sugary processed foods for good, leaving us with boundless energy. Some of Natasha’s recipes take under ten minutes to put together, so there really is no excuse to cook healthily. You’ll be equipped with skills on how to slash time by prepping ahead, reusing veggies in different meals throughout the week and leaving dishes in the oven to get on with other things.

 

EAT BEAUTIFUL; Nourish your skin from the inside out – Wendy Rowe
Good skin starts from within. This is something we truly agree with at Hip & Healthy, so we are so exited for this refreshing new beauty book, which will be published this June 23rd 2016. Wendy Rowe, world renowned beauty and make up artist, knows skin from the inside out, and her book will show us how to nourish our skin from the inside with our diets. The book features over 70 recipes of fresh, delicious meals; each recipe will contain foods that will nourish different skin types, and target different problems areas, giving us all that glow we so desire! We can’t wait to try some of the homemade face scrubs, masks and cleanser recipes that are featured.

Wendy… “I work with people at the highest level within their field, who have to look their absolute best everyday, so learning how to achieve great skin has become a big part of my life. This book allows me to share this knowledge with you in a way thats simple and gorgeous and easy to make part of your everyday, with a few laughs along the way!”

 

NINA CAPRI; Recipes from Italy’s Amalfi Coast – Nina Parker
A beautiful collection fresh and vibrant dishes, drawn from Nina’s inspiration of the Mediterranean will be published June 2nd 2016. Having spent much of her childhood living in the South of France, Nina’s wonderful dishes have an unfussy and rustic touch, bursting with flavours and goodness. Nina’s first book, Nina St Tropez, presents a culmination of French recipes, and its huge success has led to her second bookNina Capri. This book touches on her time spent travelling around the bay of Naples, meeting the locals and the food of the region. The book reflects a lovely twist of classic Italian cooking and dishes are given a more modern approach; most are dairy and gluten-free. This is the perfect guide to ensure you bring lots of sumptuous and flavoursome meals to the table all summer long!

 

THE YOGA KITCHEN – Kimberly Parsons
For all you yogi bunnies out there! Author Kimberly Parsons, trained naturopath and chef, brings the yogic principle of combining diet with holistic health to strengthen and nourish our entire bodies. The book is published this May 5th and boasts some stunning photography; we seriously want to recreate just about every recipe in the book and get Insta snapping! The book is divided into ‘chakras,’ the different energy systems in our bodies, based on the ancient yoga chakra system from India, such as Vitalise, Nurture and Strengthen. We are able to support these energy systems through our diets, and Kimberly explains the best foods and recipes with which to energise our bodies. Whether you are craving energy, balance, tranquility, or cleansing, Kimberly will suit your needs with suitable and delicious veggie recipes. Of course there is a wonderful variety of sweet treats… chocolate and Maca quinoa pops simply sound too good to be true!

words by Flora Crichton

image: Madeleine Shaw

Is This The Key To Glowing Skin?

Written by

With sales of beauty oils tripling over the past few years, it’s clear that exotic oils are not going to be leaving the beauty scene anytime soon. Whilst so far it has been Argan and Coconut oil that have stolen the limelight for their amazing miracle-working abilities on everything from de-frizzing and moisturising to oil pulling and cleansing, its time to make room on your beauty shelf for this season’s new wonder product: the oil of the Cacay nut.

Found growing along the eastern base of the Andes mountains, the Cacay tree produces a highly nutritious nut oil containing natural skin-protecting antioxidants Vitamins A and E. Impressively, Cacay oil actually contains 50% more Vitamin E and twice the amount of Linoleic Acid, an anti-inflammatory essential omega-6 fatty acid, than Argan Oil. Compared to other oils, Cacay also has the highest amount of Retinol – great for anti-ageing the natural way by reducing wrinkles, boosting collagen production and regenerating the skin.

Perfect for all skin types, even sensitive skin, Cacay oil offers long-lasting hydration as well as improved texture, firmness and elasticity of the skin. Not only that, but Cacay oil is also ideal for those of us conscious about the amount of toxins that we’re exposing ourselves to – typically cold-pressed, there is no need for any nasty preservatives to be used.

Cacay oil can be used straight up for an assortment of beauty fixes: as a moisturising, acne fighting and anti-aging facial oil; a conditioner to repair and smooth the ends of your hair; a cuticle cream to fight dryness; a healing ointment to calm scratches and rashes, or a soothing balm after shaving.

 

But Where Can We Get It?

One product featuring Cacay oil that we particularly love is Bamford’s Restore Elixir which is amazing for its ethical sourcing as much as its powerful regenerative properties. Backed by a project supporting sustainable economic development in Colombia, helping communities in conflict zones and facilitating the reforestation of 5000 hectares in the Amazon, this is an oil you can really feel good about using. Simply apply directly onto the skin each evening before moisturising, or perhaps enhance other favourite products by mixing in a few drops of the elixir.

Another product to be sure to get your hands on is Olixia’s Brilliance Facial Oil. This luxurious blend of natural oils infused with Cacay and delicately scented with neroli, lavender, bergamot and patchouli will leave your complexion positively glowing – furthermore, when put to the test an impressive 94% of women noticed visible improvements in both skin softness and skin smoothness.

With the warmer weather fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start incorporating Cacay nut oil into your regular beauty regime to achieve that radiant, fresh and dewy beach look we all long for. It looks like the Cacay is here to stay.

words by Meryn Turner

 

Miso Aubergine Recipe – Punch Foods

Written by

Ingredients:

2 aubergines halved

about ½ to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

x2 heaped tablespoons brown rice miso

1 ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

1 tablsepoon cider vinegar

x2 tablespoons coconut nectar/ maple syrup/ or honey

1-2 spring onions chopped

handful of toasted sesame seeds (optional)

a good handful of Japanese Tamari Superseeds

 

Method:

– Set oven to 200.

– First halve each of your aubergines lengthways before lightly scoring them with a knife in a criss-cross pattern. You want to go about half a cm deep.

– Using your hands roughly rub them in coconut oil making to cover both the skins and the flesh. This helps them to crisp without burning.

– Place the aubergines in oven for 20-3o mins until soft and browned.

– Next make the glaze. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until smooth making sure there are no lumps.

– Remove the aubergines from the oven and reduce the temperature to 170.

– Using a spoon spread the glaze onto each of the aubergine halves covering all of the flesh.

– Return aubergines to the oven and cook for a further (10 mins until slightly caramelized (optional putting on grill setting for last three mins)

– Once your aubergines are done remove them from the oven and top with sesame seeds, chopped scallions (spring onions) and Japanese tamari superseeds.

A Day On A Plate – Alexandra Dudley (Punch Foods)

Written by

Here at Hip & Healthy, we’re always curious to know what our fave health foodies eat! We caught up with this week’s guest editor, Alex (founder of Punch Foods) who gave us an insight in to her day on a plate!

Breakfast

I must admit, I can be a little unusual when it comes to my breakfast tastes. I try to keep things interesting and eat a different breakfast every day of the week, whether it be a chia pudding, smoothie bowl or scrambled eggs. One of my absolute favourites, although a little less conventional, is Sweet Potato. It may sound odd but topped with almond butter, berries and some of my Cinnamon Spice Superseeds it’s delicious and such a fabulous start to the day. It’s become a bit of a habit and I usually cook my sweet potatoes on a Sunday night meaning it takes less than five minutes to prepare breakfast in the morning.

 

Mid-morning

I always carry a tube of my Superseeds in my bag, which are great for snacking emergencies even when I’m out and about. I do love a good cup of coffee but it does send my systems slightly crazy so I try to limit myself to about three cups a week. One of my favourite spots is Timberyard, which is right by my office. I take meetings there nearly everyday so I often have their almond matcha lattes which are delicious. They have a wonderfully tempting selection of cakes including gluten free options, as well as selling my Superseeds which is great if you fancy something a little more wholesome or savoury.

 

Lunch

I have been a packed lunch girl ever since my art school days. It means I save money and avoid queues, and can actually be so easy to sort in advance. When making Sunday lunch, I pop a few extra potatoes into the pan and keep some roasted carrots and greens aside to jazz up later. I will team this with some form of protein. I am big on oily fish so eat a lot of mackerel, or I might nip to Pret or Itsu and grab one of their egg pots. I do love to treat myself to lunch out now and again. In the heart of Soho I am spoilt for choice. My favourite place to go is the Detox Kitchen. They are constantly changing up their salads which I love and offer a good range of protein options.

 

Afternoon

I’m a bit of a chocolate fiend and have a serious stash in the office. The darker the better and I love trying different beans. 100% chocolate is hard to find and not for all but I absolutely adore it. Currently I am really into St Lucian beans but I love Madagascan and Peruvian too. My other love is real gelato. I generally avoid dairy as it doesn’t agree with me but I am not one for denying myself, so if I fancy it and when the sun is shining I will pop out to Gelupo. They do great sorbets and vegan options too. Oddly enough my favorite flavour is dairy free, dark chocolate sorbet but I will generally team it with a scoop of pistachio or hazelnut. I just can’t resist.

 

Supper

Dinner time is my time to wind down. After a hectic day at work there is nothing I enjoy more than coming home to chop vegetables and experiment with various ingredients and spices. Of course, there are some days where I just don’t have the time or energy, and so on these days I will make my fail safe bowl of tahini’d greens with some eggs. I love them scrambled, boiled and poached so it depends on what I’m feeling that day, but I always top them with some Superseeds. The Chilli Smoke are an absolute winner on eggs!

 

Shop our activewear store here and receive a free tube of Punch Food’s Super Seeds! (March only)

 

Coconut Macaroons Recipe

Written by

Coconut Macaroons.

Makes approx. 20 macaroons.

Ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Zest of one lemon (approx. 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • About 200g good quality dark chocolate

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk egg whites with honey and salt until well combined and frothy (approx. 30 seconds).
  3. Whisk in lemon zest and vanilla, just to combine.
  4. Add in coconut and stir until it is well coated by the egg white mixture.
  5. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. I like to use my hands to roll the macaroons into round balls and then slightly press them down against once on the tray for that flat bottom. Do be careful not to break them when doing this – my advice is to pack the balls pretty tight to ensure a good texture.
  7. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, The macaroons should be golden on the outside.
  8. Place baking sheet on a rack and allow macaroons to cool completely. They will still be fragile when warm so it is important not to handle them until totally cool.
  9. If you are going to dip the macaroons in chocolate (which I would definitely advise – if only to lick the spoon) simply melt your chocolate in a small glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Dip the now-cooled macaroons flat side first into the chocolate to give them little chocolate bottoms. To avoid ‘chocolate skirts’ let them set on a wire rack, allowing the excess chocolate to drip through. If you don’t mind them looking a little less neat then just places them straight onto a parchment lined tray. Finish with another drizzle of chocolate across the top and allow them to set completely in the fridge.
  10. Keep these in an airtight container and they should last for up to 5 days in the fridge and 3 days at room temperature. They also freeze very well although you may want to reserve the chocolate dipping for post-thawing.

 

Recipe from Alexandra Dudley, Founder of Punch Foods.

Alexandra Dudley (Punch Foods) – Fitspiration

Written by

We caught up with Alexandra Dudley, founder of Punch Foods, to talk all things business, health, and her yummy collection of Superseeds snacks. Punch Foods’ philosophy is that healthy doesn’t have to be hard. They believe that life should be full of flavour. So, this deliciously healthy snack was born.

 

We LOVE your Superseeds and are so exited to feature them as our Gift of Purchase this month! What inspired you to start your own food business?
A lot of it came from my own frustration with the lack of snack choice for those who had intolerances or wanted to avoid additives but were still after something substantial as well as tasty. The idea was to create something that delivered primarily on taste but also on nutrition. My brand philosophy – eat real feel real – is about a celebration of eating well and feeling well, and celebrating deliciously good food, and I really wanted to share that with people.

 

How does Punch foods Superseeds differ from other healthy snacks on the market?
I think Superseeds differentiate themselves from other healthy-healthy snacks in their simplicity. They are made with high quality, natural ingredients, which are unprocessed, free from additives and 100% organic. Also, it was really important to me to create a snack that was actually substantial, and that wasn’t full of sugar. So many of the supposedly healthy bars around are actually very high in sugar, and then have a negative effect on our blood sugar levels. I wanted to avoid this in any snack I created, so Superseeds are sweetened only with a touch of coconut sugar. Eating well doesn’t have to mean a compromise on taste, and Superseeds are very real, and very delicious!

 

What is your favourite Superseeds flavor? Do you use them for toppings as well as for snacking?
Chilli Smoke! Absolutely, I have it on everything – scrambled eggs, avocado on toast, steamed or wok’d greens… I’m constantly finding new meals to sprinkle it on! And I like creating recipes that incorporate the seeds into them, like the Twice Baked Sweet Potato one that you can find on the back of the Chilli Smoke pack.

There’s also Japanese Tamari, which is savoury, and then Maca Caramel, Cinnamon Spice, and, the most popular, Coconut Brownie. I think people love anything chocolatey but the Coconut Brownie uses the best raw cacao as well as coconut oil so the bonus is that they are incredibly good for you as well as being delicious.

 

 

We love the recipe section on Punchfoods website – where did your love of cooking and healthy eating begin?
It sounds cliche to say it was ever since I can remember but it really was. I’ve always had a fascination with the kitchen, and used to write my own little recipe books and leaflets by ripping things out of my mother’s magazines and copying the pictures. I knew early on that I wanted to do something in food and started catering mainly cakes, when I was about 14 to make a bit of money. I loved it and initially wanted to set up a healthy cake business. It was my days on the go in London as a young art student that made me think I had to fix the poor snacking options first.

 

What is your typical day on a plate?
I have lots of protein for breakfast, as it fuels me for the rest of the day. I love eggs in any way or a good chia pudding with some creamy almond milk and of course always topped with my Superseeds. A lot of the time I will actually have a sweet potato for breakfast. It may sound odd but it in fact is delicious. Teamed with some nut butter, fresh berries and whatever toppings you have to hand – be it Superseeds or flaked coconut and chopped nuts – it makes for a wonderfully comforting and tummy loving breakfast. Generally I’ll make myself a packed lunch, always full of lots of colourful veggies, and some good protein, usually some oily fish like mackerel or salmon. I have always been big on packed lunches, not just because it saves money but also because it means I get what I want. If I haven’t had time or am treating myself I head to the Detox Kitchen for one of their salad boxes. I adore all of their salads and they have great protein options too. Dinner is when I have time to experiment, so I spend some time in the kitchen trying out new dishes. Lots of veggies, lots of spices and often some form of cake I am working with. Recently I have been making a lot of blood orange, almond, polenta cakes trying to perfect the recipe. You can now find it on the website too.

 

What are your top three tips for maintaining a happy, healthy and fulfilling life?
I write my gratitude list every day and have done so for the last 13 years. It’s becoming quite popular and mainstream now and I cannot recommend it enough. No matter how stressful your day has been taking that moment just to sit down and think about what you are grateful for makes all the difference.

 

What do you do to de-stress and keep on top of things when you’ve had a bad day?
I try to meditate daily and practice yoga as much as I can, at least three times a week. Usually I do one class and two shorter sessions just in my sitting room at home. It really calms me. When I’m stressed, I do a few sun salutations and try and get on my head and practice my inversions, or get outside for some fresh air.

 

Where do you hope to see Punch Foods in 5 years from now?
I have lots of exciting ideas of how I want Punch Foods to grow. I want to expand our range, and also grow creatively in the types of areas we’re working on. Punch Foods was always meant to me more of a lifestyle business than simply a food brand. I want to try to have a little impact on the way we live as well as the way we eat.

 

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs hoping to start up a business in the health sector?
Research, research, research. You can never do enough. And a love of what you do. You’re going to have to commit every minute of every day (and night!) to this, so you really have to love it.

Shop our activewear store here and receive a free tube of Punch Food superseeds with every order!

A Brazilian Escape – Pousada Chic Hotel Review

Written by

These days the term ‘chic’ is all too often over-used, misunderstood and incorrectly interpreted. Fortunately for us all, Fred and Sophie have an enhanced understanding and appreciation of the word and Pousada Chic is proof of this. For not only are they the owners of this beautiful boutique hotel, but they are also the masterminds; from the conception and design stage, through to the creation and the daily running of this stylish, kitesurfers-cum-spa goers pousada; bringing to the northern part of Brazil luxury hospitality and accommodation.

Fred Fournier

Architect by trade and savvy businessman by profession, kite surfer, rugby fan the rest of the time, Fred is truly the driving force and inspiration behind Pousada Chic. The design and layout of the place is so close to perfection that it could not be by happy chance. The mind and imagination of this gifted architect is clear to see, and a quick chat with Fred will easily turn into a fascinating two hours; spanning the trials of purchasing Brazilian land for a foreigner, his enthusiasm for a specific type of wood from Amazonia which resists termites, to a very dedicated French rugby fan, conscious of his side’s tentative start to the Six Nations, much to the delight of my husband.

When not conversing with you in a mixture of French, Portuguese and English, Fred can be seen heading to a grassy area for his morning stretching or dragging his kite surfing gear 200m to the ocean, which offers an ideal atmosphere for such pastimes.

The Pousada

This ‘chic’ and luxury hideaway boasts a beautiful setting next to the ocean, amongst coconut palms and tropical flowers. When we arrived, I was immediately struck by the lush and well manicured tropical garden; a clear indication of Fred’s passion for design and attention to detail. Pousada Chic comprises five luxury villas, a pool, poolside restaurant and bar using natural materials, such as Cumaru wood and Portuguese stones, as well as a small spa, which has been built using an indigenous building technique known as taipa.

The villas are stunning and I particularly loved the photography that adorned the walls of ours. Each faces the ocean and has it’s own private terrace, the perfect place to enjoy a morning meditation or a few yoga stretches. The design and layout of each villa has been well thought through, with a large bed that faces the ocean and a bathroom to the back, complete with a vibrant, red outdoor, waterfall shower – there is also an indoor shower for those who prefer. Every detail of the rooms, even down to the smell, the lighting and the flowers and plants in the outdoor bathroom has been considered, giving the space an atmosphere of true luxury with a hip and stylish quality.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the pool bar and restaurant. The breakfast menu is a delicious and abundant offering of fruit, eggs (of your choice), juices, cakes – but be warned I’d try the coconut cake on your last day as a treat, otherwise you will end up having it every day, although coconuts are used, I’m pretty sure it’s not the healthiest breakfast choice! A must-try is the ‘Chic Tonic’, a fruity and refreshing concoction of pineapple, acerola (3000 times more vitamin C than oranges) and mint. The menus for lunch and dinner offer various dishes including crepes, fresh fish, pasta, meat, salads all using the freshest ingredients. Again every detail has been thought about in this communal space, with vases on the bar and small ponds by the entrance, which are home to small fish that eat mosquito eggs, keeping the population down and away from the pousada. A genius idea and much better for the environment than other repelling techniques. We frequented the pool a lot during our stay, as it was a cooling respite from the scorching sun and a fabulous place to swim and gaze towards the ocean.

Fred employs 10 staff, all extremely attentive, enthusiastic and clearly keen to learn. Something Fred takes pride in is enhancing the wider development of his staff through courses and encouragement. Some who started working for him with no reading and writing ability are now far more capable than before and possess excellent hospitality skills. This was refreshing to see, as during our travels through Brazil we had sometimes experienced a low level of service and hospitality.

The Spa is situated in the garden and is simple yet chic in design with two massage tables offering a small list of treatments. The pousada has a selection of bikes you can take out for a spin to explore the local area and maps are available. Fred and Sophie can organize kite-surfing lessons with their English speaking instructor if you fancy trying out this up and coming adventure sport. Having done initial classes, I am yet to get out on to the water properly, perhaps I can use this as an excuse to come back to Pousada Chic one day!

Rates start from £99 per villa per night inclusive of breakfast in low season. Book here.

words by Claire Mans

Stefanï Grosse (Monreal London Founder) – Fitspiration

Written by

Stefanï Grosse is the founder of the chic luxury activewear collection Monreal London, which was created in order to satisfy the demands for both fashion and function in tennis wear. As an avid tennis player herself, she identified a gap in the market and hence produced this exiting fashion range, which embodies pure style and exceptional quality. We caught up with her to discuss her brand, lifestyle and success…

How did Monreal London come about?


From a fashion style conscious perspective I was never fond of the clothes I played in. Convinced that I could create something that is as functional as it is flattering and sexy I founded Monreal. I have a great passion for tennis and also fashion. My upbringing allowed me to pursue both – my father worked in the sports industry and my mother in the fashion industry. Combining these two worlds into one seemed very natural and the obvious thing to do and that is how Monreal came to live in 2012!

Your designs are uber chic and exiting – what influenced the style of The Curacao collection? 


The inspiration came from the tropical island paradise of Curaçao in the Caribbean, with its verdant jungles, blue lagoons clear waterfalls and hot-hued wildlife, inspired the Monreal London Resort 2016 collection.The swaying fronds of palm trees in the rainforest,and the colourful macaw parrots that live in hem, captivated and into this season’s signature prints and translated the hot pink, curaçao blue, vivid turquoise, sunshine yellow of the birds’ plumes, as well as jungle green and hibiscus pink, into the collection’s palette. Flashes of neon yellow and reflective silver underscore the brand’s sports aesthetic.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs trying to launch their own brand?


To never give up and fight for your designs to become a reality!

What challenges or obstacles have you faced with Monreal London?

The biggest initial challenge was to find manufacturing. It took me 8 month to find the right factory that was not only capable of producing performance garments with a claim for great quality and the understanding for high fashion- but also that believed in the product and was willing to give it a try. When I finally had the first samples for the first capsule collection established, I luckily was able to excite Vogue editors for the fashion-meets-sport concept, but the next big challenge was to convince fashion as well as sportswear buyers that there was actually a market for it.

How important is it to feel and look your best when playing a match or participating in exercise?


Sport is an important aspect in most people’s lives and there is no reason why it should be treated differently to formal wear or evening wear. Fitness wear is becoming more fashionable because women who usually pay a lot of attention to their appearance and spend a fair bit of money on their fashion, do have the desire to look great, no matter what they do. Gyms, sports clubs and country clubs are also a social platform, where people meet, do sport and generally spend quite a lot of time at – similar to restaurants and cafes. 
Of course there is a great importance in functionality, sports clothes need to be functional, durable and comfortable!

stefanï grosse

What do you do to keep fit and healthy?


Playing tennis of course, I try to go as often as possible when my busy schedule allows me to do so.

What would be some of your top exercise tips?


I like to win. Individual sports are very black and white like this. There is no hiding behind a team. Tennis is as much a sport as it is a game. It requires more than physical endurance, power or technical skills to beat an equal opponent. It’s tactics and mental strength that often make the difference.
Sport in general is simply the best way for me to achieve some kind of balance in life- physically as well as switching off from work mentally. It makes me feel alive and gives me energy. With the limited downtime I currently have, I enjoy catching up with friends over dinner or the occasional night at the movies.

What does your day on a plate look like?


There is definitely a movement in the health and fitness sector, people are more aware of what they eat and how much sport they do. I try to eat as healthy and balanced as possible, lots of vegetables, fish and fruit.

What’s next for you and Monreal London?


We are of course working on extending our national and international stockiest. Furthermore we are always working on new products, so there will be some surprises in the future.

We are so exited to be selling your collection – what’s your favourite piece from the collection?

One of my favourites this season are the biker leggings which come in olive. They are just so versatile and can be worn straight form the gum to a night out.

What would be some of your top exercise tips?

Anything involving compound movements, ones which activate multiple muscle groups at the same time, the likes of Squats, Push ups, Pull ups etc. I have a very busy schedule and I find it’s a really time efficient way to exercise, especially when combined with high intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardio. You can have an entire session done within 20-30 minutes, and build great body tone in the process. At weekends, I enjoy mixing this up with Pilates and yoga for increased flexibility and toning.

What does your day on a plate look like?

Avocado on toast for breakfast, sprinkled with some Chia Seeds.

Salad with grilled chicken or tuna for lunch.

Some wholegrain oatcakes with almond butter as a mid afternoon snack.

Light dinner of grilled salmon, red quinoa and fresh spinach, followed by a piece of fruit.

I try to drink 1.5-2 Litres of water throughout the day, and have some almonds and berries on hand to snack on.