Q&A With Donna Hay – The Whole-Food Queen

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When we got the opportunity to meet Donna Hay (aka the whole food queen) we just had to pin her down from her awesomely busy schedule to ask her a few questions about her latest book, life in balance, and of course all things healthy eating! 

You were one of the originals when it came to the “eating whole foods” movement, paving the way for food bloggers and chefs alike. Where did your inspiration to start something so different than what was happening in the foodie scene at the time, come from?

It’s something that I saw becoming popular over a few years – it was just a matter of knowing when something so niche would make the leap into mainstream. It’s also genuinely the way I love to eat and cook – using a wide variety of incredible fresh produce in my recipes, experimenting with new ‘superfood’ ingredients and enjoying balance (so eating healthily, while allowing yourself a little treat every now and again). It’s a way of eating that’s very easy to embrace here in Australia, as we are spoilt for choice when it comes to impeccable fresh produce and good-quality ingredients, and it suits our active outdoor lifestyles.

 

What are some of your best tips when it comes to incorporating wholesome food into a busy lifestyle?

Plan your meals and lunches ahead, and always have a well-stocked pantry and fridge – if you get home after a busy day at work and there’s nothing to prepare for dinner or snack on in the fridge, you’re more likely to turn to something that’s not great for you. I usually bake or make batches of power snacks for my kids on the weekend and freeze them for all of us to take to school or work during the week (such as bliss balls or muffins made with buckwheat and quinoa). I also always ensure I have fresh (or frozen) ingredients for my morning green smoothie that helps get my day off to a great start.

 

What is your current favourite ingredient to cook with at the moment?

I know it’s not the most exciting ingredient in the world, but I just love baby spinach leaves. They’re so versatile and packed with nutrients – perfect for incorporating into lighter dinners, salads for lunches and my morning smoothie.

 

If you could choose three recipes from life in balance cookbook (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) to have everyday, which would they be?

I love the coconut and chai chia pots for breakfast – p14 (and I often make up a batch to bring in the office for my team when they need an energy boost); then the toasted grain and cauliflower tabouli (p97) for lunch – it has great flavour and texture. For dinner, the cauliflower pizzas with mozzarella, kale and lemon (p42) are the perfect go-to– they’re so easy to make and even my boys love them!

 

We all know that diet is crucial for your body, but keeping active is also incredibly important. What are our favourite ways to break a sweat?

I’m slightly addicted to running and try to start every day with an energetic 4 or 5km loop around a coastal route near my home in Sydney. It never fails to make me feel great and set me up for the day ahead. I’m also into swimming and paddle-boarding. Running around after my two young boys is also a lot of exercise in itself!

 donna hay

How do you get inspired for each of your cookbooks?

I spend a lot of time thinking about what I think my readers want or need, and the kind of content that I know will resonate with them. I’m constantly thinking of new ideas and I take inspiration from both current food trends and ingredients, as well as my own experiences of cooking and eating.

 

Aside from the basics, what is one appliance or tool that everyone should have in their kitchen?

I absolutely love my stand mixer and my blender – both are so handy when it comes to creating beautiful baked treats and nutritious smoothies. I use both constantly.

 

What is the most rewarding part of your career?

Getting to come to work every day and do a job that I genuinely love, being creative and working with a bunch of very talented people (and getting to eat lots of delicious food, of course).

 

How do you see the whole foods movement growing within the next few years?

I only see it growing and becoming more mainstream. Eating more healthily, and eating superfoods and whole foods regularly, is becoming such a part of people’s lifestyle, as they incorporate it into their everyday cooking and eating. These days we are so much more aware of what we are putting into their bodies, and how food can benefit our general wellbeing. I love that idea of food being a type of medicine, and that eating better genuinely can make you feel and look great! What’s not to love?!

Click here to purchase Donna’s new book, life in balance!

Fuel Your Fitness – Post-Workout Nutrition Debunked

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The picture of a hard workout followed by a massive meal or naughty treat is all too familiar. So often we feel that, just because we’ve ran a 10K, we can indulge to heart’s desire and while there is nothing wrong with indulgence sometimes (of course, we encourage it! It’s all about balance, right?), what we eat post-workout has a profound impact on recovery and performance.

After depleting our bodies of energy, it is important to refuel properly so that our bodies can recover efficiently and effectively in order to prepare for the next round. However, with so many different workouts and with so much information available at our fingertips, it’s difficult to decipher what exactly you should be eating after you’ve planked, pushed, and pulled.

 

HYDRATE

First things first – water! Your body has worked so hard and with all of that sweat you have dripping off of your brow, it means you’re also depleted of electrolytes. Unless you’re training for an extensive amount of time, it’s best to avoid sugary drinks and to just stick with water! If you want to get fancy, why not try making your own electrolyte drink? It’s actually super easy! Lifestyle blogger and plant-based advocate, Niomi Smart, has a brilliant recipe for homemade electrolyte water…

Electrolyte Water (makes 2 bottles)

1.5 litres Water

1/4 cup lemon Juice – about 1 1/2 lemons

1/4 cup Lime Juice – about 2 1/2 limes

1/2 tsp Himalayan Salt

1 Orange, Juice

 

  1. Squeeze the juice from the lemons, limes and orange and mix well into the water with the salt.
  2. Pour into two bottles, and keep in the fridge. Shake well before drinking.
  3. I started sipping on mine slowly after about 10 miles. Try not to drink it too quickly.

 

EAT

It’s always important to get your post-workout nourishment in at least 30-60 minutes after working out. It is especially important to combine your post workout meal with protein and carbohydrates in order to aid recovery and feed your muscles. During workouts, especially difficult ones, you tap into your glycogen stores, which allow your body to work for prolonged periods. This is why endurance athletes carb load days in advance before a big race. Once these stores are used up, it is crucial to replace them so that your body can recover properly and avoid using muscle as a source of energy.

You may have heard that chocolate milk is the perfect post work out meal because it provides fast acting carbs (meaning that the sugar is broken down more easily than say a meal high in fibre) and a good source of protein. But! There are other ways to get those carbs and proteins that don’t involve added sugars and dairy for our lactose intolerant Hip & Healthies!

 

Bananas with almond butter

The combination the magnesium from the banana and the plant protein from the almonds is a post-workout meal made in heaven. Whilst the magnesium helps to relax your muscles, the protein found in the almond butter will help replenish your muscles and aid recovery. Plus it’s a delicious combo!

 

Oatcakes with hummus

Who doesn’t love hummus? We seriously bow down to the genius that discovered this magical dip. This duo gives you the perfect balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats to kick-start your recovery so you can work yourself up to your next sweat session in no time! For an added anti-inflammatory boost, try Natural Vitality’s Turmeric Hummus which you can get at Wholefoods and Planet Organic! The H&H team are completely hooked!

 

Superfood protein smoothie

For a fast-absorbing, post-workout snack, nothing beats a nutrient packed protein smoothie. Now before the words “protein smoothie” scares you into thinking your muscles are going to grown 10 times their size over night, think again. Protein smoothies are such a great way to get a multitude of nutrients in one handy, portable meal so long as you are using healthy and natural sources of protein and carbohydrates. Tom Puntis, Performance Specialist at Workshop Gymnasium explains “You need something easy to digest and fast acting after a workout. Smoothies are great for this very reason and I always recommend using whole foods like fruit, veg and healthy fats like nuts or avocado to provide a great all-round post-workout snack.” If however you want to use a protein powder, that’s ok too as long as you use one that is natural, organic and unprocessed. These days, you won’t struggle to find this. There are so many amazing protein powders that are organic, don’t contain any bulking ingredients and don’t feature any processed sugars or sweeteners. You can also easily find vegan proteins too. We love Sunwarrior Pea Protein mixed unsweetened almond milk, nut butter, banana and plenty of greens like spinach and kale!

 

Rice with white fish

Another easy to digest meal that is great for your body post-workout is rice and some form of white fish like cod or sea bass (we always recommend wild). This combination is perfect for replenishing your body after a sweaty workout and to help feed nutrients back into your muscles to start the repairing process. This is particularly great if you are an evening workout go-er as you can whip this up in no time for dinner! We’d recommend adding a fresh tomato salsa with some roasted veg to make it more substantial and delicious!

Deliciously Ella’s Healthy Halloween Treats!

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Nothing get’s us in the mood for Halloween quite like spending time in the kitchen. It’s a great opportunity to get all the family involved to create some devilish treats! Luckily for us healthy food lovers, our good friend Ella of Deliciously Ella, has created some sin-free chocolates with a spooky twist!

These Maple & Pecan treats are the best little Halloween ghouls! If you’re looking for a healthier take on a trick or treat sweet than you have to make these. They’re filled with sweet chocolate and roasted maple pecans, which together taste incredible. They also don’t melt once you’ve made them and they work really well in fun moulds so they’re an awesome thing to serve friends and family.

Maple & Pecan Halloween Treats

INGREDIENTS 

 

For the pecans

1 cup of pecans

7 tablespoons of maple syrup

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

 

For the chocolate

1 cup of cacao butter

7 tablespoons of maple syrup

7 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

Pinch of salt

 

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C

Start by pulsing the pecans in a food processor until they form small chunks.

Heat the coconut oil and maple syrup in a pan until the coconut oil has completely melted.

Then pour the mixture over the pecans, so that they’re fully covered. Line a baking dish with baking paper and bake the pecan mixture for about 10 minutes.

Whilst it’s baking, heat the cacao butter over a double boil until it’s totally melted. Then pour the butter into a bowl with the cacao, maple syrup and salt. Mix it for a few minutes until it thickens slightly. Pour a thin layer of the chocolate into your Halloween moulds so that it only covers the base of your mould.

Then take the pecans out the oven and pour the pecan mixture into the melted chocolate bowl. Mix it up and then spoon in the chocolate pecan mixture into your moulds. Freeze the moulds for about 3 hours/overnight until they’re completely frozen.

Then take them out the freezer, pop them out the moulds and enjoy!

They’ll stay chocolaty and won’t melt once they’re out the freezer so you don’t need to worry about melting chocolate and sticky fingers while eating these!

 

For more stunningly delicious and nutritious recipes like this one, head to deliciouslyella.com!

Quit This Habit For Better Self-Love

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Hip & Healthy contributor, Mai Copsoe, reveals how changing our attitude towards rewarding and treating ourselves can help bring happiness and energy back into our lives as well as build better self-love.

Do you remember when you were a kid and your parents gave you an ice cream for dessert because you had finished your entire meal? I do. I also remember how a few weeks ago I opened up a bag of delicious chocolates because I was working late on a blog post, or how I let both Ben & Jerry ‘treat me’ to some nice cookie dough on an evening last week after having finished a tough workout earlier that day. Sound familiar?

Because many of us grew up in a home where we learned that if we did what was asked of us we would get a nice little treat in the form of sweets, ice cream or other sugary goodies afterwards. And why stop that habit? It feels good! Or does it?

I’m all for a balanced diet with room for chocolate, ice cream and what ever else your heart desires. When I’m scrolling through Instagram and see pictures of measly little salads with the hashtag #healthybody it certainly doesn’t make me feel inspired. It may be a healthy menu, yes, but seriously where is the love??

In my world, food is a way to take care of myself. Food is a way for me to show love to my body by feeding it beautiful delicious stuff it will thrive off of. However, although food is a form of self-love it is not something I can use as a reward, because the moment I make the turn from love to reward, that’s where it all goes wring. I break the bond.

The bond I’m referring to is the trust between mind and body, which seems so forgotten these days in all the goals we’ve set for our bodies by our minds. ‘Now I want to be healthy’ so I will have a juice’. ‘Today I did a good job with my workout I deserve some cake’. ‘Oh I ate junk food today, I’ll make sure to skip lunch tomorrow’.

Are we loving ourselves when we feed our bodies with a big bag of crisps to say: “Thanks! You’ve done so well today”, at a time when we’re perfectly full? No. A true reward and act of love towards ourselves is to listen to our bodies and giving it what it needs – when it needs it. Of course we need to look after and treat ourselves when we deserve it – but there are so many other ways of doing it. Ways that boost our energy, confidence and wellbeing so much more. Therefore I’ve made a little list of alternatives to reward and treat yourself with things other than food:

 

After the workout:

A long bath with candles, scented oils and your favourite magazine. OR spend some time shopping online for some fresh, new activewear! (You can do that here!)

 

When working late:

Listen to your favourite, chill-out Spotify playlist drinking energising mint tea with fresh flowers on the table next to you.

 

After a long stressful day:

Book a relaxing massage or an uplifting facial…. Or both!

 

Having landed a great deal at work:

Take a well-deserved day off to enjoy your city – jump on the tour bus or explore a new area so you fall in love with the place you live all over again.

 

After an intense month full of commitments:

A whole weekend in bed. Catch up on your sleep and Netflix …and squeeze in an outdoor workout or a brisk walk in a park you’ve never been to before.

 

After a challenging year:

Research you next big holiday! Mexico! Bali! Portugal! Barbados! Wherever you fancy!

 

When feeling sad:

Write in your journal, do a workout, see a friend or watch your favourite feel-good movie with a cup of tea.

 

If feeling stuck or bored:

Roller blading, rock climbing or anything else that’s new and challenging!

 

These tips are just a few awesome ways to love your body and reward yourself without the use of junk food. Learn to establish a trusting relationship between your mind and your body. This means not letting the mind control everything and allowing your body to have a say as well. And quite frankly: how often do we neglect treating ourselves to these true rewards simply because we forget? Its easier going to the cupboard – but by using these tips we not only reward ourselves for what we did well – we’re also boosting our wellbeing and energy levels, which help us feel alive and happy!

words by Mai Copsoe

Best Online Workouts To Do At Home

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Whether it’s in the morning or the evening, one of the last things we want to do when it’s dark and cold outside is drag ourselves to the gym for the ultimate sweat sesh. You might feel like your only option is to Uber to your workout or cosy down on the sofa and break a sweat while channel surfing the evening’s shows.

It is so easy to let the winter darkness dictate our workout schedules but since we live in the 21st century, we have access to so many amazing communities that give us the opportunity to sweat in the comfort of our own homes! All you need is yourself! Here are some of our favourite workouts you can stream online! Don’t worry, they aren’t like Jane Fonda style workout videos – although we do love the 80’s style!

Banish the excuses and get your sweat on whenever you want!

 

Blogilates
Our obsession with the founder of blogilates, Cassey Ho, goes wayyy back! She has made her pilates workouts so easily accessible that there is virtually zero excuse to miss a sweat. Her sparkling attitude and positivity make you actually want to workout. Not only that, her pilates workouts are tough. So tough that we usually try not to laugh the following day because our abs are so sore. Subscribe to her youtube channel and join an array of the fitness challenges she has! We can guarantee you’ll have her blog book-marked in your browser!

 

Popsugar fitness
Popsugar has a wide range of different fitness videos that cater to a wide range of fitness tastes. Whether you’re into boxing, yoga, or just want to tone your bum, Popsugar has the workout for you! Each video varies in length so you’re sure to find a way to sweat even if you have just five minutes! Sometimes those short ones are the hardest!

 

Strala
Founded by one of our favourite yogis, Tara Stiles, Strala gives you access to her world famous yoga classes. At $10.00 (approx. £8.50) per class, you can choose from several different yoga classes depending on your mood. Luckily, Tara also has her own YouTube channel where she shares her different practices! Although the videos are short, each target a specific area or concern, making it an easy choice to make when we first wake up in the morning!

 

Ballet Beautiful
Loved by models including Victoria’s Secret Angel, Lily Aldridge, Ballet Beautiful gives you a modern workout with classical moves that elongate and tone your entire body. Although the workouts aren’t free, they are effective so it’s worth trying even just once! Once you pay for your video, you are free to watch and use the video at your convenience. So go ahead – dance like no one is watching and get a ballerina body in no time!

 

words by Nadia Liu

3 Reasons To Swap Your Coffee For Matcha!

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So, why do we love matcha so much? If you’ve been following us for some time, you know how obsessed we are with matcha tea for all of its awesome health benefits! From boosting your moods to boosting your immunity, there really isn’t anything that matcha doesn’t do!

 

Traditionally, matcha comes in a powdered form and you need to use a special whisk in order to rid your matcha paste of bumps and lumps before you pour in hot water, but thankfully, Pukka Tea makes the process much easier with their handy sachets so you are able to enjoy the benefits of matcha anytime, anywhere!

 

Here are a few reminders of why we love matcha so much…

Immunity
When the colder weather sets in we start to notice an exponential increase in the amount of sniffles and muffled coughs we hear. During flu season, are immune systems are much more likely to be susceptible to bugs that can keep us feeling down. The catechins found in matcha green tea leaves have been shown to contain antibiotic properties and you’ll be ingesting really great quantities of Potassium, Vitamins A and B, Iron and Calcium to name a few, which all contribute to a healthy, strong immune system. So drink up, buttercup!

 

Energy
While there is enough caffeine in matcha to help get our days started, it is L-Theanine (an amino acid) that enhances the production of alpha waves in the brain, which induces a more relaxed, calm and focused state of mind. It’s the ultimate solution for those afternoons where we are feeling a bit drag but don’t want a caffeine overload from coffee!

 

Enhance your workout
Some days, the plain truth is that it is hard to get ourselves to the gym and we’d rather just have a lie in. Next time you have this feeling, warm up the kettle and drink your matcha and you’ll feel pumped and ready to break a sweat! Not only do you experience sustained energy levels that can last up to six hours, but matcha will also help increase your endurance right before a sweat session. Samurai warriors are known to have drunk matcha tea before their battles in order to boost their physical endurance. Channel the fight within and push for an extra mile or an extra 30 seconds on that plank!

 

The only thing left to do is decide what Pukka Matcha Tea to choose! For a cleansing, detoxing lift, opt for the Clean Matcha Green with added herbs and lemon. For a digesting blend, stick to Mint Matcha Green with spearmint and peppermint to sooth bloated tummies. For a morning boost, choose Ginseng Matcha Green to supercharge your day! And for days when you need an extra anti-oxidant boost, grab Supreme Matcha Green for it’s rejuvenating powers!

Shop the range here and get 25% off until the end of October!

 

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Style Your Workout Wardrobe Like Insta Fitness Bloggers!

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Wearing leggings and a track jacket to brunch is now hardly a novel idea and with autumn just around the corner, we are presented with the perfect opportunity to style our versatile active wear (hello, black leggings!) in such a way that keeps us fitted, kitted, and our cold hands mitted and while we love hearing the word “layer” followed by “cake”, we equally love layering in our fall wardrobe!

Now that the weather is getting cooler, we need to make those chilly AM runs a little more bearable! And in this case we always follow the rule of three!

 

Rule 1: The Foundation

Whether you are practicing your chataranga, cycling to the tops of those hills, or punching your way through kickboxing, your body is moving and creating heat. And when you’re 35 minutes into a 45 minute spin class, the last thing you want to be wearing is a long sleeve! We love having our tanks as a base layer so we can get going when the going gets tough! Here are some of our all time favourites for keeping in style even when we’re drenched in sweat!

Shop tanks here!

foundation-layers

 

 

Rule 2: Sleeves please!

There is always a point during your sweat sesh when you can’t decide if you’re hot or cold. You haven’t quite started to break a sweat but you’re nearly there! We love long sleeves that keep us warm during our third mile, but also let us breath! These long sleeve tops aren’t too hot or too cold, but juuust right! Plus, we are obsessed that these keep our hands warm too thanks to the thumb holes!

 Shop layers here! 

layers

 

Rule 3: Icing on the cake!

The weather is always so unpredictable during the Autumn months so it’s best to always be prepared and we love outerwear that not only protects us from the elements but also keeps us looking our best! There is never any need to sacrifice style for fuction! We love pieces like this Nike Original Running Jacket to keep the wind out and the warm in!

Nike Bonded Windrunner

 nike-bonded-windrunner

 

The Cherries on Top!

Nothing beats snuggling into a warm scarf on a cool Autumn day! But we like to reserve our cashmere for our less sweaty days and for the days after a good spin or run, we have the Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf to keep us warm!

Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf

lululemon-vinyasa-scarf

 

Sometimes our post-workout hair isn’t exactly what we’d like to call perfectly coiffed, and if you don’t feel like top knotting it, you can always just throw on a cosy hat! This one from Sweaty Betty is perfect during or after workouts, keeping our ears and heads nice and warm for those chilly sessions!

 Sweaty Betty Rapid Run Beanie

sweaty-betty-rapid-run-beanie

 

Let’s face it, one of the best parts of working out is when the hour is finally over and we can bask in all of our own glory! We love kicking up our feet post workout especially since they don’t always get the appreciation they deserve! Show your toes some love while you enjoy a cuppa after your sesh! We love these socks from Falke that keep our toes extra warm après- barre!

 Falke Socks

falke-airplane-socks

 

words by Nadia Liu

Perfect Winter Porridge Recipe – 26 Grains

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Happy World Porridge Day! In celebration of this cosy breakfast, we thought we’d share a delicious winter porridge recipe from 26 Grains! Founder, Alex Hely-Hutchinson explains…

“When we opened the shop in June 2015, this blueberry porridge was one of the first on the menu and it was an instant hit. It’s a firm favourite when the berry season is underway. There is something so delicious when blueberries and maple come together. The sweet and sour berry and dark treacle syrup paired with creamy, salted oats makes this such a moreish breakfast.”

 

Serves 2

For the porridge

100g rolled oats, soaked in 250ml water for at least 30 minutes

250ml unsweetened almond milk

¼ teaspoon sea salt

 

For the blueberry compote

250g blueberries

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Squeeze of lemon juice

 

To serve

2 tablespoons mixed seeds, such as flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds

Few strawberries, sliced

2 tablespoons coconut flakes

2 tablespoons Almond Butter from a jar or homemade

2 tablespoons amaranth (optional)

 

First make the blueberry compote: place the blueberries, maple syrup and lemon juice into a small pan with 1 tablespoon of water and allow to come to the boil. Once bubbling, take it off the heat and set aside.

 

Place the porridge ingredients, including the water the oats have been soaked in, into a pan over a medium heat and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring continuously, until the oats have come together.

 

Spoon into 2 bowls and add the toppings in this order: a tablespoon of blueberries in a line down the middle with a pool of juice around the edge, then the seeds, strawberry slices, coconut flakes, almond butter and amaranth, if using.

 

26 GRAINS by Alex Hely-Hutchinson is published by Square Peg on 8 September at £20

Seasonal Foods For Autumn And How To Eat Them!

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If, like us, you find that the shorter days and waking up in the dark is becoming slightly less bearable than those sunny summer months, then fear not. For as the colours on the trees change, what autumn lacks in temperature, it makes up in a rainbow of seasonal fruit and vegetables. When sourcing your produce, always look for local, organic produce; farmers markets usually have some great choices. The vegetables in the list below are all in season throughout the autumn months, meaning that it is possible to get both nutritious and tasty food from local providers rather than buying foods that may have travelled thousands of miles to get to your plate. Aim to include a rainbow of colours at every meal – this way you are likely to get a variety of different nutrients and vitamins from your food and feel generally awesome!

Aubergines
The, often overlooked, aubergine is great source of dietary fibre as well as being high in Vitamins B1, B6 and potassium. The soft, purple vegetable is so versatile and one of my favourites is stuffed aubergine for a healthy winter warmer that can double as lunch the next day.

Butternut Squash
Perfect for adding to a casserole or curry, squash is also high in potassium and vitamin B6 making it good for the bones, heart and immune system. Why not try combining it with red peppers and sweet potato (also in season throughout the autumn months) and blend it into a soup?

Beetroot
Great for circulation and reducing blood pressure, beetroot is beautiful in salads and if you can get your hands on some, try adding potent beetroot leaves to your morning juice! Try Fearne’s Quinoa Salad for a nourishing, light lunch.

Carrots
One of the most vibrant veggies out there, carrots are packed with so many vitamins including beta-carotene, which might not make you see in the dark, it really is great for our vision. Why not try adding carrots to your morning porridge in the form of Hip and Healthy’s Carrot Cake Oatmeal?

Cauliflower
Cauliflower has found a new lease of life from a substitute in pizza bases to an alternative to rice! Being surprisingly high in Vitamin C, it might be time to try cauliflower with a twist. We love teaming cauliflower rice with this chunky red lentil soup.

Peas
As well as being an amazingly high source of protein, yes you heard that right, protein; peas are also packed full of magnesium, iron and potassium. Why not whizz up the little protein pods into Tess Ward’s Pea Puree topped with an egg for a quickie breakfast? Yum!

Parsnips
As well as being a great alternative to potatoes and super versatile, parsnips have so many health benefits due to being great sources of manganese, which is great for balancing blood sugar levels and metabolism. Why not mix some cauliflower “cous cous” alongside this root vegetable tagine.

Rocket
Rocket is a wonderful antioxidant as well as being high in so many vitamins. Adding rocket to any meal can really help your digestion and we love Deliciously Ella’s Rocket and Brazil Nut Pesto as it’s a great choice to add to pasta for a heart-warming comfort dish that won’t leave you feeling bloated and full.

Sweet potatoes
The natural orange colour indicates that this veg is packed full with good vitamins, from fibre to phosphorus, the sweet potato is so popular these days and it’s little wonder why. Team sweet potatoes up with pretty much any fish or meat for a quick meal, one such recipe that has got flavour and speed is Natasha Corret’s middle eastern sweet potatoes to add some Moroccan warmth to a cold autumn evening.

With so many options throughout autumn, you can always find sunshine on your plate and you won’t need an excuse to cosy up on the sofa with some good, nutritious food!

Words by: Mai Copse @Scandinavian_Earthchild

Banish Dry Skin With These Holy Grail Products

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As the cooler months begin to settle in (hot chocolate by the fire anyone?), our bodies will begin to adjust to the change in temperature and we’ll especially notice a change in our skin! With radiators switching on across the country,our skin always needs an extra boost as the chill begins to come through…

Lo and behold: a list of Holy Grail products the H&H team swear by to keep our skin moisturised and fresh without looking like we’ve dipped our faces in coconut oil (even though we do that sometimes, too!)

 origins

Origins Drink Up Intensive

We love the idea of an overnight facial! Fall asleep with this mask on and you’ll be sure to wake with moisturised skin. Avocado and Apricot Kernal Oils replenish lost moisture from your day and helps keep your skin hydrated well into the next. This mask also contain Japanese Seaweed, preventing further signs of dehydration and aging…Where do we sign up!? Plus the scent is so delicious we could almost eat it!

egyptian-magic

Egyptian Magic

This is our be all and end all. From gently removing our make up to removing our fine lines, Egyptian Magic has been on the radar for quite sometime and it’s easy to see why! A favourite of celebrities like Adriana Lima, Kate Hudson, and Cara Delevigne, Egyptian Magic truly lives up to the hype! Made from Olive Oil, Bees Wax, Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Bee Propolis only, this cream can be used for anything, anywhere! Some of the best uses for Egyptian Magic are moisturising, healing cuts and burns, and even psoriasis. Any skin issue you may have, Egyptian Magic is sure to solve it!

de-mamiel-autumn-oil

de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil 

As the seasons change, so should your skin care! We love that de Mamiel caters to the different seasons with their seasonal oils and of course now that Autumn is here, we need to take the time to heal our skin from our summer holidays. A hand blend of different oils and extracts, the Autumn Facial Oil settles the skin and even the mind with a blend of flower essences that work through the body’s acupuncture meridians to enhance positivity in your state of mind!

beauty-co

Clean Beauty Co. Fuss Free Moisturiser

The Clean Beauty Co believes that your skin care should be just as clean as diets and use ingredients from their favourite plants, nuts, flowers and seeds. The Fuss Free Moisturiser contains coconut oil, vitamin E and jojoba oil all of which work together to keep your skin happy, healthy, and soft! Slather it on as a regular moisturiser or use as an in shower treatment.

 

words by Nadia Liu

Why Health Guru’s Swear By Skin-Glowing Turmeric!

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It’s been a while since a simple spice took over the health food scene. But this year Turmeric has been propelled into the hall of health food fame. It’s got everyone’s taste buds in a twist and here at Hip and Healthy we’ve set out to put the spice to the test…

 

We know what you might be thinking, Turmeric is something you put in a curry, something to add colour to, a staple in the spice cupboard perhaps? Well think again. Turmeric has had a recent makeover and is now the “it” tea to order at your morning breakfast meeting. It’s received a loyal following that’s set this newest health trend alive. The reason behind its popularity is the health benefits that it has to offer. Turmeric is known to help with reducing the risks of cancer, acne, heart disease and Parkinsons due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties. So it’s no wonder people are trading in their coffee for a Turmeric Tea!

 

Turmeric is in fact a member of the ginger family, which originated from South Asia and for years has been used as a medicinal cure. The all natural ingredient is said to have been used for over 4,000 years in India to heal health problems. This is all down to ‘Curcumin’ which is found in the Turmeric root and holds the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. It’s safe to say that if you can get your hands on Turmeric root it’s the best and purest option. Health gurus like Deliciously Ella, the Hemsley Sisters and Natasha Corrett of Honestly Healthy all boast Turmeric in their recipes. It seems the spice is very diverse when it comes to including it into your diet. A quick recipe search provides endless results from adding grated Turmeric root into your daily smoothie to Turmeric tea and even Turmeric hummus! (Which is seriously so so good!)

 

It’s worth noting that despite the supposed health benefits of Turmeric the spice packet in the shop only contains 5% of the goodness, known as Curcumin, and so you’d need to drink a lot of Turmeric shots to really reap the goods. Experts suggest that a Turmeric supplement is a much better option, and we can see why, with 95% of curcumin contained, this seems like a no brainer, especially if your pallet doesn’t quite like the taste. But don’t let that put you off trying Turmeric out. If you’re as intrigued as we are you can pick up a Turmeric Latte at most health food stores in London. Head to Planet Organic or Nama Foods in Notting Hill for your first Turmeric fix-enjoy!

 

All this talk has got us wondering what exactly does Turmeric taste like? Will we really feel any healthier? Here at the Hip and Healthy office we are constantly on the go and can fall victim to eating in-front of our screens (We know, we know, that isn’t good!), so we decided to trial some Turmeric fixes to see if we felt any of the benefits….

 

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Pukka Turmeric Tea

We love a herbal tea at any time of the day, and we always turn to our beloved Pukka for our tea hit. We hadn’t tried their Turmeric tea until now, and it didn’t disappoint! It does take a little while to get used to the strong and distinct flavours, but by the third and final cup of the day, it’s done the trick. It leaves you feeling warm and your taste buds refreshed. Pukka are definitely championing the Turmeric trend and have released a range of Turmeric Supplements too… see below!

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Pukka Turmeric Supplements

Leading the way in the Turmeric revolution, Pukka have not only brought out turmeric tea but turmeric supplements too! As well as launching Active 35 Oil, Turmeric Active and Turmeric Lifekind supplements, we’re pretty obsessed already with their Wholistic Turmeric capsules, which contain the highest organic grade, sustainably cultivated and fairly traded herbs. We adore this product, especially now as we come into the colder months… Not only is it helping our bid for glowing skin, it’s also fighting off colds and viruses! We’re certainly going to be relying on this wonder product this season!

 

Turmeric Porridge

With the weather on the change and those colder mornings starting to creep up on us, there was only one way to have some Turmeric for breakfast – porridge! This is really straight forward; just stir in half a teaspoon of turmeric into your morning porridge with anything else that you enjoy. We made ours with coconut water, honey, turmeric and topped it with some apples, mixed seeds and cinnamon. A great way to set yourself up for the day!

 

words by Lisa Evans

 

The Ultimate Healthy Holiday For Families!

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Founder of Hip & Healthy, Sadie, gives her verdict on the ultimate healthy holiday at Forte Village. Wellbeing for families on vacation has never been better!

My two biggest loves in my life are often hard to merge together. You see, being really into healthy, active living rarely fits in with my wonderful family life. Take mornings for example… Gone are the days when I could wake up at the crack of dawn (out of choice), head out on a run followed by a delicious homemade smoothie and bowl of lovingly made porridge. Instead mornings go a little more like this; wake up at the crack of dawn entirely not out of choice (a dawn so early it’s still dark at the height of summer) as my son has risen and wants to make sure that we are up too, the next two hours that follow are a blur of nappy changes, pajama wrestling, milk spillages, teeth-brushing tantrums, too much cartoon watching and not enough breakfast eating plus the odd lost toy that we must all immediately stop what we are doing to find before we have a meltdown of Britney Spears standard to deal with.

 

So, you can imagine the challenge we face when trying to book a holiday that not only is fun for the little one but also allows mama and papa some proper down time too. Which is why I was absolutely thrilled to find Forte Village in Sardinia. I first discovered it when I was writing an article for Condé Nast Traveller’s Body & Soul section as it has become renowned for offering some of the most fantastic sporting facilities in Europe (the Chelsea Football team, Wimbledon tennis stars and athletes all flock here to train). As I delved deeper into the research of the resort I realized that it was as strong on its sports/spa side as it was catering for kids. A haven for health-loving parents as well as their little pickles, could it be true? Once I heard about their six-pool Thalassotherapy Centre, I was willing to take the risk and find out.

 

After a two-hour plane ride with a toddler that won’t sit still longer than he’ll eat a biscuit, we were driven to the resort about 45 minutes away from the airport passing flamingos and fishermen on the root. The view from our room was spectacular, staying in the Castello Hotel part of the resort we benefited from a 4th floor balcony that was inline with the beautiful pine tree line and overlooked the ocean. The travel cot was already made up as we got in – this was certainly a place that new what it was doing. We all napped immediately.

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For Kids

The resort could not be more welcoming to children. They have their own restaurant, kids club and swimming pools, they even have their own mini village. Plus there was a constant supply of toys for the beach. Not to mention they are welcome everywhere – making our lives so incredibly easy. We went out of season too, which meant that we had most of these areas to ourselves . We took Max with us to dinner, where Peppa Pig playing on iPads was a frequent sighting that made you feel better about your own child’s screen time knowing that everyone else out there does exactly the same thing in order to steal a bit of “grown-up” time.

 

Wellbeing For Adults

If you are in need of a little spa therapy, your first stop at Forte Village has to be the incredible Thalassotherapy pools; six pools that all harness the power and potency of the sea’s unique healing powers. My husband’s bad back, which has been bothering him for months, was genuinely cured after just one circuit. Whether you allow yourself to be pummeled and massaged by the powerful jets or just bob atop the surface of one of the floatation pools, you’ll notice it’s therapeutic effects straight away.

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The Acquaforte Thalasso Spa itself caters for a wide range of wellbeing requests from dreamy Sisley treatments to physiotherapy and even a health food bar. But if that is not active enough for you they are not short on fitness options either. Their state of the art fitness center will have you working up a sweat using newly refurbished equipment, or you can enjoy tennis, cycling, golf and even football within the grounds of the resort. Not to mention, diving and watersports for ocean lovers.

 

Verdict: We will most definitely come back next year. I’m already looking forward to sipping my fruit smoothie on a sun lounger whilst my son happily plays in front of me on the beach…

Book your holiday to Forte Village here!