Raw Gingerbread Bars

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When I was growing up, gingerbread was one of my favourite sweet treats. This raw version is even tastier, and so much better for you!

MAKES ABOUT 9 BARS

  • 115g (1 cup) pecans
  • 130g (1 cup) whole almonds
  • 180g (1 cup) Medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger

Start by adding the pecans and almonds to a food processor, blending into a chunky crumb. Add the dates and spices and continue to process for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is really soft and dough like.

Tip the mixture into an 18cm square baking tin, spreading it out and pressing it down into an even layer about 1cm thick. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes to set before slicing into 9 bars. Alternatively you can punch off sections of the dough and roll them into balls between your palms before placing in the freezer to set.

Extracted from Naturally Sassy by Saskia Gregson-Williams. (Ebury Press, £16.99)

Photography by Matt Russell

GET THE RECIPE

Raw Banoffee Pie

Beetroot, Carrot, Pineapple & Ginger Juice

Sassy’s Favourite Raw Eateries

Raw Eateries: Naturally Sassy’s Favourites

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Something that can be difficult when switching to a plant-based diet is eating out, however this seems to be changing fast, with the benefits of raw food becoming more widely renowned and so many restaurants incorporating raw options onto their menus. This being said, it’s now easier and more delicious than ever to include some RAWesome goodness into your life wherever you are.

With some health spots now completely embracing the raw movement, the options for a fully raw meal have not just become a whole lot more abundant but extremely exciting, however it did make this list seriously tough to compile!

These five options are some of my ultimate favourite destinations when I’m in need of some raw, yummy goodness – enjoy!

 TANYA’S

Why I love it: This beautiful raw hang-out (well all 3 of them – including Selfridges) is honestly my idea of health foodie heaven. A common misconception is that raw food lacks variety, but Tanya’s removes all presumptions with an admirable assortment of dishes – there really is something for everyone. I love how Tanya takes traditionally unhealthy foods such as mayonnaise and nachos and gives them a healthy twist and a flavour that is genuinely better than the original. Each café is uniquely atmospheric and I now cannot walk past one without popping in for an energising ‘Ironman’ smoothie. Plus, if you want to give raw ‘cooking’ a try (and I strongly recommend that you do), Tanya now has her very own ‘Uncook Book,’ which features a plethora of stunning raw recipes.

My top picks: I’m a sucker for a green juice and Tanya’s most definitely has me covered with their divine ‘Alkaliser’ juice. Combining kale, spinach, cucumber, apple and lemon to create a totally delicious flavoursome fusion that I love. The Beetroot ‘Risotto’ is also to die for and the Pad Thai holds the crown for the zingiest sauce ever! Not only does everything on the ever-changing menu taste amazing, it also looks striking too. To me, visually appealing food always tastes so much better. You know what they say: “you taste with your eyes first!”

WILD FOOD CAFÉ

Why I love it: Don’t even get me started on the desserts in this place – they are just pure paradise! Standing as one of the most vibrant health spots in town, the Wild Food Café does not disappoint on any level. From classics like guacamole to more unusual combinations like the creamiest cashew aioli and raw sundried tomato and seaweed crackers, pretty much all bases are covered in this colourful café. I love that their kale chips are dehydrated rather than baked, as this means you can get even more goodness from these perfectly crispy greens.

My top picks: I strongly urge you to try out the dehydrated almond and butternut squash pizza and the Shiitake ‘burger’ – although having said that, I have so much faith in the Wild Food Café that I would pretty much let them serve me whatever they fancied! The raw desserts are a total must-try too; the chocolate tart and the lemon tart are equally as indulgent and so delicious that well, I wouldn’t resist having one in and one to take out!

NAMA

Why I love it: Nama is just genius! Providing health lovers with combinations that are just a delight to the taste buds and are truly unique. I definitely never thought I would see the words ‘raw vegan cheese board’ but Nama make it possible and also totally delicious! Their innovative menus are constantly pushing the boundaries of raw food and with an interior so wonderfully welcoming, it really doesn’t disappoint. A brilliant thing about Nama is the fact that, if you simply removed a few words from the menu (probiotic, for example), you’d momentarily believe you were in a standard unhealthy restaurant – it’s honestly so amazing how they can take any food and create a healthy version of it!

My top picks: Whilst the tapas selection enables healthy eating to be undeniably sociable, my personal go-to dish is usually the Thai Coconut Curry – you definitely wouldn’t think what’s on your plate is good for you! For dessert it has to be between the chocolate heaven smoothie, which is insanely rich and creamy, and the fermented blueberry cheesecake, which is so moreish and literally melts in your mouth.

JUICE BABY

Why I love it: Don’t be fooled by the name – this hip health destination offers more than just juice. They provide a wide range of lunch options, sweet treats, salads, smoothies and pretty much everything that you could ask for! With a name like Juice Baby, it’s expected that they do juice well – and well, they really do! Plus the inside is extremely cozy – I love being able to sip on my juice on a comfy sofa!

My top picks: I’m always spoilt for choice with green juices (there’s three delicious variations) and I have also recently discovered their ‘Immunity’ juice, a mix of beetroot, pineapple and cayenne pepper, which holds such gorgeous complex flavours. Their sweet treats are just a dream for a chocoholic like me; it’s hard not to fall in love with the chocolate crispy cakes and the sticky toffee balls (yes you heard right) are incredible too!

LIMEWOOD – RAW AND CURED

Why I love it: The Limewood hotel is located in the idyllic New Forest, Hampshire so the atmosphere is already relaxing and calm before you even view the Raw and Cured menu. The philosophy of the menu is ‘Quality, Seasonable and Sustainable,’ which is something that definitely gets the thumbs up from me! The creative raw chefs are constantly coming up with new ideas for the ever-changing menu and the care and hard work that goes into each dish is clearly reflected in the taste. The most wonderful thing is that you can enjoy a spa-day (I recently did for my birthday!) and indulge in gorgeous food without it having to compromise on your health!

My top picks: The menu changes from season to season, but something I couldn’t get enough of during my stay was the superfood salad including a fiery seasoning made from nuts, kale and spirulina. There are so many different flavours to it and it really does just hit the spot! The raw picnic board is a great sharing option that includes the crunchiest dehydrated vegetable crisps ever. As for drinks, the ‘Gingerade’ is the perfect remedy for when you’re not feeling your best while the ‘Green Queen’ smoothie provides you with a brilliant dose of your daily greens.

There you have it! If you haven’t had a chance to check out these amazing spots then I urge you to do so. Steering well away from the plate of iceberg lettuce which was once the only option for any of us trying to include even a small amount of raw food into our meal, we can now be confident in knowing that raw vegan options are not only being included in restaurants we love but are becoming mainstream restaurants within their own right; this is so refreshing and allows me to really enjoy eating out again when I’m in the mood for something ultimately RAWesome! Because it’s RAWesome week, I give you full permission to treat yourself to a meal out or two… Here’s to enjoying and embracing this wonderfully ever-growing movement and celebration of raw food!

Words by Naturally Sassy

Image: Juice Baby

Get The Recipe: Beetroot, Carrot, Pineapple & Ginger Juice | Raw Banoffee Pie 

Beetroot, carrot, pineapple & ginger juice

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This may sound like a hugely colourful combination of flavours, and trust me, it really is – these vibrant ingredients really work together. This super anti-inflammatory juice is the perfect remedy for giving your body a brilliant cleanse as well as providing your taste buds with a wonderfully zesty treat.

Serves 1

 What you need

  •  2 carrots
  • 1 beetroot
  • 400g (2 cups) peeled and chopped fresh pineapple
  • 1 thumbnail-sized knob of fresh root ginger, peeled
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

What you do

Wash the carrots and beetroot thoroughly, or peel them, then put through your juicer with the pineapple and ginger before mixing with the lemon juice.

Switch it up

You can substitute the carrots for another beta-carotene-rich vegetable, such as sweet potato.

Extracted from Naturally Sassy by Saskia Gregson-Williams. (Ebury Press, £16.99)

Photography by Matt Russell

If You Only Do One Thing This Week… Be RAWesome! | Get The Recipe: Raw Banoffee Pie 

Raw Banoffee Pie by Naturally Sassy

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This is a real crowd pleaser. Regular sugar-laden desserts can leave you feeling dull and heavy, but this banoffee pie does the exact opposite. I like to give this dessert to healthy-eating critics to prove to them that food can be both delicious and nutritious! They’ll never believe that it’s totally free of any nasties.

Serves 6-8

 What you need

  •  5 bananas, peeled, plus 2 bananas to decorate
  • 120g (1/2 cup) almond butter
  • 5 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
  • 180ml (3/4 cup dairy-free milk (almond, oat or rice)
  • Cacao nibs, finely grated, for sprinkling

Base

  •  Coconut oil, for greasing
  • 240g (2 cups) cashews
  • 180g (1 cup) medjool dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 3 tablespoons raw cacao (or cocoa) powder (optional)

Coconut cream

  •  2 x 400ml tins of full-fat coconut milk
  • 60ml (1/4 cup) pure maple syrup

What you do

– A couple of hours before you start, empty the tins of coconut milk for the coconut cream into an airtight plastic container and place in the freezer. When you’re ready to start, remove the container and scoop out the solidified cream (which will have separated from any watery liquid) into a bowl. Leave to defrost.

-Start by making the base. Grease a 20cm-diameter flan dish or loose-bottomed tart tin with coconut oil, then grind the cashews in a food processor until they form a fine flour. Pour into a bowl and add the dates, water and cacao (or cocoa) powder (if using). Stir into a paste then use your hands to combine into a dough. Mould into the bottom of the prepared tart tin, pushing partway up the sides of the tin. Place in the fridge to set.

-Add the bananas to your blender with the almond butter, dates and milk and blend until smooth. Pour onto the set base and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours to harden. Meanwhile, add the defrosted coconut cream to a blender with the maple syrup and blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl and leave to eat.

-When you’re almost ready to eat, remove the pie from the freezer and transfer from the tin to a serving plate. Allow it to thaw before adding slices of banana on top, followed by dollops of the cream and a sprinkling of finely grated cacao nibs.

Extracted from Naturally Sassy by Saskia Gregson-Williams. (Ebury Press, £16.99)

Photography by Matt Russel

If You Only Do One Thing This Week… Be RAWesome! 

 

If You Only Do One Thing This Week… Be RAWesome!

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Hello Hip & Healthy readers!

For those of you who don’t me, my name is Saskia and I am the founder of healthy food, lifestyle and award winning website Naturally Sassy. So a little about myself and my health journey: I didn’t always have such a passion for eating well. A few years back I was filling my body with low-fat, low-calorie foods in order to remain slim, however there inevitably came a point where my body literally couldn’t take this sort of malnourishment anymore. I experienced acute inflammation, which led to a serious strand of food poisoning campylobacter, and in turn, left me bed-bound for weeks – yep, seriously not fun. A few months on though, and with time out to really try and get to the bottom of my unsustainable diet, I finally realised that the food I was eating had a direct connection with my health and decided to make some changes… and so, through a bit of trial and error (cooking wise), Naturally Sassy was born!

As a ballet dancer I train for up to 8 hours a day, which as you can imagine can be very intense. As an athlete, it’s so important that I use the food that I eat to energise myself and ultimately allow my body to recover from it’s not-so-healthy past. My food philosophy is very simple though: eat natural and whole foods. Eliminating animal products and anything processed from my diet, and focusing on a plant-based approach towards what I eat every day is what (in the long term) makes me feel amazing and allows my body to thrive. However I don’t like to worry too much about the foods I don’t eat; instead I like to focus on an abundance of natural foods that make me look and feel my absolute best.

On my blog, I share recipes that are entirely plant-based, free of gluten and refined sugars, but still absolutely full of flavour! A common misconception today is that healthy eating is boring and has very limited options, but I promise you this is totally untrue! I love to take traditional classics such as pizzas and ice cream, as well as hot pots and chocolatey desserts (literally to die for!) and recreate them using the most natural ingredients that not only will be thanked for by your body but your satisfaction levels will be just as grateful, I can assure you!

I am super excited to be on board with Hip and Healthy this RAWesome week to provide you all with some of my favourite raw recipes and hope you all manage to get involved as much as possible.

As a result of including raw foods into your diet, you can look forward to improved skin, hair, nails and a wonderful increase in energy and improved digestion. I totally understand that eating 100% raw is not an option for a lot of people, and it isn’t something which I could stick to as I just LOVE some cooked foods too much, but don’t let that put you off getting involved in RAWesome Week though, even adding some raw veggies to your pasta or sneaking a smoothie into your day is so great and you will be sure to reap the benefits of even a small amount of delicious raw goodness. Here’s to a great week, let’s make it RAWesome Hip and Healthies!

Lots of love,

Sassy x

Get The Recipe: Naturally Sassy Raw Banoffee Pie

The Benefits Of Eating Anti-Inflammatory Foods

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We’re hearing more and more about the importance of following an alkaline and anti-inflammatory diet, but what exactly is it?

The root cause of many ailments and illnesses today is due to inflammation within the body. This can occur on differing levels for example, general aches and pains, through to more serious conditions such as arthritis, auto-immune disorders, colitis and heart disease.

Some inflammation within the body is a positive thing, it helps us to repair and heal for example if you sprain an ankle inflammation is crucial to the healing process but excessive inflammation can lead to ill health and disease. One of the biggest causes of inflammation is chronic stress. When we are continually in the fight or flight response, stress hormones are being pumped through the bloodstream, however the body cannot deal with this level of hormones and will start to fight against itself, causing inflammation.

An anti-inflammatory diet means consuming more foods which are alkaline rather the acidic. Acidic foods promote inflammation, therefore creating health problems. Eating an alkaline, anti-inflammatory diets means you should feel energised and ‘well’ majority of the time.

Following this way of eating means cutting out foods such as:

  • Wheat/gluten
  • Dairy
  • Caffeine
  • Vegetable oils (such as corn, safflower, soybean, peanut and cottonseed oil)
  • All processed foods
  • Fizzy drinks
  • Sugar, artificial sweeteners
  • Alcohol

Instead consuming a diet high in antioxidants including foods such as:

  • Fresh leafy greens e.g spinach, kale
  • Seasonal and ideally organic vegetables such as sweet potatoes, artichokes
  • Fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, lemons, limes
  • Raw nuts and seeds
  • Whole grains and legumes such as quinoa and beans.
  • Fresh oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines – all high in Omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation
  • Cold pressed nut and seed oils, olive oil and coconut oil.
  • Spices such as turmeric, ginger and cinnamon which have been used in ayurvedic medicine for years due to their healing properties. They contain bioflavonoids and polyphenols that reduce inflammation and limit free radical production.
  • Herbal Teas

One food which I am delighted to include is raw cacao. There is numerous research showing that cacao is high in antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation. Therefore, a small piece of ideally raw or high percentage dark chocolate is a necessary part of your daily diet!

In summary, following an anti-inflammatory diet helps to promote balance in your body, helping it to work in the correct way, at its optimum and helping you to stay ‘hip and healthy’ all year round.

 

Vegan Coconut Cream Tarts With A Raw Chocolate Base | Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes

 

Why You Should Be Drinking Birch Water

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What is Birch Water?

In winter, birch trees store vital minerals and vitamins in their roots. In spring water is filtered up through the trunk, nourishing the tree. Then, for 3 weeks (for that is their tapping window), the trees get tapped for their water. The water itself is much like coconut water in its make up, but there are some differences (for example coconut water does not contain Saponin – more on that below). It tastes a bit like normal water but Tapped have a couple of new flavor combos that will blow your mind (our fave is the Apple and Root Ginger) and not an added sugar or artificial sweetener in sight – phew.

Why Is Birch Water So Healthy?

Although drinking Birch water may seem like a completely new radical idea here in the UK, it has actually been happening in the colder climes of Finland for centuries. In fact, so dedicated are the Fins to tapping their trees that they even put their strong bones and youthful complexion down to the trees’ elixir. We spoke to the clever people at Tapped (they are the ones with the super cool bottles that look like mini birch trees) about why we should all be drinking nature’s latest nectar!

Why is it Good For Us?

The water that is harvested from the trees in spring contains all the nutrients and minerals to give the tree its new branches and leaves for the summer and so it is full of goodness. Outlined below are just some of the reasons that we think Birch Water should be your new post-workout tipple:

  • A great source of manganese (great for detoxing!)
  • Rumored to help with getting rid of cellulite as it is so cleansing
  • Packed full of electrolytes
  • It contains Saponin, which has been shown to lower cholesterol
  • It’s anti-inflammatory

 What the Experts Say…

Dr Storfer, Founder of The Food Effect, recently said in the Daily Mail that:

‘People of North America have been drinking it as a “health tonic” for years. It’s believed to have amazing healing properties ranging from everything to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, treating infections of the urinary tract and healing cancers. Medically however, we don’t know that much about the birch water’s value as a health drink, as it’s only just entered the market, with its health claims similar to coconut water. I’d say if you enjoy it, there’s definitely no harm in consuming in moderation… it’s definitely good for rehydration, and far better than any sugary fizzy drinks out there!’

Buy yours at Tapped.co.uk, Tapped are also stocked in Planet Organic and Wholefoods.

Words by Sadie Reid 

Online Nutrition Plans We Love | How Much Do You Really Know About Blood Sugar 

The Hip and Healthy Guide to NYC

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New Yorkers do not joke around when it comes to being uber hip and healthy. Sporting your hottest new activewear is considered fashion forward and just about every street corner is adorned with a juice and smoothie bar. There are constantly new fitness and food trends that sweep across the city in seconds. We want to ensure you can be your hip and healthiest self on your next trip to NYC so we’ve rounded up our favourite places to eat, sweat and adventure. Read on for all the scoop…

 Fitness

  • Physique57

A 57-minute ballet-barre class that is sure to leave your muscles shaking. As one of NYC’s hippest exercise classes, do not be surprised if your pliéing next to models or celebs. As a first timer, opt for a beginner class and prepare to be sore! Physqiue57 has three locations – Soho, Midtown, and Upper West Side.

  • SoulCycle

If you are looking to really sweat it out, SoulCycle is just your place. This 45-minute heart pumping cycle class will leave you drenched from head to toe. With fourteen studios throughout NYC, you’ll have no excuse not to get your daily exercise in.

  • SLT

Infamous for their hardcore reformer pilates classes, check out SLT if you’re in the mood for a butt kicking class. Hence the name, it promises to Stenthen Lengthen and Tone you – and leave you with wobbly legs from such a great workout! You can make your way to SLT in Soho, Flatiron, or Midtown.

  • Yoga Vida

This is hands down my favourite yoga studio because all the teachers – at both of their two downtown locations – are amazing. The flow classes are great to get your heart rate going, but calm your mind in the midst of what can sometimes be crazy NYC. This is also a great workout for the gal on the go, because it’s not so sweat intensive.

Juice/Smoothie Bars

  • Liquiteria

This NYC based must-visit destination doesn’t only blend up some of the healthiest smoothies, cold pressed juices and yummy bites – they also have the hippest blue interiors. We promise if you make your way to Liquiteria, you’ll find yourself coming back for more. Our favourites include the Mean Green Smoothie – a blend of spinach, kale, mango, banana, and pineapple, the Winter Sunshine Juice – made up of blood orange, tangerine, pomegranate, pear, and ginger and the All Greens juice with lemon and ginger.

  • Juice Generation

You have not lived until you have tried Juice Generation’s Peanut Butter Acai Bowl. We are forewarning you – prepare to be addicted to this frozen blended base of acai, peanut butter, and almond milk, topped with banana slices, strawberries, cacao nibs, hemp granola, and a dollop of peanut butter. They also serve up amazing cold pressed juices, smoothies, vegan baked goods and raw bites for on the go. Your addiction can be easily satisfied thanks to their fifteen locations across NYC.

  • Juice Press

Infamous for their Almond Butter Cup smoothie, Juice Press knows how to do it all. They serve up just about every cold pressed juice combo you could ever dream of and also the loveliest raw foods and desserts. We’re particularly obsessed with their Raw Oatmeal and Matcha Green Tea Latte!

  • The Juice Shop

We love all the cold pressed juice shops in NYC, but The Juice Shop is one of our favourites because besides smoothies and juices, they have quite an extensive food menu including the yummiest kale and grain bowls ever! For the kale bowls, you can choose between quinoa or brown rice and have the option to add proteins like chicken, salmon or tofu. Our favourite is the Veggie Pad Thai made up of tons of veggies with a spicy almond butter dressing. Don’t leave without trying the heavenly Cha Cha Chai smoothie with chai, almond milk, banana, ginger, vanilla, agave, and cinnamon.

 Restaurants

  • Chalkpoint Kitchen

The adorable decorations at this Soho restaurant go perfectly with their amazing farm-to-table food. Chalkpoint Kitchen is amazing for veg-heads and meat eaters alike with options for vegetarian and vegan plates, super tasty fish, and unbelievably rich meat and poultry. Some of our favourites include the cauliflower steak with tahini, raisins, and pickled chillies; the succotash containing a mix of mushrooms, local corn, black dirt carrots and English peas in truffle vinaigrette; and the Icelandic artic char with white miso & ruby red grapefruit.

  • Little Beet Table

You would never know The Little Beet Table serves up a completely gluten free menu because they offer the most creative and deceptively gluten free dishes. With options like fish tacos, mushroom flatbread, and a delicious burger – you will be in foodie heaven! The best part is they don’t use weird chemical gluten free alternatives but rather focus on whole food ingredients. Be sure not to skip out on their infamous roasted sweet potatoes with smoked sea salt!

  • Café Clover

Café Clover has one of the most enticing and deceivingly healthy menus in town. With a focus on locally sourced organic ingredients – you can always be sure to find foods of the highest quality with loads of flavour at this healthy hub favourite. We love their brunch with options like quinoa pancakes with baked apples, beet and mushroom veggie burgers with sweet potato jam, and poached farm eggs with spaghetti squash chia rosti.

Cafes

  • Hu Kitchen

This is seriously the mecca for all healthy NYCers! If you visit New York you must not leave without a bar of Hu Kitchen’s infamous puffed quinoa and almond butter dark chocolate. This paleo eatery prides themselves in home making just about everything – from the almond milk they use in their smoothies to their kombucha on tap, to the most delicious paleo bread and baked goods we have ever tasted!

  • Siggys Good Food

Siggys Good Food serves up 100% organic, sustainable and whole-food ingredients in the form of the yummiest home-style comfort food. With choices like Greek style quinoa and avocado salad, gluten free organic thyme sage chicken with caramelized onions, and loads of freshly made juices and smoothies – what’s not to love.

  • Butchers Daughter

This vegetable slaughter house is every vegetarian and vegans dream. We always opt for brunch here because they serve up a bit of everything we love. With a menu consisting of soaked organic museli made with almond milk; tacos verdes with lettuce tortillas, ground tempeh, and avocado creama; the tastiest spicy kale cesar salad with cashew carrot cheese and adzuki bean bacon; and raw hot cacao – sound heavenly? That’s exactly what it is! They even serve up biodynamic wines if you’re looking to squeeze some extra antioxidants into your diet!

  • Souen

Souen is hands down our favourite place for a super clean, simple meal when you need a detox or healthy reset. This macrobiotic café has three downtown locations with lots of soups, veggie entrees, sushi, noodle dishes, seafood dishes and clean treats on offer. Their gluten free cornbread is to die for, as is their pad thai, but the winner is their macro plate which is just so clean and light – think steamed seasonal greens, squash, brown rice, beans, hijiki seaweed and the hip and healhiest dressing options around.

  • Candle 79

Candle 79 is definitely NYCs premier organic vegan eatery – and eco bar – for a bit of a fancier meal. They’re infamous for their polenta fries and super creative veg dishes.

 Sweet Bites

  • Babycakes

Gluten, dairy, soy, egg, refined sugar and oil free treats might sound impossible – or just tasteless – but we promise you Babycakes somehow manages to make baked goods even more tasty then their unhealthy alternatives. They dish out soft serve, cupcakes, cakes, bagels, donuts, cookies, breads, muffins, and brownies all made in house. Their flavour options are endless so get ready to leave with a box rather than just one treat. They also mastermind daily specials like apple churros, peach cinnamon buns, ice cream sandwiches and more. Check out their one location on the Lower East Side.

  • Cinnamon Snail

Be sure to catch this vegan organic food truck while roaming the streets of NYC.  You would never know their food is vegan especially when you have options like fresh fig pancakes, ancho chili seitan burger, chimichurri tempeh empanada, and thai barbecue seitan ribs. Save room for dessert though, they are most praised for their donuts that rotate daily. Don’t be surprised to find flavours such as vanilla-bourbon crème brulée, raspberry cheesecake, peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough and pistachio cake with a rosewater and cardamom glaze.

  • Chalait

The hottest food trend as of late to sweep New York is matcha green tea. Chalait takes this trend to the next level with the most delicious matcha lattes, matcha superfood chocolate, matcha yogurt pots and more. If you fancy something to nibble on while looking like a trendy New Yorker, Chalait has also mastered the tartine game. It is hard to choose between the muesli toast topped with greek yogurt, seasonal fruit, nuts, and honey, or the miso butter toast topped with a soft boiled egg, avocado, sesame and arugula. Their only location is on West 4th so be sure to stop by if you’re on the Lower West Side.

  • Van Leeuwen

Sustainable ice cream shop with dairy free options? Yes we’re fans! Van Leeuwen started out as a gourmet ice cream truck and their popularity quickly helped them open multiple NYC stores. Their ingredients list is short, simple and natural with flavours to die for. Van Leeuwen can be found on the Lower West and East side, in three locations in Brooklyn, and they also have their infamous food truck still roaming around.

 Sites/ Shopping

  • Union Square Farmers Market

If you’re in the area, it won’t hurt to pop in and see a cute local NYC market with some great food stalls and even better flowers. This market is packed with tons of local and seasonal produce which you should definitely take advantage of if you plan on cooking during your stay.

  • LifeThyme Natural Market

The mecca of all health food grocery stores, LifeThyme have just about every healthy food item you could dream of including loads of local produce and an amazing juice bar, bakery, and prepared foods section. LifeThyme is right on 6th Avenue between 8th and 9th street.

  • Highline

The Highline is not just a super beautiful boardwalk above the busy streets of NYC, it’s a total activity hub. This linear park above the West Side Highway is on a converted railroad track that now serves as an aerial greenway. When the hustle and bustle of NYC becomes a bit much, this is the best place to spend a sunny afternoon.

  • Reformation

This LA based store sells clothing made from only sustainable fabrics, recycled hangers and 100% recycled packaging. Reformation makes the cutest designs that flatter all figures – and you wont only feel good about yourself while wearing it, but also about the positive impact you’re making on the environment. They have a Lower East Side and Soho location.

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How To Balance Your Hormones

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This week, we caught up with Susie Rogers – Co Author of Your Hormone Doctor and founder of BeautyWorksWest, to find out how we can ensure our hormones are healthy and happy in our 20s, 30s and beyond.

Tell us a bit about yourself! What sparked your interest in the area of hormones?

I am a native New Yorker who founded and taught in one of the first Pilates Studios in the UK. Having entered the world of exercise and after studying nutrition, along with my abiding passion for beauty and wellness, with the encouragement of my clients I opened one of the first medi-spas in the UK in Notting Hill Gate. In 2005 Dr. Daniel Sister a well-known French Doctor who was a marvel with Hormones and the latest ground breaking Aesthetic Treatments joined the team and we soon built up a loyal client following.

As our Hormones influence everything from our mood to our concentration, to how well you sleep, the size of our waistline and even how young you look and feel; through Dr. Sister and the needs of our clients, I learned a lot about the importance of “Hormonal Health”. I realised through my knowledge of exercise and nutrition, how important they both are to maintaining a Healthy approach to Balancing your Hormones as well as the importance of “Happy Hormones”.

How are hormones in our twenties and thirties different from later years?

In our 20’s and 30’s our Hormone levels are usually at their peak. Most woman get regular periods, are fertile and skin elasticity remains constant. If we eat properly, control our stress levels and get a good amount of exercise, and have a positive attitude we should have no serious Hormonal effects. Some woman develop skin breakouts around the time of their periods, but this can be controlled with diet, exercise and a good skin care routine.

How do out of whack hormones affect how we age?

As Hormones affect everything in our bodies and mind, when they are out of whack they can seriously affect our ageing process. They affect your energy and stress levels, which cause depression, high blood pressure, cravings for bad food and thus having a detrimental effect on your skin and libido, so you look older than your years. You skin loses its elasticity and your tendency to put on weight quickly will occur and your hair can start thinning. Your confidence levels start getting worse and your posture and attitude can start to change as well.   So the key is to take control and make sure they don’t get out of whack in the first place.

How important is exercise to regulating hormones and what exercises do you recommend for ideal hormone function?

As we age exercise in non-negotiable. That means, to age well with energy and feeling healthy, you just have to do it. No excuses, ever! Exercise can add an average of seven years to your life expectancy, improves your health, your hormonal profile, reduces stress and even makes you younger right down to your cellular level. It makes you look and feel sexier and it can give thicker, brighter skin and stronger bones. It can even make you smarter. Study after study show that exercising is the most important way to keep your brain sharp and young and your memory working better as you get older. Are you convinced yet?

How does sleep affect our hormones?

As we age we produce less of the vital sleep hormone and antioxidant melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland in your brain. Lack of sleep puts us at risk of heart disease and diabetes and stress related illnesses. We all know good sleep makes us feel great and look better. It’s not just called beauty sleep for nothing. Sleep is the magic button that switches off the stress hormone cortisol, turns down the heat on your hunger hormones, boosts your metabolism, fires up your brain and reverses ageing. In short, if you don’t sleep well, you screw up your hormones and get fat, old tired and stupid.

Are certain foods best for regulating our hormones? What sorts of foods are best?

Regulating your Hormones and food is a big topic. We have covered this thoroughly in our book “Your Hormone Doctor”. Essentially a diet rich in vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants is absolutely key to slowing and reversing ageing, and thus regulating your Hormones. Research shows that just eating three portions of fruit and vegetables a day not only makes you look prettier, but helps to keep your Hormones more balanced.

Plant based foods such as fruit and vegetables are full of nutrients that aren’t just minerals and vitamins. They include things that give them their colour and taste.

They are powerful antioxidants, which protect our DNA, turn off inflammation and keep our immune systems firing as though you were years younger. Some scientist believe that if you cut out three servings of refined carbs and replace them with fruit vegetables, nuts and beans, you could cut diet related diseases by half. So add these superfoods to your shopping list.

  1. Spinach and Kale
  2. Red and Yellow Peppers
  3. Olives and Olive Oil
  4. Raspberries, blueberries, pomegranate
  5. Bananas
  6. Brazil nuts, almonds
  7. Watermelon
  8. Green Tea
  9. Oily cold- water fish, such as salmon sardines and mackerel

So of course avoid:-

  1. Sugar
  2. Salt
  3. Refined Carbohydrates
  4. Processed foods, meats and ready meals

What are some measures we can take in our 20s and 30s to ensure our hormones are balanced in later life?

Firstly you need to arm yourselves with the facts about your Hormones and their relation to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to start early getting into good habits of exercise, eating healthy foods and adopting a positive attitude and controlling your stress levels. It is the same at any age really, good healthy habits equal Happy Hormones!

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The Latest Way To Tone Your Core

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Move over reformer Pilates, there’s a new kid on the block and it goes by the name of Bodhi.

LA’s latest fitness export has landed and with A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosie Huntington-Whitely rumoured to be fans, we knew we had to check it out. Developed in California by Khita Whyatt and Kirsten Sell; it uses TRX-like suspension ropes that take you away from gravity, firing up your core and making your whole body work hard to stay balanced helping you to become more stronger and flexible (FYI –  on first appearances it all looks very 50 Shades of Grey). But do not be deceived, although swinging on a bunch of ropes may not look like much of a workout, it is harder than you think and because you are engaging lot of muscles at once, it challenges the body in many different ways and you’ll discover muscles in places you didn’t even know existed. So thorough is this technique that the day after I tried it, my armpits genuinely ached for days.

We caught up with Dawne from BePilates (the only place you can try this new workout in London) to find out exactly why Bodhi is the new exercise du jour…

Will I get a Six Pack?

Bodhi challenges both your centre of gravity and your base of support as you take yourself out of balance in an unstable environment to effectively challenge the structural muscles of your core. As you work with and against gravity to find balance, postural muscles effectively engage to protect your spine.  This unstable and unpredictable environment offers fantastic opportunities to continually challenge and “awaken” your core muscles.

I have never done Pilates does that matter?

Bodhi is a great option for most clients and provides a full-body workout for the beginner to the super advanced practitioner. It adds a new element to Pilates inspired exercises and helps you to find better, more efficient movement in all of your life’s activities.

What about all the Pilates teachers out there? Can they teach Bodhi too?

Bodhi teacher training is a great continuing education opportunity for Pilates teachers and other fitness or movement professionals.  The successful teacher has attended our training course for 2 days in-person, plus an additional 20 hours of personal practice and 20 hours of student teaching before they pass a final practical examination. Our first teacher-training course will be winter/spring 2016.

You can try Bodhi at BePilates, 78a Chiltern Street, London, W1U5AB

Image: Pinterest

Words by Sadie Reid 

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The Best Workouts To Do At A Music Festival

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Whilst exercise and festivals don’t usually go hand in hand, it needn’t be this way. In light of festival season here in the UK, we caught up with FRAME to find out how our festival goers can stay Hip & Healthy this Summer. Over to FRAME…

  • Festivals are the perfect place to do yoga! Get control of your breathing the morning after, reset your body and stretch out ready for the next day of party. Start your day with a basic Sun salutation when you wake up; Stand tall, shoulders back hands in front of chest, fold down, let your body hang, jump back to plank, float down to chaturanga, upward dog, downward dog, jump to forward fold – start again.
  • Primal movements are great to get the blood flowing and exercise in a natural, functional way that engages all our main muscle groups. Plus it’s fun to do and even more fun to watch! Just a few sets of a ‘basic crawl’ will do the trick; this is how to do it! Go down to all fours, hands under shoulders, knees under hips. Lift knees off the floor roughly 2 inches and crawl forward for 20 meters keeping this shape as best you can. Keep back flat and bum down. Try it backwards for a challenge!
  • Tabata is perfect for times when you want to fit exercise into a short amount of time! Your heart rate will jump and metabolism will kick into gear immediately, staying active well after your workout too which means your body will continue to burn fat even as you go from stage to stage. Here is a basic circuit to give a go! 20 secs mountain climbers (press up position, engage core, keep back straight and hips aligned with your spine, bring your knee to elbow – to mix it up and bring your obliques into play, take knee to opposite elbow), 10 sec rest, 20 secs burpees, repeat this 4 times.
  • Simple but effective! Another trusty bodyweight circuit that will do the trick and is easy to do quickly and with minimal space. Three exercises, work your way down from 10-1 of each; NO REST. 10 squats, 10 lunges, 10 press ups, 9 squats, 9 lunges, 9 press ups….and so on.
  • Dance! I’m sure this will be a given but don’t underestimate the energy you will be pouring into dancing at festivals – this is a fantastic form of exercise and you won’t even know you’re doing it!

Come to our classes at BESTIVAL! – Euphoric Fitness Plus a whole programme of Yoga in the Hideaway Yoga Yurt.

Words by Jack Edwards

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How To Heal Your Heartbreak & Find ‘The One’

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Of all the many addictions and obsessions that leave us feeling trapped – whether it’s partying, shopping or even just Facebook stalking – what could be a more under-estimated affliction than that of love addiction? Allow us to indulge you with a personal testimony to the power of this particular vice.

Both of us girls (the founders of addictivedaughter.com) used to be obsessed with dating Bad Boys. They were typically heavy drinkers, serial philanderers and emotionally unavailable. Inevitably, these relationships never worked out.

Yet, we found ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, believing that we were destined to only ever fall for men who would eventually break our hearts, claiming that they were just our type. As far as we were concerned, our love lives were essentially out of our control, because we could not help who we fell for.

It never dawned on us that we were actively choosing these toxic relationships as a way of avoiding having to look at what was really going on inside of us underneath all the romantic drama.

Because it is a choice, after all – who we give our hearts to; infatuation and obsession are decisions like any other, but we tend not to perceive them this way. This is because we are regularly bombarded with the Hollywood-ised perception of true love as being all-consuming and immersed with pain, suffering and heartache.

Yet, there came a point for both of us (after experiencing a crushing break-up one too many times), when we decided that this obsessive and addictive form of love was simply too painful and exhausting to fight for any longer.

There had to be a different way.

And – it turned out – there was. It began by taking a very honest look at our own patterns in relationships. It was probably no coincidence that we kept being drawn to the same type of man that, for whatever reason, could never give us the love we so badly craved.

We realised that we had hopped from destructive relationship to destructive relationship, desperately looking for what was missing from within us – namely, a sense of self-worth and self-love.

It became apparent that the only way that we could ever hope to find a healthy loving relationship in the future, was to first develop one with ourselves.

From the murky depths of heartbreak, we began to focus all the energy that we had once used to obsess over relationships that were doomed from the start, into obsessively learning to love and respect ourselves wholeheartedly instead.

After all, we had been more than willing to become fully addicted to our previous love interests – knowing full well it would only end in pain, so why not permit ourselves to become equally addicted to our own healing, safe in the knowledge that it could only be beneficial to our lives? Without that other person to fix on, something needed to fill the empty void – it may as well have been ourselves.

After what we later dubbed our ‘summer of self-love’, whenever new love interests turned up on the scene (as they always do just as things are finally going well), we were not thrown off course by them as we always had been before. Our new-found self-worth was too precious a thing to throw away for what we used to sweepingly (and somewhat naively) refer to as love.

We took our time, assessed whether these potential suitors would benefit or hinder our lives, and only chose to commit when we felt sure these men valued us as much as we now valued ourselves.

The result of our new perspective on love?

Well, one of us recently got married to a wonderful man, and the other is choosing to focus purely on her relationship with herself for the time being, and it feels great.

After seeing the huge benefits of examining and working on our own love lives, we felt called to share what we had learned with others out there struggling in romance.

If you’d like to learn the 3 step process we went through ourselves to turn our heartbreak into the best thing that’s ever happened to us, head over to heart-rehab.com – we’re sure you won’t regret it.

Biggest love,

Persia & Joey

Founders of addictivedaughter.com

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