Spring-y health boosting

Who else is awaiting that Spring-summer-time feeling of energy, clarity and motivation? I am absolutely LOVING the sunshine and spring growth all around me, and getting outside every day is helping me mentally feel so happy and relaxed. My physical energy however is not quite up to scratch, which always makes me wonder:

Am I being impatient?

Am I expecting too much of myself?

Have I forgotten to address the basics too often?

Whatever it is, I'm going in with some gentle basics right now, because I'm pretty good at knowing what's needed after so many years of living with #multiplesclerosis.

Right now, I need simple, gentle, basic nourishment from all angles. So expect lots of easy-to-add-healthy-addition ideas from me over the next few weeks - and join in if you're feeling the same! I know I'm not alone in this, as I'm having so many conversations with people who are feeling the same.

A couple of weekends ago I ran my most recent Springy Health Boost class (yoga + nutrition + relaxation + feeling pampered class - next one coming soon...) @ The Yoga & Wellness Rooms, and as always we all left with smiley faces, stronger and comfier bodies and calmer minds.

Oh and we also ate some really nourishing and tasty snacks that were an absolute hit with everyone who came along (see picture above for gut-friendly-nibbles and recipes below for how to make it all)

When I was planning the morning, I wanted to make sure it included some takeaways - and not just the food and recipes. I wanted to include this because in all the classes and courses I have attended over the years, I have always loved the learning bit so much- mini lessons that I've taken away with me. Those little golden nuggets that stay with me forever. That's how we learn right? By experiencing something that may be surprising, or something we had forgotten about that we already knew, or simply something that we feel instantly and deeply connected to.

So here are the 3 (quite different) nuggets from that morning:

• We don't always feel Springy as soon as the spring arrives - and that's ok

• Sometimes the world feels so big and scary, it's calmer and more effective to focus on what you can do within your own community and hope that the kindness and love spreads from there

• Our overall wellbeing is hugely improved when we focus on improving our gut health

  
  

More ideas on how to improve gut health soon - but for now, give the recipes below a try and share with anyone you think would like them...

(ps if you're reading this feeling overwhelmed and too tired to do any of this, try one recipe - the one you think is easiest for today, and add the rest later! Every small decision for your health adds up to feeling better and better and better...)

Lemon, Parsley, Beetroot and Cannelini bean Hummus - this recipe makes a lot, so halve the ingredients if you're not feeding lots of people.

Ingredients:

1 x 400g tin chick peas

1 x 400g tin cannelini beans (makes a really nice smooth hummus)

2 x heaped tbsp tahini

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2-3 large peeled, cooked and cooled beetroot (you can use ready cooked as long as it's not pickled)

Juice of a whole lemon

1x handful of flat leaf parsley (or any other herb you have or prefer)

1 x garlic clove (or a tsp garlic powder which actually works better as it spreads more evenly)

Salt and pepper to your taste

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a food processor, a nutribullet or handblender and whiz until it's at the texture you like. Serve with crackers, pitta breads, salads, cous cous - anything you want!

Simply Seedy Crackers

I made this using cup measurements where applicable. You can swop and change the seeds you have/like, but these ratios of seeds, oats and oil worked well.

Recipe:

1 x cup oats

2 x cups seeds such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds.

1 -2 tsp salt (I used maldon sea salt, but any salt would be fine)

1 x tbsp maple syrup (not essential if you're cutting out sugar, but the amount per cracker is minimal. It combines beautifully with the saltiness. And food is joy right?)

About 3/4 cup of water (not too cold)

1.5 x tbsp extra virgin olive oil or cold pressed rapeseed oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to about 180 degrees C

Whizz up oats to an almost flour

Add the oat flour, salt and seeds to a big bowl

Mix the water, oil, maple syrup together in a separate bowl

Pour over seed mixture, mix it evenly and let it all soak in for a few minutes

Make a ball out of the dough and flatten it out on some baking paper on a baking tray

Bake until it's lightly brown around the edges - about 10 mins

Then the tricky bit is to turn it over between two trays and two bits of baking paper. It's a bit of a faff, but really worth it as it bakes nice and evenly throughout.

Bake it on the other side for a further 10 minutes.

Leave to cool completely, then break into random cracker shapes.

Stores really well in an airtight container - I would guess at least a week, but they never last that long in my house!

Squishy & Delishy dates

Recipe:

12 medjool dates, pitted and split down the middle

3 x tbsp smooth almond butter (use any nut butter you like)

1 x tbsp ground almonds

1 x tbsp ground flaxseed (optional - adds more fibre, healthy fats, protein and is brill for improving digestion and reducing inflammation - the two of which go hand in hand. More on that soon!)

1 x tsp good quality vanilla extract or scrape a vanilla pod into to the nut butter mix

1 x tbsp raw cacao nibs or ground cacao

1 x tbsp freeze dried raspberries or strawberries (for concentrated nutrients and decoration!! don't we all enjoy food that looks AND tastes beautiful!)

Directions:

Prepare the dates by splitting them in the middle and removing the stones

Mix the almond butter, ground almonds, ground flaxseed together and add the vanilla extract too if using.

Put about a teaspoon in each date and line up on a plate to serve

Sprinkle a mixture of cacao nibs and freeze dried strawberries or raspberries on top

Try not to eat them all in one go!

Carrot, apple, ginger and turmeric juice

This is per person depending on the juiciness of the fruit and veg!

I used organic fruit and veg for this juice, but I don't always (another blog coming...!).

Also, I only occasionally make juice as it takes away all the fibre that we really need, and leaves us with a high (natural) sugar drink. However, with the high fibre and protein snacks that accompany this little platter, the juice becomes a tasty way to get a nutrient boost fairly quickly.

Recipe:

3 large carrots

3 British apples

1 x thumb of ginger root (it makes it quite spicy so adjust if you like a less gingery drink)

1 x small thumb of turmeric root (it stains everything yellow so keep it off stuff you don't want to be yellow!)

Juice everything and add some cucumber and/or spinach too if you want it to be greener and a less intense flavour

Right that's it from me for now.

Get in touch with any thoughts or comments.

I would love to hear from you, Lynne x

I am a yoga teacher, nutrition & wellbeing coach and reiki practitioner, offering classes, one to one wellbeing coaching and group mini retreats at my centre The Yoga & Wellness Rooms in Shoreham By Sea, and via zoom for those who prefer to stay cosy at home, or aren't local to me.

I currently have 2 x spaces for one to one coaching in Shoreham or via zoom. Get in touch directly if you are up for making a real and long lasting difference to your wellbeing

Details of my classes, coaching and retreats are all on my website or you can contact me directly on lynnejarrettyoga@gmail.com