Sunset at Brockholes

Last week my husband and I took some time off work to recharge after the Christmas rush, and it was so nice!  Getting outdoors, stretching our legs and breathing some fresh air is always high on our list of things to do.  


Usually we head North into Cumbria and the Lake District, but last week we thought we'd try somewhere a little closer to home.  Brockholes Nature Reserve is on reclaimed wetland just half an hour from us, and has a short Gruffalo trail Noah really wanted to see too.

It's incredibly calm and peaceful to say that it's just off the motorway.  Even in the depths of winter it was beautiful, I can imagine it would be even more so in summer when the waters are bustling with wildlife.  We took the Reserve Trail, strolled through the grounds and took a few pictures along the way while our little one kept warm in the buggy (A Baby Jogger City Mini GT for any mums who are interested!  This all-terrain pram is just incredible).  After a pretty cold couple of hours we were then treated to an amazing sunset, which we watched while drinking tea in the cafe as the birds bobbed about us on the water...

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Banana & Coconut Porridge

As the weather gets colder I find myself reaching more and more for a warming and filling breakfast, and this really does hit the spot! 

Gluten-free oats keep me filled but not bloated, while the banana and coconut milk bring a dairy-free yet totally creamy taste to the bowl which is just delicious.  On its own the oats, coconut milk and banana are full of fibre, vitamins B12 and B6 but with a few choice toppings you can bring even more nutritional goodness to this bowl.  

I like to add pumpkin seed, flaxseed and cocao nibs to mine as they're high in healthy fats, zinc, magnesium and omega-3; cocao nibs are fantastic as they are actually anti-oxidising chocolate!

Recipe:

3/4 cup of gluten-free oats

1 cup of Alpro Coconut Drink (a coconut & rice milk blend)

1 banana

Honey to taste

I also add

Pumpkin seeds

Flaxseed

Chia seed

Cocao nibs

Add the oats and coconut milk in a pan and heat for about 5 minutes on a low-medium heat, stirring often.  When the oats are almost ready, add the chopped banana and stir in for another 3-4 minutes until softened and warmed.  Pour into a bowl and add your toppings of choice, though go easy on the powders, you don't want the porridge to dry up! Drizzle with honey if needed and serve immediately, then enjoy a deliciously warming and nutritious start to the day.

Enjoy!

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Chaos & Quiet

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year! Ours was wonderfully chaotic as usual;  I just loved seeing all the family, exchanging presents and catching up, then curling up once everyone had gone to enjoy some quiet time.


This got me thinking about life in general, about how finding a balance between chaos and quiet is so important.  My husband and I own a business, which is also where we live and, as you can imagine, it can be pretty hard to switch off!  A lot of our meals are eaten quickly or on the go, which is why it's so important to make healthy choices and why I love drinking green smoothies so much.

My view on healthy living has become the same philosophy I try to apply to everyday life; that everything should be in balance.  Home, family and work are all key aspects in my life which all need and deserve attention.  Allowing myself a few moments of relaxation a day is important as well.  In the same way, healthy living for me isn't about deprivation, it's about finding the foods that are both exciting and nourishing, as well as allowing myself a treat every now and then.  That way it never feels like a diet, just healthy living, with a 'treat' being exactly that.

More and more I'm reminded to take joy in the little things in life; whether that's escaping to the country, enjoying a nutritional meal, successes at work, spending time with my boys or just a quiet cup of tea without any interruptions.  I need all of these things to keep me balanced and able to appreciate both the chaos and the quiet.

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