Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges

Let me introduce you to another one of my addictions - spiced sweet potato wedges.  The first thing I did when trying to break bad eating habits was to find healthier alternatives to the things I liked to eat, and this was one of them.

It's hard to believe that something which tastes this great can be so good for you too, but not only do they taste and look amazing, they're full of nutritional benefits!

Sweet potatoes contain powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre.  They're a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene and iron and so promote healthy vision, skin, and immune system, whilst releasing energy slowly to keep you energised without peaking your blood sugar levels.

They're so soft and sweet, which balances perfectly against the spices.  What's more is that they feel like a such a treat, but there's no reason to feel like you've over indulged!

There's a number of ways I like to serve them; with avocado, leafy greens and feta, with garlic or sweet chilli sauce; but sometimes the simplest ways are the best, and some guacamole is all that's needed.

Recipe: (serves 1)

2-3 medium sized sweet potatoes (about 500g)

1 tsp of chilli powder

1/2 tsp of ground cumin

1/4 tsp of salt (scant)

1 tbs of olive oil

Method:

Pre-heat oven to gas mark 8.  Peel the sweet potatoes and chop them into wedges, about 1cm thick.  In a bowl, drizzle olive oil over the wedges, then add the salt, chilli powder and cumin and stir until the chips are evenly coated.  Line a baking tray with baking paper and bake for around 25-30 minutes.

To make the guacamole, simply mash an avocado in a bowl and add some salt and lemon juice to taste.

Then enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Mango, Pear & Green Tea Smoothie

This has to be one of my favourite go-to smoothies.  It was one of the first combinations I really loved, and is a great one for people trying out a green smoothie for the first time.   The pear and frozen mango mean that it's light and refreshing, while the spinach provides that dose of green goodness without being overpowering.  If you struggle with low energy, headaches and a tired complexion as I did, then upping your intake of iron is an incredible way to combat this.  You can mix this simply with cold water, or with a cup of chilled green tea for some more flavour and an extra energy boost, not to mention the benefit of its antioxidant qualities.

If I'm feeling a bit run down this always helps to pick me up, and give me that extra boost.

Recipe:

1 cup of frozen mango

1-2 cups of spinach

1 pear

1 cup of water or green tea, brewed and chilled (I use lemon flavoured) 

I also add:

1-2 desert spoons of flaxseed (at the moment this is a flaxseed & goji berry mix)

1 tbs of shelled hemp

1 tbs of chia seed

Just throw everything in and blend until smooth.  You can adjust the consistency easily by adding more fruit or spinach to thicken, or more water to thin.  Enjoy!

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Mango and Beetroot Green Smoothie

Smoothies are a fantastic way of adding extra goodness to your diet with minimal fuss, and they're so tasty and really easy to make!  My favourite by far are green smoothies, as there's just so much goodness in one serving and you can feel the benefits very quickly.

The spinach, kale and beetroot in this recipe are all high in iron, without which you start to feel tired, lethargic and are more prone to illness, it can even affect everything from your brain function to your complexion!  They all also contain vitamins A and C, which are great for your vision, skin, immune system and digestion too.

Frozen mango has to be my favourite fruit to add to a smoothie; it's so light, sweet and refreshing and as it's high in vitamin C it also helps your body to absorb all that iron.  The coconut drink is also a great addition, being naturally sweet and a source of vitamin B12, which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. 

This smoothie really is full of nutritional benefits, whilst also being a deliciously refreshing and light drink.

Serves 1

1 cup of kale

1 cup of spinach

1 boiled beetroot, chopped

1 cup of frozen mango

1 1/2 cups of coconut drink such as Alpro (A blend of coconut and rice milk)

1tbs of chia seeds

I also add:

1tbs of flaxseed

1tbs of shelled hemp

Simply throw everything in the blender and mix until smooth.   It's best fresh but if you want to store it in the fridge for later it will still taste great.  Enjoy!

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