Favourite Juice Recipe

Following my one of my previous posts about my love for at home juicing and smoothie making, I felt it was about time I shared my favourite juicing recipe with you. Keep on reading to find the ingredients for this quick and easy, but incredibly tasty power pineapple juice!

Recipe: 
1/2 Pineapple (approx 1 cup)
1 Large Lemon
1 handful of mixed berries - I used blueberries, blackberries and rasperries (approx 1 cup)
Knob of ginger (a few slices would do)

The ingredients of this juice are super great for your body as they include a whole host of health benefits - ginger is great for soothing colds and flus, berries are filled with anti oxidants, lemon juice can support weight loss and aid digestion and pineapples (apart from being delicious) are a good source of Vitaminc C!

Happy juicing.

Saina
xo

Snack & Go

The term 'snacking' seems to have developed a bad reputation, though it definitely can (and should) be added to and be a part of a healthy eating lifestyle. Ever since I took the healthy plunge, I have accumulated quite the shopping list of picky foods that are perfect for chucking in your bag to fulfill those cravings!
Eating clean(ish) is something I committed to a little over two years ago - the content of my meals have changed, but that doesn't mean my eating habits have had a dramatic change. I'm a self confessed snacker. I'm always bored, and always hungry! I prefer snacks to meals, which isn't necessarily a good thing but you can definitely make smarter decisions when choosing your snacks. One thing that I initially struggled with was finding healthy snacks whilst out and about, the easier (and often cheaper) options are almost always a pack of crisps, a chocolate bar etc.
Today, I am going to share with you a handful of guilt-free snack suggestions that are useful for when you are on the go.

At 110 calories a pack, popcorn is an ideal alternative to crisps and cookies and craves the desire to pick and crunch away. Propercorn is one of my favourite brands to turn to for popcorn snacks as they have flavours for every craving - this Sweet Coconut & Vanilla one is a perfect alternative for sweet craving. With the key to healthy snacking often rooting in convenience, The Health Doctor is a great brand with products ranging from packed nuts, seeds and beans to corn and soya crisps. These spicy chipotle crisp thins are made from 50% soya and 50% corn - an innovative range bringing health back into the crisp market. These crisps are air popped rather than baked or fried, containing 50% less saturated fat than standard fried potato based crisp snacks.
With Quinoa being all the rage right now, I was more than delighted to discover Eat Real come out with Quinoa chips that taste better than any standard potato chips I've ever tried! These crisps are gluten free and suitable for vegans, making them perfect for everyone and especially ideal for dipping and sharing.

Indulging in sweets doesn't have to always mean chocolatey goodness, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with healthy options too. 9bar is more than just an ordinary snack bar - these energy bars are a great all round, satisfying and wholesome snack, packed with naturally nutritious seeds (superfood goodness). These delicious and satisfying bars are free from gluten, wheat, egg, yeast, preservatives and artificial colours. Nākd bars are also a great way to eat nutritious, healthy food without compromising on taste! Available in a range of natural and tasty flavours, these minimal ingredient snack bars are a perfect bite with tea. Made up of tasty fruit and nuts, these are 100% natural and also free from gluten, wheat and dairy (another Vegan option). Although chia seeds require a bit more prep before eating, these Chia Shots are perfect for having in your handbag and using as a 'topping' in yoghurt, or a simple way to add something to a simple bottle of water - just empty a sachet into your water and shake the bottle, voila! 

Finally, here's a firm (but simple) favourite - fruit and nuts! There's nothing better, and nothing more simple to curb snacking cravings. Fruits are some of the best providers of natural sugar, which are great for suppliers of energy. Grab an apple, grab a banana and you're good to go! 

Let me know what some of your healthy favourites are. 

Saina 
xo

Series: Salad Struggles

I remember a couple of years back when I began to embrace the healthier lifestyle, the thought of dinner with friends was much more sacrificial-like than enjoyable. Quite naturally, you cannot persuade a group of people to eat at one particular place due to their 'finer healthy options'. Over time however, I have accumulated quite the list of restaurants that offer healthy options as well as being a restaurant for those who aren't carbophobes to enjoy! As part of my 'Salad Struggles' I'm going to share with you my experience at Comptoir Libanais, and hopefully show you that healthy does not need to be the same routine supermarket salad. 

"It’s food that’s affordable and easy to know – healthy, light and you can enjoy it every day of the week. Comptoir Libanais means Lebanesse counter and that’s exactly what it is: somewhere you can eat casually, with no fuss.”

The creator of Comptoir Libanais, Tony Kitous, describes his Middle Eastern restaurants as a casual alternative to Lebanese food - where street style food meets traditional dishes.  

The Restaurant:

First, let me begin by saying that once you set foot into a Comptoir Libanis restaurant, you will feel that you have just entered a mini Marrakech Souk. You will find yourself surrounded by gift boxes of baklava and Turkish delight, meanwhile traditional Arabic music playing in the background. The restaurants have added a twist on the traditional Lebanese sandwich bars, by adding a variety of colours and patterns in forms of seating decor and wall art, adding a particular vibrancy to your experience. 

The Menu: 

What I love about this particular Middle Eastern restaurant, is the menu. Although kept very traditional with the standard falafel, shawarma wraps, haloumi etc. You can instantly see the effort and creativity gone into compiling the perfect menu with the variety of drinks on offer - both alcoholic and non. I opted for the frozen mint, lemon and lime lemonade and I can assure you I haven't stopped thinking about it since! The food menu is also similar in it's ability to cater to your requirements - with a variety of both hot and cold mezze, you and your friends can opt for a Tapas style meal. This is ideal if you are not familiar with Middle Eastern food as it allows to explore the variety of tastes in smaller portions. If you would prefer a set meal you can opt for a wrap, or for an extra £1 you can receive your wrap in a platter form accompanied with hummus and salad. Here's where the healthy gets speaking, the salad options! There are a few salad choices, and I opted for the haloumi salad (extremely generous with their haloumi) with a cheeky side of falafel (I can't do Lebanese without the falafel, that would be rude..right?). 

The experience: 

I'm a firm believer of stepping out of your food comfort zone, and trying new types of cuisine on offer. Although this was by no means my first try of Lebanese food, it was my first visit to this particular restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised at how a few unique touches created a far more special experience. 

I hope this encourages you to give this restaurant a visit. Do you have any other restaurant recommendations? I'm always trying to find new places and would love to hear some of your favourites. 

Saina 

xo