Cooking For My Growing Belly...

... just got a little more interesting! Thank you Amazon for your suggesting feature - I fell hook, like and sinker! 

Pregnancy Yoga

I never really got around to joining a pregnancy yoga class when I was expecting Nahla. Things were so hectic and busy, we were traveling all the time, and I moved country and house and it was generally just a busy time. But then again, it was my first pregnancy, and I had the luxury of being in total control of my own time. When I was tired, I slept. When I was hungry, I ate. And so on and so forth.

This time around, however, my time is not entirely my own. As all mothers know. I sleep only at night - and even then I am always short of a few hours. Although that is probably more to do with my crazy work schedule than Nahla. Naps are a no-no. Like; where would I fit one on?! I consume a lot of my meals standing up - or on the go. Hello smoothies. I am mothering and working and keeping the house together and trying to squeeze in some couple time too, and before you know it; 29 weeks of this pregnancy has gone by without me having a lot of time to even ponder upon it.

And so last week I signed up for pregnancy yoga classes - just to carve out that little bit of time when I can focus and me - and the new baby in the making. I LOVE yoga. Think it is the most amazing relaxing and grounding thing ever. And even more so when pregnant. So for 1 1/2 hour every week, I am taking time to tune out and tune in. And I am loving every minute of it. Namaste!

Pregnancy Powerwalk

Today's pat on the back comes after I took my now very large 29-week old bump on a bit of a power walk around the neighborhood. As I am still working away, I find now more so than ever I need to get up from my desk and stretch my legs at regular intervals. And apart from my back, which is starting to ache a little when I move around, it felt GREAT. And also, I am hoping it will make getting my exercise routine back on track once baby is here a walk in the park. Here's hoping anyway!

Fresh End...

... to an even fresher day! This mama is all played out after hours of park, playtime and family fun!

Today's Smoothie...

... also inhaled somewhere between kitchen, car and playschool: Soy yoghurt, fresh orange juice, pineapple and melon - with a little coconut-oil and a handful of hempseed thrown in for good measure. YUM!

A Quick Pick-Me-Up

Really, all I wanted to do tonight was go the bed myself the minute Nahla was off to bed. But with 4 deadlines looming, 2 machines of washing to hang and a kitchen floor that is in dire need of a clean, sure there was no such luck. But as my energy levels were hovering just under zero, I decided I needed to give my bloodsugar a little hit. Enter lots of frozen berries, a dash of organic natural yoghurt and some agave syrup. Here's to a constructive Monday evening!

Yeah, It's Monday!

I am a firm believer in starting as you intend to go on. And so here is how I kick-started my Monday:

New Nike running shoes. Love the colour and how INCREDIBLY light they are!

Spinach, spirulina and orange juice smoothie on the way to drop N off at play-school. Go green!

Weekend Bliss

Monster-smoothies are a must in the mornings - drinking stuff is so much more fun when it is totally yucky green - as we  call it in our house.

New Lego set was a total success. Nahla is now officially in the playing-with-Lego age!

We took the easy way out for dinner today - and paired these little fish with broccoli and puréed sweet-potato. 

My gorgeous bouquet of roses have lasted a full week on the coffee table - and that despited the fact that they cost only €3,50!

Two for Mummy, two for Nahla. Who needs more complicated cooking than this when it is just us girls for a week?!

Toddler Breakfast In 1-2-3

Spelt bread with mackerel-in-tomato-sauce mix. Choc-a-block with good-for-their-growing-brain essential fatty acids...

... some apple wedges as a little treat on the side...

... a little dash of organic plain yoghurt (because fruity ones tend to have a lot of sugar added), with some cocoa sugar, oat-flakes and homemade musli (+ a few sneaky drops of flaxseed oil)...

... equals one yummy easy-to-prepare and very healthy toddler breakfast! Nahla loves the pick'n'mix thing, where she can have one bite of this, and one scoop of this, so this is a win/win for both Mummy and Baby! LOVE!

Way Too Crumbly Banana Bread...

... still tasted yum according to both Nahla and Mummy. Banana bread is made on an almost weekly basis here in this house, as: 1. It is the perfect way to use up bananas that have started going black, and: 2. Nahla LOVES it. But last night I decided to do some experimenting, and used half and half spelt flour and almond flour - which I have never attempted baking with before. And it turned out SUPER TASTY. But as both spelt and almond flour soak up more liquid than ordinary flour, I just have to remember to add more bananas and a little drop of water into the next batch. You live and learn!

Get Your Greens...

... from a green monster. This one is a favorite in our house:

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups fresh spinach, thick stems removed
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped pineapple
• 1/2 large apple (I like honeycrisp)
• 1/2 large banana
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice (we do half OJ/half grapefruit juice)

Throw in a blender, whizz, our, enjoy! YUM!

A Fresh Start...

... to a blustery Saturday!

Pop-Eye Juice...

... aka ice cubes, orange juice and baby spinach in the blender, is our favorite way to start the day! Green is great!

Hello Sunday!

We start as we mean to go on!

 Raspberry Smoothie a la Mummy and Nahla: 

• A handful frozen organic raspberries 
• 1/2 banana 
•  A dash of organic greek yoghurt 
• A splash of organic apple juice 
• 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil 

 Throw in blender, whizz, pour, ENJOY!

Feel-Good Tip Of The Day

Orange juice (organic) + ice cubes + a big chunk of freshly washed spinach leaves. Throw in the blender. Whizz. Enjoy. YUM.

Monster Smoothies...

... go down a treat in our house on a daily basis. Even BF, who tends to be suspicious of all things above-averagely healthy. But these are seriously so yum, I think he forgets his fear. And so easy peasy to throw together, you will want to make them everyday. Which, you know, you should.

1. Frozen banana chunks (always keep some in the freezer, total lifesaver)
2. A dash of organic greek yoghurt (or soy yoghurt, whatever you have handy)
3. A splash of orange juice
4. Baby spinach. Yep, that's right, spinach. And trust me, it just works.

Whizz thoroughly, admire the crazy green color and ENJOY!

Ahead Of A Busy Day...

... a good healthy breakfast is your best friend!

We LOVE To Start Our Day...

... with banana-coconut smoothies in our house. And what Daddy and Nahla doesn't know, is that this clever Mummy stuffs the smoothie choc-a-bloc with yummy hempseed oil, linseed-oil, crushed hemp seeds and other little healthy odds and ends I can possibly cram in. And in this case, what they don't know is just really good for them!

Scenes From Our (Healthy) Kitchen

Yum! Is there anything better than starting the new year as you mean to go on?! And this is a little bit like we plan to go forward: yummy fresh raspberries, just crushed with a little sugar into the sweetest jam. Gorgeous herbal teas. Lots of good-for-you-fat-filled nuts. YUM!

Healthy Green Smoothie

Healthy Green Lemonade Smoothie


You need:

■1/2 cucumber, sliced (organic)
■1/2 avocado (organic)
■2 handfuls baby spinach (organic)
■3-4 limes, peeled (adjust to desired amount)
■1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
■liquid stevia to taste (I often skip this or use agave syrup instead)
■6-8 ice cubes

In blender, add cucumber, avocado, spinach, lime [all three, but peeled], cinnamon, stevia, ice and blend on high until smooth.

If it’s too thick, add about 1/2 cup of cold water.

Pour into chilled glass, drink and feel how good you feel after treating your body so well!