Between work, the school run, the night feeds, the nappy changes, we barely have time to breathe. On my worst days where I've woken up late, prepared nothing for the day ahead and the kids are miserable I've snacked on a whole pack of baby bell, crisps and stale biscuits that the kids don't eat (heaven forbid I ate their kinder chocolate). Come the evening to make supper I am too exhausted to cook and end up serving everyone with pizza and can't be bother to even wash the pizza tray until the morning. No wander, I've barely eaten all day. It's amazing how eating right can change your mood, energy levels, skin and way of thinking.
The thing is I've always loved healthy food since I can remember. A tuna jacket potato is more appealing to me than a chippy. I guess I'm just really lucky there. But eating healthy is more time consuming. Don't get me wrong I'm partial to a Chinese take away and a bar of chocolate. But over all I'd say I have a 'balanced' diet.
Since becoming a mother however my eating habits started to go down hill out of pure laziness and exhaustion. The thing is how can I take care of everyone when I can't take care of myself!? Eating right has an enormous impact on my quality of life and it's something I have to do to be the best mother and person I can be. I am constantly browsing Pintrest for easy healthy ideas and have come across a few ideas that are delicious, healthy and most importantly easy. They are a hit with the kids too.
My 'how to' YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsCJ-AmOpw&feature=youtu.be
My 'how to' YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsCJ-AmOpw&feature=youtu.be
Fruit Kebabs
Now I buy a bulk of fruit every week. My kids eat tones of it. However the thought of washing and cutting up strawberries for myself with a screaming toddler on my arm is too much some days. Let alone cut up a watermelon.Its shameful how many watermelons I have thrown away at the end of the week. A friend once told me to cut up all your fruit and place it in a bowl in the fridge. Easy to grab and all the work is done ahead of time. I've gone one step further. Fruit Kebebs. I can just grab one out of the fridge and eat it as I'm potting about. They look so colourful and appealing in the hot weather to the kids too. So I just grab one out for them and they can eat it as they are running around outside or as we are heading out the door. And it's so simple to do. Also great when packing a picnic. Pop a few in an air tight container with a little lemon juice and you have healthy lolly pops for the kids. As soon as you buy all your weekly fruit set aside time to cut and wash everything and place them on the sticks. That little amount of effort goes along way with your week ahead. I use lolly pop sticks instead of the kebab skewers for safety reasons with the kids. You can buy these at home bargains or amazon link down below.
Ingredients
Any fruit that you like, I used the kids favourite.
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Grapes
Watermelon
What you will need
Chopping board
Knife
Lolli pop sticks/ kebab skewers
Method
Chop and wash all your fruit into bite size spices (blueberries you can leave as they are, highly recommend chopping a grape in half for safety reasons for young kids).
Place each piece one at a time on the stick. Put as many as you want on each stick (make sure these is room on one end for the kids to hold it as a lolly pop stick) you can get really creative here with the colours.
Once they are all on a plate them on a plate and squeeze some lemon juice evenly over them.
Place in an air tight container in the fridge.
You could even add a drizzle of melted chocolate, add some marshmallows and sprinkles for the kids.
Crisps and Mango dip
Now who doesn't love crisps and dip? this recipe will give you crisp lovers some satisfaction with no guilt and the mango dip is so refreshing in the hot summer days. If your off to a BBQ, quickly make up this recipe and watch it be one of the first things eaten on the table. You have to give it a try. So you can buy any flavour wraps you like or season plain ones yourself. I love the garlic ones with the mango dip.
Ingredients
Wraps of your choice
Oil spray
Mango
6 Cherry tomatoes
1 spring onion
1 red chilli
Juice of one lime
What you will need
Baking tray and sheet
Pizza cutter
Chopping board and knife
Method
Pre heat the oven to gas mark 6.
Place a baking sheet on a large baking tray and spray with oil
Cut the wraps as if you are cutting a pizza and spray each one with oil.
Place each on the tray and in the oven for 6-8 minutes o until crispy (keep on eye on them they can burn fast).
In the mean time chop up all your other ingredients finely and place into a bowl.
Squeeze of the juice of one lime and stir.
Let the crisps cool when ready a little and serve on a plate with some dip on the side.
Breakfast Tip Tops
I found this recipe from one of my very favourite chef you tubers Gemma Stafford. I will link her blog down below. I urge you to check out her blog and you tube channel. Everything I have ever recreated from her ideas have turned out amazing.
I call these breakfast tip tops because they are so healthy can even eat them for breakfast. On a heat wave you can grab one of these on the way to work, or give one to the kids on the way to school. But you can also eat them any time of day (guilt free). Your kids can eat as many as they want and they wont get that naughty sugar rush. Most importantly is the taste. I cant tell you how good these taste. the combination of flavours really compliment each other. they are delicious please just give them a try! I used these tip top bags from amazon which ill leave the link below. However you can use lolly pop moulds and anything of that sort.
Strawberry and Peach Flavour
Ingredients
1 cup of strawberries
1 peach
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey
Blueberry and Lemon Flavour
1 pack of blueberries
I zest of lemon
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey
What you will need
Blender
Tip top bags or other moulds
Method
Place all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into mould and place in freezer for at least 4 hours.
Raspberry and Lemon Slush
I can not describe to you enough how good this tastes. It is better than any fancy Starbucks drink and it does not loose his flavour like the slush puppies you buy the kids. The best thing it is easy and healthy. Serve these at your kids pool party in the garden and you wont leave the blender they will want more and more. Mammy points right there. If you add a bit too much water, just add some more ice to get the consistency you want.
Ingredients
Pack of Raspberries
Juice of Two lemons
1 cup of sugar
2 cups of ice
What you will need
Blender
Cups with lids for small kids and straws (I found these in the pound shop over you can by them online)
Method
Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into cups of serve straight away.
Enjoy x
Tip Top Bags
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zipzicles-Reusable-Plastic-Lolly-Moulds/dp/B00VNDEP7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1469253769&sr=1-1&keywords=reusable+zip+top+plastic+ice+pop
Gemma Stafford
http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/
lolly pop sticks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Plastic-Lollipop-Sticks-Lollies/dp/B008RBNQTG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1469252051&sr=8-5&keywords=lollipop+sticks
Ingredients
Wraps of your choice
Oil spray
Mango
6 Cherry tomatoes
1 spring onion
1 red chilli
Juice of one lime
What you will need
Baking tray and sheet
Pizza cutter
Chopping board and knife
Method
Pre heat the oven to gas mark 6.
Place a baking sheet on a large baking tray and spray with oil
Cut the wraps as if you are cutting a pizza and spray each one with oil.
Place each on the tray and in the oven for 6-8 minutes o until crispy (keep on eye on them they can burn fast).
In the mean time chop up all your other ingredients finely and place into a bowl.
Squeeze of the juice of one lime and stir.
Let the crisps cool when ready a little and serve on a plate with some dip on the side.
Breakfast Tip Tops
I found this recipe from one of my very favourite chef you tubers Gemma Stafford. I will link her blog down below. I urge you to check out her blog and you tube channel. Everything I have ever recreated from her ideas have turned out amazing.
I call these breakfast tip tops because they are so healthy can even eat them for breakfast. On a heat wave you can grab one of these on the way to work, or give one to the kids on the way to school. But you can also eat them any time of day (guilt free). Your kids can eat as many as they want and they wont get that naughty sugar rush. Most importantly is the taste. I cant tell you how good these taste. the combination of flavours really compliment each other. they are delicious please just give them a try! I used these tip top bags from amazon which ill leave the link below. However you can use lolly pop moulds and anything of that sort.
Strawberry and Peach Flavour
Ingredients
1 cup of strawberries
1 peach
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey
Blueberry and Lemon Flavour
1 pack of blueberries
I zest of lemon
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey
What you will need
Blender
Tip top bags or other moulds
Method
Place all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into mould and place in freezer for at least 4 hours.
Raspberry and Lemon Slush
I can not describe to you enough how good this tastes. It is better than any fancy Starbucks drink and it does not loose his flavour like the slush puppies you buy the kids. The best thing it is easy and healthy. Serve these at your kids pool party in the garden and you wont leave the blender they will want more and more. Mammy points right there. If you add a bit too much water, just add some more ice to get the consistency you want.
Ingredients
Pack of Raspberries
Juice of Two lemons
1 cup of sugar
2 cups of ice
What you will need
Blender
Cups with lids for small kids and straws (I found these in the pound shop over you can by them online)
Method
Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into cups of serve straight away.
Enjoy x
Tip Top Bags
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zipzicles-Reusable-Plastic-Lolly-Moulds/dp/B00VNDEP7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1469253769&sr=1-1&keywords=reusable+zip+top+plastic+ice+pop
Gemma Stafford
http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/
lolly pop sticks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Plastic-Lollipop-Sticks-Lollies/dp/B008RBNQTG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1469252051&sr=8-5&keywords=lollipop+sticks
