There is lots of talk about creatine and its use in midlife for preserving muscle mass and helping with brain function. But do you need to take? Who should be taking? And is is safe to take? Here we unpick all your burning questions
There is lots of talk about creatine and its use in midlife for preserving muscle mass and helping with brain function. But do you need to take? Who should be taking? And is is safe to take? Here we unpick all your burning questions
I want to call this a good friend in the kitchen, a real multi-tasker to make ahead. Rhubarb and ginger are amazing together. This is such an easy simple sample to make in winter, especially with the ginger coming through. It stores really well in a mason jar in the fridge. Everyone loves it in my house. It’s delicious with a warm porridge, perfect with greek yoghurt and nuts and makes the ideal base for a crumble. A keeper for sure.
Baked oats with greek yoghurt are a winning combo for a balanced, nourishing breakfast. The beauty of it is the endless flavour combinations and making it on a Sunday for the week ahead. They are very easy to transport to the office or studio and are great for kids and grown-ups alike. This recipe is made with kefir instead of milk for the added bonus of supporting your gut health.
A perfect warm salad for when it gets colder and you need some warmth. The addition of pomegranate seeds also makes it more wintery in my eyes. Squash contains beta-carotenes which our body converts to vitamin A to help support our immune system.
If you’re after a simple high protein meal, this asian inspired omelette with prawns is the easiest most fabulous lunch or brunch for 2, or even a quick midweek dinner. All the flavours of Asian cooking and packed with nourishing protein and portions of veggies! Serve with a side salad, stir fried pack choi or brown rice if higher carbs needed.
Sardines are one of the most non-dairy, nutrient dense forms of calcium with a 135g tin usually containing 363mg of calcium. Choose a good quality tin of sardines with the bones. I like the brands Parmentier or King Oscar. This lunch contains a whopping 561.5mg of calcium to show you just how easy it is to incorporate calcium in a non-dairy way to your diet. See tip below for calcium amounts of other ingredients.
Winning all round hybrid smoothie. When I have a big day starting with teaching a class (which I do 90% of), followed by my own strength training session and back to back clients this is a winning breakfast I enjoy between class & training!
The nitrate in beetroot helps with stamina. The protein is there to feed and repair the muscles.The blueberries are full packed with antioxidants. The avocado is rich in fibres and good fats.
You can’t beat a creamy chicken and this one is dairy free as well as being gluten free and low carb. It’s quick and easy and low washing up with just one pan used. I use the handy little 240ml pot of chicken stock from Osso which I get from WellEasy so reduced in price from the supermarkets. I also get my coconut milk from there.
In order to get enough protein into our diet we have been adding extra protein sources to our eggs for a higher protein breakfast. Two large eggs contain 14g of protein but adding 80g of paneer cheese gives you another 14g of protein. This works for us for better glucose control, muscle growth and no sugar cravings or hunger.
For the oats lovers out there, this is a must try baked oats recipe. Great to make on Sunday and you have at least 2-3 days of breakfast covered. Always top up with a good portion of greek yoghurt (enough to make up 20g protein) and maybe a drizzle of almond butter and you’ve got a perfect all season breakfast. If you have kids needing a refuel in between school, sports etc, it makes a great snack too.
Protein packed breakfast ideas are a very popular request. This is a great option that can be versatile in terms of flavours. For me, making ahead my breakfast is a must as I usually have breakfast at the studio after my first client of the day or after teaching a class. Hitting 40g protein with my breakfast alone sets me up for a day with energy, no cravings and properly fuelling for muscle building, hormone support and blood sugar balance.
We get asked this question a lot from clients or at our retreat days. The answer is always - it depends! Collagen is a type of structural protein and is found in connective tissue, skin, bones, tendons and cartilage.
In a bid to make sure we hit a decent amount of protein for breakfast we have been trialling ways to increase protein in our eggs. Two eggs is just 14g of protein, but adding 100g cottage cheese increases the protein to 25g. I have added a small amount of smoked salmon to increase the breakfast to 30g of protein. This is optional, but for my needs 30g of protein is optimal.
If you follow us on social media you will know that as a Personal Trainer working in a private studio, I need to prep all my food ahead and take with me. The chia pudding mixture is very quick and easy to prepare for 3 breakfasts in one go and keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days. Chia seeds contain some protein and are rich in fibre to keep you full longer! This is such a versatile breakfast. Any fresh or frozen fruit can be used!
Buckwheat is a gluten free seed and is very useful in a gluten-free diet as it gives a grain-like texture. It’s slightly nutty in taste and cooks in les time than quinoa or rice. For the health benefits see tip below. This salad is also a good way to top up your calcium levels. You’ll find calcium in the buckwheat, tahini, sunflower seeds and feta cheese.
A high protein Asian inspired salad which is super easy to prepare and cook. I cook my salmon in the air fryer as it is done in minutes - but you can cook the salmon in the oven if you prefer.
A colourful and high protein vegetarian salad with crispy halloumi and chickpeas. A lunch time salad is the perfect time to pack lots of nutrients and colour onto your plate. This is also robust enough to pack in a container and take to work to be enjoyed.
If you love a shot of coffee in the morning then you’ll love this smoothie. We use Exhale coffee, which is tested for high polyphenols and no mould. We use Nuzest protein powder, but use whatever your favourite is.
These asparagus and sweetcorn fritters make a fabulous brunch and can be made ahead. They are also a great lunch alongside a salad. They are very versatile and can be eaten cold, added to a lunch box or picnic. Add a poached or fried egg and that’s good for anytime of day to fuel or refuel. Very handy for picnics and kids savoury snack.