A taste of vegan/vegetarian living

Over the last 4 weeks my family and I have been trying to eat a more plant based diet. For the last few months I reduced the amount of meat I eat as a part of my journey to help my PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome). But since watching more programmes like 'What the Health' and reading more articles about the damage that excessive meat and dairy consumption can do the human body we decided as a family to give up meat and reduce dairy intake for at least 2 weeks. And somehow those initial 2 weeks has now stretched to 4 weeks with some bumps along the way (the school barbecue being one of them!). I have also been inspired at which members of my family have taken on the challenge which certainly helps when you have spent 30 minutes chopping vegetables (my least favourite part of cooking!)

If you have young kids who are used to eating meat and dairy, this is difficult switch to make. Ok way more than difficult in the face of a determined 3-6 year old or even a stubborn teenager. But it can be done!

The thought that I would be helping my children's future health by reducing the risks of heart disease, inflammatory diseases and a possibly a whole host of other issues was a good motivator to at least give it a try. I am not advocating giving up meat and dairy altogether and going cold turkey. That is not for everyone and I don't think it is for all of my family. But we can make small changes in the family routine so that you eat more vegan or vegetarian dishes for most of the week with meat dishes and dairy foods as a treat once or twice a week. Its a huge reduction if you are used to eating meat and dairy every single day but your taste-buds become used to it and your body adjusts (for the better). Its about changing habits isn't it. What we eat and how often we eat are really formed through habit. Changing a habit to form another habit is not an easy task but it is possible and knowing that there is an entire community of vegan and vegetarian families to get advice definitely helps

With this in mind I'd like to share this easy couscous dish I've discovered and adapted for my family which can either be eaten on its own or served with baked sweet potato or roasted half butternut squash.

Easy Vegetable Couscous

Ingredients
1 red onion
500g couscous
1 cube vegetable stock
handful of pistachio nuts (optional)
3/4 ready roasted red peppers (you can buy these in jars)
2/3 ready sun-dried tomatoes (also available in jar)
handful of fresh mint
1 large aubergine (eggplant)
1 large or 2 small courgettes

To serve with
Sweet potato or roasted half butter nut squash (optional)

glass of wine (optional) 😏

Method
Put your sweet potatoes or half butternut squash (no need to peel) in the oven at 200/180 degrees (for fan asssisted ovens) for 40mins

Next, slice and roast the aubergine and courgette under the grill for 20 mins. While that is roasting. Chop the red onion and mint and put to one side. Then chop up the ready roasted peppers and sun-dried tomatoes and put in a separate bowl. This will be added to the roasting aubergines once finished and returned to the oven to warm through. In the meantime, boil a kettle and add the vegetable stock to 1ltr of boiling water. Stir until dissolved and then add the couscous and cover for around 10 mins or until all the couscous is soaked through. Fluff the couscous with a fork. Remove the roasted ingredients from the oven and mix in the couscous and the chopped red onion and mint. Add chopped pistachio nuts for crunch if you wish.

Pour yourself a well earned glass of wine for all that hard work and serve with the baked sweet potato or roasted half butternut squash.

Happy Healthy Eating!

Carving out 'Me' Time

When you become a parent suddenly time is no longer your your own. It starts from day one when you are desperate for that long soak in the tub but junior or princess has other ideas so end up taking them into the bathroom with you so you can at least not smell.  Going to the toilet becomes a joint adventure! You brush your teeth in 30 secs instead of the 3 minutes you are supposed to take. You brush your hands through your hair or end up putting your hair in braids so you don't look like a mad monster. Of course time in the bathroom to make ourselves look half decent increases as the kids get older and we get into the parenthood stride. But we still don't take time for ourselves just to recharge.

Why don't we do this? Its a guilt thing! Well definitely a guilt thing for me. I do the washing, the cleaning, the dusting, the clearing out, the grouting of the bathroom in order to avoid the guilt of actually taking some time for myself. You probably do the same or know someone that does the same.

Its a strange concept for us parents 'me' time. For some people 'me' time is a full blown weekend away or an entire day away from the pressures of life. But actually if we re-frame the way we think about 'me' time, it can be that 1hr journey into or from work with a good book or a journal; that 10 minutes with a warming drink before we have to pick up the kids; that 20 minute walk to the school gate on a nice day where we just take time to look around us and try to notice something different; that 5 minutes in the bathroom when you are doing your make up. Just taking a moment to stop and take a few deep breaths, that can be 'me' time.

Basically 'me' time can be anything you want it to be. So maybe we should all start to treasure the 15 minute, 10 minute or even 5 minute break that you might get in the day to just 'breathe'. We could think of it as stepping stone to getting that afternoon off or that weekend away. Perhaps practicing with smaller bits of time will lead to greater satisfaction when we do get those bigger bits of time.

Practice makes perfect right? 

Am off the practice some 'me' time. 

Thanks for sharing your 'me' time with me...

Can my street food obsession make my kids fat?

Can my street food obsession make my kids fat?

I love street food. The different tastes and smells all in one place is heaven. Maybe it's something to do with the fact that I did not have to slave over the cooker to make this wonderful food that is passing through my lips. Really can't put that down to being a mum but it is a big factor!

So you can imagine my shock to read an article recently proposing the idea that our love street food and street 'junk' food in particular is actually making us fat. The article pointed fingers at that organic hotdog on brioche bread with lashings of onion,chillies and sauce (A favourite for my kids!); the double lamb burger again with brioche buns and slaw (that only seems to taste amazing outside of the house); the sweet potato fries with garlic mayo on the side or 'homemade' ketchup.
Yes these are all favourite street food, farmer's market, and food festival favourites not just for adults for also for kids.

Large Chocolate Churro

Deluxe Hotdog made with Bratwurst Sausages in French Bread

The article made the point that unless food is made from scratch at home, we have no control over the salt, sugar or fat that is used to make that hotdog, burger or pork bun. Therefore, we could and are in most cases eating twice if not three times the amount of calories in one meal than for the same thing made at home. It does concede that the quality of the street/festival/farmer's market 'junk' food is probably excellent. Which is why a lot of us enjoy eating it so much. The main thing to remember I guess is that a treat is a treat and therefore if you have a treat, it should be just that. A once in a few weeks event and not a regular habit. I guess we all need to be conscious of what and how much we eat.

I still maintain that going to farmer's markets/street food festivals is a great way to introduce kids to different food tastes. But I suppose the trick with kids and to a certain extent with ourselves when attending these events is timing. It is probably better to go around lunch time or late afternoon so that the hotdog becomes lunch or that burger becomes an early dinner instead of the snack in between lunch and dinner. That's one way to keep down the calorie count!

In the meantime we can practice that new habit with these upcoming Festivals
Star of Bethnal Green Party Street Party 2017

londonfoodmonth.co.uk

Lunch anyone?

Child Friendly London Foodie Day Out

Child Friendly London Foodie Day Out.

I love food. I love trying new recipes and tasting new things. However due to my allergies, some things have become unavailable to me but that hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for good food, especially street food. The reason I and others like me enjoy this type of food so much is probably because it is not pretentious. It simply is good food, cooked with love to give pleasure to others. Ok so that's the romantic view but there is no denying that most street food is simply good food at a good price.

Plus I have discovered that the benefits of street food go beyond my own palette. It is also an inexpensive relaxed way of introducing children to new food flavours without having to slave over it in the kitchen only to have them turn around and spit it out. Have you ever been in a situation where your kids will eat one thing at a friend's house but refuse to eat it at yours? They suddenly profess to hate the very dish that you prepare in exactly the same way as their friend's mum or your friend does but will eat it the very next play date with such gusto that anyone would think you were starving them at home. It's one of those 'Really?' (parent looking at child disbelievingly) moments.

As a lover of food it is gut twisting when the kids don't want to try something you have lovingly prepared so I have found that introducing them to street food is a good way of getting them to appreciate food without the emotional heartache of home food rejection. Fortunately London has some exceptional places to do this. I do feel lucky and privileged to live in a city that plays host to places like Pop Brixton (a food. drink and work collective in South London), Borough Market, Greenwich Market and BoxPark in Shoreditch . All great places to get a taste of different things but still eat at the same table. You know what I mean - its the old one child wants pizza but the other one wants a burger and you want Japanese for lunch scenario. Getting street food in these places means that you all have what you want whilst tasting what the other person gets, sit at the same table and still be under £20 for a good meal for four. Its pushing about £30 for a meal for six people but still half the cost of eating even at medium price eateries such as Pizza Express or Nandos with six at the table. Pocket friendly non junk food eating definitely gets my vote!

Mama Jerk @ PopBrixton 

If you go to somewhere like PopBrixton you would then just need to cross the road to The Chocolate Museum and make your own chocolate for desert.

Chocolate Lolly making 

Great way to finish off a foodie afternoon.

Would you agree?

Stress Free London Easter

Stress Free London Easter

Easter in London with kids can be super expensive. It is not so much the cost of getting into to places. The majority of museums in London especially the major ones are all free. It is mainly the cost of feeding the little ones once out in Central London or near it that really empties the pockets. The gift shop is another money eater but really that part might be my issue as I'm a bit partial to a gift shop purchase. Something to do with the 'memory' of the event I guess.

With this in mind and determined to make this easter as stress free and pocket friendly as possible, I have put together some ideas to survive the easter holidays with both my mind and my wallet in tact.

Hope this is helpful to you also if you live here and are new to London or are planning to visit anytime soon.

As I mentioned, one of the major spends whilst exploring London is on food. However, there are cheaper alternatives (NOT just McDonalds) if you are prepared to seek them out. Lifestyle magazine The Londonist have a great list of cheap eats near the main museums here. And of course Google Maps extra service  which shows you what's nearby is also a good way to eat out on a budget. If the weather is good it's a good idea to pack a packed lunch for the day and simply come out of the museum and eat in the local squares and gardens which are dotted near every single major museum. Some museums such as the The Horniman Museum and Gardens have such beautiful gardens attached it would be a shame to not sit with a picnic and enjoy the views on a nice day.

Picture of a part of Horniman Museum Gardens

If you plan carefully that usual £100 day out could be just £20 or less. Great for buying that new bag/outfit/garden furniture you've had your eye on. Oops sorry the garden furniture bit is just me. ☺.
As I was saying... it is a saving! Who doesn't want to save cash and still have a great experience?

London is not just about 'culture' there are so many local parks and woods especially in south London that make for a good time. If you don't live south, phone a friend or find a friend that lives that side of the river because the parking alone will save you a fortune with the exception of areas such as Putney and Battersea; but you always get the awkward ones right? A few of the bigger parks will sometimes host Easter trails for the younger kids which you can pick up at the park information hut for free or sometimes for a small contribution so it is worth having a go if you want to get the little ones excited before you find your 'I'm not getting up from here' spot in the park. And of course before you head out throw a ball, frisbee, book or even bubbles for the little ones in a bag so they can keep themselves amused for that twenty minute interval when you've found your 'spot' and you just want to sit down.  Of course it does help to meet up with friends and family if possible to make that rest interval last longer.

For those inside days (yes, you definitely need a plan for the inside day thanks to the English weather), movie marathon, dance competition, charades, a few 'Simon says' games are all great inexpensive options even if you are stuck in the hotel. I did come across a 3 in a row game made with a marker, some tape and disposable plates that looked like a good hotel option but haven't tried it yet personally. If you do try this do let me know.

Easter is also a great time to teach some cooking skills and at the same time remind or re-introduce your family to some of the traditional food that is eaten mainly at easter. No - Not just chocolate Easter Eggs but things like Jamaican Bun and Cheese, Hot Cross Buns, Hard Boiled Eggs dyed Red to symbolize the blood of Christ (a tradition in Greece), Paska (Russian Sweet Bread) and too many others to name. This is a great inexpensive one for those with pre-teens. Lets be honest not everyone can afford regular Jump Giants (indoor trampolining) trips or clothes shopping trips at Westfield. Although to keep this particular activity stress free might require patience on the part of the adult and a 'I will not take over!' mantra on repeat in one's head, but still a great memory to make even if you burn the food. Pizza anyone???

Have a stress free easter folks!

Mummy's Job....according to my six year old

Mummy's Job....according to my six year old.

I had an interesting conversation with my six year old daughter on the walk to school this morning. Whilst avoiding the dog poo on the pavement, (we live near a park with some irresponsible dog owners) she came out with this statement. Quite random but I've come to expect this from my six year old. So this is how the conversation went.

Six  year old - 'Mummy, you have three jobs!'
Me              - 'I do?'
Six year old  - 'Yeah...you have to be a mum, a 'rememberer' and a mum that has to go to a job to get money'
Me             - 'Aaah ok!'

Quite satisfied with laying that little nugget of wisdom, we then proceeded to play I spy the rest of the way.

Usually these conversations might get put to the back of the brain and maybe recalled for future reference but this one stayed with me all day. It just made me smile. To think a six year can be so in tune that they can essentially sum up what most of us mums do everyday.

We do have 3 jobs. We have a multitude of jobs. We are mothers and of course that includes everything from cooking and cleaning to playmate and nurse/doctor.

But we are also 'rememberers' as my daughter phrased it. What is interesting is that my daughter chose to see this as a separate part of being a mum. I asked her later what she meant by 'rememberers' and she explained that I am the one she turns to share the memories that she has of different events that we have done together as well as the one who remembers what days friends are coming over or she going to them. Quite simple right? Her view was interesting as my first thought at hearing  the word 'rememberers' was that I was the unpaid family secretary and organiser, which I am not denying that I am. But for my six year old and probably for the other young children, our job as parents is to facilitate the creation memories for them. Whether that be getting together with family or going to explore a new park, museum exhibit or play area. Or even just walking to school playing eye spy. Its all about creating positive memories throughout childhood that ultimately will sustain you as an adult, especially through difficult times.

Creating memories in the park

Thing is you don't have to be a mother to be a 'rememberer' because the fact is as girls we are just raised to be the one that remembers the birthdays, the christenings, and every other special event in the lives of family and friends. Aunties, Girlfriends, Sister in laws, Grandmothers are all 'rememberers' and together we help sustain the character of the next generation.

A pretty positive thought on International Women's Day and a good way to take one into Women's History Month March 2017.



Would you agree?

Birthday party 101!

Birthday party 101!

Last year I had a Birthday celebration for my 11 year old. It was a simple gathering. Her and a few of her friends went to a climbing lesson at the local sports centre and then came back to our house for pizza. It was 6 children in all as this was the booking I could get with the sports centre for a day close to my daughter's actual birthday. Now here is where it got tricky!

Who do you invite?

I left it to my daughter to chose the 5 other boys and girls that would join her. Which of course meant that some of her friends didn't get an invite. There was no malicious intent it was simply a question of numbers. However, it is this question of numbers that can really get a parent into trouble. Especially with other parents who feel that their child should have been one of the 5 children and so decide to take out their frustration by avoiding you at all possible costs. But at least they didn't say 'cash me outside!' ☺. I'm not about that life!

The reaction I thought was a little bit over the top. But looking at comments on Mums website NetMums the responses were quite mixed and led me to think of this 101! guide for Birthday parties; which I feel maybe should be given to every parent alongside their starting school pack just to remind them that a 'non-invite' does not mean your child is not liked. Nursery/Primary school age seems to be the time when this situation is likely to occur the most. By the time they get to Secondary school we don't know half their friends and our kids tend to (THANKFULLY) selectively invite people to more small events like paint-balling or cinema anyway.

I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination (in particular my crazy imagination). This guide is just a suggestion for those like myself to refer back to when faced with this dilemma.

It's just a suggestion!

Everyone has feelings and of course it is only natural for parents to be protective of their children. But if with every party 'non-invite' we pass on the idea to our children that not being invited to something will always mean that you are not liked; we could be setting them up to have a pretty pessimistic view of life. We all need to the skill of Resilience in life to deal with adversity. For example I could only get 3 likes for my profile pic on Facebook but I still know I am beautiful!

Seriously though..do you really want your child to go through life being the 'people pleaser', the ' one who always says yes' because they don't have the confidence to say no? The one person that always gets taken advantage of. Do you want them to be the type of person that only values the 'superficial' over the 'real' in life or even worse not be able to distinguish between the two?  What did you say? - You do! Stop reading now! For those of you who don't want this path for children thanks for sticking with this post so far.

Resilience is an important life skill. Well it must be... why else do teachers and education experts keep talking about it? Resilience_in_schools_health_inequalities Report 2014. It is definitely a skill some of us as parents were never taught in school or at home and so had to learn the hard way. So where better to start teaching this skill to our kids than with the inevitable 'non party invite' situation.

It's just a thought!