Super fast food by Jason Vale

What can I say ....... My favourite and the only 'Juice Master' has written a COOKBOOK!! 

Jason is not only one of the funniest guys I've ever met, he's a walking (jumping) juice bean and now also a brilliant healthy chef.  Just when we were all thinking of going back to Nigella and full fat, good old Jas comes up with an absolute gem!

I've tried a few of the recipes and they were all super tasty. I urge you all to have a go.....oh but word of warning, Jas has been a bit tight on the prep time...this mint 'n' rocket hummous, 2 mins prep time!! Do me a favour, took me 2 mins to open the butter beans tin!!

Mint 'n' rocket hummous. Great anytime with anyone!  My family get through boxes of these Kale crackers now they have a healthy dip to go with.

Whizz it up in the Nutri Bullet, I added a little bit of water to loosen it, go steady though.

Prawn Thai green curry.....really really quick, easy, healthy supper.  Serve with brown rice

Pecan Power Granola Balls... OK so these are meant to be bars but I decided they worked better for me as balls. Quite frankly just eat these whenever you feel like a energy boost or just as a sweet treat.

Also, I did all this in my temporary kitchen, and it was quick and easy!

A Day in The Life of...

Joseph coat, Raquel Allegra knit, Primrose Park shirt, Rag and bone trousers and my faithful rafs.

This is a typical day in my ANNA life.

I start my day bizarrely enough at 6:40am wake up call for 7:10 Barrys Bootcamp! 

Breakfast usually on the run after juicing for RP. Today i am off to a few buying appointments.

 I walk to appointments whenever i can and i am lucky because regents park is my shortcut to the west end. 

OMG! I've just bumped into my BF in the park, quick catch up with her then off i go again. 

 First stop, Chinti and Parker http://www.shopatanna.com/chinti-parker/

I love Chinti and the new collection doesn't disappoint. Emoji jumpers, how cool!

 Next up, Odd Molly.

 This season sees the return of Odd Molly in ANNA.

The Tribute collection is very strong and i can see the original quirky style has returned.  

Whilst choosing my pieces for the stores i have a quick bite and some water, more often than not i drink too much coffee and eat too many biscuits in the appointments, its good to get some real food!

 My last appointment today, is Frame Denim http://www.shopatanna.com/frame-denim/

 Here i am with Sam making my selection. I am very conscious of choosing the correct shapes and washes for my client base rather than high trend driven, niche pieces. Everything in ANNA is personally picked by me. I like everything but obviously i am only ever one size and one age at one time so i can't wear everything all the time. 

I end the day with a quick meeting with the GM of ANNA who is on a shop visit at primrose hill. psssst... Yoga 6:45pm, nutter!!

Top Tips for Starting the Year

We all start the New Year with good intentions but it's often hard to stick to them, I hate depriving myself of anything because it always makes me crave it more and therefore I cave in. So I suggest everything in moderation. To lose weight cut down the intake of food or cut out a meal, but be sensible. Here are are some things I do:

1. BRAGGS ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Every morning I start with a generous swig out of the bottle... sharp intake of breath... I think you're meant to mix a teaspoon with water but I'm hardcore! This drink is a general all-round good-guy! It lifts sluggishness better than an espresso before the gym (and obviously healthier), it promotes weight loss and digestion. I mean, don't expect to lose a stone by just a swig a day but it does help eliminate unwanted toxins in your body.

2. SEVEN - 7 MINUTE HIGH INTENSITY WORKOUT
I incorporate this easy mobile app into my daily routine (if I'm not mad enough to attend a mental session at Barry's Bootcamp). I find it really works after a run or if you prefer a vigorous power walk. Running and this app costs nothing, so no excuses give it a go. I promise short bursts of hard exercise really does work, you just need the motivation, once you're in the routine it's easy(ish)!

3. JUICING
I do Bielers green soup (see recipe here) also I thoroughly recommend a Nutribullet. Vicky, my yoga teaching friend, swears by this combination: half an avocado, handful of spinach, half a pear, a small lump of ginger, topped up with plain coconut water. Fantastic for detoxing and anti-inflammatory!

4. SNACKING
Eliminate all snacks from your house, temptation is the devil! Don't eat too much fruit, it's good for you... but it's full of sugar. Remember a mango is really a Mars Bar masquerading as a fruit!
Eat 6 almonds a day, great to aid weight loss as they are rich in protein and fibre which helps you stay satiated longer... but don't eat more than 6 as the calories will outdo the good done.

5. NO PROCESSED FOODS
Try to stick to no white food... so I mean, flour, rice, pasta, processed starch. Eat fresh foods and try to buy daily from local suppliers.

Right... big tip for 2015 you want to lose weight.... simple, EAT LESS - EXERCISE MORE! In my experience this is the only real lasting healthy way to melt the calories away! No fad dieting.

Beauty Essentials

When the nights draw in and the weather turns from cool to bloody freezing our skin and bodies suffer massively, especially once the party season is upon us and we start drinking our own body weight in alcohol! SO I try to nourish my skin and cleanse my body which helps me look and feel better. These are a few products that really do help, I'm not claiming they turn the clock back, clearly, but I do think they help my skin from becoming the texture of a nasty dried fruit and my body from bloating out like a balloon.

Skinceuticals is the best skin product I have ever used, and believe me I've tried them all!

I would also recommend a Vit C Skinceuticals facial with Sally at Beach Beauty (02072678787) in Camden. 

Black Chicken Balm of Ages sorts everything from frizzy hair to dry and irritating skin, a handbag must!

The Rodial spray tan is fab, stand in the shower, not on obviously, and spray away (remember to run the shower after)! It gives a healthy glow and it never streaks!

Skinny tea........thats your party detox girls! Lets just say it clears the toxins out!

The Nutritious Nutribullet

Some of the delicious ingredients that I use in my drinks

I've Just discovered the bullet... steady on, by this I mean a nutritious blender, the new craze for all those health fanatics out there, and this really is a craze that I totally endorse.

The Nutribullet is an amazing blender, unlike it's 'blender brothers', it has a super powerful motor that not only blends vegetable and fruit flesh, it also does skin (apart from banana), pips, nuts, seeds and stalks, which means that all the nutrients found in the bits that we usually discard are now whizzed-up into a seriously yummy drink.

My morning drink

My morning fix consists of either kale or spinach, apple, ginger, and anything else lying around. I blend it with avocado (to thicken) and water, I use unflavoured coconut water for extra hydration, but you don't have to.

My husband prefers a fruit fix in the morning, so his consists of blueberries (the mother of all fruits), strawberries, a whole kiwi, half a lemon and ginger. I blend it with half a banana and coconut water. Top tip: keep frozen red fruits, so much cheaper and no nutrients are lost in the freezing.

My husband's morning drink

My friend using her blender

I recently bought one for a great friend of mine who sadly has been struck by the horrible curse of cancer. She is now happily blending and filling her beautiful body with all things healthy and nutritious.

So I urge you all to get blending- it's time to look after ourselves now that winter is upon us, especially if you want to party hard throughout the festive season like me!

50

I am constantly being told by clients 'I can't wear that, I'm too old'... or too fat! These are the two phrases that seem to dominate the lives of women today. Why? It not only frustrates me enormously but also saddens me that we feel this way. Perhaps I'm lucky as I have sons rather than daughters, some mother/daughter relationships are challenged when the teenager feels her mum is in the same clothes, why not?

I don't feel old at 50, I feel excited, I'm ready for new adventures! I've brought up my kids, one is at uni and the other is finishing 6th form - it's my time now!

I wear what I want, I feel great, I'm happy to say I'm 50 and I'm enjoying the freedom this brings me. Please don't feel that we have to pack away 'Mrs Fun' and bring in the tweed and twin set.

Here are my top tips for looking good and feeling good at 50:

• Detox - I do hot yoga everyday when I'm in London, in the country I run. This totally detoxes my body and makes me feel better.
• Hair - Keep the grey at bay and hair looking good. I use Neil for cut and Stacey for colour at The Salon in Bond Street. They operate a 24 hour service, great if you want a blow dry before a party! In between hair appointments, when I spot those niggling greys, I use a root touch-up by Nice and Easy.
• Skin - I get Vitamin C Facials with skin certicals, from the Cowshed in Primrose Hill, a real treat, but well worth it! In between use their products.
• Youth Pills - Contain a trio of amino acids and marine extracts to boost skin repair and delay signs of ageing. I found these pills so beneficial I decided to stock them!
• Confidence - You looked good at 49, you'll look great at 50+!

Neil Cornelius, The Salon

The Cowshed, Primrose Hill

Youth Pills

My ultimate tip is to experiment with something new: new clothes, new adventures, new look, new man...oops...sorry, only if you need one of course!

Healthy Supper for Friends at Home

I had some friends coming for supper and the boys were with us, so I decided to rustle up a tasty healthy meal that wouldn't take too much time, as I still had to get to the sea for my bracing swim (yes, I am completely bonkers!).
I thought I'd share it with you as it was such a success and very easy.

BUTTER BEAN AND COUCCOUS SALAD

I've just discovered giant couscous! Very different and in my opinion much tastier than normal boring grainy couscous. I buy mine from Humble Pie deli in Burnham Market, but a lot of specialist food stores sell it now.

INGREDIENTS

500g Tin (drained) butter beans
250g Giant Couscous
Bunch of spring onions (cut lengthways)
Red chilli (chopped)
Fresh chives & sorrel
Feta cheese (crumbled)

Prepare the couscous by lightly frying it first (I know that sounds weird but you have to do this) then cook it as you would rice, it will absorb all the liquid. I add a stock gel to the water for flavour.
Fry the butter beans carefully until slightly brown on both sides, set aside.
Using the same pan (without the beans) add your sliced spring onions and chopped chilli, and add a little garlic if you fancy. Lightly fry for a minute or so, take off the heat add the cooked couscous and butter beans, crumbled feta, torn chives and sorrel. Mix together, pile in a dish and serve on its own or as I did with Oven Dried Tomato and Lentil Salad and Kiln Roast Salmon (from Gurneys fish shop)

OVEN DRIED TOMATO AND LENTIL SALAD

I do my own oven dried tomatoes and this is how I do it: 

Cut toms in half, place on skin side down, drizzle with rapeseed oil (I always use this, much better for you than olive) and good balsamic vinegar, a twist of salt and pepper and cook on a very very low heat (bottom oven of an Aga) for one and half hours. Delicious, try not to eat them before you add them to the salad!

INGREDIENTS 

Oven dried cherry tomatoes (bought or made as per above instruction)

2 bags of Merchant Gourmet lentils which are ready cooked (good cheat!)

Red onions (lengthways sliced)

Fresh (or frozen) peas

French dressing

Mint sprigs

To make the salad, soak the red onions in red wine vinegar for ten minutes, this softens the onions, then slice.
Open your cheeky cheating packets of lentils, pour them in a bowl, add all ingredients, obviously cooked peas not frozen!
Mix with rapeseed oil and a little french dressing, don't overdo the dressing as you have already soaked stuff in vinegar and it mustn't be too sharp.

Bieler's Soup

The original healing soup, this is something that you should drink all the time, it cleans and revitalises your body. I drink it hot or cold at all times of the day. I make it every third day and keep it in a glass jug in my fridge, I encourage all of my family members to drink it regularly. 

Here is a rough guide as I never weigh or measure anything, but this combination works for me:

RECIPE

3 stalks of celery

3 firm courgettes

2 handfuls of string beans

1 large handful of curly parsley

METHOD

Chop everything up, put in a saucepan cover with water and steam for about 7 minutes. Vegetables must be crisp and tender, do not over cook. Blend together in a liquidiser, the resulting soup should be grass green.

This is a drink that I swear by, mainly due to the remarkable recovery my son made after being very poorly in American nearly 20 years ago. If anyone has the time or inclination order, ‘Food is your best Medicine’ by Henri G. Bieler on Amazon. I swear by this doctor.