Recipes

Chocolate peanut butter healthy pancakes

Something for a rainy Sunday afternoon! These are based on my quick and easy healthy banana pancakes (recipe here) – just with a couple of Sunday additions! This makes two small pancakes, enough for one person, and comes in at approx 280 calories, plus the fruit.

You will need:

1 banana

1 egg

2 tbsp flour (any flour you like)

Cinnamon (optional)

1 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp peanut butter

Fruit of your choice

Mash the banana with a fork in bowl, add the egg and mix well.

The mixture will vary in consistency depending on your banana size and ripeness, and egg size – it really doesn’t matter though. Add the flour, cocoa and cinnamon and mix well. Stir in the peanut butter.

The batter will be lumpy – that’s fine too! Heat a little oil in a pan and then add the batter. Leave to cook on one side, then flip.

Serve with fruit (if you need it you can also add some maple syrup or other liquid sweetener but I find the fruit is sweet enough)

Enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚

xx

Recipes

Vanilla brekkie smoothie

This is my brekkie almost every day – it’s easy to grab and go, and I make a batch of 4 or 5 so I don’t have to worry in the mornings. You can switch the protein powder for nut butter if you like, I use the powder because it helps to keep me full and gives a balanced brekkie for me. Don’t worry about the spinach – you can’t taste it at all, but it does give a load of extra vitamins and minerals and studies have shown it also helps to increase exercise performance so it’s worth including!

This makes a full large blender load (I use a vitamix which holds almost 2 litres) and I split that between 4 or 5 shakers, each is about 250 – 75 cals. I use frozen spinach for ease but you can use fresh too.

You will need:

2 bananas

1 litre of your milk of choice (I usually use light soya, but go for whatever you fancy)

2 very large scoops of protein powder (I use a vanilla one usually and the scoop is equivalent to about 2 heaped tbsp)

8 cubes of frozen spinach (or 2 large handfuls of fresh)

Large handful of ice

Pop it all in the blender, whiz until smooth and creamy. Pour into shakers and store in the fridge. I usually add a couple of cubes of ice in the morning just to keep it cool.

Enjoy! ๐Ÿ™‚

Xx

Recipes

Quorn โ€˜chickenโ€™ catchyuppy!

This is an adaptation of an old favourite of mine. It’s actually a cacciatore but I always used to call it catchyuppy as a child so the band has stuck! I used to use left over roast chicken for this (and you obviously can too) but this version is vegetarian and lower in calories, but still just as yummy and filling! It’s also quick and easy to make.

I like to use the quorn chicken fajita strips in this but you can use any of the chicken pieces if you prefer. You can use any veg you like and if you’re short on time you can use the frozen packs of roasted veg (they usually contain courgette, pepper, onion, aubergine). Also it’s worth noting that Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies so if you’re vegetarian then double check – Biona and other companies make one without the use of animal products and it’s widely available.

This serves 4 at about 270 cals per portion.

You will need:

Approx 300g quorn chicken (2 packs of fajita strips)

400g passata

300g mixed vegetables (either a pack or 1 onion, 1 pepper, 1 courgette, 1 small aubergine)

1/2 tsp Paprika

1 tsp mixed herbs

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 vegetable stock cube

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)

1/2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp of sugar

Salt and pepper

If using fresh veg then prepare it and chop it up. Heat a little oil in a pan, add the onions and pepper first, allow to soften then add the courgette and aubergine (if using a pack then just throw it all in at once). Add the quorn chicken and allow to brown a little.

Cook for a couple of mins and then add the passata. Stir well and bring to a slow simmer. Add the stock cube, all the spices, balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and stir well. Add the sugar (this brings out a richer tomato flavour).

Bring to a simmer and allow to cook through for about 10-15 mins.

Serve with green veg and grains.

enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚

Xx

Recipes

Quick Healthy Banana Pancakes

Another one of my faves! These work great as a breakfast, or light lunch or afternoon snack! They’re quick and easy to make and taste amazing! If you want something more substantial you can add some protein powder in to the mix but I tend not to bother. This makes two small pancakes, enough for one person, and comes in at approx 200 calories, plus the fruit.

You will need:

1 banana

1 egg

2 tbsp flour (any flour you like)

Cinnamon (optional)

Fruit of your choice

Mash the banana with a fork in bowl, add the egg and mix well.

The mixture will vary in consistency depending on your banana size and ripeness, and egg size – it really doesn’t matter though. Add the flour and cinnamon and mix well.

The batter will be lumpy – that’s fine too! Heat a little oil in a pan and then add the batter. Leave to cook on one side, then flip.

Serve with fruit (if you need it you can also add some maple syrup or other liquid sweetener but I find the fruit is sweet enough)

Enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚

xx

Recipes

Spicy Peanut Quorn โ€˜Chickenโ€™

This is one of our current favourite dinners. It’s quick and easy to make and tastes amazing! You could of course use chicken instead of quorn but even if you’re not veggie I’d definitely recommend the quorn (saves calories too!). This makes 4 servings at 312 cals per serving.

You will need:

350g Quorn “chicken” (1 pack)
1 onion
1/2 pepper
100g peanut butter
400g chopped tomatoes (and some water to rinse out the can)
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne
2 tbsp soya sauce

Dice the onion and peppers. Add a little olive oil in a non-stick wok or frying pan and pop the onions and peppers in to soften. Add the quorn and allow to brown.

Add all your spices and stir well (if you’re not sure how spicy you want it then just add a little chilli here and save the rest to add later). Add the peanut butter and stir.

Then add the chopped tomatoes and use some water to rinse the can out and add that too. Finally add the soya sauce. Mix really well and allow to simmer.

Taste it and add more chilli if required. Allow to simmer for approx 5 – 10 mins. Serve with your grains of choice, or cauliflower rice.

Enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚

Xx