HEATHY VEGETABLE TACOS

On Wednesdays, we eat tacos! These little shells of deliciousness are a staple in our household at moment. They’re so quick, so easy, so tasty and feel so naughty – just how I like it!

Healthy food is so much more than just a bowl of carrots and kale! Getting creative in the kitchen doesn’t have to be complicated or lengthy. These tacos take less time to prepare than a pizza does to cook! I hope y'all enjoy them as much as I do!

I've listed both vegetarian and vegan options below so have a little play. 

Ingredients: serves 2 - 3 people

6 x Taco shells
6 - 8 balls / chunks of mozzarella or vegan cheese
2 tbsp sauerkraut *see notes
1 large sweet potato – peeled and chopped into small chunks
1 large portobello mushroom - chopped
1 red bell pepper - chopped
1 onion – diced
1 can of tinned tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp mixed herbs
Salt and pepper to taste

Guacamole:

1 large avocado – peeled and destoned
2 tbsp natural Greek yogurt or vegan coconut yogurt
Salt and pepper
Juice of 1 lemon

Method:

Heat the oven to 190 degrees.

Place the peeled / chopped sweet potato in a pan of boiling water and boil for approx. 10 minutes, until soft.

In the meantime, place a little olive oil in a heated pan and add in the chopped onion, red pepper and mushrooms. Sprinkle in the mixed herbs, paprika, salt and pepper and lightly fry for approx. 7 minutes.

Once soft, drain the sweet potatoes and add into the pan along with the tinned tomatoes. Place on a low simmer for approx. 5 minutes.

Add the chopped mozzarella or vegan cheese into the pan and allow to melt – mix well.

Place the taco shells on a lined baking tray and oven for 1 - 2 minutes (until crisp) – be careful not to burn.

To prepare the Guacamole:

Place the peeled avo in a bowl and mash it with a folk. Add in the yogurt and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.

Once ready to serve, fill the tacos to the brim with your filling, add a dollop of guacamole and a tbsp of sauerkraut to top - Enjoy

*For this recipe I used beetroot sauerkraut which you can pick up from your local health store, although any type will work. The recipe will work just fine without sauerkraut but it does give the dish an extra zing and it is full of so many amazing benefits so I try to incorporate it where I can. If you’re wondering what else to use it in, you can eat it with salads, add it to eggs on toast or I often just eat a spoonful a day before my evening meal as it’s full of amazing enzymes that’s helps breakdown food, absorb nutrients and is full of beneficial probiotics that is good for the gut.

5 WAYS TO BRING POSITIVITY TO YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING

Last month we saw World Mental Health Day take the world by storm with millions of people sharing stories and offering inspiration and support to others suffering with mental health issues. I think it’s amazing that we dedicate an entire day to bring awareness to our incredibly important mental wellbeing and it really inspired me to connect with my own.

We are today becoming far more aware of our mental health by tuning into what makes us feel good and what doesn’t serve us. Since both Prince William and Prince Harry opened up about mental health, we’ve seen a huge shift in awareness and openness on the topic. We’re moving away from the stigma that mental health disorders are a big taboo and rather we’re recognising that it really is ok, not to be ok.

My journey with food, health and wellbeing has been just as much of a mental battle as it has physical. When I’m having a bad day with my health or if I experience a trigger of old symptoms, it really effects my mental state and brings back a lot of difficult memories and struggles. Recognising that this is likely to be a long term battle, I’ve identified methods that really help contribute to keeping a positive mindset and healthy mental wellbeing, something that I hope people can practice and benefit from also.  

Eat a well-balanced diet 

For a while now I’ve always tried to stick to a wholesome diet by cutting out processed, refined food and eating plenty of natural, wholesome products that nourish my body. When I eat well, I really thrive as an individual. I’m more productive, positive, focused, compassionate, creative and content. Those weeks where I lose focus on what I’m eating, l really feel the effects by becoming sluggish, unmotivated, stressed and a little low. 

I feel my absolute best when I eat a balanced diet and by balanced I’m talking about plenty of fresh fruit and veg but also a healthy amount of fats (they are not the enemy), carbs (nor are these) and protein. After trying and testing many different eating styles and diets to discover what works for my body, I’ve learnt keeping everything balanced and in moderation is the key to making me feel good. Too much or too little of one food group creates unwanted cravings, restriction or deprivation results in binging and overthinking or panicking about every ingredient contributes to stress. 

If you’re new to a wellness journey and feel overwhelmed with all the (sometimes confusing and conflicting) information, incorporating just 2 or 3 different veggies a day into your meals can be a great start.

Sleep 

Sleep is such an important pillar in life that often gets pushed to the back of our priority list, yet continuous lack of sleep can have a significant effect on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Sleep is when our bodies enter into an important repairing and healing process. Poor sleep patterns often contribute to poor health and increased risk of diseases and disorders. 

I’m 100% guilty of not always prioritising sleep but when I do, I feel the benefits massively. I make better life choices, have tons more energy, become more positive and generally feel happier in myself after a good night’s sleep. It also encourages me to eat better (those sugar cravings when I’m tired!!), which all contributes to creating an overall positive mind set. 

It might not always be possible to get a solid sleep every night however if you’re experiencing mental lows, try prioritising sleep for a week or two and see if you feel any benefits. For more information on how to improve sleep and the benefits, check out my previous post here.

Movement 

We’ve all heard how exercise releases a hormone in your body called endorphins which often triggers a positive feeling in the body and mind. 

Exercise is a fantastic tool for creating physical and mental wellness and can contribute to a happy, healthy routine. It’s important to find a manageable balance between exercising and your own routine to avoid burnout. In some instances, overexercising and over exhausting yourself can create stress on the body (by increasing a stress hormone called cortisol), which can ultimately lead to negative physical and mental wellbeing. 

From personal experience, exercising too intensely can negatively effect the mind and body, however incorporating continuous movement throughout the day, such as; walking, swimming, cycling and yoga can have a huge positive impact on mental wellbeing. I adore practicing yoga, it's been such an incredible mechanism to create strength in not only my body but also my mind. I’ve also just recently got really into swimming where fresh ocean swims have played a huge role in creating a more positive mindset for me. Taking this slower more mindful approach to exercise from my usual intense HIIT classes has really improved my mindset, the positivity over my body and my health.

Surround yourself with a positive tribe

Naturally, we are social creatures who love and crave to engage with others, so engage with those who bring out the best in you. Surrounding yourself in positivity will instantly create a more positive attitude in yourself. When I’m around negativity it really rubs off on me and creates negative thoughts in my mind. Having a tribe who really supports you, your life growths and achievements but who are also there in times of need are those who you want to hold onto. Let go of those who don’t serve you or who contribute negativity towards your mental wellbeing.

Do what makes you happy – From.The.Soul  

This is probably my most important mantra that I’m starting to live by more and more by each day. I honestly believe creating happiness by doing the things you love will contribute to overall wellness more than anything else. It’s all well and good saying ‘eat more vegetables’, ‘exercise more’, ‘drink less wine and more green tea’ but ultimately doing what you really love day in and day out is single handedly the best therapy to create positivity and happiness. If you’re not happy in a current situation, it’s likely your happiness won’t come and find you – rather you’ll need to go out and find it! Go do those things that really fill your soul!

Since every individual is beautifully unique, everyone will have different fulfillments. For me, I’m learning my happiness doesn’t necessarily come from material items, money or the concept of ‘when I achieve this, I will be happy’ because I’ve found once you reach your achievement, you seek the next ‘thing’ to make you happy while never actually finding true contentment. Rather for me, it’s about appreciating the simpler moments in life, like walking on the beach, swimming in the sea, hearing the birds in the trees, seeing the stars in the sky or even just getting stuck into a good book! Most importantly though, it’s about those true moments with friends and loved ones - laughing, loving and enjoying yourself. These are all moments that make my heart sing and without them (no matter how much exercise or how many vegetables I incorporate), I would really struggle with happiness and contentment.

Don’t ever feel guilty about the things you love, the heart wants what it wants and while it’s great to have goals, it’s even more important to have happiness. 

My final note on mental wellbeing would be, not every day will be a good day and that’s ok. So when you're having a bad time, try to do one (if not more) thing that will make you smile.

Shine bright x