Seven To Forty

Creamy spinach sweet potato noodles with cashew sauce. I found this recipe on Pinterest, and started following the pinner 'Pinch of Yum' who has many fabulous, mouth watering recipes on her page. The photo makes the dish look a little stodgy but it was so delicious and flavorful that the consistency didn't matter at all. My carnivore husband devoured it and asked for more, the little one not so much (more for us!)

I was inspired by a recipe Gina Homolka aka skinnytaste posted on facebook this week. It also coincided with the arrival of my new Paderno spiralizer that I bought mainly with the intention to make sweet potato ‘swoodles’ and courgetti. Cucumber curls, tossed with feta, olives, tomatoes, watermelon, drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano & crushed black pepper. I omitted the red onion due to fussy children! Light and tasty on this hot humid evening.

Beetroot hummus I made this to take to friends, even the self proclaimed beet-haters were coming back for more! Great flavour, but will add a little heat next time to jazz it up. The recipe can be found here: http://www.womenshealthmag.co.uk/nutrition/recipes/2415/deliciously-ellas-three-types-of-hummus/

Very tasty and well received by the family. I used two oranges and a lemon as Seville oranges are nowhere to be found at this time of year.

Indian- spiced fish cakes with coconut quinoa and coriander chutney Excellent flavor combination, don't skip the coriander chutney as it really brings a zing to the dish.

Berry & banana smoothie

In seven months I turn forty. The number is not bothering me as such but I have decided to get my act together and take care of myself. I am a happy and healthy mother of one but about 20lbs have sneakily added themselves on over the years and have become me. I don't want to follow any strict regime with too many rules and I don't want to feel I'm missing out. I love to cook so am looking forward to the challenge of replacing my current diet with all it's refined sugar and carbs with better choices. The difficulties I face will be finding recipes the whole family will enjoy and my biggest demon, the mindless grazing in the evening. There will be no before and after photos, but instead a 7 month food diary of my journey to a healthier me.