HEALTHY RECIPES ON-THE-GO

September 28, 2012 by Maya Petrova (Health & Balance) 1 Comment

Commercially available snack options and food on-the-go have long been under discussion by nutritionists and health enthusiasts, aiming to ensure that the adherence to a balanced diet is always possible. We live in an increasingly more stressful world where time is a valuable currency and people are often more concerned with work success than eating habits. Therefore, every opportunity to save time and provide energy for the daily workload is embraced eagerly by today’s consumers. As a result, the food industry decided to ‘help’ and created ready meals, takeaways and sweet treats-all for the benefit of saving time while costing us our long-term health. Indeed, this is one of the main reasons the population is now heavier and more susceptible to heart diseases.But how do we change a whole era in the food industry? It is not just a book chapter which you can tear off and bin? It is a whole ‘encyclopedia’ on the ‘Industry that made us Fat’-that same industry which is supposed to provide us with nutritious products to sustain a healthy well-being.

The solution is simple: It is time for consumers to speak out and take action. The less of the bad stuff we buy the more of the good will be produced. There are some supermarkets that have introduced meal deals with healthy alternatives which is ultimately a progress. However, when we are on-the-go supermarkets are not around every corner and often we need to rely on our own supplies. And this is where my solution comes into play-Let’s Be Healthy On the Go-Prepare your own meals.

I have personally tried a few recipes that are both nutritionally healthy and easy to prepare so we keep the time-saving desire in sight while taking care of our diet and energy levels.

Breakfast On-the-Go1. ‘My Taste’ Cookies

Depending on your own preferences and quantity needed in a big bowl mix:

1. Organic Jumbo Oats

2. 1 or 2 Eggs

3. Mashed ripe banana

4. Here is the fun part: use your taste as a guidance and add your favourite nuts, seeds and dried fruit for an energy boost and natural sweetness. If you want them sweeter I would recommend to go with dates, raisins and figs. The amount again depends on what you want more in your cookies. Increase the sweetness if your daily sugar intake won’t be too high and you need quick energy release throughout the morning.

The only ‘chef skill’ you need is to ensure the mix is thick enough to form a cookie shape. Then get your tray and with a spoon pour your cookies in and give them whatever shape you fancy.

The baking only takes 10 minutes in a pre-heated oven-just until all the ingredients are bound together and have a crispy coating.

Wrap them in tin foil and grab for work. Snack in the car or enjoy with your tea and coffee.2. ‘No flour’ Pancakes

Try as we might, many of us find the temptation of pancakes too hard to resist. Maybe it’s the sweet, buttery aroma of the batter on the griddle or the soft doughy texture, or that eating something with the word “cake” in it for breakfast just feels so deliciously naughty. But it doesn’t have to be. You can whip up a batch of healthy ones in five minutes flat and top the pancakes with a jam, a scoop of nut butter, or fresh berries.

1. 2 eggs

2. 2 mashed banana

3. Raw, organic almond butter-1 tb spoon

Mash the bananas, add the egg and mix well. Stir in the almond butter, adding more than a tablespoon if you want a more pancake-like texture. Heat some oil in the pan-I would recommend coconut oil as it’s the healthiest of all and gives them a nice sweet flavour. Pour your batter into small cakes until they are brown on each side. They are better served warm but I have prepared them the night before and they still taste divine the next day at work.

Lunch/Dinner On-the-Go

I would leave these meals to your love for vegetables and imagination for salad creation. Prepare ‘colourful’ salads by adding your favourite vegetables, a tin of tuna or chicken breast fillets left from dinner (always make a few extra and have them reserved for your next day lunch meal).I usually buy organic spinach, celery, beetroot, rocket, peppers and carrots, mix them together and finish with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds. Most supermarkets even offer them already washed and cut so we get our time-saving goal fulfilled while keeping the health in place. All you need is a lunch box, 5 minutes to mix and the healthy on the go is ready to move with you. You can even play your favourite music or listen to the news while preparing your meal-far better than facing the rush in supermarkets. Moreover, the time we expend browsing around the shop aisles, making the decision, queuing and waiting to be served is usually far longer and often more frustrating than making our meals of healthiness at home.

Flavour the piece of healthiness with freshly squeezed lemon  juice, cold-processed virgin organic olive oil or balsamic vinegar.

And here is my secret tip.. .Try Saladworx-multu-award winning salad dressings, lovely prepared with 100% Natural ingredients from the Scottish Highlands. They are the final touch of your salad of healthy goodness.

And finally don’t forget your piece of fruit-citrus fruits will keep the brain going while apples move cravings away. On the drinking side of healthiness, if you often go for the fizzy drinks or packed with sugar juices, a way to avoid such dangers is to make your own flavoured water-cut a slice of lemon or lime in your bottle of water and just keep refilling-refreshing and tasty:)

Do the move and be healthy on-the-go! Share your recipe ideas and let us all start a healthy on-the-go propaganda to revolutionise the food industry!

With health & balance,

Maya xxx