pea shoot & cashew pesto

pea shoot & cashew pesto

Val Simpson
Dips and sauces, Recipes

At the Health Boost we love a green pesto. Spring and summer provide us with amazing green herbs, leaves and shoots and the greatest opportunities to experiment with green pesto. A homemade pesto is a great base for a bright and zingy salad dressing if you add olive oil and the juice of a lemon. As a make ahead and refrigerate item, it will become your best friend for a last minute delicious meal. Spoon some on top of a salmon fillet or chicken thighs before sliding in the oven and serve with a side salad. 

roots & mango smoothie

roots & mango smoothie

Kat Bright
Recipes, Juices and smoothies

When the weather gets warmer we love nothing better than a smoothie for breakfast. It's light and refreshing. The problem with many of the smoothies or smoothie mixes from the freezer you can buy from supermarkets is they are really high in fruit not vegetables and there's no protein to keep you full. This has protein from the chia seeds, healthy fat from the flaxseed and a good mix of vegetables with a touch of sweet from the mango.

mixed fruit baked oats breakfast

mixed fruit baked oats breakfast

Val Simpson
Recipes, Breakfast and brunch, Snacks

I could not offer a more simple, balanced, delicious make ahead breakfast than this one! I wasn't even sure I was going to write this as a "recipe". But at The Health Boost we are passionate about simple real whole foods and ingredients. Being healthy does not require fancy ingredients and long winded fussy recipes. So here it is, a simple fairly rustic and fail safe recipe for a balanced breakfast. What fruit will you pick to make yours?

Matcha green tea waffle

Matcha green tea waffle

Val Simpson
Recipes, Breakfast and brunch, Snacks

As there is no end to the creativity you can indulge in with waffle making, I embarked on a slightly more grown up tasting waffle. Matcha powder is not just for frothy lattes! It packs a really original flavour punch I very much enjoy adding to healthy baking. This recipe is refined sugar free and naturally gluten free thanks to using buckwheat flour. I enjoyed those waffles warm straight from the iron with frozen blueberries, toasted coconut, roasted hazelnuts and a drizzle of honey!

asparagus, pea & feta wrap

asparagus, pea & feta wrap

Val Simpson
Recipes, Mains

Do you love asparagus but struggle with ideas? Try this fresh and lovely summery wrap. When entertaining over the summer months, we're always after new ideas for salads and easy healthy foods that we are able to prepare ahead to offer a wide selection of colourful, balanced sides for picnic and barbecues. This can be prepared ahead, presented as a salad, or served as a topping for a summery tart. The flavours will transport you to a sunny mediterranean destination!

Mediterranean cod

Mediterranean cod

Kat Bright
Recipes, Mains

A very simple dish that is prepared in one pot so minimal washing up, which has to be a bonus. I serve this with a mix of red and wild rice and some in season greens on the side such as broccoli or kale. This is a great dish for children that are fussy with fish. Cod is a mild flavour and the yummy tomato sauce can hide the fish if needed.

It's exam season - help!

It's exam season - help!

Kat Bright
Blog, Nutrition, Health

All over the country, teenagers and adults are preparing for a summer of exams, whether itโ€™s finals, A levels, GCSEs or end of year exams. Make sure your brain is in tip top condition by following our simple tips below to boost your brain and give yourself the best chance for success.

spring nettle soup

spring nettle soup

Kat Bright
Recipes, Soups and salads

This soup is best served in April and May when the nettles are young and sweet, but the days still have a chill and warrant a soup. If you've never cooked with nettles before do give this a try - no sting we promise! Pick the top shoots from young nettles with thick protective gloves and wash thoroughly before using in this dish.

savoury flapjacks

savoury flapjacks

Kat Bright
Recipes, Mains, Snacks

A savoury flapjack is a mixture of oats, seeds and vegetables baked until crispy. What's not to love? Here we've used carrots, spinach, feta and coriander to give a fresh vibrant flapjack. If you, or your children, don't like seeds then finely blitz them in a food processor before adding to the oat mix. To make this vegan, substitute the feta cheese with a vegan cheese or nutritional yeast. Can be served cold in a packed lunch or warm straight from the oven for a perfect vegetarian meal.

Ready for a challenge?

Ready for a challenge?

Val Simpson
Health, Blog

I started writing this post back in January, and decided to leave it until now, early April, as days are longer and brighter. Why? because this is NOT a story of January resolutions forgottenand abandoned come February. At the Health Boost, we don't believe in quick fixes, we are passionate about making small changes for long term, long lasting benefits. Personally, I am not a big fan of the word resolution. I prefer stronger, more positive and upbeat words like goals and challenges and changing the mindset. Like strategy and tactics, goals and challenges work hand in hand: they range from a daily challenge to a milestone goal or never attempted before challenge. They can be very personal or shared with family and friends.

lemon & poppy seed waffle

lemon & poppy seed waffle

Val Simpson
Recipes, Breakfast and brunch, Snacks

Since getting my waffle maker at Christmas, we have had lots of fun with it. The kids keep coming up with some of their favourite flavours and I experiment with lots of different flours or starch in order to offer good nutritional value as well as fun. As always, no refined sugars, gluten free and easily dairy free if you chose so. This winning lemon & poppy seed combo worked beautifully, especially when served warmed with greek yoghurt, fresh blueberries and a drizzle of honey!

Looking after your heart

Looking after your heart

Kat Bright
Blog, Nutrition, Health

Heart disease is unfortunately still on the rise and is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the world. Nutritionally there is much that you can do to protect yourself and since prevention is invariably better than cure itโ€™s time to protect your heart.

chicken & pea curry

chicken & pea curry

Kat Bright
Recipes, Mains

This is one of those quick and easy meals that can be rustled up when nothing else is planned. Apart from the chicken fillets, the other ingredients are probably already in your cupboards. The recipe below uses chicken fillets as they cook quickly. However this can also be made with chicken breasts cut in strips, just make sure they are cooked through before serving.

lavender & pistachio jam cookies

lavender & pistachio jam cookies

Val Simpson
Recipes, Snacks

At The Health Boost, we are foodies and passionate about good food to be enjoyed with our friends and family. And who doesn't enjoy a nice cookie! As always, we try and keep it free from nasties and rich in the good stuff. Including lavender flowers into the cookie dough has transformed those little thumb print cookies into real taste buds adventures. Don't get bored, be bold with food !

spiced red lentil soup

spiced red lentil soup

Val Simpson
Recipes, Soups and salads

As much as we keep going on about green vegetables, a large helping of warm coloured soup makes everyone happy! Packed with great fibres, vitamins and health boosting spices this heart warming soup makes a great starter or one pot supper . Soups are one of the best "batch cooking" meal to make ahead and freeze. Great healthy option for busy family lives.

a week of healthy breakfasts

a week of healthy breakfasts

Kat Bright
Blog, Nutrition, Health, Breakfast and brunch, Recipes

You've all heard the saying "breakfast like a king". However the typical Western diet breakfast of cereal with skimmed milk or a piece of toast grabbed on the way out of the door is not eating like a king. I understand that time is a particular worry when you're trying to get to work and ferry children to school. However I often find that cooking a breakfast for the children results in cleaner plates much quicker and we are usually out of the door earlier. The key is to get the children involved. Get them to stir the eggs, while you unload the dishwasher or do their hair! My husband leaves the house at a ridiculous hour of the morning so he takes his breakfast in, which he eats after his 8am meeting. Many of the breakfasts below are easily portable in a container and carried into work.

beetroot falafels

beetroot falafels

Val Simpson
Recipes, Mains, Soups and salads

I enjoyed my very first falafel on a family trip to Israel as a teenager. Served very spicy with mixed salad, in a flat bread. As a chickpea fan, I naturally love them and I enjoy playing around with ingredients, flavours and colours. This beetroot falafel is not just pretty, it's quick and easy to make, healthy, packed with whole ingredients, ideal to make ahead and really filling.  If you've never tried them, have a go!

raspberry & oat pots

raspberry & oat pots

Kat Bright
Recipes, Breakfast and brunch

We are always striving to come up with healthy breakfast ideas that are quick and easy to make and ensure that no one is left hungry. Make this the night before and then breakfast is on the table in seconds. This is my son'r current favourite breakfast as he says it leaves him full until lunchtime. He likes to mix it with some homemade granola for added crunch. This can be made dairy free by substituting the Greek yoghurt with coconut milk or coconut yoghurt.

raw cacao, orange & turmeric power balls

raw cacao, orange & turmeric power balls

Val Simpson
Recipes, Snacks

With all the talk and noise about snacking or not snacking, government guidelines not always suitable for all, what to do? As busy mums to active sporty kids, we prefer to make sure that if our children need to refuel between meals, we make nutrient dense homemade snacks available. These energy balls are nut-free too, so can be taken to school or the local sports club. And for those who like a strong boost, add extra turmeric, go on!!

carrot, apple & ginger soup

carrot, apple & ginger soup

Kat Bright
Recipes, Soups and salads

I'm not sure I can claim any credit for this soup. My daughter was chatting about her love of carrot, apple and ginger juice and saying she wished it was hot since she didn't like drinking a cold juice in winter. So I suggested that I make it into a soup and she was very excited. It was her idea to include turmeric as our local cafe serve a carrot and turmeric juice which she loves.

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