Inspired by Mandy

Inspired by Mandy's Wellness Day - it was filled with learning, laughing, relaxation and delicious food.

Thanks to everyone who joined me and made it an awesome experience. We are getting some great feedback about how this day was just what was needed to relax and tap into self-care.

If you missed this one there will be another date launching soon - keep an eye out for it.

Mandy
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Did you know that 70% of our body’s energy is spent on digestion? 💩

Or that we have 10x the number of bacteria in our gut than we do human cells? 🐛

Now that you know that, don't you think it is important that we feed the beneficial bacteria and aid our body to digest food as much as possible?

This is where fermented foods come in. A modern Western diet heavy on processed foods can upset the balance of our gut microbiota, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms and long-term health issues.

Fermented foods can help.

Not to mention, sauerkraut and kimchi (fermented cabbage) has 20 times more vitamin C than fresh cabbage! Plus B complex vitamins and vitamin K!

Some of my favourites are:

Sauerkraut: literally translates to “sour cabbage".. If you don’t mind chopping, make your own!

Kimchi: There are hundreds of varieties of the traditional Korean fermented side dish, commonly made from a base of napa cabbage, radish, scallions and spices.

Kefir: This fermented dairy drink is made using kefir grains (a combination of bacteria and yeast). The end result? A slightly fizzy, tangy drink that’s thinner than yogurt. Find it in the dairy section.

Happy guts! 💚

This delicious Chicken Pesto Pasta was made using the green leafy bits from fennel (fennel fronds). 🌿

I added sundried tomatoes without any vegetable oils of course (harder to find than you'd think), and pine nuts - always a winning combo. I used zucchini ribbons for the pasta. It was the bomb.com.

I was taught by my mum and nonna how to use every bit of food. Nothing goes to waste in an Italian kitchen. Whether you ferment, pickle or marinate the food, it all gets used! I've learned to get creative with all parts of a vegetable and turn any leftovers into a tasty new meal.

This is such an important aspect of healthy cooking and sustainability - two of my biggest passions. When you buy organic food, you don't want a single bit of it going to waste because you feel a connection to the farmers and a higher value for the food, so instead of throwing away and discarding bits, you use as much of the precious nutrients as you can. On the other hand, when you buy cheap "food" (I say "food" because a lot of what people buy can hardly be considered food), that you intuitively know has no value, you are more careless and likely to throw it out.

So, up your game. Spend more on groceries = quality over quantity and you will waste less. And before you tell me you can't afford to spend more on food, go and read my recent post. Do you really need your nails done every month? Or that new car? I doubt it :)

Happy cooking friends!