Saladspo...

Since my return from Goa, one of the positive's is that I'm constantly craving salads and healthy, fresh food.  I've literally been having salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I don't even know why, maybe it's something to do with the crunch.  5 days with no food does that to you! 

So any way, I've been looking to Pinterest for some fresh inspiration, and now I'm going to share my discoveries with you! 

WARNING: viewing may cause severe hunger or extreme salivation. 

  

 And well, because blueberries. 

If you survived that without running to the fridge I applaud you! Obviously these aren't my photos or recipes, but I will be sharing some of my go-to's in the very near future! 

Eat colourfully and reward your hard-working body with nutrients; the internal benefits will show on the outside! Also, by including plenty of fresh foods and variety into your diet, you keep things interesting and are more likely to stay on track.  

My final piece of advice would be, as much as possible, stick to single ingredient foods then prepare and cook your food at home.  By single ingredient foods I mean FRESH PRODUCE - fruits, veggies, good quality proteins, grains and good fats.  Avoid things like packet noodles and pre-made marinades or sauces, which usually contain a long list of ingredients we don't know how to pronounce, never mind what they actually are! This way, you know exactly what is going into your body, without the preservatives and added extras that can occur if you eat out or 'cook lazily'. With a little bit of organisation and perseverance it will soon become second nature, and you'll be surprised how much you actually look forward to cooking, and of course eating, your own creations! 

Happy Eating! 

V x 

Nathalie's...

Last week I had the privilege of checking out the lunch and dinner menu at Nathalie's, located next door to Fit Republik, a highly equipped, state of the art gym that has recently opened in Dubai Sports City.  I love discovering new, trendy, delicious and healthy cafes in Dubai (Australia has one around every corner, so they fill a little hole in my heart!) and Nathalie's is no exception.  The location is easy to get to with ample parking, and of course highly convenient if you are a member at the adjacent gym. I happen to play netball up at sports city at least once a week, so I may be planning to return to Nathalie's quite regularly to fuel post game (hellooooo chocolate and pistachio tart).  

We were absolutely spoilt there, tasting nearly every dish on the menu.  To start, we sampled the Dips & Crunch (my favourite was the Edamame Guacamole) and Fresh Salmon Summer Rolls. Also, get your hands on their Zatar Bites - one word - addictive. The Kale Ceasar and Freekeh salad were also incredible.  

If you're feeling a bit cheeky, go for the Nathalie's Burger or the Adobo Chicken Quesadillas. Both are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and full of flavour. For the health conscious among us, they have The Portobello Burger (instead of a bread bun, you get your Angus beef patty between two juicy portobello mushrooms) and the Whole Wheat and Zuchinni Pasta with ricotta sauce.  The Grilled Salmon Fillet with Veggie Soba Noodles was a lovely nod to Asian flavours, full of vivacity and colour.  

We were told to return for the breakfast, and to be honest earlier that day I did some investigating and their breakfast menu looks amazing. Plus, anyone who doesn't enjoy going out for breakie is no friend of mine! 

And then....the desserts. Oh my. We were dished up a beautiful platter with samples of their delectable treats, including gooey Nutella Cookies, Baked Cheesecake with Salted Caramel and Peanut sauce, Chocolate Bark with plenty of yummy seeds and berries, Walnut and Date Bliss Balls and my favourite - the Chocolate and Halaweh Tart with crushed pistachios. It was so good I asked for one to take home and have the following night! 

So if you're up that end of town, I highly advise popping in and trying out Nathalie's fresh, tasty range of goodies.  The decor is eclectic and funky, which complements the food perfectly.  Plus, after your Nutella cookie (you won't be able to resist), you can always go and work out next door! 

Turnip the Beet! 

V x

Think Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness

As the majority of us know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For a few years now, due to reasons very close to our hearts, my Mum and I have been meaning to host a fundraising event to raise money for cancer research. So yesterday we finally did it, and in a flurry of pink (and possibly enough sugar to send anyone diabetic) we managed to raise over AED 3000 for the cause! 

As women, we need to be aware and understand what breast cancer is, signs and symptoms and what could happen if (God forbid) we were ever affected by this disease.  There are 14 known types of breast cancer, including a small percentage found in men, and according to American statistics there are around 190000 new cases of invasive breast cancers and 60000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancers per year. It is well known that the earlier cancer is identified, the greater the chance of effective treatment and survival.  

So what is breast cancer exactly? Cancer occurs when the genes that are responsible for regulating cell growth and health, take on mutations or abnormal changes.  Usually, cell growth in the body is highly regulated by genes found within the nucleus (or control centre) of each cell, and basically as old cells die, new healthy cells are formed.  However, mutations can 'switch-on' and 'switch-off' certain genes within a cell, that causes the cell to multiply and grow without any order, which can result in the development of a tumour.  Breast cancer occurs when a malignant tumour develops within the breast cells, and begins in the cells of the lobules or ducts (the milk producing glands and passages that carry the milk to the nipples).  However, less commonly it can form in the stromal tissues - the fatty and fibrous tissues in the breasts.  Without identification and treatment, cancerous cells will travel to the nearby lymph nodes located under the armpits, which can result in further metastasising (or spreading) of cancer throughout the body. When someone refers to a 'stage' of breast cancer, they are describing how far in the body the cancer has travelled from the original tumour.  85 - 90% of breast cancer is caused by a genetic abnormality (or mistake in the genetic material) from the usual 'wear and tear' of life, but a small portion of cases (5 -10%) are linked to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father.  

As no two people are ever the same, breast cancer symptoms are highly variant also. A monthly self-check should be done for women of all ages, and an annual mammogram and physical exam from a qualified doctor is recommended.  As mentioned earlier, early detection is key.  Look out for lumps or swelling, or changes to the skin, but often those affected have no symptoms at all.  

So, how can we reduce our risk? Staying as healthy and happy as possible will help, although, as most of us know too well, cancer has no mercy and anyone can be affected.  Studies have found that maintaining a healthy weight, by eating nutritious food and exercising regularly, can lower your risk.  We all know that these two (seemingly) simple habits have the ability to make us feel great and function to our optimal.  Limiting alcohol will help reduce the stress we put our bodies under and limit damage to cells.  The consumption of alcohol has been found to increase the levels of oestrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in a number of studies.  And obviously never smoking, or quitting immediately is one sure-fire way to not only reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, but also developing other cancers and diseases.  I also believe that trying to maintain a productive, happy, positive and rewarding lifestyle can improve your overall health. 

So for all of those who have battled breast cancer, those who have beaten it, those still going through it and remembering the brave who were beaten by it, share this post. Educate your daughters, sisters, mothers, aunties, cousins, friends. Because if we're aware, we will be cautious. Prevention is always better than cure, and early detection is the next best thing.  Our donations will be used to help find a cure, and in the meantime, if I motivate just 1 woman to start checking herself, then I'll be happy. 

Think Pink! 

V x