Month: September 2015

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Cocoa and Date Truffles

Published by Carmen

I have yet to meet a pregnant woman who does not crave something sweet from time to time (or all the time!), so to keep you from eating a bar of chocolate a day, why not make these delicious cocoa date truffles? They are (mostly) guilt free, as the only sweetener in them is the dates themselves. Let’s not kid ourselves, they’re not going to taste just like Ferrero Rocher’s, but they’ll do the trick when you’re after something chocolatey and sweet. They’re great as an afternoon pick me up, as they have ground almonds and rolled oats, so won’t give you the sugar rush or the slump an hour later. Dates also have lots of nutrients, and the cocoa itself is rich in antioxidants. These truffles also contain cinnamon, which has been shown to stabilise blood sugar, and also makes everything taste and smell delicious! These truffles are very versatile and you can coat them in whatever mix you prefer. Here I’ve done 3 types: cocoa powder, cinnamon and ground almonds. I’d also have …

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Fresh Fig & Feta cheese salad

Published by Carmen

Every year I look forward to figs coming into season at the end of the summer. They are my absolute favorite, deliciously sweet and wonderful, and worth waiting for! They are a rather delicate fruit when ripe, but are very versatile and can be eaten with something savoury (as in this salad), made into jam, as a dessert, or simply on their own. They come in various different colours and sizes,  all delicious. When out of season, they can be very disappointing, so keep this salad in mind between July and September only. Dried figs however are available all year round, so you can still reap their health benefits and enjoy them as a sweet snack any time of year. Figs are well-known to help those suffering with constipation as they are full of fibre, which helps get things moving. For people who aren’t used to a fibre rich diet, figs can act as a bit of a laxative, so if you are one of those people, you may want to have a taster portion …

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Folic Acid, Folate and Methylfolate: Which is best?

Published by Carmen

Okay this is a little bit of a technical post, so scroll down to the ‘So what does this mean for you?’ part if you want to skip the first bit. Folic acid is a B vitamin (B9) that is known to be necessary in early pregnancy. Folic acid is actually the synthetic form of folate, which in turn is naturally occurring and mainly found in green vegetables, beans, and lentils. Folic acid supplements are recommended to be taken when trying to conceive and during the first trimester of pregnancy, to prevent neural tube defects in the baby, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Some research also suggests that folate plays a role in preventing congenital heart disease and oral clefts in the baby, as well as reducing the risk of preterm birth. Folate has a much bigger role in our bodies that just preventing spina bifida though. It is responsible activating, making and repairing our DNA. It is also in charge of cell division, blood cell production and the conversion of homocysteine; a protein …

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Sweet Potato Rösti with Eggs Florentine

Published by Carmen

Rösti is a traditional Swiss dish made solely with grated potatoes, which are then pan fried to make a potato pancake. Somewhat similar to hash browns, but without the onion and less oily. In this dish, I’ve substituted white potato with (mostly) sweet potato, as the latter have a lot less starch and many more nutrients, but are also very tasty. Sweet potatoes are also a healthy alternative for diabetics. By having less starch, their glycemic index is a lot lower; meaning that their sugars are broken down more slowly, therefore not creating blood sugar fluctuations. They also contain more fibre, which will help keep you regular. Eggs florentine are poached eggs served with wilted spinach. As you probably know, eggs are some of the most nutritionally complete foods available. High in protein, B vitamins, selenium and iodine, they will keep you going for longer, and provide you with many essential nutrients. By poaching the eggs and keeping the yolk intact, you reduce the their exposure to oxygen, which turns cholesterol into new substances called …

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Folate rich Quinoa Tabbouleh

Published by Carmen

Tabbouleh is a traditional middle-eastern salad, usually made with bulgur wheat. In this tabbouleh I’ve swapped the bulgur wheat for protein packed quinoa, due to its fabulous nutritional content. Quinoa is not a grain but a seed, rich in many minerals such as magnesium and zinc, as well as protein. Being wheat and gluten free, it is suitable for those with food intolerances. The star of the dish however is the parsley. Parsley is particularly rich in folate, the natural form of folic acid (which in turn is only found in supplements). Folate is a type of B vitamin that is well known to be necessary in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in the baby. Folate is also necessary for the prevention of anaemia, whilst reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Parsley also happens to be a great source of vitamin K, which you may know about as it is usually given to babies to prevent Vitamin K deficiency in the newborn. Together with the tomatoes, cucumber, and radishes, this makes a satisfying …

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Banana, Oat and Almond Smoothie

Published by Carmen

This smoothie is so deliciously indulgent that you’ll think that you’re actually having a milkshake. It is perfect for breakfast on the run, or when you feel like an afternoon treat. It literally takes 2 minutes to make, so there’s no excuse not to make it. We used to make this smoothie at Rose Bakery, a wonderful cafe I used to work at that started in Paris, but is now also in London. This smoothie was very popular, and you’ll know why when you try it. Whenever someone ordered it, I would make a little extra just to I could have some too. As you know, dairy milk is high in calcium, a mineral very much needed during pregnancy for the healthy formation of bones, teeth, nails, as well as the muscles, heart, and nerve development among others. Your need for calcium doubles during pregnancy, and if you don’t get enough to support your baby’s development, your body will remove calcium from your bones, leading to problems later in life such as osteoporosis and brittle bones. I’m …