 Just some of the lovely things I came home with yesterday after attending the herbal medicine course at @nyr_official in #Bristol - part of some continual professional development for me.
We learnt so many incredible things about therapeutic herbs, as well as learning how to make syrups, poultices, salves, oils, tinctures and decoctions and of course drank lots of delicious herbal healing teas ☕️ My fascination with all things #herbalmedicine has exploded and will hopefully complement my practice as a nutritional therapist (plus my other full time job as Mum). 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻 #herbsasmedicine #nealsyard #cpd #tea #plantpower #plantremedies #naturopathicmedicine #healthylifestyle #eatherbseveryday #nutritionaltherapy #herbs #medicinalherbs #gingerandpicklesnutrition
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 Honestly not trying to blow the pantry trumpet here 🎺 BUT how good does this look? No plastic packets in sight. I can actually SEE what I can make for dinner.
 Picking the last of the summer berries last week - a surprisingly long season this year.
Picking by the local beach, this years haul was a great change from last years view (just off the London south circular!) and the difference in taste to city berries was sublime 👌 We picked enough of these vitamin C bombs 💣 to make many many tasty dishes preparing us for autumn and the season changes. 🍂#pickingwithaview#lovewhereilive #bristol #igersbristol#clevedon #blackberries #foraging#vitaminc #vitaminsea #kidsnutrition#healthylifestyle #healthyfamily#foodasmedicine #cookingwithkids#eatseasonally #wildfood#gingerandpicklesnutrition  Harvesting the last of the seasons rhubarb and making rhubarb gin + fruit compote.
Why do I try and eat seasonally? Better for the environment, less human intervention on crops that have been naturally grown (less pesticides or GM food if it’s in season). Eating seasonally also can make it easier to eat locally, so less food that’s been airfreighted/trucked long distance. Eating seasonally means food that is more likely to have more nutrients as it has been allowed to develop and ripen naturally. But perhaps most crucially I’m a firm believer that nature provides food that is appropriate for our bodies during that season. In winter: root vegetables as starchy carbohydrates are important for energy in a time when we can be depleted. Salad vegetables and fruit are in abundance in the summer months, to help hydrate and keep cool as well as specific antioxidants to help protect from sun damage. And in spring and autumn the immune boosters such as spring greens, garlic, onions and apples all full of nutrients which helps replenish and restore immunity when seasonal virus’ are at their highest. Recipe: Roast some rhubarb then soak in gin for four days with some sugar. Sieve the pickled fruit and serve over natural yoghurt. 👌(Not one for the young’uns) And enjoy some rhubarby gin! #eatseasonally #rhubarb #gin #eatlocally#environment #seasonal #foodasmedicine#healthylifestyle #youarewhatyoueat #nutritiontips #tuesdaytips #immunesystem #gardentotable #knowyourfood #freshproduce #gingerandpicklesnutrition  Had such a lush Sunday last week learning more about my ongoing passion for foraging with @goforaging in Bristol. Who knew there was so much to be foraged from a beautiful local park?
____________ This is Sorrel. Good raw in salads and often served with fish as it has a beautiful sharp, tart, citrusy taste (due to its oxalic acid content also found in rhubarb, spinach and broccoli). This oxalic acid also makes this lovely little herb ever so slightly poisonous BUT you’d have to eat a lot for it to be an issue so don’t let that put you off! ____________ Often compared to tasting the skin of Granny Smith apples (thanks my fellow forager @jblakeleyglover for that one!) It’s extremely high in vitamin A, C (so should be AMAZING for #skinheath) with good levels of calcium, iron and potassium so many,many numerous health benefits to incorporating this little beauty until your diet. Can be found in many woodlands or like last week perhaps in a park! ____________ I’d really recommend doing a course like this one and then buying some decent foraging books. Learning more about your local environment, connecting more with your food and generally getting out and about into nature - it totally floats my boat. ⛵️Feeling #inspired .... ____________ #foraging #eatwild #naturaleating#forgaingforfood #wildedibles#eathealthily #rawfood #foodasmedicine#eatgreen #plantfood #bristol#environment #eatlocal #sorrel#eatnaturally #naturelovers#gingerandpicklesnutrition  Come on the ‘rents, you got this! Back to school week for most (and in our house also starting school for one very special 4 year old 😭) So guys, it’s time to pimp up the after school snack 😎
Here’s a firm favourite in our household with all three of mine: celery with nut butter. Raw celery isn’t a veg I’d say any of us are that keen on but whack some #almondbutter on and wow that packs a nutritional and satisfying punch! Easy and zero preparation needed. My one tip is don’t let them go mad with nut butters, yes healthy, yes full of lovely monounsaturated fats, but one can always have too much of a good thing. Moderation is key so 1 tablespoon is enough for a child. And it goes without saying, unlike the youngest G&P kiddo here, NO DOUBLE DIPPING! 🙈 #backtoschool #snacks #healthytreat#healthysnack #nutbutter #toddlerfood#babyledweaning #kidsnutrition #schoolfood #lunchboxlove #nutritiontips#childrensfood #foodmatters #realfood #superhealthykids #healthyfoodforkids #toddlerapproved #healthykids #kidslunchideas #lunchboxideas #almondbutteraddict #gingerandpicklesnutrition  I love ‘em but some people not so keen. My children love the best tasting ones (cashews / pistachios) but darned if I can get them to like Brazil nuts.
Did you know Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of selenium going? Selenium is one of essential minerals which contributes to many MANY metabolic processes’ in your body not least thyroid health! So top tips if you don’t like Brazil nuts. Eat them like you do a multi-vitamin. Two a day in the morning. Much better than swallowing some laboratory synthesised pills right? Or do what I did here for my kids - melt down some dark chocolate dip the Brazil nuts in and eat these as a nice snack. They go nuts for them! P.s. read the packet and make sure your Brazil nuts are from Brazil 👀 #healthytreats #nomnomnom #brazilnuts#chocolate #nuts #thyroidhealth #brazil #tuesdaytips #healthyfamily#chocolatelovers #nutritiontips #nuts#kidsnutrition #snacks #foodasmedicine #youarewhatyoueat #makeyourownfood#toddlerfood #kidsfood #toddlerhood#parentinghacks #gingerandpicklesnutrition  *Rocket and raw slaw, paprika prawns, sprouted lemony humous and alfalfa sprouts.
____________ *There’s an argument to eating more raw food in the summer. Eating raw foods is sometimes considered more healthy as cooking can deplete nutrients in our food. *Because there is an abundance of fruit and vegetables at this time of year it also makes sense to include more fresh and raw fruit and vegetables. It’s refreshing and when it’s hotter your body naturally craves cooler foods. *However, cooking food also helps begin to break down the proteins which is a vital step in digestion. A very high protein food (eg meat or beans) is rarely eaten raw for a reason - humans instinctively know that cooking destroys some of the harmful bacteria’s and helps begin the vital breakdown of amino acids. *But there are types of foods which are certainly less tasty cooked and certainly don’t NEED to be heated. For instance lettuce and cucumber. Cabbage is another one sometimes overcooked and in summertime is a vegetable I love to enjoy raw. Sprouts are a nutrient powerhouse and soaking and sprouting legumes are a wonderful way of getting rid of the anti-nutrients in beans but retaining their benefits. *But remember eating a high raw food diet is not for everyone. For instance if you have IBS eating raw cabbage may in fact irritate your gut further and cause more symptoms. Eating lots of raw foods is not for everyone and is never something I would blanket recommend. *Further proof that there really is no one diet to fit all. We are all individual. ____________ #rawfood #eatingraw #rawfooddiet#plantbasedfood #eatgreen #healthyfamily#nutritiontips #youarewhatyoueat #summerfood #rawinspiration#eatwelllivewell #eathealthily#eattherainbow #glutenfree #wholefood #foodasmedicine #gingerandpicklesnutrition  There are lots of studies into the way you give your children food impacts on what they eat. Obviously children often mimic their parents, so if you want them to eat a good diet - lead by example! 👩🌾
____________ Another top tip is to have big serving bowls of different food types on the table allowing them to self serve - and what they chose (and how much) may surprise you! The idea is to promote self regulation, social eating skills and autonomy for the future.🙏🏻 ____________ Yesterday, as usual, I offered all three of mine some salad leaves alongside their lunch. As usual, the eldest two declined until my 6yo spotted a red lettuce leaf and thought it looked interesting, dunked it in her hummus and ate it. Then she casually ate some more (including GREEN ONES 😲) from the bowl and then quietly even helped herself to more from the fridge. And I celebrated this six year victory by climbing on a chair to take a photo to show her father. ____________ If you build it, they will come (sorry couldn’t resist my Dad is a massive Kevin Costner fan)💪💪💪 ____________ #proudmumproudnutritionist #whatnutritionistskidseat #heatwavedoeshavesomebenefits #parentinghacks #feedingkids #kidsnutrition #lettuce #healthtip#saladlove #familynutrition #saladlover #healthyfamily #nutritioniskey #fitfamily #gingerandpicklesnutrition |
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November 2018
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