Radiance - The Juice Cleanse Co.

How would you describe your food philosophy?

I see myself as a foodie with a conscience: I love food and I aim to eat food that is good for me and that is produced in a both health-conscious and environmentally sound manner. My ‘gourmet outlook on nutrition’ means that I am happiest when I eat food that is flavourful, varied and wholesome using exceptional quality ingredients.

Why did you decide to train as a nutritional therapist?

I have always had an interest in health and nutrition (in hindsight, I should have trained as a naturopathic medical doctor).  It is when I started living on my own that I noticed that my eating habits and food preferences were radically different to what I had grown up eating: more focus on vegetables and less on meat.  A break from my previous career gave me the opportunity to pursue my genuine and longstanding interest in nutrition

Which daily practice keeps you feeling healthy and happy?  

Healthy: my morning superfood smoothie.  Happy: yoga, if only it were daily!

What is your fail-safe healthy meal for kids?  

My kids love homemade organic chicken fajitas and it enables me to get a lot of vegetables in them, such as grilled yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices and lettuce, whilst having fun and experimenting with different variations.  

Do you have any must-pack items to stay on track while travelling?

Definitely, a large bottle of water.  Then, fresh apple slices, carrot sticks, and cherry tomatoes: all snack-friendly and fresh foods that compensate for the carbohydrate-rich and processed fare we get on the road or in the air.

What is your guilty indulgence?

Without a moment’s hesitation, 70% or 80% dark chocolate.

What is your favourite juice combination?

I love to mix apple, orange and lime, with a hint of ginger.

What single dietary change makes the biggest difference to your clients' health?

Increasingly, I find that taking away gluten or dairy from some of my clients’ diets has made a big difference to their wellbeing.

Supplements - yes or no? What should we be taking?

Yes!  I choose a “superfood” nutritional supplement that includes naturally occurring, whole food source vitamins and minerals.  My current brand of choice is Vital Greens Powder.

Which 3 items are always in your fridge?

Cherry tomatoes, hummus, and coconut water.

What's your favourite pre and post workout snack?

Right before heading out for a run, I usually have a banana. When I return, I rehydrate and refuel with a tall glass of coconut water.

The whole Radiance team loves a smoothie and if we're not starting our day with a green juice then we're often found to be drinking a green smoothie instead. This green smoothie is a bit of a treat with the raw cacao nibs but is still a healthy and balanced way to start the day, or as a snack mid afternoon. We wanted to share it with you as Christina and I have both tried it out on our families and it was resoundingly successful!

Ingredients:

250ml raw cashew milk (you can also use coconut water or rice milk)

1/2 avocado

large handful spinach

1/2 tsp matcha powder

4 sprigs of mint leaves (stem discarded)

tbsp porridge oats

2 tbsp cacao nibs

Optional extras:

a greens powder (such as Pure XP Synergy, Amazing Grass or Organic Burst Wheatgrass)

1 tsp Manuka honey/maple syrup/agave to sweeten

Method:

Place all the ingredients except for the cacao nibs in a blender and blend on high until the ingredients are a smooth consistency. Add in the cacao nibs and give a final quick blend, reserving some nibs to sprinkle on top if you wish. This should be enough for about a 500ml smoothie, so enough to serve one as breakfast or two as a snack. Enjoy!

We recently met with Leonora Bamford, the mother of two beautiful children and founder of MyBaba.com a wonderful resource for expectant and existing parents.  The website aims to help and inform with lots of news, reviews and expert opinions. As something of an expert herself, we asked Leonora a few quick questions and she was kind enough to give us her thoughts.

How do you balance running My Baba, being a busy mother with looking after your own health?

Since having children my health and beauty regime has definitely taken a back seat. Now the children are at nursery, I do have more time for my work and I always make time for eating with the children every day. I'm a copious list maker, and if I do this before I go to bed it relaxes me knowing what i've got on the following day. I try to fit in the gym a few times a week, and my kids love stretching with me in front of Postman Pat in the morning. 

What is your favourite quick and easy weekday supper?

I'm mad about pasta, and I love making proper Italian tomato and basil sauce with a touch of mozzarella. I fry up an onion, celery, a carrot and some garlic, then throw over a few tins of plum tomatoes, a spoon full of sugar and a slug of both olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

Leave it for as long as you have, and then put if through a mouli, if you don't have one, a blender works too. If you need to get extra veg in there, it's so easy to do and they'll never know! 

My fridge is full of fresh fruit and I love making fruit faces on a plate for pudding. Quick and easy! My children love cooking with me and we try to make at least one new quick and easy recipe each week. Annabel Karmel is my hero. 

How do you make sure that your children eat healthily?

I'm really lucky because both of my children have always been good eaters. I think it helps that I eat with them, and we often cook together. We're lucky to have a great butcher, fishmonger and green grocer at the bottom of our road so we often set off and make cooking dinner a fun little outing. 

They have a good balanced diet, but on the weekend I'm much more relaxed and there are more treats all round. 

What are your go-to healthy snacks? 

Daylesford Energy Bar if I need a major pick me up, or I love my children's Yo Yo Fruit Roll Ups by Bear Nibbles. 

What is your favourite way to work out?

If I have the time, I would do yoga and pilates every day. I love walking with the children and the dogs in the park. 

What advice do you give to busy mums who find it hard to make the time to eat well?

Don't be too hard on yourself! If you get the chance, try making one new thing for the family each week. If you have five minutes to spare, (likely!) check out food blogs or apps on your phone. There are so many to choose from and lots of inspiration. 

Start the day off well with a good breakfast and try not to eat on the run - easier said than done!