Interview with Primrose Matheson

by Layla Brice,

We love raw food at Radiance and have been huge fans of Primrose's products for a while. So when she got in touch after trying our juices at a Silver Lining's Mini Retreat, we knew we had to do something to share our love for her completely natural and wholesome foods. 

Here we talk about the journey that led her to developing the products and the important hot topic of waste reduction on our planet.

We absolutely love your products and the ethos behind the brand. What was it gave you the motivation to start up Primrose Kitchen?

As with any business out there, PK started with a need. It was a personal one. I had chronic fatigue and ME during my teens and radically changed my diet and lifestyle during this time. I then went on to study naturopathy and homeopathy in London and worked part time in health food shops. I was frustrated by the offering in the breakfast aisle as this was my favourite meal of the day and I wanted that easy to assemble meal but with more balance and nutrition. For me that is about getting more fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet as that is something we all struggle with.  So after a few months of experiments beetroot muesli was born which is 22% fresh organic beetroot and the rest of the range has developed from there.  I also wanted a nutritious cereal that could be eaten at any time of day not just for breakfast with nothing to feel guilty about.

Selecting the right organic ingredients for our juices is key to ensuring they taste as delicious and fresh as possible! How do you go about sourcing the right ingredients for your products?

I am passionate about using as much British produce as possible as we are trying to not only source the highest quality ingredients but also keep our carbon footprint to a minimum. 

Obviously I don't have the luxury of this with nuts and seeds but we have one supplier for this who has their own farms and great organic standards on their ingredients. 

We get our oats from a family run traditional Scottish Mill that still uses its original medieval looking mill to press the oats and they are gluten free and organic. We source apple from Kent and our oranges and lemons come from independent farms in Spain and our processed by us within 48 hours of delivery. Our vegetables ( beetroot, carrot, kale and courgette) come from organic independent growers in Devon who we are really happy to be supporting and who grow the mot incredible tasting vegetables!

Sourcing great ingredients obviously takes time but we never stop looking to improve on the quality of our products and luckily growers of wonderful british ingredients are increasing all the time.

Like you, we are continuously looking at ways to reduce the impact of waste on our planet. Tell us more about the charity 'Surfers Against Sewage' and why they are close to your heart?

I have known about surfers against sewage since I was young growing up on Guernsey where the local team was very active and am very inspired that the work they do to protect the sea. Being a complete mermaid myself come June as I live 5 minutes from the sea in Dorset I want to make sure we can all continue to enjoy our seas and shoreline in the future so anything I can do to support them and raise awareness for their work I always will.

What exciting things can we look forward to seeing from Primrose Kitchen this year?

We have some NPD coming out, we will be continuing to develop our online plastic free pantry for all your organic whole food needs free of plastic. Lots of collaborations and hopefully a long weekend off for me to enjoy my garden and get planting ready for summer abundance!

 


Easter Chocolate Spelt nests

by Layla Brice, , link

  

Chocolate Spelt Nests

  • 130g smooth cashew butter (or almond, or a combination)
  • 1 and ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple
  • 70g dark chocolate of your choice
  • 160g Spelt flakes (We used Rude Health or your favourite)


INSTRUCTIONS

Line a bun/muffin tin with paper cases and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the nut butter, vanilla, coconut oil, honey and chocolate resting above a pan of boiling on hob and stir together stirring each time until the mixture is smooth and glossy, and the chocolate is fully melted.
Add the cereal, and stir well until it's completely coated.
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases, and refrigerate until required. They are best eaten cold, straight from the fridge (the chocolate mixture begins to liquify again at room temperature)

 


The Body Toolkit

by Layla Brice, , link

We're so pleased to have had the chance to interview Katrina Mather, Founder of The Body Toolkit Retreat based in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Here we discuss what the retreat has to offer, self-care and our shared passion for juicing!

1. We absolutely love the look and feel of the retreat! Especially in the stunning setting of the Scottish Highlands. How did the idea to open the retreat come about and what was your vision?

I fell in love with this part of the Highlands as a wee girl.  It’s a magical part of the world and the idea to create a retreat here felt like a natural way for me to marry my love of the west coast Highlands, with my passion for health and wellbeing.

In my early twenties, my own journey back to health made me realise that even small changes to the way we treat the body and the way we think, can make dramatic differences to how we feel.  Juicing was one of the ‘tools’ that I adopted early on and I was amazed by the body’s ability to heal; it was key in helping me to overcome anxiety, acne, IBS and depression.  Ever since then all I’ve wanted to do is share the ‘tools’ that helped me, in order to help others.

I’ve always felt that even just spending time in this part of the Highlands is therapeutic and good for the soul, regardless of the season.  And in 2014, I realised that if I could combine this place with juicing, gentle exercise and coaching then I’d have the makings of a first-of-its-kind health retreat in Scotland, that could make a genuine difference to people’s lives.  

Fortuitously, my cousin, Susan, and her husband, Kenneth, had just built Garmoran Square in Moidart as beautiful, luxury holiday accommodation and I knew straight away that the space would lend itself perfectly to being a peaceful retreat - and it’s been home to The Body Toolkit Retreat ever since. 

2. What’s the one thing you’d like most for your clients to walk away with from the retreat?

The mantra: be kind to yourself.  I think it’s so important to make a conscious decision to carve out a better relationship with ourselves.  The vast majority of us tend to be hugely self-critical, which affects us on an emotional and physical level, and when our bodies aren’t doing what we want them to be doing, that can often lead to a real sense of frustration.

For some reason, it can be easier to show kindness to others than for us to be kind to ourselves, and that’s something I’d like to help change.  When we practice self-compassion and gratitude for the body that we’re in – just as it is - the consequences can be miraculous.  When we’re compassionate towards ourselves, we make better choices, we support and listen to our bodies, we eat well, we rest, we play and let ourselves off the hook, all of which predispose us to living a healthier, happier life.

My approach at the retreat is incredibly gentle, with a big focus on rest and self-care. We’ve been so conditioned that if we want “results” or to change something about our bodies, that we need to beat the body into submission, but the results that people get using my gentle approach turn that thinking completely on its head.  In this day and age of busy-ness and stress, we all need to relearn how to nourish, support and be kind to ourselves – and when we do that the body responds beautifully.

3. Juicing is a big part of the retreat and obviously a passion that we both share! How do you structure your juice programmes around other activities at the retreat

Absolutely, juicing is what u-turned my health and it’s the foundation of what I do at the retreat.  Fasting is one of the most powerful things you can do for your health, and when you add in vegetable juices, the body is not only able to rest the digestion and use the conserved energy to repair and regenerate, but it’s also able to benefit from the alkalising, anti-inflammatory healing power of mother nature’s raw fruits and vegetables. 

On a typical day at the retreat, the morning starts with a detox routine of oil pulling and dry skin brushing, followed by some gentle stretching to wake up the body.  The first juice is served at 9.30am, where the group of 8-10 of us come together to start the day with a pint of fresh, organic juice.  After breakfast anyone who feels like heading out comes with me for a gentle walk to take in the views and fresh air, and we get back in for the lunchtime juice at 12.30pm.

 The early afternoon is designated quiet time, to rest, read or have a massage and we come together again at 3.30pm for the afternoon juice, which I combine with a short workshop (e.g. nutrition, internal cleansing, vision boards).  In the early evening I share a health documentary to inspire, followed by the evening soup at 6.30pm.  The blended vegetable soups are always a welcome addition to the end of the day.  I host another informal workshop after dinner, and then we get the fires on and everyone settles in for the night, usually with one of the books that I’ve shared in a workshop. 

4. You have some amazing reviews from previous clients that have visited. What would you say sets The Body Toolkit apart from other retreats that are in mainland UK?

Thank you - I feel very lucky that the work that I do has helped so many people. The retreat has consistently been described as life-changing from day one, and after three and a half years that still blows me away. 

The obvious answer to what sets the retreat apart from others would be the Highland location – it really is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. For so many stressed-out visitors it’s incredibly restorative to spend the week surrounded by unspoilt nature (and temperamental wifi).   I run the week-long retreats once a month throughout the year – and even in deepest, darkest November, Scotland is a magical place to rest, recuperate and relax in front of the fire.

But the two main things that clients comment on are how the gentle approach makes the week truly enjoyable – it’s the antithesis of a bootcamp - and also how the experience is so much more than just a detox.  Of course, the juice detox is the core of the programme, but throughout the week I gently introduce other techniques and focus on the importance of the role of the mind in health - we end up covering a hell of a lot!  The vision for The Body Toolkit was for guests to leave the retreat able to maintain their health goals for life – not just their week away.  I’m delighted to say that people leave the retreat inspired and empowered, having seen a big difference in the six nights, however, it’s quite incredible how many people stay in touch three, six or nine months later to share how they’ve continued to benefit from the experience well after the retreat. 

Of course not everyone can get away to a retreat, but I think it’s more important than ever to prioritise self-care and rest.  We’re facing exponential rises in lifestyle diseases and mental health disorders, so the more we can do to really look after ourselves the better, even if that’s just making sure we have a vegetable based juice every day – it really does make a difference.

The Body Toolkit Retreat:

 An award winning, first-of-its-kind health retreat based in the Scottish Highlands, Katrina Mather’s all-inclusive, 7-day programme teaches simple techniques that empower you to make serious improvements to your health and quality of life.  

Consistently described as “life changing”, guests report an average weight loss of 7lbs, a significant boost to energy and mood, improved sleep and digestion, and a reduction in aches and pains.  Each retreat consists of an organic juice cleanse, gentle walks in nature, relaxation and coaching on techniques to combat stress.    

Week-long retreats, with a maximum of ten guests, take place once a month throughout the year at the four-star Garmoran Square in Moidart, surrounded by mountains, fresh air and dramatic scenery.  All-inclusive retreats start from £999 with a £50 discount for Radiance clients. Just mention us when you book! – www.thebodytoolkit.com

 

 



Established London 2009
100% Organic Cold-Pressed
Delivered across the UK