Coeliac Disease and the Gluten Free Diet

The term disease is an unfortunate one as there is nothing contagious about this condition, making it difficult for newly diagnosed young people.  The Coeliac UK website explains exactly what this condition is:  “Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. Gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye, triggers an immune reaction in people with […]

How to hold a fabulous fairy party – part one

Where has the time gone? I am sorry I have been so quiet for such a long time – a small short list of excuses involve trying to sell / buy houses, visiting in laws, visiting friends, poorly parents and occasional sunshine and school fun! I guess I have quite simply been busy being one […]

Freshen up your food!

I have just bought a Breville hand mixer, pistachio coloured – which makes me smile every time I look at it. If an appliance makes you happy you’re definitely onto a winner! For its first outing I decided to let the children whizz up their own pizza topping. We simply threw in fresh tomatoes, basil […]

Is your summer salad making you fat?

New year’s resolutions a distant memory; another failure chalked up on your board of self depreciation? Side stepping bike riding or taking country walks, preferring to stay indoors snuggled in winter clothes using the unseasonally damp, cold late spring weather as an excuse? “I’ll start once the weather warms up…”  Now Britain is basking in […]

Summer Smoothies

This summer, in the UK, we’ve been blessed with some beautiful warm and sunny weather, perfect for barbecues and al fresco dining. When we feel too hot and sticky we often don’t want to eat much yet feel the need for something other than water to rehydrate. Instead of reaching for diet or regular fizzy […]

Sunshine on a Plate

‘The woman who puts sunshine on a plate’, is the complementary, and utterly deserved, title given to 2012 MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo in this month’s (August) edition of Red magazine. Evoking sunshine from a dish draws us closer to pleasurable memories; of warmth, long summers, holidays and exotic foods.  Sunshine makes us feel good; nature’s […]

So you want a beach body?

If you’re reading this you’re probably hoping for a body more like a Californian beach body babe than a beached whale…but in reality you know you’ve left it late – again! According to UK press, last week was the time of year when British women were most likely to start a summer beach body diet. […]