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We’re back for round number two of our newsletter!

The last fortnight seems to have vanished in a blink of an eye. We managed to avoid the current covid outbreak in NZ and had our first mini-break away since July last year. We did a long weekend trip to Hamilton for agility and stayed in a really cute Airbnb. My little dog Spike and I performed rather averagely at agility, but we had a blast. While we played, the boys enjoyed exploring the city in some delightful sunny autumn weather. The trip’s highlight was all the yummy plant-based food; the kids even enjoyed some plant-based ice cream. Every night, we had takeaways with lots of plant-based options, which meant no dishes for me. That is definitely a win-win!

Plant-based Tip

As mentioned in our last newsletter, we started My Food Bag’s plant-based box last year (we’re in no way affiliated!). The aim was to get us out of a food rut and get more variety in our meals. We’ve enjoyed it so much I think we’ll do it for the foreseeable future. The meals take a bit more time, but the effort is worth it for the taste and added variety.

The recipes always include loads of seasonal veggies and are great at adding extras to things you are already cooking to boost nutrition. For example, if you are cooking rice or pasta, you can add peas, edamame beans, baby spinach, or even a can of rinsed drained beans to the pot for the last few minutes of cooking time. And if you are roasting potatoes, you can add a few carrots, then halfway through cooking, add some rinsed drained chickpeas, and five minutes towards the end, throw in some nuts. Roasted nuts are one of my favourite foods, and adding them to a tray already cooking is a fuss-free way to add the extra taste and nutritional boost to your meal.

Garden Update

Our garden started so well this summer, but life seemed to get in the way, and it was soon neglected and bedraggled. Our strawberry patch took a while to kick off but then did quite well. I love popping out the front door to harvest fresh strawberries for breakfast every few days. Their growth has slowed down, but we’re still getting berries even now. We’ve been trying to grow watermelon for years, and after clearing a lot of grass that took over one of our garden beds, we found two tiny melons that had been sheltered under the growth. Jamie loved these and nearly ate half of one himself!

Listing To/Reading

I enjoyed Rich Roll’s latest podcast with Johann Hari. It was well-timed with my attempt at digital minimalism and talked about his latest book Stolen Focus. They discuss why we’re so distracted as a society and talk about simple ways to reclaim our attention and focus back. Buying a phone lockbox came up many times (maybe I need to order one)! Johann is a great storyteller, and his first appearance on the podcast is also well worth a listen.

The world still seems like an overwhelming place at the moment. This week I challenge you to take a deep breath and short walk without your phone!

Stay safe and eat some plants.

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Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or health professional. I have completed a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell and have done in-depth research about plant-based living. The information I trust is mostly sourced from medical professionals that are leading the way in this plant-based revolution. Check out my recommended page for more info.