Whenever I’m making it, I think ‘why don’t I make this more often?’. And then I remember. Making pancakes is a messy job. 5 minutes to whizz up all the ingredients. And then somehow in the making process I seem to get the batter EVERYWHERE. All over the kitchen, the walls, the surfaces, me.

No fun.

I am in awe of American families who make 10,000 of these for breakfast and make it look so easy. How do they do that? It takes me about 5000 hours hours to cook the entire lot.  If you have any tips for me please do share!

Moving on. These are my favourite pancakes to date. I used my standard recipe and added some peanut butter to the mix – DIVINE! I hope your pancake flipping skills are much better than mine.

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 1 cup gluten free oats
• 2 medium sized ripe bananas
• 2 medium eggs
• 240g cottage cheese
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• Oat milk to thin to desired consistency

Directions:

1. Blitz all the ingredients together (I used my NutriBullet)
2. Melt butter/coconut oil over a medium flame
3. Spoon two tablespoons of batter onto the pan (I use food rings to keep the pancakes contained)
4. Cook for a few minutes then flip over and cook until done.
5. Serve with whatever takes your fancy – bananas and berries work really well or some dark chocolate chips if you’re feeling fancy!

Disclaimer: That makes it sounds SO easy! Don’t be disheartened if yours end up a bit crap, or a bit burnt, or not round. I always ruin the first few until I get into a bit of a groove (yes I still ate them). The main thing is that they will still taste amazing, are full of protein, have no refined sugar and are gluten free. Winner.

The post Peanut Butter Pancakes appeared first on Neema Savvides | Fertility Nutrition.

This is a great post workout smoothie as the banana (carbohydrate) helps the body to absorb the protein powder more efficiently.

Having protein with every meal and snack is really important to help balance blood sugar levels, manage energy levels and balance hormones.

Serves one.

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1 scoop Vega Sport Performance protein powder in vanilla
• 1/2 frozen banana
• Handful raspberries
• Dash of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flax seeds

Method

Mix all together in a nutribullet or blender and voila.  Add more almond milk accordingly if you like your smoothies thinner (I prefer mine on the thicker side).

The post Raspberry Protein Smoothie appeared first on Neema Savvides | Fertility Nutrition.

The trick is not to over crowd them otherwise they steam and go soggy, and to keep an eye on them as the burn easily (as I soon found out when my first batch were on the charred side!).

Kale is PACKED full of antioxidants, LOADED with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, minerals AND is good for the heart.  It’s an all-round winner.

Ingredients:

• 1 small bunch of kale
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• Handful of sesame seeds
• Squeeze of lemon
• Pinch of sea salt (or 1 tablespoon light soy sauce)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 95°C
2. Rinse the kale and thoroughly dry with a kitchen towel (better yet, use a salad spinner if you have one)
3. Tear the leaves from the stems into 4/5 inch pieces
4. Drizzle over the oils, sesame seeds, lemon juice and salt/soy sauce.  Toss together ensuring each leaf has been coated evenly
5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, and arrange the leaves in a single layer, ensuring they are evenly spaced and not too close together
6. Bake for 15 minutes, turn over and continue to bake for another 5 minutes, then enjoy!

The post Sesame Kale Crisps appeared first on Neema Savvides | Fertility Nutrition.

It has antibacterial properties

We are living in times where  ‘superbugs’ and resistant bacteria strains are on the rise.  This is due to antibiotic overuse, whereby certain bacteria have become resistant to even the most powerful of antibiotics available on the market today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls this “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.”

Therefore anything natural to help fight infections can only be a good thing.  I’m a big fan of helping the body heal naturally, which is why Manuka honey is so fabulous. It’s antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties make it ideal for fighting infections and promoting healing.  All Manuka honey is not created equal however, and the higher the potency, in this case known as UMF, or ‘Unique Manuka Factor’, the greater the infection fighting quality. Look for a UMF of at least 15.

Wound healing

Several recent studies show Manuka honey is effective when used on top of wounds and leg ulcers, especially those that haven’t responded to standard treatments.

Why is it so expensive?

Manuka honey comes only from bees feeding on the nectar of manuka trees in New Zealand and Australia. That makes it rare, which explains its price. It is packed with 100 times more antibacterial compounds than regular honey — hence why it has become the trendy treatment for throat infections, dry skin, infections, gum pain, burns and even spots.

How to use it:

• Manuka honey can be applied topically to the skin as a balm for skin infections, bites and cuts (about 1 tsp worth should suffice.
• Take a spoonful orally to help soothe the throat and digestive tract.
• I like to add a teaspoonful to a mug of hot water and lemon to really help soothe a sore throat.
• Eat it as you would any other honey product to maintain general health (adding to porridge or spreading over toast works well).
• Topically – use it as a face mask for acne – I’ll do a post soon on natural, home-made face masks.

The post Why You Need Manuka Honey in Your Life appeared first on Neema Savvides | Fertility Nutrition.

1. Vitamin D

This is a bit of a no brainer.  With reduced day light our exposure to the sun is greatly diminished.  Many people become deficient in Vitamin D as the sunlight in Winter is inefficient to stimulate the production of Vitamin D in our skin.

As this essential Vitamin is crucial for our immune systems as well as our mental health and moods (if you suffer for SAD then stocking up is especially important) it’s imperative to replenish sources.  Good dietary sources include oily fish and dairy products, or you can take a spray/supplement.  Look for a dose of at least 5000 iui of active Vitamin D3.

2. Zinc

Zinc supports the liver and as it is an aniti-viral mineral, helps to support the immune system helping to prevent colds.  It’s great at protecting the skin too.

3. Echinacea

A Winter staple in my house, I take herbal tincture at the first sign of a cold to help prevent its onset.  Whilst it has a ‘distinctive’ (read, not very nice) taste, it has antibiotic properties and is thought to boost the number of infection fighting white blood cells.

4. Essential fatty acids

Deficiencies of Omega 3 fatty acids have long been linked to depression and more specifically, SAD due to its serotonin boosting properties. As an added benefit  omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil capsules can also benefit your hair, making it shinier and stronger. Omega-3s are a healthy fat, helping to reduce skin dryness that can lead to dandruff or an itchy scalp. My favourite is Eskimo Brain Sharp by Nutri.

5. Garlic

Not only does it ward off Vampires, but garlic is known to ward off colds and in a recent trial the active ingredient in garlic, allicin, was shown to help ward off colds and alleviate flu symptoms.

Garlic can be taken in powdered capsule, oil capsule, liquid extract or fresh cloves.

The post Winter Supplements Guide appeared first on Neema Savvides | Fertility Nutrition.