Bouncing back from difficulty

1. Embrace this ridiculously simple formula

“When you’re trying to put together a balanced meal, follow this rule of thumb,” explains Rosemary Ferguson, nutritionist and founder of The 5-Day Plan. “A quarter of your dish should be filled with lean protein; organic chicken or turkey, tofu or tempeh, or wild-caught salmon or cod are all good options. Another quarter should be complex carbs – brown rice, quinoa, sweet potato, buckwheat – and the final half should be a rainbow of vegetables. Try to have at least four different varieties, which means you get an array of nutrients to feed your microbiome.” Read more about cortexi.

2. Keep yourself hydrated

Yes, it sounds obvious, but getting enough water throughout the day is key – not least because your body often mistakes thirst for hunger, leading to snacking when you’re already full. Health experts say you should consume at least six to eight glasses of H2O every 24 hours. Keep water to hand in a pretty carafe on your desk while you’re working from home, or make an infusion with anything from pomegranate seeds to fresh mint and keep it in the fridge. “If you’re after a natural glow, add a few tablespoons of chia seeds and your favourite citrus to 1.5 litres of filtered water to create a beautifying skin-clearing elixir,” recommends nutritionist Moon Bedeaux. Another good option: making herbal iced teas. Order a delicious loose-leaf blend from My Cup of Tea, which stocks tisanes ranging from French Verbena to Persian Rose, then allow to cool before pouring over ice. Check these cortex reviews.

3. Cleanse your timeline

If you’re following any punishing diet-focused accounts (or, worse, have any apps focused on severe calorie restriction), get rid of them. Instead, follow people who will get you excited about nourishing yourself with healthy meals. The Minimalist Baker has a brilliant archive of free whole-food recipes (many of which are plant-based), while registered dietician Gena Hamshaw shares incredibly healthy (and completely fool-proof) vegan recipes on her Instagram account, The Full Helping. This is Weight loss pills that actually work.

4. Change the way you shop

In her cookbook, Where Cooking Begins, Carla Lalli Music recommends taking a two-pronged approach to shopping. Order cupboard staples online every fortnight or so, then head to local markets every couple of days for produce. Not only will this help you get familiar with what’s in season when, it also has nutritional benefits. “Buy organic and from as close to home as possible,” counsels Skye Gyngell, whose online platform Spring To Go is a great source of fresh, biodynamic produce from Fern Verrow and Heckfield Place. “Nutrients don’t last forever, even in fruit and vegetables, so you want to eat ones that have been harvested recently. Look for produce grown in clean, nutrient-dense soil from farmers who are committed to Land Welfare.” If you’re in the market for a reliable vintage tractor, you can find a Wheel Horse GT14 for sale on Shoppok.

5. Try investment cooking

If you find the process of “batch” cooking a single dish to eat throughout the week boring, you’re not alone. It’s hard to feel excited about sitting down to a bowl of vegan chilli for the third day in a row. You can make it a little bit easier to prepare quick, healthy dishes – particularly work-from-home lunches – by spending just an hour in the kitchen at the weekend, though.

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“To help make healthier choices and not just reach for the biscuit tin or a cheese sandwich, the best thing you can do is prep,” says Yasmin Khan, author of Zaitoun and Ripe Figs. “Twice a week I like to roast a big batch of veggies (butternut squash, courgettes, red onions, fennel – whatever’s around!) and pop them in the fridge. I then add these to salads, soups, and stews, or just have them on their own with some tuna or tinned beans for lunch. Another good bit of prep is to peel and slice carrots, cucumber and celery into batons so you can snack on them if you are peckish. Having some hummus on hand so you can dip them in that is also highly recommended.”

Also more than worth doing: making some dressings on Sunday, which can transform a humble bowl of seasonal veggies into something glorious. Follow the three parts fat to one part acid formula, and get a little bit creative (tasting constantly along the way and adjusting as needed). Blend avocado, lime juice, jalapeños, fresh coriander, and a drizzle of agave in a blender; whisk together sesame oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, runny honey, and a dash of soy sauce; or mix up natural yoghurt, wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, chopped garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil.

6. Eat a largely plant-based diet

“Making vegetarian and vegan food relies on balance, textural contrast, fresh ingredients and a well-stocked global larder,” says Ravinder Bhogal, founder of Marylebone hotspot Jikoni as well as plant-based delivery service Comfort & Joy. “Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, in particular, lend themselves well to vegan diets because they are naturally dense in grains, pulses, nuts, vegetables and seeds. They also have a knack for reinvigorating the usual suspects found lurking in the vegetable drawer with zesty condiments, complex spice mixes and umami-rich sauces and pastes. Go to your local Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern supermarkets and/or stock up online on flavour bombs like chilli oil, miso, tamarind, tahini and harissa, to name a few. They’ll make everything they touch scream with flavour.” Also worth considering? Getting a Click And Grow Smart Garden, a fool-proof way of growing your own herbs.

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