Fab Recipes | Inspired Health by Rachel Grunwell

March 8, 2021

Sunshine Smoothie Bowl

(AD) Sunshine Smoothie Bowl

We can’t get to the islands right now. But we can bring a taste of that decadent island holiday food and sunshine like feels to our table!

I’ll be demonstrating how to make this smoothie bowl at the Go Green Expo in Auckland (March 27 & 28 on the Vitamix stand between 11am-2pm). Come along and learn some smoothie bowl tips and tricks and how to use a Vitamix to make smoothies, soups, bliss balls, juices, ice-cream and more!

I’ve had a Vitamix for years and back it. It’s sturdy, safe, powerful and has a seven year warranty. It never breaks!

By the way, this smoothie bowl is best served on a hot Summery day. Slurp it up loud. It will cool you down and that sweetness in the bowl will make you smile.

This bowl is nutrient-dense, delicious and you can make it up pretty quick.

One of the superfood ingredients is turmeric, which can aid digestion and is seen as an anti-inflammatory food.

Sunshine Smoothie Bowl

½ cup almond milk

2 cups mango flesh (you can use fresh or I just buy it in frozen chunks in 1 kilo bags from the supermarket)

1 cup banana (skin removed)

½ teaspoon each of vanilla cinnamon and turmeric

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon’ Manuka honey

Method:

Place all the ingredients into the Vitamix blender in the order listed above. Blend the ingredients quickly until smooth. Don’t blend for too long (I do it for around 10 seconds) otherwise it will make the smoothie less thick and more liquid-like. Pour the mixture into a bowl and eat just as it is. Or you can top it with whatever you have at home. I had mint leaves, shaved dark chocolate, passionfruit and coconut chips. Eat and savour!

Find out more about Vitamix blenders here, the Go Green Expo and where you can purchase your Vitamix blender through Harvey Norman stores

https://www.instagram.com/vitamix_aunz/https://www.instagram.com/gogreenexpo/https://www.instagram.com/harveynormannz/

Rachel is a wellness expert, author of the book Balance: Food, Health + Happiness and a healthy recipe creator for magazines and brands. She is a proud ambassador for Vitamix! Follow her on Instagram or Facebook

This post was proudly sponsored by Vitamix

March 27, 2020

Protein-Packed Choc Orange Bliss Balls

This snack is easy-peasy and quick to make. They’re a good snack for the kids and us “big kids”. I keep them in the freezer and so feel free to double the mixture and make twice as much so they’ll last a while. If you are lucky… My kids could eat the lot in one day. In fact they actually did, which made me a little grumpy ’cause I like these too!!

If you try them let me know what you think. Feel free to change up the ingredients. Perhaps yours will taste even better! A lot of people tell me how they change up my recipes in my book Balance, and I love hearing what they do! It’s really cool.

Protein-Packed Choc Orange Bliss Balls

Ingredients:

2 Cups of raw nuts (I used a mix of almonds and hazelnuts, but you can also use cashews etc or whatever you have in the cupboard)

¼ cup cocoa powder

3 tablespoons of rice malt syrup (or you can use maple syrup or coconut sugar instead etc)

salt (one grind)

1-2 scoops of protein powder

3 tablespoons of coconut oil

1 orange (finely grate the outside/ squeeze the juice of the orange too)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 cup of coconut (half into the mixture, half set aside to roll the balls in this)

Method: Place the nuts into a blender and grind them down to a fine powder. Then add all the other ingredients (except the ½ cup of coconut left over).

Blend the mixture well. Set aside and put the ½ cup of coconut into a bowl.

Place a golf ball size of mixture in your hand and roll it into a ball. Then place this into the bowl of coconut to coat the outside. Repeat…

Check out Rachel’s book Balance which features 30 nourishing recipes and 30 experts sharing science-backed wisdom on how to live healthier & happier. Click Here

October 18, 2019

Peanut Butter & Honey Choc Slice

My kids give this recipe the big thumbs up. It’s not always easy to please my three boys when it comes to baking – especially the teenager. But all my boys dig this. The secret ingredient is the new 100% natural 1839 Mānuka honey, which is a premium Mānuka honey from New Zealand. This is uniquely triple churned so it is silky smooth and mouth-wateringly delicious. Mānuka honey is well known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and good health benefits.

Pair this delicious honey with a crunchy peanut butter and, of course, the all-important chocolate top and bottom nutty layers, and it’s quite simply heavenly. This slice is nutrient-dense, great for satiety (it fills you up) and of course, yummy. Give it a whirl too and let me know what you think! Good luck with stopping at one piece. I ate three in the first sitting. And people wonder why I run and lift weights… This gal LOVES to eat amazing kai!

Ingredients & Method

Base

1 cup hazelnuts

¼ cup cacao powder

½ cup raw cashew nuts

2 tablespoons 1839 Mānuka honey

Pinch of cinnamon

3 tablespoons coconut oil

pinch Himalayan salt

Middle Layer

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 cup coconut cream

pinch Himalayan salt

2 tablespoons of 1839 Mānuka honey

Top Layer

300g cacao butter

¼ cup cacao powder

pinch Himalayan salt

3 tablespoons 1839 Mānuka honey

First layer. Place the nuts in a blender and blitz them until they are fine crumbs. Then add the cinnamon and salt. Next, spoon the coconut oil into a pan on the stove and gently melt it. Once melted, turn off the stove and add the honey and mix with a spoon. Next, put the honey and coconut oil into the nut mix. Use a spoon or your hands to mix well into a wet crumb. Place baking paper into a cake tin. Pour this mixture into the tin and then press it down with your hands. Place the tin into the freezer while you make the 2nd layer.

Second layer. Place the peanut butter and coconut cream into a pan and heat gently while using a spoon to combine these ingredients into a smooth blend. Once blended, turn off the stove and add the salt and honey and stir well. Next, spoon this onto the base layer and then put the this back into the freezer while you make the top layer.

Top layer. Place the cacao butter into a pan and melt slowly on a low heat. Then remove from the stove and add the honey by stirring it in. Next add the cacao powder and salt and stir until silky smooth. Take the slice out of the freezer and then pour this chocolate layer on top. Then place the completed slice back into the freezer for 30-minutes. Remove from the freezer and cut it into slices roughly. Then place all the slice in a container in the freezer. Dip into it whenever you want a piece!

PS I can’t promise that your kids will not sneak into the freezer when you are not looking and scoff the lot. Or does that just happen at my place???

This recipe was kindly sponsored by 1839 Mānuka honey. To check out this silky smooth honey click HERE

Blog by Rachel Grunwell: Wellness expert, coach, yoga + mindfulness teacher, and wellness columnist for Good mag, Indulge mag, and the Herald online. Rachel is the author Balance: Food, Health + Happiness which boasts 30 global experts sharing science-based wisdom on how to live healthier and happier + 30 nourishing recipes. Find out more HERE.

1839 Manuka honey is triple churned so it is silky smooth and almost fluffy. There are no gritty bits! It just melts in your mouth. The stuff in the pouch is divine. It’s easy-peasy to squeeze it out.

April 18, 2019

Beetroot Energiser Juice

You’re guaranteed to feel virtuous after drinking this vibrant, refreshing juice

There are so many benefits to beetroot juice. Beets have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contain brain function-boosting vitamin B3 – and I also love how they taste in this drink.

April 18, 2019

Choc Bomb Indulgence

This nutrient-dense dessert jar will make you smile

This chocolate treat isn’t only divinely decadent, but boasts a host of superfood ingredients such as honey from The True Honey Co., who make a high-quality manuka honey that has wonderful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s also New Zealand-made and ethically harvested. Chia seeds are a hero ingredient, as well as being on-trend right now. These little powerhouses are a great source of protein, fibre and omega 3, just to name some benefits. However, the ultimate hero will be you, if you whip this recipe up for a loved one.

April 18, 2019

Blackberry Whip

Refreshing and delicious, treat yourself to our sin-free, all-natural iced dessert.

With summer is in sight, there’s nothing quite like a refreshing bowl of Blackberry Whip. This super quick and easy recipe, packed full of natural ingredients, is perfect for a mid-afternoon snack.

April 18, 2019

Pink berry delight

A deliciously filling berry drink to celebrate summer.

I sometimes make double the amount of this pretty pink drink and put the extra into a big glass jar in the fridge for another day. Often the kids get to it before I can, of course. The strawberry moustache can be a giveaway with my youngest son, Finn. The coconut milk will keep you full for a while by the way – so that’s why it’s satisfying. Did I mention it is mouth-wateringly delicious too? I know this because my kids – who I dub ‘the chief taste-testers’ – love it too. I love berries and it’s so much fun to find a farm where you can pick your own. Check out pickyourown.org to find a farm to visit when the fruit is in season. Take the family on the weekend and pick strawberries to eat and get lots for the freezer too. That way, you can make this recipe with the freshest produce while supporting a local business.

August 27, 2018

Strawberry Nice Cream soon on offer at Rotorua’s iconic Polynesian Spa

strawb smoothie

Article by Rachel Grunwell: Award-winning writer. Magazine wellness columnist for Good magazine, & Indulge magazine (the latter goes on the Herald on-line weekly). Yoga + meditation teacher & PT. Co-leader of the Mindful Moments retreats at Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa.

TripAdvisor recently named Rotorua as one of their top 10 best places in the world for travel experiences.

Rotorua got 4th place. Meanwhile, 1st place went to San Carlos, Costa Rica, 2nd place went to Kauai, Hawaii, in the USA, while, the 3rd place-getter was Tromso in Norway….

April 5, 2017

Hands at the ready Banana Chia Smoothie

banana-2

Connect with Rachel for giveaways, recipe and wellness inspo via Inspired Health’s Facebook & Instagram pages.

I love this smoothie as an afternoon snack sometimes – or after a long run. My son Finn likes it anytime! Those are his hands at the ready… He’s my chief-taste-tester (a hard job, but someone has to do it, right)?

The hero ingredient in this recipe is chia, which is a great source of protein, fibre and omega 3, just to name some benefits. Here’s the recipe…

Banana Chia Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 cups of milk (I use almond milk but you can use any kind)

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

1 teaspoon of honey

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

1 banana

1 teaspoon of ground linseed (if you have it in the cupboard, I sometimes leave this out)

½ teaspoon of vanilla bean powder

1 scoop protein powder (I use this for an extra protein boost sometimes, but you can leave it out if you wish).

¼ cup chia seeds (black or white)

Method:

Place all the ingredients (except the chia) into a blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the chia next and then leave the mixture in the fridge for roughly 20-minutes while the chia plumps up. Then get a spoon and scoop it out to enjoy! I sometimes put coconut and shaved dark chocolate on top too to garnish. Or it’s extra yummy with some yoghurt too!

Recipe by Rachel Grunwell – author of Balance: Food, health + Happiness. Follow Rachel via Facebook & Instagram.

Rach 02

March 12, 2017

Chocolate Dream Smoothie + Fuelling Kids Healthy

smoothie top image

See health & lifestyle inspiration & regular giveaways on InspiredHealth’s Facebook HERE & Instagram HERE.

By Rachel Grunwell

Try this delicious and nutrient-dense smoothie to fuel your family when it comes to snack-time. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free. The hero ingredient is raw maca powder, an amazing superfood which is made of real plant-based ingredients and is nourishing, healing, full of vitamins and gives an awesome energy boost. It’s derived from the maca roots (pervian gingseng by the way).

commonsense organics 2

Chocolate Dream Smoothie:

2 tablespoons of coconut yoghurt (we love Raglan Coconut Yoghurt’s new Banana & Chai flavour!)

1 cup water

1/3 cup raw cashews

1 frozen banana (Commonsense Organics stocks ethical and organic All Good bananas)

1 tablespoon Raw Maca Powder (we love the Ceres Organics brand)

2 tablespoons cacao powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder

Method: Use a spoon to put the yoghurt on the bottom and randomly on the inside of a small clean glass jar or cup (to give a marbled effect). Now leave this to the side.

Next, use a blender to blitz the water and cashews until smooth – then add in the banana, maca powder, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla bean powder to combine. Pour this mixture into the jar you’ve prepared, then add a straw (or dig it out with a spoon) and enjoy! Better still, double the recipe to share.

Tips on Snack ideas & the low-down on the ingredients:

A great tip for a snack idea for the kids after school is to whip up nutrient-rich smoothies. My kids often come home from school and usually request this – rather than biscuits or chips. It’s just become a healthy habit we’ve adopted in our house. The trick is to make them taste yum and make them with real and good ingredients that boost energy and health levels.

My kids are my “chief taste-testers” for my recipes I create for Good magazine by the way. So, they love tasting beetroot juices, kale smoothies to decadent yet nutritionally-smart chocolate creations. If smoothies are made well, they go down well (and you can hear the straws slurping up the dregs!)

I used ingredients from Commonsense Organics – an organic retailer selling organic, allergy-aware and environmentally-friendly products. This company does “good stuff”. I love that financial profit is not their sole driver; They stock fresh products that consider the wider community and environment. They care about the whole process from garden-to-table and how workers, suppliers and customers are treated (the owners believe this is “ common sense”). So, when it comes to values, Commonsense Organics comes up trumps. I love to shop at their store in Mt Eden, Auckland. They’re also got five stores in Wellington.

Shop for the ingredients for this smoothie by clicking HERE.

commonsense organics 3

Rachel is a wellness writer, columnist and recipe creator for Good magazine and also runs the lifestyle website inspiredhealth.co.nz. She’s the wellbeing ambassador for Cigna too. Follow her on InspiredHealth’s Facebook & Instagram.

Rach 02

‹ Prev 123 4 5 Next ›Last »