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simplynatalielaura

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Simply Natalie Laura

Green & Gold Pavlova

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Happy Australia Day!

Pavlovas are easy to put together, quick to create & the only wait time is the hour or so it takes to bake. This is also a sugar-free recipe, so perfect if you’re trying to cut back on the sweet stuff!

To make our ‘Pav’ a bit more Aussie we added green & gold food colouring to the whipped egg whites. If you’ve never made a Pavlova before just remember to make your the egg whites are beaten within an inch of their life.  They need to be super thick peaked in that bowl!!
You will need:
6 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
2 tbsp cornflour
1/4 cup Natvia for Baking
Green & Gold food dye

Preheat a fan forced oven to 120 degrees.
Using an electric mixer beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. This should take at least 6-8 minutes. But by bit sprinkle in the remaining dry ingredients while continuing to beat the mixture. 

Once thoroughly combined, use a spoon to split the egg whites in half. Using a spoon in each add a couple of drops of food dye to each bowl. One green, one gold. The colours will darken one they’re in the oven so don’t add too much dye as it will add too much moisture to the mixture.

Line a baking tray with baking paper and slowly dollop spoonfuls of the coloured mix in a circular pattern. Be creative & alternate the colours too. The egg whites should stay in position & easily sit atop of each other if they have been whipped enough. 

Place your finished Pavlova design into the oven & let it bake for an hour. 

Once baked- it should be hard & crisp to the touch on the outside, fluffy inside, use a skewer to test.
Allow the Pav to cool in the oven with the door ajar for about 20 minutes & then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve with whipped cream & mangos & kiwi fruit for added Green & Gold.
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Simply Natalie Laura

1,000 Calorie Meal Plan

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I’ve created a few base 1,000 calorie meal plans.  This should be used as a standard plan & then extra calories added. Aiming for a minimum of 1,200 calories tends to be recommended if you’re looking to lose weight. 

Depending on your weightloss goals just add foods to these plans with nutritions extras & lots of fresh fruit & vegetables.

Just remember to balance your eating with fun, motivating exercise. Take those extra few steps to the car or go for a walk at your local park.



Breakfast: 

5 egg whites & 1/4 cup almond milk to create a scramble.
1/2 cup fat free Greek yoghurt
229calories 1g fat 38g protein

Snack: 

1 cup of strawberries 1 banana 
143 calories 3g protein 1g fat 

Lunch:
 
2 cups fruit salad consisting of Apple, Banana, Watermelon & Kiwi
192 calories 1g fat 2g protein

Snack: 

2 Peanut Protein Balls- recipe on my blog
110 calories 6g protein

Dinner:

150g Steamed white fish sprinkled with your favourite fresh herbs & served with two cups of steamed vegetables consisting of Broccoli, Green Beans & Zucchini & a drizzle of olive oil.
231 calories 6g fat 33g protein

Dessert: 

Fat Free Chobani Yoghurt of your choice
143 calories 0g fat 14g protein 


Total: 1048 calories

Add your own twist to the meals listed. Maybe add some lentils or extra vegetables to the dish.


Breakfast: 

1 cup of blueberries, 1 small Apple
4 egg whites scrambled.
261 cals 19g protein 1g fat

Snack: 

1 tub Chobani Greek Yoghurt with 1 tbs sultanas 
176 cals 0 fat 18g protein

Lunch:  

1 serve grilled chicken breast skin off, coated in lemon juice & fresh herbs with 1 cup steamed green vegetables
220 cals 4g fat 26g protein 
 

Snack:

1 Carrot & 1 Celery rib cut into sticks with 30g low fat hommus 
126 cals 3g fat 4g protein
 

Dinner: 

Small baked potato topped with 200g low fat cottage cheese & a small side of garden salad with fat free dressing. 
 288 cals 6g fat 24g protein
 
Total: 1071 calories

Enjoy the food you eat. Don’t restrict yourself to certain food groups, or to the current fad.


Breakfast: 

1/2 a grapefruit, 1 cup strawberries 
105 cals 1 g fat 2g protein
 
Snack:

2 Peanut Protein Balls- recipe on my blog
110 calories 6g protein

Lunch: 

2 cups lettuce, 2 cups rocket, 1 sliced tomato, 420g corn kernels, drizzle of olive oil, topped with 2 egg whites 

Quest Protein Bar 
 
360 cals 13g fat 36g protein
 

Snack: 

Fat Free Chobani Yoghurt of your choice
143 cals 0g fat 14g protein 

Dinner:

1 small salmon fillet marinated in 1 tsp agave & juice of 1/2 a lemon served with a 1cup spinach, 1 cup lettuce & 100g  asparagus mixed into a salad.
 291 cals 14g fat 30g protein
 
 
Total: 1009 calories
 


vegan, vegetarian

Healthy Nutella

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Homemade is always better than processed, packaged foods. Making foods yourself allows sugar and fat control. Along with what ingredients you wish to incorporate.

I decided on my version of Nutella as I was craving something sweet, but also didn’t want the added empty calories.

You will need:
2 cups raw unshelled hazelnuts
4 tbs unsweetened cocoa
2 tbs honey
3 tbs melted coconut oil

Preheat oven to 150 degrees celcius and spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast for 10-15 minutes. You will know the nuts are ready when you see the skins flaking.
Let the hazelnuts cool and them rub them between a couple of sheets of paper towel to remove the skins. You may have to do this one handful at a time.

Place the nuts into a food processor and blend until the nuts create a thick butter. They will begin to release their natural oils and become liquidy.

Once creamy add the coconut oil, honey & cocoa. I used Manuka honey for added health benefits but agave or brown rice syrups would work just as well if you’re vegan.

Add any extra sweetener to your taste.

Your ‘Nutella’ will store in the fridge for up to two weeks. Leave at room temperature before spreading!

Simply Natalie Laura

Pretzel Sticks

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These were such a treat for my work buddies! I made a batch & then ended up tripling it a couple of weeks later for all the team to enjoy.

You will need:
2 blocks of dark chocolate
1 packet of large pretzel rods
Toppings of your choice- 
I used crushed peanuts, sprinkles, flaked almonds & candied cake toppings.

Melt the chocolate using a heatproof bowl, sitting atop a pot of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water.

Once the chocolate has completely liquified use a spoon to coat 3/4 of each pretzel rod.

Place each coated rod onto a tray lined with baking paper & refrigerate. 

Once hardened repeat the process so each stick has been double coated in chocolate, but before placing on the baking paper coat each chocolate coated stick in whatever topping you have chosen. A spoon is helpful to coat the entire stick. Place down quickly on the tray & refrigerate.

This recipe yields about 15-20 sticks depending on the pretzel size. I found large ones from Maxi Foods in Ferntree Gully. These can easily be made in ‘mini’ form using standard sticks.

The mix of the salt from the sticks & the sweetness of the chocolate makes them a fun and indulgent treat. And the best part is they’re so easy & cheap to create.
The pretzels should be refrigerated if it’s a warm day but will store for up to a week in an airtight container in the pantry.

Definitely a ‘sometimes’ food though!

vegan

Nutrition Station

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Have you visited the Nutrition Station at Doncaster Shopping Centre?

If you haven’t get down there & check them out!

The customer service is outstanding & the staff were more than happy to show off their range of products & explain to me their food & drink options. The gentleman working brought out menus of their regular food products- unfortunately their supplier was closed over the Christmas period so there wasn’t any meals to sample, but the variety was huge!

 

Nutrition Station also have a loyalty program that works on a points system, for every dollar spent. Trust me, it will be easy to spend dollars at this place as Nutrition Station cater for literally all your health needs! 

The menu displays a vast variety of basic shakes, smoothies, foods & prepacked meals. 

There’s a decent selection of Vegan Smoothies- I chose the Vegan Vigor- protein, coconut water, raw multi powder, walnuts, chia seeds, cinnamon, berries & banana. The drink was well priced and of decent size.

All calories & protein are listed on each menu item for all sizes which is great of you’re on a macro budget.
There’s some delicious acai bowls & frozen protein yoghurts to chose from too.

The Nutrition Station is young, vibrant & has a fresh feeling about it. The menu is inviting & the staff passionate about what they’re doing. Hopefully this company will pop up at more shopping centres in Melbourne, giving those looking for better, healthier options the chance to indulge in something great tasting & nutritional.