Healthy habits // Energy-booster recipes for a great start to the year

Hello there,

It’s Blandine over from Food Moods. I was delighted when Marta contacted me to ask if I’d like to guest post again on Surfragette. 

First and foremost, I wish you all a happy, abundant and joyful New Year!

After the holiday season, January is the perfect time to take on new healthy habits, look after yourself and get into shape for the surf season ahead.

To boost your immune system for winter, make sure you get enough sleep, exposure to sun light, gentle exercise (walking, swimming and yoga are all good), and the right type of food for this time of year. A sufficient intake of vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables (kiwis, citrus fruits, cabbage, onions and garlic), antioxidant-rich vitamin E (found in nuts, seeds and oil), zinc (wheat germ, spinach, mushrooms) and probiotics will help you get through winter on top form. 

I like the idea of making small changes everyday to lead a healthier life, so I’ve come up with two easy recipes to get you started on this journey.

After-surf hot chocolate recipe (the Italian way)

With winter season in full swing, I can't help getting lazy when I think about those harsh winter sessions with howling wind in freezing cold water. Apart from the stoke of this cold season surf (see 12 reasons to go surfing in winter and Some things you didn't know about winter surfers), one of my favorite moments is sharing a cup of hot chocolate after the session with a few friends, reminding of the waves we just had.

From the first time I landed to France, I've been hearing people talking about hot chocolate as a national pride. I never hid my disappointment. Don't get me wrong, it is delicious indeed, but as proud Italian I've always preferred the Italian version, thicker and way more chocolatey...

Today I'd like to share with you the recipe of the real Italian hot chocolate, to get the atmosphere cozy this winter season.

Cherry Acai Bowl recipe

Hi there! Recently I got a new addiction and the hot weather doesn't help. A few months ago a new place opened in Biarritz. It's named Biarritz Bali Bowls and makes all these super healthy and delicious acai bowls that make you dream of tropical beaches and palm tees.... I'm completely hooked!

So, when Blandine from Food Moods asked me to share her super yummi Cherry Acai Bowl recipe I was so stoked. Who am I to say no to acai bowls??!
So today we learn how to make this super food which will make you cry for joy at every mouthful :)

Infused water three ways

Recently the weather has been crazy. We shifted from 17°C to 34°C in just a few days! We weren't really ready for that, but still we managed to enjoy the warm and sunny weather, being in the water as much as possible and having apéro watching the sunset...

When it's so hot, two of the most important things to do are getting in the water and hydrate. But I'm not really used to drink so much water during the day (my bad!). So, I decided to make infused water! It is so good and makes your drinking routine easier and waaay better!

Today I will share three yummy infused water recipes I tried these past days to fight the hot weather. They're so easy to make and I'm sure you'll get addicted soon!

Post-workout Mixed Nuts Bar

Hi there! During the past months I've been trying to follow a healthier lifestyle, which means a lot of workout and healthy meals. But after so much surfing and exercising, I always find hard not to put my hands on anything edible and possibly sweet (guilty face)! Then I have a boyfriend who craves chocolate every time of the day....

That's why I asked my friends at the evening glow to share with us a yummy yet nourishing and easy-to-make snack to eat right after sport or any other outdoor activities.
Their blog is filled with delicious recipes and inspiring travel stories and is definitely a great match for Surfragette's vibes. I could'n not fall in love! :)
I can't wait to try their recipe out!

Winter Chai Latte recipe

Ok, we have to admit. In the Northern hemisphere winter has come. Which is all good for the whole Christmas atmosphere... A little less for our frozen toes during the latest surf sessions!

Anyways, here in Southern France we've been a little spoiled these recent weeks and the sun shone like it was still mid fall. But this didn't keep us from indulging a little in winter decoration and treats :)

This leads to today's topic, which is a super easy and delicious Chai Latte recipe! It was the first time with Chai Latte for me and I definitely wanted to share my recipe with you :) I've been wanting to try it for a long time and I was totally satisfied by its coziness and delicate spicy aroma. Better sipped around the fireplace after a cold winter surf session...

Ok let's go!

Fall vibes + a recipe

Last couple of days felt like the first real weekend of fall. Cloudy sky, little sea-breeze, sleepy mood... The waves were good but not amazing, so after surfing Andrea and I spent our time just being lazy at home. We changed the duvet into a warmer one and it just seemed that summer was far back already.
It's kinda sad to say goodbye to my favorite season, but it was good to embrace fall and feeling that sort of coziness you can only have from now on.

One morning we decided to tide up a little our groceries and spices home storage and the house was suddenly filled with the tasty aroma of the Calabrian oregano coming from Italy.

Its taste, color and smell all around us definitely made me feel like fall was finally there!

And since the fall vibe was already there, I decided to stay in the mood and prepare a healthy and cozy soup for dinner. It was too tasty to be true! Normally it takes me at least a couple of tests before finding the right recipe, but this time it was good at the first try and the soup was delicious! (Andrea confirms that)

So I decided to share the recipe here with you to celebrate the happening (eheh) and give you a yummy idea to eat your veggies during these moody fall days. It has a little oriental feeling that you are going to love :)

Ingredients (serve 4 people):

5 carrots

2 potatoes

1 vegetable stock cube

200 ml coconut milk

2 glasses of water

3 tbs curry

1 tbs cumin

1-2 tbs salt

Cook the carrots and the potatoes in boiling water with a vegetable stock cube until they soften.

Drain vegetables and blend them (I used an immersion blender) with water and coconut milk.

Add your spices and salt little by little, adjusting depending on how you like it.
If your soup is too thick you can add some more water until you find the right texture.
Put your soup in a pot to warm over medium heat and serve hot.

I hope you like it! It is very simple, but the spices gives it that little touch that will make your tastebuds happy! :)
Let me know if you try it! I can't wait to hear from you!

xo

Fall smoothies recipes

Summer is not over yet, but fall is approaching and with it lots of new swells are coming! That's why we all need to get ready and fully charged to ride towards the upcoming season.

I thought the right way to do that was to celebrate with some autumn fresh fruits and deliciousness.

Here I found three fall smoothies recipes you are going to love. They're so easy and extremely tasty!
You can make them for breakfast before going to the beach or you can sip them between two sessions ;)

Fig, Pistachio & Roasted Strawberry Smoothie (via Free People)

Ingredients:

3-4 fresh black figs

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, halved and roasted at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, cooled

1 medium banana, sliced and frozen

1 cup coconut milk, or milk of choice

Toppings:

1 tbsp chopped pistachios

1 tsp hemp seeds

1 tbsp granola 

1 tsp sliced almonds

Sliced fresh figs

Banana spears

Honey

Roast and cool the strawberries. Combine strawberries, fresh figs, frozen banana pieces and coconut milk in a blender until smooth.

Pour into your glass and top with fresh figs, crushed pistachios, banana spears, sliced almonds, hemp seeds and granola. Serve and consume it immediately.

See the full recipe here


Pumpkin Oatmeal Smoothie (via A Happy Food Dance)

Ingredients:
½ cup old fashioned oats
1 cup almond milk
6 ounce greek yogurt
2 bananas
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 teaspoons honey, depending on sweetness preference
4-6 ice cubes

In a blender, add the oats and bend until oats are a fine powder.
Add the rest of the ingredients, starting with the milk and finishing with the ice cubes.
If you are using frozen bananas, you can omit the ice cubes.
Blend until smooth and serve immediately.

See the original recipe here


Apple and dates smoothie (via Mitzy At Home)

Ingredients:
240 ml (1 cup) milk (I used low-fat cow’s milk)
1 medium banana, peeled
2 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into large chunks
6 dates
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix on high until you get a creamy smoothie.
See if it needs more mixing and if the texture is good for you serve and enjoy!

See the recipe here



I hope you like them! I'll definitely try them out and let you know ;)
Do you have some favorite recharging food for fall?
xo

Guilt-free salad recipe

I don't know if I ever told you so, but I am not really the "fitness/salad addicted" kind of girl. I like dessert after dinner everyday and having some great home made pasta when I'm back from work. The Italian way baby! ;)

That being said, over the past year I enderstood how being healthy and - possibly - fit can improve your lifestyle and, of course, your overall surfing experience.

That's why last week I got my first gym membership subscription! Yes, my first! You're never too late, right?

Last Friday, after my morning training, I went back home starving! But I didn't want the guilt of a hypercaloric lunch to take over me. So, I decided to prepare my favorite salad and share the recipe here with you.

This salad is not just healthy and beautiful to see, but also really easy to make, super duper delicious and fuel for your body!!!

Ready?

You need:

• one or two carrots (depending on how hungry you are)
• one of half avocado (see above)
• 3 sticks of surimi
• the juice of half a lemon
• olive oil
• salt

Clean and rape the carrots. 

Peel, slice the avocado and cut it in bits. 

Cut the surimi sticks into thin slices. 

Add the avocado and the surimi to the carrots.

Squeeze some lemon juice and add olive oil and salt.

Easy peasy!

Now you can enjoy and make a full of energy after your workout! :)

Do you have some other healthy recipes you want to share? What do you usually have after your workout? 

You can share your experience on the comments below :)

xx


Credits // Author // Photography: Marta Tomasini