I've already expressed my love for coffee - what I haven't expressed is my new ingredient that I now add to my daily dose of caffeine. I've done a solid month adding a teaspoon of coconut oil in my morning brew. Gross right? that's what I used to think.  Well what I didn't know is that the taste is barely there yet the effect of the coconut oil on the body is surely visible - let's just say that my body has been thanking me recently and in a number of ways. The plus side is that you cannot even tell the difference to your usual mug of coffee.  Below are a few reasons why you should get on board with this new version of coffee and how it can help you in more ways than one:


1) Stabilises Insulin Levels

Let's be honest for those who are naturally an anxious and stressed out person, they usually recommend we stay away from caffeinated drinks as even a simple cup of coffee could easily increase and trigger your insulin levels. I would never have given up on my morning cup but the awesome part in all this now is that there's a remedy after all,  by the magic touch of coconut oil you get to enjoy your cup of coffee which in turn won't spike up your insulin levels and will keep you calm and to enjoy it stress free!

2) Increases Metabolism and Helps with Digestion

It's amazing at regulating your bowel movement and to help you break down the food throughout the day. Healthy gut = healthy mind.

3) Good for Hair and Nails

Ever since I was young, I've been guilty of sometimes having a bad habit of biting my nails when I get super stressed. Incorporating coconut oil has played a positive effect on growing and making brittle, short nails look healthy and strong again. Also, it has been super beneficial to promote hair growth and to keep that shine and make your hair look healthier without a fuss.

4) Aids in Weight loss

Coconut oil is full of saturated fats - before you panic... it's the GOOD kind - which is perfect for keeping you fuller for longer and adding it to your morning drink just helps with keeping you on track for the day ahead. You'll find yourself snacking less as it will naturally reduce your hunger.

5) Contains MCT

Coconut oil contains  medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), most of the fats and oils that we usually ingest are known to be long-chain triglycerides. This is what sets coconut oil aside from all other fats and oils out there. Most medicines are considered to be with Medium chain triglycerides which results that coconut could have healing properties on the body. The oil is also known to be anti- bacterial, anti-viral and anti- fungal a lot of anti's they must be doing something right!


WHAT'S THE IDEAL DOSAGE OF COCONUT OIL ONE CAN TAKE A DAY? 

They say you can go up to maximum two tablespoons of coconut oil each day which can maximise the effect of seeing the benefits faster. What I recommend to each his own - it's about finding out how much your body can tolerate. At the end of the day you have to listen to your own body, some might be able to do with a higher dosage and others might not react well to the coconut oil and you can react badly. For me x1tsp in my coffee works wonders I don't feel like more is necessary, however, I would add extra here and there whilst cooking so I would say I round up to a heaped table spoon per day. Add it gradually to your diet, everything in moderation don't over do it as at the end of the day it is still considered a fat.

Oatmeal has always been a love and hate relationship for me - there are months on end where I can't do a day without tucking into a nice bowl of porridge in the morning. Other times, it's so passé and I just get super fed up of the same thing every morning. One thing I love about oats is the way it keeps me going up until lunch time, especially on a busy day it stabilises my sugar levels and the complex carbohydrates keep me fuller for longer whilst breaking down in the body all throughout the morning which also helps releasing energy throughout the whole day. Oatmeal is super beneficial in different ways than one. They have a number of nutritional value which makes them perfect if you're trying to boost your micro nutrients,  they are especially high in magnesium and vitamin B which also helps with maintaining your stress levels and mental health. The grain that keeps you fuller for longer in result can also aid in weight loss as well as relieving constipation - with another major factor that oats are resourcefully known to be beneficial towards our skin, especially those who suffer with eczema. In fact, most cream products contains oats either as an added ingredient or as the main ingredient - this gives us a good reason to incorporate it more into our diets.

The weather in my opinion plays a massive factor in enjoying a bowl of oatmeal depending on if you up for something warm or cold, heavy or light. For some the thought of porridge sounds nasty and for those who want to mix it up from time to time like myself -  below I will show you various ways you can incorporate it into your breakfast routine appropriate for any season throughout the year. This gives the traditional bowl a modern twist where one will still be able to reap off the advantages just the same and switch up their breakfast from time to time to keep things interesting!

It's like god knows how many degrees at the moment here in Malta, definitely a summer time favourite for me right now.  This smoothie mix is a life saver, simple, straight to the point and SO damn delicious! It's surprising how the saying 'less is more' isn't just for fashion taste. You can drink this straight up or have it as your base for your smoothie bowl where you can then add your fruit of choice along with some granola to make it more filling and satiated. 

These bad boys are super easy to make and super easy to grab -snack & go! just place them in the fridge for the week ahead and take a few with a fruit for breakfast/ coffee or whilst rushing out of the front door. They are so efficient, tasty and healthy, it's almost as if you're eating a sweet treat for breakfast and I know many like having sugary things in the morning -  This I assure you does the trick nicely with no added harm to your health or waistline and can I just say that peanut butter = SO good. 

HOW TO: once you blend the mixture blending not necessary you can mix and have the rough texture of oats if you prefer - I like both plus same ingredients = same taste. Place mixture in the fridge for twenty minutes before rolling into balls of your size and then store in an air tight container they should last you over a week if you go slow on the amount you take I take about two each breakfast with a banana on the side, yum.  

This is another god sent for these heatwaves that just keep passing by, having something so fresh first thing just puts you in the right mood from the first hour! This is also time friendly as all you have to do is prepare everything from the day before, add it to the fridge eat then and there or take it to enjoy at work. I have an obsession with this nut mixture at the moment - add fruit to the mix and it's a breakfast which will give you the energy you need, keep you full until lunch time and keep you satisfied and happy whilst still being healthy. 

Hello Stranger.. Or perhaps I have been the stranger in this equation. I never thought that after starting this blog, I would have taken more than a month break of not writing - as I just love doing it in my free time ; or more multi tasking as free time has been limited these last few months. However, 2017 has definitely printed it's mark already. If you have been following my blog - you would have read that since the start of this year I had a bit of a rough start - by the time I got to find my feet, I had to go through other several changes recently such as mourning a loss, leaving a whole life/country behind and starting from scratch. With that it entailed me quitting my job and having to say bye to a few people who have become like family these last few months so it wasn't easy to pack up six-years in a nutshell and pretend that life can just go on with no bruises along the way. Let's just say every time I got back up I got knocked the hell down twice over. Nonetheless, I am here now, might have taken me a bit longer to get here but it's important to listen to yourself and go at your own pace in anything that you do. This blog was a small project or diary if you'd like to call it that which I started for myself, and as much as I am writing in an open space - I wanted to keep it personal to myself and write my blog post with pure honesty and for this it's better to have quality rather than quantity - although I do apologise for my absence,  I can assure you that even I have felt it!

Whats the next step? At this point, who knows. Now that I have left my London life behind it's pretty much all about starting a new journey, which can be quite intense and daunting if I had to be completely honest, although at the same time can be quite exciting. I mean how often do we just get to start afresh? Ok granted, this is my home town - but having family here is just an added bonus. Although, finding an apartment is definitely a priority on my list - I need my own place... (I love you mom) I'm sure the feeling is mutual - after living alone it's hard to go back to living under someone else's roof. Although, being in my old room right now brings back such nostalgic memories and makes me feel like a kid all over again which I am not going to complain about but let's be honest; there's a limit of how long I can live like that. I need to snap back into adult life soon, at this point I'm just taking an adult holiday for a short while until I get things sorted and whilst I still have the opportunity to do so. Don't mind if I do.

A main key point and an important asset to have when starting over is organisation.  Here are a few of my tips to starting a new life and what we perhaps should do for an easier transition. Perhaps they may vary for you, or might be similar - at this point you can just take in and see what you might be able to gather from the below and my experiences.  

1) STRUCTURE PLAN YOUR FUTURE

First off, having an idea of which way you want your life to go is super important. Even if it's not precise, write down a few pointers as to what you would like to achieve and which direction more or less you want to take. It's true like myself, we might be at the stage where you have no idea what you are doing or in which route your life is heading towards but with a small vision and plan this can help in not feeling totally stressed and having a small inclination as to what to look forward to and work on - even if in time the plan changes along the way which 80% of it might change.  At least, like this it can help to look at things from a different perspective and evaluate.

2) MEET NEW PEOPLE 

This isn't particularly an easy one no matter how sociable you may be as a person. Meeting new people is very important on what you engage in and perhaps the best way will usually be once you start a new job. In my case, being back home I have several childhood friends which I am looking forward to have the opportunity to rekindle with again. However, I am open to meeting people and building new friendships, taking on a new step.

3) HAVE AN OPEN MIND 

Things will naturally be different, the way of doing things, places to go, certain habits. Especially changing country all together you have to take into consideration the different culture. Learn how to adapt to your surroundings and embrace change for every good and bad you had in your old life, try find the good and bad in your current situation - it's there you might have to dig to figure out what these things are. Accept that things will be different - different is good. You like it, take it in - you don't drop it, move on to something else.

4) TRY NEW THINGS 

Starting fresh, can be strenuous and God knows it is. Speaking first hand from my experience, try to incorporate a positive attitude towards the change despite of the mixed feelings you might be having, try look forward to what's to come. Starting over is the equivalent of doing new things - taking up activities you've always wanted to do or never had the time or courage to do so. Go for it, do new things. In my case I've been wanting to start boxing lessons - Something I've always thought about doing but never got around to doing. Maybe it's time.

5) MAKE A TO - DO - LIST 

Blah blah, here we go another to do list. haha - I have my whole life written in a list almost. The good old to-do-lists we swear by them or at them. I am definitely the former. Having so much on your mind when moving, can be very overwhelming. I had and still have a lot of errands to run following my return, from bank appointments to sorting out a new phone contract , to other important meetings. A to-do-list definitely keeps things at bay, it also helps you rank the importance of what you have to get done and how urgent it might be as well as helps to NOT forget, which without writing down sometimes is very plausible and might cost you something important or charge you a great deal if you forget to cancel certain old subscriptions. I've been there in the past - not going to let it happen to me this time.

6) UNDERGO A NEW LOOK 

Hmm... I'm still considering this one myself.  Sometimes when you're starting over why not go ALL the way and change your look in the process to match your new lifestyle.  I have been one to always play with my style / looks. Before leaving to London I remember cutting my locks from long hair straight into a pixie hairstyle and god knows I loved it but over the years I've alternated back and forth - I'm at the stage where my hair is now mid-length and questioning what is next on the agenda. Perhaps now that I'm tanned and back to a Mediterranean lifestyle I might return to blonde, love the glow it gives me especially in the summer time. Getting in better shape is also a major plan on the list. New life - New you.  

7) LOOK FORWARD 

Accept change. Most times, we start from fresh to leave something behind, perhaps it's a form of escape, sometimes we have no other choice to start from scratch. Whatever the case, at this point it's time to leave the past behind and it's good to just look forward and take on the next chapter. Focus on the present moment and look forward always not backwards. Remember, the decision you took to start fresh was for a reason. 

8) NOTHING IS SET IN STONE

Decisions that we make can always be undone - for the most part. In this scenario, if you decide to leave home or turn your life around in a complete 360 - there is always returning back if worst comes to worst. When I left to London - I always knew I could return home if I wanted to, with this in mind it enabled me to have fun and live in the moment knowing that I am in control of any situation - now that I have made the decision to return home even at this point, it doesn't mean this decision is definite. You never know which direction your life will take you or what opportunity might come along. Either way you can always amend your plans down the line. so Just focus on the experience and not fear of the big leap of faith that you decided to take, because you are in control of your own life and what you chose to do. 

9) BE INDEPENDENT

It's important that taking this step we often find ourselves alone. Trust yourself - and your intuition always do what you think is best for yourself,  just trust that you can do anything you put your mind to do. Try learn how to be with yourself and to please yourself without having to depend on anyone - it will make you stronger and feel more empowered that you can do this, whatever journey you decide to commence. 

10) HAVE FUN 

I have just done six years in London - SIX. what? Where has all that time gone? I still remember the day I embarked on this journey - it feels just under a year ago... I can't believe so much time has passed  - I guess I am starting to feel the absence that I have left at home since being back. It's important to make the most of each day, because  life is passing at a speed for all of us and before you know it we always move on to another chapter in our life with or without our consent. So no matter on the situation you are currently dealing with, be it good or bad it's always good to appreciate the life we living at the moment, as before we know it we always end up missing the good old days and wish to go back in time. Have fun - make new memories that you can always look back on - your future self will thank you for this one. 

Lunch was leftovers from the day before, when I cooked salmon with asparagus; I have to admit having it cold the next day was equally as good - this was a light refreshing take on a salad - lunch was sorted and with the breakfast in the morning i felt complete, carbs where not necessary. 

SNACK:

I only get a 20 minute break and i usually prioritise this to coffee, I know I'm crazy because I sometimes stay 10 minutes waiting in the queue, which leaves me 10 minutes then to sit down and relax, but this really helps me get on with my day. I usually get a regular soya cappucino however, there are times more often than not where I try to spice things up by getting either a caramel or vanilla latte. YUM

I left the best for last, if you had to ask me what one of my favourite dinners is, or what is the best thing about coming home - it's this dish of love my prawn pesto pasta! triple P's is what got me going through my day I couldn't wait to come home and tuck into this bowl of love. I added some fresh cherry tomatoes to the dish and it was golden, I usually eat this whilst watching a film and it can be the highlight of my whole entire day. I have this meal like once a week sometimes not even kidding, these jumbo prawns make my weekly shopping list!

As we are approaching the warmer months, I've been craving some refreshing salads. This feta lemon and quinoa salad seems perfect to enjoy outside whilst the sun is shining. There is just something super refreshing between feta, lemon juice that just adds so much flavour to this dish. This is the perfect midweek meal and carries well in a container to take to work for lunch and to provide you with the right energy yet still watching the waistline.  This can also work as the perfect side dish if it's to bring to a BBQ or just grilling up some normal chicken on the side but in all honesty meat isn't even needed to accompany this dish, you won't feel something missing. Lentils make up for a great meat alternative but you don't just have to be vegetarian to reap of their benefits. You know me  and my cooking standards lately - are very effortless. Lentils are so fast to prepare, are actually quite tasty and have so many beneficial health factors to them, for starters they are low in calories and have a high nutritional value filled with protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins, they are known to lower cholesterol, to be great for promoting heart health and are also considered a great food for weight loss.  I highly recommend switching a meat dish with a lentil substitute at least once a week and you'll notice the difference but surely not in the taste!

I just love adding lentils to my salads, stir fries and most recently with my quinoa - i just feel like they compliment each other quite nicely and it helps keep you fuller longer. Eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean  cutting out on good, tasty food - I hope you enjoy this small quinoa salad below and let me know how you like to incorporate your lentils into your diet!

HOW TO:

Add some music, make yourself a refreshing beverage and enjoy this outside on a bench in the garden like I did. This was a heavenly feeling. It's impressive how the sun can boost your moral in an instant, eating revitalising food such as this quinoa bowl is just an added bonus. If like me most days, you have to eat lunch on the go at work, just try eat this in some fresh air if possible and notice how it will give you an energy boost for the rest of your day either way: BON APPETIT.