A couple of weeks ago we waxed lyrical about the joys – and simplicity – of eating with the seasons. Even better, how easy it is to grow things at home, to enjoy straight from your garden or kitchen windowsill. Yes really! If you missed it, click here. 

 

While people tend to think about all things salad, particularly at this time of year, herbs are just as easy to grow. Even better, you’ll often find pots of them at your local supermarket, if you don’t want to wait (!) or grow your own from seed. Not only do they taste great – and are nothing like their dried counterparts – but have a host of health benefits too. 

 

So, this week, we’re going to take a quick look at three herbs which are used in most kitchens – at some time at least – and are easy to grow. Parsley. Mint. Basil. 

We have a very good friend to thank for the inspiration for this week’s blog post – she knows who she is (!). She has a great gift for making seemingly innocuous statements – or asking simple questions – which are then guaranteed to get you thinking. And this is a great example of one of them. 

 

It all started with her making a very simple observation. That people seem to be very good at saying “no” but seem to find it much harder to say “yes”. And it doesn’t seem to matter what it is. For some reason, our automatic reflex response seems to be “no.” Why is this? 

 

Well, we’d say there are many reasons for this – probably as many as there are people (!) – but a big one is that we prefer to stick with the routine and predictable. Know what’s likely to happen rather than stepping outside our comfort zone. 

With the recent bout of warm weather, we were very tempted to write about one of our pet subjects this week. And there are no prizes for guessing what it is. Water and the importance of keeping properly hydrated all year round (!). Not just when the weather is hot, although it’s much easier to take the hint at this time of year… 

 

To us it’s very obvious but, from the calls we get from Clients, it seems the message still isn’t getting through. If you need a quick reminder about the importance of water, as well as the signs you may be dehydrated, click here. 

 

Following on from this is a very common sign of dehydration which also features regularly in calls from Clients at this time of year. Cramp, particularly those excruciating leg cramps which always seem to come on in the middle of the night. Again, if you need a quick reminder, click here. 

 

Which neatly brings us on to what we’d like to talk about today. True, it’s another of our pet subjects but, as always, there is method in our madness. Yes, really! 

We all do it at times and, before you ask, that includes us too (!).  

 

Find ourselves reaching for our favourite little treat or comfort food, before we’ve realised what we’re doing. 

 

Often, it’s something sweet or chocolate related – or both (!) – although it doesn’t have to be. Something savoury, crisps or a sneaky sausage roll, seem to be just as popular. 

 

Whatever it is, we easily convince ourselves that it’s what we need RIGHT NOW – and it’s all too easy to have just one more or for it to become a regular part of our day… 

 

Now, despite what some people might think (!), we’re not complete killjoys and saying you can’t have a treat from time to time. But BEFORE your hand reaches the packet (!) just pause for a moment. Notice how you’re really feeling RIGHT NOW. Why you feel you need a treat RIGHT NOW. 

Food diets and crazes may come and go but some mantras seem to stand the test of time. Having your five a day is a great example – although this is only a starting point and not nearly enough (!) – which leads us neatly on to what we’d like to talk about today. Fibre, also known as “roughage”. 

 

It may not be the most exciting of subjects, but fibre is universally seen as a “good thing”. An important part of a healthy diet. Interestingly, we tend to focus on its ability to fill us up – so stopping us reaching for sugary snacks between meals – as well as slowing down the rate that food is broken down and absorbed. In other words, it helps stop the “sugar high” following sugar laden meals or snacks. At the same time, it’s important for – as it’s rather euphemistically called – “regular movements” and we’ll leave the rest to your imagination… 

 

However, there’s another aspect to fibre we’d like to talk about today, which tends to get overlooked. In fact, we can almost guarantee you won’t have thought of it in these terms before (!).