Naomi's Healthful Habits

28/11/2025

🍎 Naomi’s Hot Apple Cider (Healthy & Spiced)

Ingredients (1–2 cups):

1 apple, sliced (Pink Lady or Honeycrisp work beautifully)

1 cinnamon stick

2–3 whole cloves

½ tsp ground turmeric (optional, for antioxidants + colour)

Small k**b of fresh ginger, sliced

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup water

Optional: squeeze of lemon at the end

Method:

1. Add apple slices, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, ginger, vanilla, and water to a small pot.

2. Bring to a gentle simmer — don’t boil hard (keeps the nutrients and flavour).

3. Simmer 10–15 minutes until the apples soften and the flavour infuses.

4. Strain into a mug.

5. Add a small squeeze of lemon if you like a bright finish.

Why it’s good for you:

The apples themselves give a subtle natural sweetness.

Cinnamon helps stabilise blood sugar.

Ginger reduces inflammation.

Warm spices support digestion — perfect after meals.

Turmeric adds antioxidants and gives your drink a golden glow.

Naomi 💚

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

A colourful, balanced plate to nourish my afternoon 💚

Today’s brunch was simple, wholesome, and packed with nutrients:
pan-seared tofu, eggs with green beans and peas, and a side of fermented red cabbage.

Why this works so well for energy + gut health:
• Tofu – a great plant-based protein that’s light yet satisfying, and rich in iron and calcium.
• Eggs – complete protein, choline for brain health, and steady energy.
• Greens (beans + peas) – fibre, vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants to keep digestion moving and support immunity.
• Fermented cabbage – a natural probiotic that feeds your gut, boosts digestion, and adds that beautiful colour.

I love meals like this — quick to make, high in protein, packed with fibre, and full of colour. Real food that leaves you feeling light, clear, and nourished.

Naomi 💚

25/11/2025

Wild red snapper, red cabbage and tomatoes — all the reds today ❤️💜

I threw this together with:
Wild red snapper
Red cabbage
Sweet cherry tomatoes
Garlic, lemon, extra virgin olive oil
A generous sprinkle of sumac, salt + pepper

Why this meal works so well for your body:
🔸 Wild red snapper is a lean, clean protein rich in selenium and B vitamins — supportive for energy, hormones and a healthy metabolism.
🔸 Red cabbage is one of the most powerful cruciferous veggies. It’s packed with vitamin C, fibre and anthocyanins that help reduce inflammation and support liver detox pathways.
🔸 Tomatoes bring lycopene, an antioxidant known for heart health, skin health and protecting against oxidative stress — perfect in summer.
🔸 Sumac adds a gorgeous lemony flavour and is naturally high in polyphenols, which balance blood sugar and support digestion.
🔸 Garlic + lemon + extra virgin olive oil create that Mediterranean-style magic: immune-supporting, anti-inflammatory and great for digestion.

Colourful, simple, nourishing — exactly how I love to eat. 😋
Eating the rainbow really does make a difference. 💛
Naomi 💚

24/11/2025

Tonight’s simple, wholesome plate ☀️
Tofu, blistered tomatoes, creamy goat curd, seaweed flakes, salt, pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil 😋

I love meals like this — colourful, light, and full of nutrients without spending ages in the kitchen.

💛 Why this works so well for your body:
• Tofu gives you plant-based protein and calcium without feeling heavy.
• Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that supports skin, heart and hormone health.
• Goat curd is gentler on digestion, with a lovely creamy tang and a boost of protein.
• Seaweed flakes add natural iodine and trace minerals many of us don’t get enough of.
• Extra virgin olive oil brings healthy fats to keep your hormones balanced and help absorb all those antioxidants.

A nourishing, Mediterranean-style meal made in minutes… my kind of summer dinner 😋

Naomi 💚

23/11/2025

Not All Cheeses Contain Lactose 🧀

If you’re lactose-sensitive but still love a little cheese, there’s good news.
Many traditional cheeses naturally become very low in lactose during the fermentation and ageing process — meaning most people can enjoy them without digestive issues.

Why?
When cheese is made, most of the lactose drains away with the whey.
The small amount left behind is then “eaten” by the bacteria during fermentation.
The longer a cheese ages, the less lactose remains.

Cheeses that are generally well-tolerated:

Parmesan

Pecorino (sheep’s milk, very low in lactose)

Gruyère

Gouda

Brie

Camembert

Havarti

These usually contain trace amounts of lactose — often less than 0.1g per 100g, which most people can comfortably digest.

A small note on Feta:

Traditional Greek feta (sheep and goat milk) is lower in lactose than cow’s milk cheeses, but it can still contain small amounts. Some people tolerate it well, others don’t.

Key takeaway:

If you’re choosing cheese, go for aged, fermented varieties. They offer beautiful flavour, a little protein and calcium, and are naturally low in lactose without any processing.

Naomi 💚

23/11/2025

Buckwheat pasta with tomatoes, herbs, extra virgin olive oil and nutritional yeast 🍅

A bowl like this might look simple, but it’s incredibly nutrient-dense and supportive of balanced blood sugar and steady energy — something I’m so passionate about.

🌾 Why buckwheat?
Despite the name, buckwheat is naturally gluten-free. It’s rich in magnesium, rutin (a powerful antioxidant for blood vessels), and it has a low–moderate glycaemic impact when paired with healthy fats and vegetables. Perfect for keeping energy stable.

🍅 Tomatoes
Tomatoes bring lycopene, a potent antioxidant linked to heart and skin health. Cooking them — like in this sauce — actually increases lycopene availability.

🌿 Fresh herbs (basil, parsley, coriander)
Fresh herbs aren’t just for flavour. They’re rich in vitamins A, C, K and natural plant compounds that support digestion, detoxification and immunity.
Parsley helps with fluid balance and iron absorption, basil supports digestion, and coriander may help the body excrete heavy metals.

🫒 Extra virgin olive oil
One of the stars of the Mediterranean lifestyle I’ve been leaning into this summer. Packed with polyphenols that reduce inflammation and support brain and heart health.

😋 Nutritional yeast
A beautiful plant-based source of B-vitamins and a “cheesy” flavour without dairy. It adds depth and boosts the meal’s nutrient profile.

Balanced, colourful, and real — exactly how I love to eat. 💛

Naomi 💚

22/11/2025

A colourful, nourishing plate for lunch today 💛

I threw together some scrambled eggs with kale, cherry tomatoes and white beans — such a simple mix, but honestly one of the easiest ways to get a balanced, satisfying meal.

What I love about this combination is how naturally it ticks all the boxes:
• Protein from the eggs and beans to keep me full
• Fibre from the kale and beans for steady energy and gut health
• Antioxidants from those gorgeous tomatoes
• A little extra virgin olive oil for healthy fats and flavour

It reminded me (again!) that eating well doesn’t need to be fancy — just whole foods, colour on your plate, and ingredients that make your body feel good.

The more I choose meals like this, the more energy, clarity and balance I feel throughout the day.

Naomi 💚

20/11/2025

My little shadow, my little heart. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing him this peaceful.

19/11/2025

Simple Mediterranean Chicken with Sumac
A perfect summer recipe 🍗🌞
Ingredients
Chicken thighs or breast
1–2 tsp sumac
Extra virgin olive oil
Garlic (crushed)
Salt
Pepper
Optional: oregano, paprika, chilli flakes
Method
Coat chicken with evoo, garlic, and spices.
Add a generous sprinkle of sumac.
Marinate 20 minutes (or longer).
Roast, grill, or air-fry until golden.
Finish with another tiny sprinkle of sumac before serving.
Serve with: ✔ Roasted vegetables ✔ Tabbouli ✔ Grilled zucchini ✔ Hummus + cucumber salad ✔ A squeeze of lemon if you want extra brightness

Naomi 💚

19/11/2025

My mid-morning cup of matcha 😋

A little ritual I’ve really come to love. Matcha gives you a gentle, steady energy without the jitters, plus it’s packed with antioxidants — especially EGCG, which supports brain health, metabolism and glowing skin.

I enjoy taking a quiet moment with it mid-morning… a small pause, a deep breath, and a reminder to nurture myself throughout the day.

Naomi 💚

16/11/2025

My Mediterranean Summer ☀️

This summer, I’ve decided to take a more Mediterranean approach to the way I eat and live. I’m starting with a deep dive into the history, lifestyle and beautiful recipes that make the Mediterranean diet so special.

It’s not just about food — it’s a whole way of living.
Fresh produce, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, slow meals, sunshine, movement, connection and a relaxed rhythm that supports both body and mind.

I’m excited to explore more of this style of eating over the coming months… dishes that are flavourful, colourful and nourishing, without spending hours in the kitchen.

Naomi 💚