Meal plan, healthy eating and tackling mindset around our health and fitness

I've just completed a five-week healthy eating course called Menu & Mind, run by Marlow based natural chef Jo Colley-Keyes (Time to Nourish) and NLP practitioner Anya McFarlane (InMind Coaching) and it was brilliant, really inspiring, and just what I needed.  And when something is so good it absolutely deserves to be shared on my blog.  Jo and Anya are kind, supportive, fun and so so knowledgeable,  They make a fabulous team and their approach is to teach you that making changes to your diet and lifestyle is as much about your mindset as it is about practical things like creating a meal plan, knowing what to cook and what to keep in the cupboard.

I am as you know a real advocate of education around our health, whether that be what we eat, how we move or linked to life milestones like menopause.  I believe we all need to learn the basics first, fact based information that enables us to make the best decisions.

Jo demonstrating in her kitchen in Marlow

What I was looking for in a course though was simple recipes, easy store cupboard ideas, meal plan inspiration and practical solutions to tackling my mindset.  I can't bear a recipe with hundreds of ingredients that then languish in the back of the cupboard. 

Each week was 2 hours long and started with a general discussion about where we are at, then a recipe demonstration from Jo (breakfasts, snacks, main meals, lunches and finally a guilt-free vegan dessert) and finished with a mindset presentation, handouts to complete and a discussion with Anya.

We were supported throughout with a private Facebook group where we could share ideas, progress and ask advice.

Rosemary, Apple and Seed Crackers with Butter Bean, Pea and Mint Dip

The course is not really about losing weight, it is about a slow, gradual journey to improving health and wellbeing.  It is about coming to terms with what you can achieve, what balance you would like, and how to go about it.  It is no good changing everything at once and then not being about to sustain it.  But if you introduce small changes regularly then eventually it will add up to a big change.  And eating a more natural diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, getting a balance and being mindful of portion control, will ultimately result in feeling better and weight loss.  

Creamy Pesto Courgetti

What have I implemented so far?!

Well i already have a pretty balanced breakfast of either overnight oats or granola with natural yoghurt so I didn't make any changes there but I have some new recipes if I want to try something else.  I made some savoury muffins (for breakfast or lunch) which I have put into the freezer and if I am in a hurry I can grab a couple.  I will make another batch soon.  I am now regularly making 'energy balls' for a quick and healthy snack.  Me or my daughter love making a batch of Easy Banana and Blueberry Muffins.  I have embraced making more time for prep and my aim is to fill the freezer with my own 'ready meals' so I never need to rely on supermarket options or a takeaway (unless I want to).  I have had a cupboard sort out and organised things a bit better to make cooking simpler.  I have a better idea of the importance of a weekly meal plan and have some more ideas to implement.  I have a new list of quick meal ideas if I am busy and don't feel like cooking.  And I have all the mindset tools to help me cope with days when I can't be bothered or I start drifting back to old habits.

If you live in or around the Marlow area then I do recommend this course - Jo and Anya run taster sessions regularly if you want to find out more before committing.  The course runs weekly with either a daytime or evening session.  It is based around healthy eating and balance - and adapting your own diet.  And the plan is to run a regular monthly group for ongoing accountability.  You can find out more here.

Now my plan is to get my exercise sorted out!

Love from 
Michelle xx

This is a personal post - not sponsored and I paid for the course myself, I was not asked to write a review.

There are some great meal planning ideas and recipes here!

Mango, Lime and Ginger 'Cheese' Cake

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