My healthy Porto trave guide – everything you need to know to experience a healthy Porto trip.

Our trip to Porto may have already been a few months ago, but now that summer is almost here, I really wanted to share my Porto experience with you, because some of you might be flying to Portugal this summer. If you do, please do not only visit the Algarve coast, but rent a car and drive all the way to the northern part of this beautiful country. Porto amazed me – it was by far one of the best city trips I have ever taken, and I think you will love it just as much as I do.

Eating healthy in Porto was not as easy as it is in many other European countries these days. But we did find some delicious and healthy places, you just have to look a little bit more thoroughly, and you will be treated with cute cafés, restaurants and buffet-style delis. My Porto highlight was this cute little Espresso shop on the river. It only had two chairs and a wodden table on the tiny pathway that seperated it from the railway tracks of the tourist cable car railway. It served the cheapest coffee I have ever had (I think it was 80 Cents) and they sold frehly pressed juices for just 1,20 Euros.

This experience basically sums up our Porto experiene. We were almost always sure that the waiter must have missed something on our check, because everything was so affordable. If you’re looking for a budget travel destination in the sun, Porto is your go-to place.

Best Travel Time:

We visited Porto in October – which ended up to be the perfect choice for us. It was definitely a little chilly in the morning and at night, but when the sun came out, you could totally walk around in tshirt and shorts. Since you have to take the train a little bit out of the city to go the beach, I would not necessarily recommend Porto for a beachy summer trip. However, the area around Porto is well-known amongst surfers, so if you’re a surfer, then summer would be your ideal travel time.

Getting to Porto:

You can easily reach Porto with budget airlines such as RyanAir from many cities in Europe. We flew in from Bremen, the flight was just about three hours. From the airport, we took the train into the city, and walked the few meters to our AirBnB. Of course you could take a taxi, too, but the train is super comfortable and cheaper. We also rented a car for two days to explore the sourroundings of Porto and all its little fishermen towns. Best decision ever! It was one of the most special days in Portugal and definitely my favorite part of the trip.

Where to Stay in Porto:

As with all European cities, my answer is always: AirBnB. We stayed at the cutest little AirBnB right in the cool art-district in Porto. If you’re looking for an affordable cute little place to spend four lovely nights in Porto, Maria has your back. She runs a furniture shop right across from her AirBnB building, so she was always there to answer our questions. I believe there are three apartments that she rents out, and we had the one on the ground floor, but there are also bigger ones upstairs with a balcony. The building has a cute little garden where you can take your breakfast or coffee at, and there is even a place to do laundry if you’re staying for a longer period of time.

Healthy Eating in Porto:

O Diplomate – definitely my breakfast recommendation

Of course we found O Diplomante on our last day – such a shame, because I could have eaten there every single day. It kind of has a student vibe, serves the most delicious acai bowls and pancakes (both for for 3.50 Euros) , and cappuchino for 1.10 Euros. I still cannot believe how affordable food is in Porto. Unfortunately O Diplomate does not have an outside sitting-area, but the food definitely makes up for that.

Quintal Bio Shop – cute little organic shop and café

This place was just a few minutes away from our AirBnB, so if you decide to take me up on my AirBnB recommendation, you will want to visit Quintal for breakfast or just your morning coffee with organic plant-based milk. There is a small shop in the front and a little deli and café in the back. They even have a green outside sitting area, which I loved.

Cultura Dos Sabores – vegetarian und vegan Buffet

Culura Dos Sabores, a buffet-style restaurant, is located just across from O Diplomata, and serves affordable lunch and dinner options for vegetarians and vegans. It is an all-veggie restaurant, so if you’re traveling with a loving meat-eater, be sure to tell him or her before going there. For Porto, Cultura dos Sabores is a bit pricy, with the dinner buffet coming around at 17 Euros, but if you consider that they have sushi, dessert and several hot dishes, it is definitely worth it. Plus you get to eat your food on a swing – how awesome is that?

Daterra – a vegetarian and plant based dream buffet

Obviously we found Daterra on our last day and had already eaten when we passed it. I nevertheless went in and almost felt like crying because we had just shuffed down a not-so-healthy-sandwich. So we did not eat at Daterra, but we looked and smelt – and it looked and smelt amazing. Especially exciting is the large dessert section with things like acai or apple tarte or avocado mousse. Definitely my secret tip for amazing looking plant-based foods.

Essencia – a more upscale place for a date-night in Porto

We found Essencia through TripAdviser and we were not disappointed. It is more upscale then the previously mentioned places, and you need a reservation to get a table. The prices are a bit more expensive for Porto standards, but they are still absolutely ok. We paid about 30 Euros each for an appetizer, entrée and half a bottle of wine, which is worth the money. I had a mango pine-nut salad and a curry and a glass of red wine. Essencia is located a bit further outside the city, so take the train or a taxi if you do not want to walk.

Casinha – cute and modern boutique and café

Casinha is a cute little place located just across from Daterra and it is more a place for a quick shopping break than a big dinner. I really liked the modern interior and the modern vibe in this café. They serve acai bowls, salads, quiches and of course, juices, smoothies and coffee. It’s not all healthy, but definitely has some healthy choices. It also has a beautiful garden, even though it is located in the busiest street.

Mercado do Bohao – THE farmers’ market in Porto

If you love fresh fruits and veggies, then you should definitely visit the Mercado do Bolhao. We went there on our first day, ran there, bought some groceries and walked back home to our apartment (which was really stupid, because running was so much faster than walking). The famous market needs to be on your must-see list – you can get anything from fresh breads, to tiles and even superfoods such as goji berries for just 1.50 Euros.

Drinks und Crêpes im Mao Travessa

Mao Travessa was our go-to place at night. It’s a place especially for locals, but they do have an English menu. We ordered their delicious crepes and bruschettta and of course a pitcher of sangria. Definitely a nice place to end an exciting day in Porto.

My secret garden tip – Rota de Cha

We discovered Rota de Cha by accident, when we heard music coming from behind the street where our AirBnB was located. I had seen the facade of rota de cha a couple of times when we passed it on our way to or from our AirBnB. One day, I decided to have a look – and I was not disappointed. It was like entering a different world. A world of tea, japenese culture mixed with portuguese tarts and treats.

Shopping in Porto

Armazen – Vintage Shopping & Bar

We discovered this hidden gem while running up and down the massive stairs of Porto (our morning workout). We came back in the afternoon, because I just had to admire all the vintage furniture. Armazen is basically a huge vintage hall with a small bar and café on the inside. There is also a nice outside sitting area, where we enjoyed some drinks and vegetarian sandwiches.

Coracao Alecrim – the cutest sustainable interior shop in Porto

You probably guessed it – Coracao Alecrim was my favorite store in Porto. It has a focus on sustainability, and everything in the store is absolutely beautiful. It is a bit more pricy, but worth every penny. Definitely a must-visit if you love vintage and indie shopping.

Things to See:

You will find all the must-sees in every Porto city guides. I definitely recommend visiting the library where J.K. Rowling was apparently inspired to write Harry Potter, the train station and the crazy high bridge Ponte Dom Luis I that connects the two parts of Porto. If you are afraid of heights (or lows like me), then you might have to cross the bridge rather quickly. Also, the entire area near the river is definitely worth exploring. Be sure to walk up and down the major stairs, stop and admire the tiles on the wall and the breathtaking view over the river.

Places, we did not visit, but that have great ratings on TripAdvisor:

The Traveller Café

Lupin

Picaba Natural Café

Liquid Baixa Porto

La Bombarde

Zenith Brunch & Cocktails Bar

Have you been to Porto yet? Do you have other recommendations of tips? Let me know in the comments below.

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After two years of Berlin abstinence, I finally made it back to our capital a month ago, and I was amazed how easy healthy eating in Berlin can be these days. Berlin is probably the best city to live in if you are into healthy, clean or plant based food. I was invited to spend an incredible weekend with the online women’s magazine SisterMAG, Grundig Germany and Schott Ceran, but I also got to check out a few healthy places while I was in the capital. The list is not as long as my other healthy eating city guides from Amsterdam or London. I will continue to update this list, depending on how often I’ll be in the capital in the near future. If you’re interested in what I did besides eating during my weekend with SisterMAG, you can check out my German post with a more detailed re-cap of this fabulous weekend. 

I only visited three restaurants in total on my last trip to Berlin. Two of them are your typical healthy eating delis, and one is something completely different, using only groceries that would have gone to waste otherwise.

Restlos Glücklich (roughly translates into „Wasteless Happiness“)

I visited Restlos Glücklich with Toni, from SisterMAG, and a couple of other bloggers including Klara from Klara’s Life, Mia from HeyLilahHey und Pauline von Living the Healthy Choice. We had a lovely evening with a delicious 3-course menu. „Restlos Glücklich“ is a charity that only cooks with ingredients that organic supermarkets such as Denn’s oder BioCompany could not sell anymore due to wrong labelling or other EU norms. They also use „misfits“, which are fruits and vegetables that do not fulfill the EU shape-norms. So you might find a heart shaped potato or a carrot with „fingers“ on your plate.

The fascinating thing about this restaurant is that all service staff, except for the chefs and bar personel, are volunteers and do not receive any compensation for their work. What you should know, when you order a dish in this cute place in Berlin-Neukölln, is that you HAVE to finish your food. Which makes sense given the restaurant’s name and philosophy.

Daluma – Clean Eating Deli in Berlin Mitte

Daluma is one of your typical clean eating places. It serves juices, smoothies, breakfast and lunch bowls, as well as coffee and other hot drinks. Compared to Berin prices, Daluma is a bit pricey, but it is definiely worth it. I tried the buckwheat porridge with acai and blueberry topping, and I loved it. The interior is also very inviting, and a place for hipsters and students with money to work and meet up with friends. It also has a great outside seating area, from where you can definitely do some people-watching.

The Bowl – The IT-Restaurant in Berlin Friedrichshain

I met with the lovely Sandra from Beerenlecker when I was in Berlin and we grabbed lunch at The Bowl, which I have been wanting to visit for the longest time. The Bowl is probably THE healthy eating place in Berlin. It is located on top of the vegan supermarket Veganz, and it is a dream for health concious, vegans and people with food intolerances alike. Their entire menue is plant based, with many gluten free options. Trying one of their „Bowls“ is a must, especially when they look this this:

I tried their Zucchini Carbonara and Sandra tried a Superfood bowl, if I remember correctly. We topped the food with some delicious drinks of raw chocolate smoothie and a turmeric latte. I couldn’t recommend The Bowl more, though it is also a bit pricey for Berlin standards. Just remember that it’s all organic and will definitely make you feel awesome afterwards. The Bowl proves that healthy eating in Berlin is super easy and fun!

Do you know any other healthy places in Berlin?

Can’t wait to add more delis, restaurants or juice bars to this list.

Many photo credits in this post go to A Tale of Two Hearts! Thank you for the wonderful photos!

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Last weekend my sisters and I went on a Healthy Eating in London journey. We hadn’t spent a sister vacation in forever, so since my sister studied in the UK, we thought we’d pay London another visit, since it had been a while since we’d last been there. Healthy eating in London is definitely not hard, because as you’ll see in this post, there’s a healthy food place on every corner. Of course food was not our number one priority, but with me running this blog and being a serious healthy foodie, of course it ended up being quite a healthy food trip anyways. But we also went shopping, biked through the entire city, went to a musical and even spent two days with my sister’s flatmate’s family outside of London in the most idyllic countryside I’ve ever seen. All in all, it was a wonderful trip, and I am glad we took the time to do something like this together. As we all live away from each other, we don’t get to spend quality time together that often, so this was much needed sister-bonding.

The Mae Deli by Deliciously Ella – 21 Seymour Pl

A healthy eating in London guide would not be complete without the Mae Deli, which is run by the one and only Ella Woodward aka Deliciously Ella. It was the first healthy deli we visited after our early morning arrival in London, and we were not disappointed. The deli is located in a cute neighborhood, and welcomes its guest with a friendly blue door. The food was beyond delicious, and overall the atmosphere was relaxed and cozy. We arrived at a perfect time between 11 and 12, but I can imagine it gets pretty full around lunch hours, so try to avoid those when you’re going there. The only small bummer was the price for its juices, which were a bit too high for my taste, but the food was very reasonably prized in my opinion. I can definitely recommend this place to anyone who’s into plant based, refined sugar free and wheat free healthy food.

Borough Market – 8 Southwark St

Next Stop on our London tour was Borough Market, probably the biggest food market I have ever seen. Borough Market is full of food stands, flower shops, homemade treats and foreign spices that you don’t even know where to look at first. There are plenty of allergy-friendly food stands, freshly cooked food from all over the world, juice and smoothie stands and posh coffee booths with expensive coffee beans. Borough Market offers something interesting for everybody, so a visit to this fascinating place should definitely be on your list next time you visit London.

Wok It – 3 Stoney St

We did not actually eat at Wok It, but I thought it was the cutest place just outside of Borough Market, which allows you to sit down, have lunch, and watch the craziness happening around you. Wok It uses only fresh ingredients from Borough Market for its stir-fries and dishes, and vegans and celiacs alike will find something suitable on the menu, too.

Wild Food Cafe – 14 Neal’s Yard

Wild Food Cafe is one of the most laid-back, Yogi vibed, relaxed kitchens I have been to in a big city. It makes you feel like you’re not in London, but at some beach hut in Southern Cali or Bali. The food is mostly raw, but there are some cooked choices as well. Since we are three sisters who are often called triplets, all of us ordered the banana bread (try ordering three different choices with three sisters, it does not work due to food envy), but we did not regret this decision, because it was one of the best plant based banana breads we have ever had.

Neal’s Yard is a magical place located in the heart of London in Covent Garden. It’s magical because the second you enter this secluded yard, you leave all the crazy big city life behind, and find yourself in a relaxed tranquility with a special atmosphere. Most stores within Neal’s Yard are health focused, and everything evolves around Neal’s Yard Remedies, the organic beauty store pictured on the photo above. 

Le Pain Quotidien – several places around London

I am usually not a fan of chain restaurants, but Le Pain Quotidien is different. You’ll find this all organic restaurant and deli all over London, which is great if it’s raining cats and dogs and you need to find shelter quickly. This happened to us, so we were grateful to pass a cute Le Pain Quotidiene close to our hotel the second morning. They have a huge organic bread section in the takeaway part of the restaurant, and the restaurant itself has a cozy and natural atmosphere. We tried the gluten free coconut crunola (raw Granola), the gluten free bircher muesli, a juice, and coffee with almond milk. LPQ is perfect if you need to find something to eat quickly without sacrifizing on health. The cutest restaurant is located right next to Borough Market, by the way.

Camden Market – Camden Lock Pl

Camden Market is one of the biggest and most fascinating food markets I have ever been to. We didn’t plan to visit it in the beginning, but we followed one of the city bikes tour on Sunday, and it lead us straight into crazy Camden town, with its odd shopping streets. My sister had been there before, so I am glad she remembered the market at Camden Lock. I know it sounds cliché, but it really was like taking a food tour around the world. There were Indonesian, Sri Lankan, and Korean food trucks and I even found an American Mac&Cheese booth. My sister still talks about the Indonesian dish she had, which was apparently one of the best dishes she had ever tasted. Camden Market is great for a Sunday stroll if you are into international cuisine.

Mildred’s – 45 Lexington St

A place that has been recommended to me by several of my Instagram readers, as well as my blogger friends, is Mildred’s. Mildred’s is one of the first all vegetarian restaurants in London, which valued clean eating long before it became a global eating trend. Obviously a healthy eating in London guide needs to include Mildred’s. You’ll recognize the place at its baby blue front, and the line of people waiting for a table. The hour long wait was definitely worth it, though, because the food was terrific and the company at our table (three hilarious Indonesians) was special. I had the Sri Lankan Curry, my sister went for the burrito and my sister tried the Asian stir-fry. The definite winner was my curry, followed by the burrito.

Daylesford Notting Hill – 208-212 Westbourne Grove

We started Sunday morning with a visit to Daylesford Notthing Hill, which was recommended to me by many of you. Daylesford is a special place that grows all of its produce on its own farm, Daylesford Farm. Everything in the grocery store and restaurant is organic, and their cattle and chicken are raised according to ethical standards. As soon as you enter Daylesford, you can already smell the quality produce and foods of the store and the restaurant.

We treated ourselves to a quinoa protein porrdige, a bircher muesli and gluten free coconut granola.

The Good Life Eatery – 59 Sloane Ave

For lunch we stopped at The Good Life Eatery, which is probably one of my favorite places on this list. The Good Life Eatery is one of the best healthy eating in London stops that you should definitely visit on your next trip. It’s a tiny place in Chelsea, filled with lots of healthy and delicious choices. The portions of the salads are huge, so don’t mind sharing a dish with your friends if you are there for lunch except your boyfriend is two meters tall. It is pretty small, so don’t expect to find a table waiting for you. We were lucky to have gotten one during lunch hours, but regretted not taking one of the amazing bowls as we were not super hungry at the time of our order. The zoodles looked to die for, as did the quinoa salad.

Botanique Workshop – 31 Exmouth Market

Botanique Workshop is a cute little shop on Exmouth Market was my favorite non-food related place that we visited. They had the cutest little interior ideas, gifts, and the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. Exmouth Market was recommended to me by my friend Niki from Rebel Recipes, so thank you, Niki, for telling me about this great place.

Other places that were recommended to me, but we did not have the time to visit:

Farmacy

Planet Organic 

Farm Girl Cafe

26 Grains 

Overall, healthy eating in London is super easy. London is one of the best cities to visit if you are into healthy food, Yoga and an overall healthy lifestyle. I will definitely come back to visit the other restaurants I listed above. Unfortunately, London is an expensive city, so not all of the places on this list are affordable for everyone. If you’re on a budget then you can always stop at one of the hundreds of Pret a Manger stores, which sells healthy, fresh and affordable food.

What are your favorite healthy food places in London?

Is there anything I missed or you would like to add to this list?

The post Healthy Eating in London – Restaurants, Delis & Cafés appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Since it was my boyfriend’s birthday last week, there was a lot of baking going on in our kitchen for obvious reasons. However, since I had my last exam on Thursday, it was actually my boyfriend who was in charge of baking for once. He got so many messages from people saying that they knew he was well taken care of food-wise on his birthday, but since I was also fighting a cold, he took over the kitchen this week. It’s tradition in his soccer team that the birthday boy brings cake for the whole team, and he had been telling everyone that he was going to bring healthy, plant based and refined sugar-free cake. So we had to come up with a whole baking tray of healthy cake, because there’s no recipe like that on my blog yet.    

I wanted to make a German “Streuselkuchen”, but I was afraid that this might not turn out so well. Then I suggested to make a crumble for everyone, but realized that that was not going to work either, because they do not have forks or plates at soccer practice. Luckily, I was asked to beta test Angela Liddon’s new app coming in April this week, so I remembered seeing chia jam oat squares at her blog that I have always wanted to try, so we tried them and they turned out amazing. We twisted the recipe a bit, but the idea is the same. One crumble layer on the bottom, chia jam in the middle topped with a delicious mixture of oats, coconut oil, cinnamon and honey.

On a little side note, I wanted to share some minor news: I’m finally on snapchat! (heavenlynn_blog). Whooo! Well, I’ve been on snapchat for over two years, but I’ve never actively used it, until my snapchat-obsessed sister got me to use it for Heavenlynn Healthy – and I’ve discovered that it’s so much fun. I don’t have time to upload pretty pictures all the time, so snapchat allows me to share some of my daily HLH routines with all of you. Here’s a little snap story from when we baked these bars:

* please excuse my little typo (teams) – I was just so excited to finally try these bars! 

I haven’t done this in a while, but let’s examine all the ingredients present in these chia jam oat bars and what benefits they have for our body:

Almonds: Almonds are an amazing source of Vitamin E, the beauty vitamin that strengthens our nails, hair and lets our skin glow.
Chia Seeds: There are about a million amazing health benefits from chia seeds. They are packed with healthy fatty acids called omega-3, which lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Coconut oil: This highly controversial fat is one of the healthiest fats out there. It may be saturated fat, but it’s not the saturated fat found in cheeses or fried food, but the kind that our body can actually absorb and digest well, called medium chain tryclicerides (MCT). Instead of storing it in our fat depots, our body uses coconut oil to produce energy, which has been scientifically proven to lead to weight loss.
Bananas: My favorite fruit is one of the best sources of potassium, which helps us maintain a healthy heart function, and regulates our blood pressure.
Honey: Since I am not strictly vegan, I use honey for its amazing health benefits. It is highly anti-bacterial and raw honey comes with a long list of vitamins and nutrients such as iron, copper or magnesium which are all important for a healthy and functioning body.
Oats: Oats are extremely high in fiber, which aids digestion and stabilizes your blood sugar level. They are also known to lower the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Raspberries: As all berries, raspberries are true antioxidant superfoods. They also contain lots of vitamin C, which is important to boost our immune system. They’re also a good source of manganese, a mineral that helps strengthen our bones.

As with all my baked goods, I once again need to get something of my chest. Even though this recipe includes only ingredients that have protein, fiber, vitamins or minerals, this is still a sweet cake with lots of  (healthy) fats and carbohydrates. It is definitely a healthier option than a traditional German “Streusel”, but please do not think that this cake contains no calories, just because is made with healthy ingredients. Please treat it like you would treat a normal Streusel – one or two pieces should be enough per day – but keep in mind that when eaten in moderation, these oat bars will benefit your body more than a piece of cake from a regular German bakery.

Enjoy!

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I know it may seem a bit trivial to be talking about food when something so awful has happened in Paris yesterday. Let me just say how shocked I am about the current events in the city of love. I thought about not posting a recipe today, but then I realized that I will not let my life be dictated by terror. Maybe one of you will make this salad today and share it with your loved ones for dinner – this way you can bring a little bit of peace to your home. My thoughts and prayers are with the French people today.
There is no bridge that could connect the first paragraph with the second, so I will just jump right into what I wanted to say about this salad. Please excuse my exciting voice in the following text, but like I said, I won’t let them take away my happiness.

Oh how I am loving kale season. Unlike Americans or Brits, Germans cannot get fresh kale all year around. It’s simpy one of those things that you can only get seasonally. Of course it’s a shame that kale season is only a few months long, but the good thing is that you really learn to appreciate seasonal food. Kale season has a very long tradition in my country, we’ve always been eating it, even before it became known as a superfood. Ok, the traditional German kale recipes are anything but healthy and we probably boil vitamins out of it, but hey, at least we try.Kale salad is something that is not so commonly known by most Germans. In fact, many probably think that it’s incredibly weird to eat kale raw. But trust me, once you’ve tried a massaged kale salad, you’ll never want to go back. It’s such an exciting dish and completeley different than most salads. 
Combined with other foods such as pumpkin or pomegrante seeds, this salad really is the perfect fall salad. It’s a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, too. And just like that you’ll be adding tons of vitamins and minerals to your diet, because this composition is bursting with nutrients. Kale is one of those dark leafy greens that actually contain more iron than beef. Iron enables the oxygen to be carried to our cells – a process that gives us energy. It’s also a wonderful source of vitamin K, which regulates our blood sugar level. 

Besides almonds, pecans are my favorite kind of nuts because of its sweet, caramel-like flavor. As all nuts, they contain healthy fatty acids that help lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular and heart disease. Like almonds, pecans are a wonderful source of vitamin E, the beauty vitamin that lets our hair, nails and skin glow.

Pumpkin squash is one of the best sources of vitamin A, which keeps our eyes healthy and helps build beautiful, glowing skin. It also has lots of antioxidants, which help prevent several chronic diseases. Omega-3-fatty acids found in pumpkin squash can even help prevent cardiovascular disease. Hokkaido squash also contains lots of vitamin C, which is the most commonly known antioxidant.

So what are you waiting for? I’d say, you should definitely plan a visit to the local farmers market today to get all the ingredients for this delicious kale salad with roasted pumpkin squash.

INGREDIENTS:

Serves 2:
– 6 handful of kale
– ½ hokkaido pumpkin (about 600g)
– ½ pomegrante
– 1/2 cup (65g)
– 1 tablespoon of raw honey or maple syrup
– 1 tablespoon of olive oil
– sea salt

For the lemon-dijon-vinaigrette
– 3 tablespoons of olive oil
– 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
– 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
– 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup
– ½ teaspoon of salt
– pepper to taste

METHOD

1. Start by pre-heating the oven to 180°C.
2. Cut the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces and place them on a baking sheet aligned with baking paper. Drizzle the olive oil and sea salt on top and bake for about 20 minutes until tender.
3. Wash the kale, and remove the leaves from the stems. Discard the stems and place the leaves into a salad bowl.
4. To make the maple-glazed pecans, heat the maple syrup (honey would also work) in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add nuts and toss to coat. Place the nuts on a baking sheet aligned with baking paper and toast them for 5 minutes. Set aside.
5. Drizzle all the dressing ingredients onto the kale. Massage the kale firmly using your hands. Massage them for a few minutes so they turn soft and wilt. This is a crucial step, so please don’t skip it. Once the leaves are nice and soft, stir in the pomegrante seeds and the roasted pumpkin.
6. Sprinkle the nuts on top and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

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This crumble is literally my favorite crumble in the world. I am just so in love with autumn, it’s my favorite of all four seasons, and this crumble tastes so much like fall, that it’s my welcome-fall-dish.
As I was strolling through the farmers market last Saturday I really noticed the change in seasons when looking at all the new produce that was offered. There were still traces of summer with blueberries and blackberries and even the last strawberries of the season, but there were also the first signs of fall such as plums, damsons and even pumpkins. For me fall is such a special season as I have so many great memories from my childhood that involved fall. For starters I love fall sunlight, which is so warm and comforting and nothing like bright summer sunshine. It turns everything around you into the prettiest colors: red, orange and even pink and I find such comfort in running through leaf-covered trails in the morning. Fall makes me start to reflect on what has already happened throughout the year, and it makes me look forward to wearing sweaters, boots and coats. It just makes me want to cuddle up on the sofa which a mug of hot almond milk chocolate or ginger lemon tea. I think you get the picture: I love fall.

This crumble is the perfect dish to say farewell to summer and hello to fall – the damsons and apples are the first fall produce and the blue- and blackberries are the last summer berries that you can still get fresh from the farmers market. Topped with a crunchy oat and maple topping, and a touch of cinnamon, it really is the perfect dessert for the transition between summer and fall. So if you’re like me, then your perfect Saturday would start with a run in the morning followed by some awesome coconut porridge with fresh figs, it then continues with a long stroll through the local farmers market and it ends with an evening spent with friends, laughing and eating damsons, apple and blackberry crumble.

 I love to eat leftover crumble for breakfast the next morning.

Enjoy!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Feel free to leave a comment below, and don’t forget to tag your creations on social media using #heavenlynnhealthy.

I’d love for this blog to be a dialogue.

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These beetroot pancakes not only look amazing, they also taste amazing! I normally make them whenever I have some pulp left from making beetroot juice, which is a great way to eliminate waste and get some more nutrients into your system. Since I love having special dishes for breakfast on cozy Sunday mornings, these pancakes made last Sunday extra special. Pancake Sunday reminds me of my time in the U.S. and sometimes I dream about making colorful pancakes for my future family (it’s still a far away dream, just saying). These pancakes are amazing on so many levels. First of all, they are so healthy, that you can enjoy them absolutely guilt-free. There is absolutely no refined sugar in them as they are naturally sweetened with banana and apple puree. They are made with oat flour, which also adds a touch of sweetness, and lots of healthy nutrients to the breakfast dish. Oats are actually some of the healthiest grains out there, which is great because they are also the cheapest of all grains. Only amaranth and quinoa can top them in terms of nutrient density. Not only do oats contain more than twice as much iron as meat, they are also one of those „beauty“ foods due to their high biotin content. Biotin is responsible for healthy, glowing hair, skin and nails. Another great vitamin found in oats is vitamin B6, which is important for a healthy psyche. So if you suffer from fatique or sleep deprivation, then try adding some oats to your breakfast, and you should feel the difference.

Secondly, I love these pancakes because they are pink! I love to color my food naturally, and beetroot juice just creates the most beautiful pink food color. However, I don’t just add beetroot for the color. Beets are so healthy, because they are packed with lots of iron, potassium and folic acid. Potassium regulates the blood pressure and is said to lower cholesterol. Pancakes are a beautiful and fun way to incorporate more beets into your and maybe even your family’s diet. Some of my other beetroot favorites include beetroot-soup, beetroot-granola and of course beetroot juice with carrots, ginger and apple.
Depending on how much of a beetroot fan you are, you can decide for yourself how much beetroot you want to use in your pancakes. I found that 1 tablespoon of beet pulp and 2 tablespoons of beet juice produced the best result and the least beety taste.

INGREDIENTS:

– 1 cup (110g) oats
– 1 cup (110g) buckwheat flour or more oats
– 1 cup (250ml) sparkling water
– 1 cup (250ml) almond milk
– 1 banana
– 1/4 cup apple puree (unsweetened, preferably homemade)
– 1 tbsp beetroot pulp, see note
– 2 tbsp beetroot juice, from juicer
– 1 tsp (5g) coconut oil
– a pinch of salt
– ½ tsp of cinnamon (optional)

NOTES:

• If you don’t have a juicer to make beetroot pulp or juice, then you need to roast your beet and make beet puree. Wrap the whole beet in tin foil (with the skin) and place it in the oven at 200°C for about 60-75 minutes. After an hour or so, take the beet out of the oven. It’ll be done when you can easily put a knife through the skin. Peel it and put it into a strong blender or food-processor until you have a smooth beet puree. You might need to add some water if your blender isn’t strong enough.
• If you’re in a hurry, then use pre-cooked and packaged beets instead.
• You can buy beetroot juice at any health store or make it yourself in a juicer.

METHOD:

1. Start by crushing the oats into a flour using your food processor. You can also use two cups of oats if you do not have any other flour at hand.
2. Add all other ingredients and blend until a smooth mixture forms.
3. Let the batter stand for at least an hour.
4. Place a saucepan on the stove and heat it for about a minute or two until it’s hot enough. Grease it with a teaspoon of coconut oil. Wait until the coconut oil has melted, then add a quarter cup of the batter (about two tablespoons) to the middle of the saucepan.
5. Form a round pancake with your spoon and wait until little bubbles form on the upper side of the pancake before flipping it over. Allow the other side to cook for another one or two minutes, then remove the pancake and move on to the next one.
6. Repeat this procedure until you’ve used up all the batter. Depending on the quality of your saucepan, you’ll probably not need to use a new teaspoon of coconut oil for every pancake.

I love to top my pancakes with coconut yoghurt, maple syrup, or fresh berries, banana or apple slices.

Enjoy!

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These superfood energy balls are absolutely amazing! Honestly, I’ve never made such a delicious yet healthy treat before and everybody, especially my boyfriend, loves them. They are super easy to make and only require a few basic ingredients that you are more than welcome to play around with depending on any food allergies or intolerances you might have.
The main ingredient in these energy balls is medjool dates, which are probably my favorite natural sweet in the world. I love how they melt in your mouth and how they satisfy any sugar cravings I usually get in the afternoon.
Medjool dates are also packed with goodness such as iron and potassium. Iron is especially important for oxygen transportation through the body and potassium helps maintain a healthy heart and a normal blood pressure. They are also one of the best energy foods because its sugar is easily broken down in the body, providing instant energy boosters. More goodness comes from the nuts, which are one of the best plant-based sources of protein out there. Almonds contain lots of vitamin E, the beauty vitamin that is important for healthy nails and hair and lets our skin glow from the inside out. Besides almonds, pistachios are one of the healthiest nuts, containing the most amount of monounsaturated fats that keep our heart healthy. To top it all, the chia seeds in these energy balls provide a healthy amount of omega-3-fatty acids, which also help to protect our heart. They are also bursting with fiber, which keeps us satisfied for hours and prevents our blood sugar level from increasing rapidly.

INGREDIENTS:

– 1 cup medjool dates (150g, about 10)
– 1/4 cup (25g) almonds
– 1/4 cup (30g) pistachios
– 1/4 cup (30g) pecans or walnuts
– 1 tbsp chia seeds
– 1 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
– 1 tbsp shredded coconut

NOTES:

Healthy side note: These superfood energy balls are not a low-calorie food, in fact they are calorie bombs. Just because they are healthy and packed with healthy nutrients, does not mean I recommend over-indulging in them. I usually eat one or two a day as a healthy on-the-go snack or brain food when I’m doing office work all day. They are also a great energy boost before a workout or refuel after a workout. My boyfriend loves them before a soccer game to give him some extra energy. Just use common sense and treat them like sweets.
– To make the balls nut-free, simply substitute the nuts for sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds or flax seeds. You will probably need a food processor then.

METHOD:

With a food processor:
Place the almonds into the food processor and grind them to a flour. This should take about 30 seconds depending on the strength of your food processor.
Transfer the almonds into a bowl and set aside.
Now place the pistachios and pecans or walnuts into the food processor and pulse for a few seconds until they are crushed, but still remain some texture (you should still identify them as nuts).
Then remove the stones from the medjool dates and put them into the food processor along with the ground almonds.
Mix them until a sticky dough forms (about 30 seconds). Then add the chia seeds, hemp seeds if you are using them. To form the balls, read below.

Without a food processor:
If you don’t have a food processor it’s a little bit more messy work.
First of all, you need to buy almond meal if you cannot make your own. Almond meal can be found in the baking isle of any grocery store.
Then start by placing the pistachios and pecans or walnuts into a kitchen towel. Make sure you wrap them in the towel completely. Using a hammer or any other hard device, crush the nuts until they are broken down into pieces. Open the towel and place the crushed nuts into a bowl.
Add the almond meal, chia seeds and hemp seeds if you are using them.

Now pit the dates. This is where it gets messy. Squeeze the dates between your hands and form them into a sticky dough. Once you have one sticky big ball of mashed dates, place the ball into the bowl of nuts and chia seeds. Combine everything using your hands, this should get easier because the almond meal serves as a flour, making the dough less sticky.Now pour the shredded coconut flakes in a small bowl or plate.
Now form the balls using your hands. I use about one teaspoon for each energy ball.
Place the balls into the bowl of shredded coconut and cover them completely, rolling the balls around.
Place the covered balls on a small plate and put them in the fridge to set for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!

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This rice is heaven. I am not gonna lie, it’s the perfect dish for the changing season because it’s a really light dish, yet it already comes with warming spices that remind you that fall is just around the corner. Although I am a huge carb lover, and my day isn’t complete without at least one slice of bread, I do like to have a low-carb dinner every now and then. This one’s perfect because you honestly do not even realize that you’re missing out on the carbs. The cauliflower really does its best to fill in for the rice that you would usually suspect in a dish like this. But honestly, it tastes so much better with cauliflower because let’s face it – rice tastes pretty much like nothing, and it doesn’t have nearly as many health benefits as cauliflower. Cauliflower-containing diets have been linked to cancer prevention, especially breast and colon cancer.
The cancer preventing properties result from cauliflower’s anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties and its antioxidant system. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and its one of the most commonly known antioxidants. Antioxidants lower the risk of oxidative stress that can cause chronic illnesses such as cancer. Cauliflower is also a great source of vitamin K, one of the best anti-inflammatory nutrients. Inflammation is the cause of many chronic diseases in the body, especially cardiovascular disease.

Ingredients:
Serves 2:
– 1/2 cauliflower head
– 1/2 cup raw cashews
– 1 cup frozen peas
– 1 can chickpeas
– 2 tbsp coconut oil
– 1 tbsp tahini
– 1 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
– 1 tsp curry powder
– 1 tsp turmeric powder
– 1 tsp cumin
– 1 tsp paprika
– 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
– salt and pepper to taste

Start my roasting the chickpeas and cashews. Drain the chickpeas and wash them thoroughly, preferably rubbing them through some paper towels to remove their shells. Place them in a bowl and add 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes. Mix well until the chickpeas are evenly coated.
Place them on a baking tray that you covered with baking paper and roast them for about 10 minutes.
After about 5 minutes, place the cashews on a second baking tray or in a small casserole dish and roast the them for about 5 minutes. They will turn brown really quick so be sure to watch them carefully.
Take the chickpeas and cashews out of the oven and set aside.
Now make the cauliflower rice. Cut half a cauliflower in small pieces, removing their greens as you go. Place the florets into your food processor and pulse for a few seconds until it is broken down nicely, but still has some texture.
Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan. Once the oil begins to form bubbles, add the cauliflower rice and sauté it for about 1 minute. Then add the frozen peas and the curry powder and turmeric, and thin. Fry everything for about 3 – 5 minutes or until the peas are nicely soft. Finally add the roasted chickpeas, cashews and tamari, and stir for another minute or so.

Serve as a side or as a main dish.

Enjoy!

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This is the easiest lunch bowl ever and the most nourishing too. It only takes a couple of minutes to prepare and you can easily box it and take it to work. If you have this rainbow bowl of goodness for lunch, then I guarantee you that you won’t hit the 2 o’clock low , because this salad, with all it’s vitamins and minerals, will let you feel amazing and energized all afternoon.
The red bell pepper, carrots and tomatoes are my favorite vegetables as they are so sweet and crunchy. The avocado and hummus add the most amazing creaminess as well as important fats and protein to keep you satisfied for hours. The dressing is my absolute favorite because it’s a creamy yet fresh blend of tangy tahini and fresh mint leaves, combined with a sprinkle of lemon juice. Tahini is one of my favorite ingredients for a creamy dressing because it is packed with vital nutrients. It a great source of protein, and it actually contains even more protein than nuts. Tahini is also rich in minerals such as magnesium, potassium and iron which are all essential for healthy body functions including normal blood pressure and the transportation of oxygen.
You can of course change the recipe a bit and add whatever vegetables you still have in your fridge. If you don’t have or like rocket, then spinach or any other green leaf is fine. 

For this recipe you’ll need either classic hummus or roasted beetroot hummus.

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While seemingly everyone is spending the summer somewhere in Asia, I am loving the hot summer sun in my little flat in Germany. The sad thing is that even my favorite Asian fusion restaurant around the corner is closed for the summer vacation, which forced me to make lots of my favorite thai summer rolls and healthy pad thai myself the last couple of days. I wasn’t sure if healthy pad thai even exists, but honestly this version is so much better than the original. It is completely egg-free and also doesn’t use fish sauce, so it’s technically not traditional pad thai, but it nevertheless tastes amazing. There are also so many veggies in this dish, which give you so much goodness in terms of vitamins and minerals. I spiralized the veggies because I love veggie noodles and because this enabled me to add more veggies and reduce the amount of noodles at the same time. More nutrients, less carbs! You can use whatever vegetables you still have in the fridge of course, but I used zucchini squash and carrots because I find them the easiest to spiralize.
My recipe calls for peanut butter, because I just love the taste of peanuts in the Thai kitchen, but you could of course use almond butter instead. If you’re allergic to nuts, then the recipe will still work without any nut butter at all. I recommend using something creamy like tahini instead to add the desired creaminess.

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There’s simply nothing better than creamy, spicy guacamole with a side of crispy crackers or yummy sweet potato fries. I could eat guacamole with anything. I  love it in my salads, on top of a veggie burger, or on my chia superfood bread or swedish crisp bread. It’s also so easy to make and the secret is that there is not secret. There are a few basic ingredients like avocado obviously and fresh lime juice but other than that you can individualize your guacamole however you like. I love adding veggies like red bell pepper and cherry tomatoes, but I guess green bell pepper or carrots might work just as well. Classic guacamole is the best dip that you can enjoy with anything, but the healthiest way is to use it as a veggie stick dip. Think carrots, celery, cucumbers, broccoli or cauliflower. Every vegetable tastes better when dipped in fresh guacamole. The Mexican dip is also really good for you as it combines only healthy ingredients. Avocados are the best plant-based source of omega-3-fatty acids you’ll find. They have awesome anti-inflammatory benefits, are packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C or K, and iron, magnesium and potassium. The fat in avocados also increases nutrient absorption of the vegetables that you enjoy it with. So the avocado actually helps the body absorb all the goodness from the red bell pepper and cherry tomatoes. If that’s not a good reason to dig in then I don’t know what is.

Ingredients:
– 4 ripe avocados
– 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes
– 1/2 red bell pepper
– 2 limes
– a handful of fresh coriander (cilantro)
– 1/2 red onion (optional)
– 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
– 1 jalapeno (optional)
– salt

Cut the avocados in halves, remove the stones and scoop out their flesh with a spoon. Place the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork. Leave some avocado chunks for texture.

Then wash and dice the tomatoes (I like to cut them in quarters) and do the same with the red bell pepper. If you are using a jalepeno, then cut it into very tiny cubes. Remove the skin of the onion and finely chop it. Do the same with the coriander (cilantro).

Squeeze the limes on top of the mashed avocado, add all the other wonderful ingredients, mix it well and sprinkle with some salt.

Enjoy! 

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