This Mango Raspberry Ripple is a simple, sugar-free three ingredient dessert is a beautiful combination of flavours and has a lovely mousse like texture. It’s important to use ripe mangos (as they are sweetest). If you have ice block moulds, these can become a refreshing treat on a hot day – just pop in the freezer…
garlicfree
Honey Thyme Baked Brie
This Honey Thyme Baked Brie is a simple yet impressive starter or way to round off a meal instead of a cheese board. The flavours are so perfectly paired, just make sure you use a good quality raw honey. Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe…
Rum Balls
Recipe by Kristin Cosgrove These indulgent Rum Balls are a decadent treat for grown-ups. I especially like to make them at Christmas time as they make a delightful present for friends or family. They can be made ahead of time which is also particularly helpful during the festive season when we are entertaining more than…
Lime Honey Chia Pudding
Sometimes the simple things in life are the best and in the case of this Lime Honey Chia Pudding this is exactly the case. Being naturally gluten and dairy free, this is a great recipe whether you need to avoid them or not! Mix, soak overnight and enjoy for breakfast- too easy! We have listed…
Choc Chip Muesli Bar
This really versatile Choc Chip Muesli Bar is a fabulous staple recipe. You can absolutely vary it with the suggestions I’ve made at the end of the recipe or create your own version. I’d love for you to share you version in the comments below the recipe so we can all benefit from your creativity….
Charred Chicken Quinoa Salad
This easy to make Charred Chicken Quinoa Salad is great to whip up with a little help. While my hubby chars the chicken, I whip up the salad and cook the quinoa (though I love this even more when I have leftover quinoa in the fridge or freezer). The smoky flavours of the char grill…
Beetroot Goat Cheese and Thyme Quiche
This delicious, vegetarian Beetroot Goat Cheese and Thyme Quiche is perfect for dinner or to make ahead for a picnic. Roasted beetroot is truly the best way to eat this vegetable and pairing it with goat cheese is a wonderful choice. For easy fitting in lunch boxes, use a rectangular tart tin if you have…
Vegetarian Mexican Lasagne
This delicious, easy to make Vegetarian Mexican Lasagne is sure to become a favourite. This is a real contender for best vego lasagne recipe according to my family. You will be eating the rainbow with this plant powered meal. You can make this with either regular pasta, mountain bread or tortillas, either way it’s great….
Lemon Delicious
Recipe by Kristin Cosgrove Lemon delicious is a light, zesty pudding that my family loves. My version is gluten free and makes a cosy dessert served warm with fresh cream and berries. The puddings are just as delicious cold from the fridge with some Greek yoghurt and stewed fruit dolloped on top. Take a look…
Honey Sweetened Marshmallows
Recipe by Kristin Cosgrove These Honey Sweetened Marshmallows are soft, sweet and the ultimate in deliciousness when stirred into a creamy hot chocolate. They are simple to make using just a few ingredients and can be stored in the fridge or freezer to be used in treats like Rocky Road or simply enjoyed just as…
Lime Ginger Panna Cotta
I love a good Panna Cotta and this Lime Ginger Panna Cotta has a flavour combination is my favourite. The creaminess of the coconut is beautifully offset by the zesty lime syrup in this easy to make dessert. Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to…
Lemon Poppyseed Overnight Oats
These Lemon Poppyseed Overnight Oats are a quick breakfast with a beautiful combination of flavours and my new favourite overnight oats. Breakfast doesn’t get a whole lot more nourishing and easier than this. I love this combination of flavours in a cake so to have it for breakfast is a cheeky treat, while actually being…
Satay Vegetable Pie
This delicious Satay Vegetable Pie is based on one I used to buy all the time from a local pie maker. If you aren’t one for baking a pie, this filling also makes a beautiful stand alone dish over rice or quinoa. While Asian Satay Vegetables may not seem the first choice for a pie…
Smoky Pork Ribs
These Smoky Pork Ribs are a members request and my family have very much enjoyed the testing phase!! I’ve used pork ribs as that was requested but you could easily sub with beef or lamb. Whenever I’ve eaten ribs in the past, I’ve often found them sickly sweet. To get the classic BBQ style southern…
Cauliflower Nachos
I love to replace corn chips with cauliflower when I make nachos. This fresh, quick and easy to make Cauliflower Nachos is a beautiful combination of flavours and plant powered goodness. Finding good quality corn chips can be a bit difficult so using a vegetable that gives a similar effect as a base is a…
Tiramisu
Recipe by Kristin Cosgrove Tiramisu is a celebration of all things Italian and I love making it for special occasions. There are many ways to make tiramisu, and many short cuts that can be taken. Even though when using store bought ingredients like Savioardi (lady finger) biscuits and packaged mascarpone cheese, the results are still…
Pork Cutlet Tray Bake
As requested by a member, this Pork Cutlet Tray Bake is another easy to make tray bake style meal, that certainly doesn’t scrimp on flavour. The pork is marinaded with a classic honey and mustard combination and a splash of vinegar and spices. The vegetables and apple are roasted with the pork cutlets to create…
Apple Caramel Crumble Slice
This Apple Caramel Crumble Slice is a delicious combination of flavours and so easy to make with variations for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and vegan. It has a slightly nutty and oaty main base and top crumble, sweetened with a lovely caramel and lightened with fresh baked apple. Perfect for morning or afternoon tea when you…
Spiced Pear Maple Pecan Overnight Oats
This Spiced Pear Maple Pecan Overnight Oats is my husband’s favourite flavour combination for overnight oats. Slightly sweet with softened oats and chia and a crunch of the nuts, it is a delicious combination of fibre and nutrient dense ingredients. Put it all together the night before for a quick, nutritious and easy to make…
Strawberry Pan Pudding
This Strawberry Pan Pudding has become my family’s all time favourite dessert. Every single one of us loves it equally, which rarely happens. It’s a bonus that it’s super easy to make using only basic pantry staples. It’s so wonderful to enjoy good, basic home cooking made with simple ingredients and a whole lot of…
Tofu Gado Gado Salad
If you love a good Gado Gado, the flavours in this Tofu Gado Gado Salad bowl of goodness are just divine. Best of all it’s super quick and easy to make. Gado Gado is an Indonesian dish made with raw or slightly cooked vegetables – in this recipe the pumpkin is roasted until soft while…
Immune Smoothie Bowl
This Immune Smoothie Bowl is designed to support your immune system and really is food as medicine. The combination of vitamin C and fibre rich fruits, essential fats from the avocado, probiotic yoghurt and protein powder makes this a delicious and super nourishing start to the day.
Why do we need protein?
The strength of our immune system relies on us eating protein and including high-quality amino acids in our diet is essential to make antibodies to fight infection.
We all need protein to build new cells and repair tissue. As kids are growing (often rapidly) it is especially critical that they are consuming adequate amounts.
Protein is also used extensively by every body, everyday. Protein is used to make digestive enzymes, to repair the digestive tract, to grow skin, hair, nails, to make blood cells, for strong bones, to build muscle, to make hormones, to stabilise our blood sugar….I could go on forever really.
We cannot store protein, so it’s safe to say, that in order to replace, rebuild and repair, we need to consume protein very regularly.
Signs of protein deficiency
In our society, it is rare to see frank protein deficiency. However, in my experience, subclinical signs are increasingly common, especially in picky eaters. These include:
- poor immune responses (getting sick frequently or difficulty recovering from illness)
- poor appetite or very picky (or more of a snacker, craving simple carbohydrates)
- poor concentration and trouble learning
- moodiness and mood swings
- poor sleep patterns
- muscular weakness, aches and pains
- poor growth and development (failure to thrive)
- skin problems
- delayed wound healing
Protein supplementation
Protein supplementation is also often required for picky eaters, people who suffer chronic illness, athletes or suffering with food intolerance which restricts their protein intake (egg, nut, dairy allergies for example). Just as medicine is required occasionally for illness, supplementation is critical and can be helpful in restoring the appetite and desire for whole foods.
It is also very helpful for those mornings that go pear-shaped and a sustaining brekkie is required quickly. As much as I’d like to serve a nutritionally balanced, high protein brekkie each and every morning, some days time is just stretched (like when my kids have a 5am swim squad and we are up at 4.30am) and a protein powder supplement is invaluable.
Whey protein is a complete protein source that provides all of the essential amino acids that our body needs. Whey proteins also contain individual proteins such as Lactoferrin and immunoglobulins that have immune-enhancing activity.
The vast world of protein powders
Navigating the many types of protein powders available is tricky business. Many brands are derived from feed-lot, grain-fed cows (also often fed GMO’s), highly processed soy proteins and contain franken-sugars, fructose, maltodextrin starches (aggravate blood sugars and the GIT), additives and more yuk ingredients.
Most also contain absolutely no plant fibre, good fats or micronutrients (vitamins and mineral) so nutritionally they are incomplete and not at all reflective of a well rounded, whole food meal. Thankfully, there are a select few which offer balanced nutrition and do what we need them to do – provide a sustaining, nutritious supplement, and here’s the clincher, that actually tastes good. It’s just got to taste good right?
My preferred choice – 180 Nutrition protein powder
I have decided to partner with 180 Nutrition as a product that ticks all of my tough to tick boxes. I love that they have vegan AND grass fed whey protein options (to suit everybody) and that they couple their proteins with nourishing whole food to make it nutritionally complete (so much more than just protein). I’m a fan of their ethos in general and they’re an Aussie company that I know and trust.
Their 180 Nutrition Protein + Superfood Blends are a simple, balanced blend of Whey Protein Isolate, Flaxseed, Cocoa (chocolate flavour only), Coconut Flour, Sunflower Seeds, Psyllium Husks and Stevia.
This protein powder contains essential minerals and vitamins for stable energy, healthy fats and plant-based fibre. They are also low in sugar (and fructose friendly) so they will keep you full for longer. The range of 180 Nutrition Protein + Superfood Blends (pictured below) are easy to find as they are available at your local Coles supermarket.
Important
Please speak to your nutritionally trained health care practitioner to determine if your individual nutritional requirements are being met. This post is not intended to diagnose or prescribe, merely help you to make an informed choice.

Immune Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas – peeled and quartered
- 2 orange/s – peeled and quartered
- ½ avocado – flesh
- 1 lime/s – juice
- 60 ml coconut water (¼ cup)
- 120 g full-fat natural yoghurt (½ cup)
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 cup ice
- 4 scoops protein powder
- Fruit, nuts and/or granola – to decorate
Instructions
- In a high speed blender place the bananas, oranges, avocado, lime juice, coconut water, natural yoghurt, turmeric, ice and 180 Nutrition Protein + Vanilla Superfood Blend.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Divide between two bowls and top with fruit of your choice, nuts and/or granola.
- Enjoy immediately.
Moroccan Lasagne
This Moroccan Lasagne is a fabulous slow cooked, winter warmer. It is very easy to make and a delicious, super nourishing meal. This is more time consuming than a typical lasagne as it slow cooks the beef to produce a lovely textured meat layer but the end result is so worth it (and the actual…
Date and Banana Loaf
By Kristin Cosgrove A warm slice of this Date and Banana Loaf is a delicious morning tea treat and just as good eaten cold as a sustaining lunch box snack. I like to keep a few slices in the freezer ready to be toasted and spread with butter to enjoy alongside a cup of tea…