FFS has a moment with Sarah Wilson .. the woman behind IQS

The Food component of Fitness, Food and Style focuses very much on wholesome, real food that is quick to prepare and nutritious. You'll know by now that I'm not into fussy ingredients or elaborate preparation - just easy food that provides maximum energy. In our household, it pretty much means our day-to-day eating involves no added sugar.

I've now done a couple of "No Added Sugar" challenges here on the blog, and they are amongst the most popular. Hundreds of people have been motivated to join these challenges and it's always such a buzz to hear reader feedback saying how much better they have felt as a result of eliminating added sugars.

One of the people who has really inspired me with our move to sugar free is Sarah Wilson of the IQS (I Quit Sugar) 8-week Program. I've done it myself and loved it so much I became an affiliate and promote it as a great way of getting into the sugar-free zone. 

With so many people loving the benefits of a no-sugar or reduced-sugar lifestyle, the IQS phenomenon has expanded to include fantastic recipe books with hundreds of recipes for delicious no-added sugar snacks, meals and drinks.

I'm always pleased to promote the program and IQS book, as it's come in so handy for transitioning our 4 kids to a low-sugar lifestyle. Truly, if I can hold rocking kids' parties with no-added sugar birthday cakes and healthy, fun treats, then it's a way of life you can adopt with your family too! Our thriving kids are completely used to eating like this and actually don't really enjoy the taste of sugary sweets now at all!

wholesome and delicious no-added sugar pancakes

When the opportunity arose to have Sarah Wilson answer some interview questions, I knew you'd also be wanting to find out a bit more about what makes this superwoman tick.

FFS readers, I'd like to introduce you to Sarah Wilson ...

Sarah Wilson {image from iquitsugar.com}

She is an author, tv host, blogger and wellness coach whose journalism career has spanned 20 years. 

FFS asks: What fitness activity do you schedule into your daily routine to keep healthy?

At the moment for me, walking is one of my forms of transport. It means I get my exercise done, but it also ensures I have pockets in my day - when I walk to the post office, my office, to a meeting - where there is some time to think clearly and recalibrate.  

Most of us don't need big slabs of time to recalibrate, just 5-15 mins here and there throughout the day is enough to stay on track.

FFS asks: Describe your dream meal - what could we expect to find on your plate?

Roast pork, with plenty of crackling! And a stack of green vegetables. 

FFS asks: What’s a childhood habit or mannerism that has followed you into adulthood?

I bite on my lip. When I'm mulling things over. 

FFS asks:  Name three things you can’t leave the house without and why?

In the mornings I don't leave without a green smoothie. Because I'm often eating on the run, I make sure I take a densely nutritious smoothie with me to keep me going. 

I usually don't leave without my bike! I ride, or walk, most places. 

My running shoes. I usually have a pair on me or in my bag, for when I'm walking or riding places. 

If you haven't yet checked out the 8-week IQS Program, maybe it could be something to add to your Santa list, ready to kick off as a New Year Resolution for a fresh and sugar-free 2014??

If you've already kicked the sugar habit, I'd love to know how it's going for you. Leave a comment to let me know.

much love and friendship

xx Dani

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Day 13 - no added sugar challenge

Hello there! Feeling more energised? Skin clearer? Mood better? That's all the feedback I have been receiving about this challenge and you know what? That's brilliant!!! That's what this is all about. Becoming healthier and happy peeps.

Today was a struggle for me. I have a pretty hectic day when Mietta goes to Kinda (early learning centre) for 2 hours as I drop off the boys to school in the morning, run some morning errands before heading back home for Zali to have her sleep, we then have lunch and then wake up Zali to take her big sis to Kinda for 2 hours! Then it's either another errand or walk around the lake during those hours. Then pick up the boys between 3-3:15pm and then rush to grab Mietta at 3:30pm!!! WHOOSH! That's the day GONE!

Breakfast
180 Nutrition coconut green smoothie (needed something to take away for the kids school run!)
spinach
celery
apple
ginger

Green smoothie spinach, apple, celery and ginger

*For your exclusive 10% discount on any 180 Nutrition product simply use my 264464 promo number at checkout 

Morning snack
Fruit salad with yogurt

Lunch
Tuna salad wholemeal wrap

Afternoon snack
Tzaziki dip with cherry tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and wholemeal rice crackers

Healthy snack

Dinner
Steamed vegetables with legumes

Steamed vegetables

Wasn't feeling overly hungry tonight, especially with the warm weather today. So we just steamed some vegetables and served the kids with tuna while we had a chickpea/legume mix.


Dessert
Yogurt mango and berry icy poles

Method:
Mix natural yogurt or coconut milk with mango and berries (or whatever fruits you have) freeze and enjoy!!

Can I just say how pleased I am to see such wonderful no added sugar meals in our #noaddedsugar #nashchallenge gallery. I am blow away!! Here's just a few that caught my eye!!!

No added sugar challenge

Thanks to @pippafitness for her mexican inspired stuffed capsicum @mrs_parkinson for her amazing protein pancake stacks layered with coconut yogurt and banana @fithealthymade sweet treat ideas for Valentines Day and @laura_rixon for her array of food colours!


This challenge has been fantastic and I am so proud of you all for taking the plunge! I'm loving my Sarah Wilson I QUIT SUGAR ebook, grab a copy here if you need some inspiration.

What about next month? And the rest of the year? Please let me know what other challenges you would like to see me run!!!

Ready for next months challenge?

List them in your comments below and see you tomorrow on the most romantic day ever.

♥ Dani

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Day 9 - no added sugar

Hello everyone and happy Saturday to you!!!

I did my resistance training earlier this morning and absolutely love the fact that I can do this at home and usually within 15 minutes! What's your favourite resistance training? To follow the program I do, simply click on this link and download the ebook as I have been able to maintain my body for the last 5 years using this Fit Yummy Mummy fat loss system. It just works!


My favourite post workout drink is (as you all know) 180 Nutrition and I love the fact that it comes in 2 natural flavours with no added sugar of course! It has stevia as a sweetener and I use the coconut natural flavour when mixing up my green smoothies and the chocolate natural flavour when I am craving something sweet.

This went down a treat today!!!! How you coping with no sugar after 9 WHOLE DAYS???? I am starting to get some chocolate cravings!! Must research dark chocolate with no added sugar :-) or simply stick to my protein powder of choice to save the day!!!

Which reminds me, I will be posting later tonight about my exclusive offer. I am super excited to have this available to you all!!!! Watch this space................but here's a little clue;

I also managed to go for a run but can officially say I will be hanging up my running shoes (not that I have been a huge runner as I only started last June/July) however due to my lower back issues and ongoing stitches my rehab doctor has advised I stick to my resistance and core strength training and not over exert my body with high impact exercise eg: running. I need to listen to my body and apologies to my girlfriends that are doing the fun run in Melbourne next month, I will be there in spirit!!!

Running 

Our food today.......


Breakfast 
Home made muesli

No added sugar home made muesli

I simply mix together whatever ingredients I have in the pantry and this morning made a batch with;

rolled oats
fruit & nut mix
shredded coconut
chia seeds
pumpkin & sunflower seeds

You can have this with your preferred milk or even with yogurt as a snack.


Morning snack
180 Nutrition chocolate post workout shake
1 banana

Lunch
Chicken salad with spinach, cherry tomatoes, grated carrot and feta cheese
Squeeze of lemon juice and drizzle olive oil and add S&P to taste

Afternoon snack
Peanut butter sandwiches with grated apples and cinnamon

Dinner
Oven baked chicken tomato basil with sweet ribbon potato chips & salad

Oven baked tomato and basil chicken

Method: Wash chicken pieces thoroughly and rub tomato passata sauce (no added sugar of course) minced garlic, basil and season with S&P. Coat generously and oven bake until cooked. Clean and peel sweet potato and use your peeler to make ribbon pieces, toss in olive oil (I sometimes sprinkle cinnamon) and also oven bake with the chicken.

This is a quick cheat meal for me as the oven pretty much does all the work. What are some of your low maintenance healthy meals?

I am wanting to do a post on converting the not so healthy meals into clean eating meals. Please share some of your classic dinners that are NOT SO healthy so I can try and convert them into healthy dinner meals!


Until we meet again, much love

Xx Dani

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Fairy tale holiday ends

Well today is officially the last day of the school holidays. We have had such a fun time together as a family of 6! From surfing to bike riding, bush walking, scooter riding you name it!

Noah starts Grade 2 tomorrow, Oscar starts Prep on Thursday and Mietta has a 2hr session at a 3yo Early Learning Centre on Friday, so baby Zali and I get to enjoy some 1-on-1 time.

How are you?

Excited about our no added sugar challenge or what???? I'm super pumped and so excited by all your responses. I'm overloaded by so many questions over in Facebook and Instagram land so I hope to answer all your questions here or my fellow readers can assist me as well. Particularly those that did the challenge with me last year.

In fact there is a sensational book out by Sarah Wilson I QUIT SUGAR. I am desperately trying to give up sugar but sometimes the white devil gets the better of me. I turn to this book for inspiration so if you need some then I highly recommend you click here and grab yourself a copy if you too need some guidance on what to substitute over the 14 days and preferably FOREVS!!!!!! 

So which team will you join? 

In the meantime while you have a think, here's a great supportive chocolate cake from the one and only Teresa Cutter. This will fall in the category of the sugar babes if you are craving something sweet *remember only a slice not the entire cake :-) as fruits of life are omitting the extra natural sweeteners eg: honey, maple syrup etc...

Clean eating chocolate cake

Ingredients 

-2 whole oranges

-Your preferred natural sweetener measurement (eg 3/4 cup honey, agave or maple syrup) 

-6 organic free range eggs

-pinch of sea salt

-4 cups ground walnuts (400 g ) or almonds

-3/4  cup good quality dark cocoa powder

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

-1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract

Method;

1⃣ Steam the oranges until soft

2⃣ Once cool chop entire oranges including the skin. Place oranges with honey, salt, vanilla into a food processor

3⃣ Add eggs, keep blending

4⃣ Pour mixture into a bowl and simply fold other ingredients walnuts (or almonds) cocoa and cinnamon. 

5⃣ Spoon into a baking tin (line it with greaseproof paper) 

6⃣ Bake in a 170C degree oven until cooked through (approx. ­60 minutes) 

This is such a lovely and moist cake (The healthy chef AKA Teresa Cutter does it again). To ensure its cooked properly, test with a skewer. Completely cool the cake before serving into small pieces. Serves 10-12

We had ours with a dollop of organic thickened cream (I had mine with ricotta cheese) and fresh blueberries. For a super indulgent treat, drizzle some dark chocolate ganache after the 14 day challenge of course!!! 

Planks challenge

Our planks pictures have been sensational once again. So many pictures that I keep posting daily of the many inspirational people on Instagram. 180 Nutrition have been kind enough to sponsor my #planksjan2013 challenge as we all are planking for 31 days over January 3x1 minutes. I will be announcing the 4 random winners (2 male and 2 female plankers!) Monday 4th February. So stay tuned and keep tagging your pictures. 

Here are just a few of the plank stars I've posted for those that don't have Facebook, Instagram or Twitter;

Planks challenge

Here are our planks for the past 2 weeks!!! I am proud to announce that I officially can hold a plank 3 x 1 minutes!!! Woo Hoo!!! 

Planks challenge

Some fun down in Lorne and at home....

#planksjan2013 challenge

More pool fun and even a plank at my hairdressers!!!! 

31 day planks challenge

Okay heading to bed to sort out these little people bright and early in the morning. Thanks for stopping by and any questions about our challenge starting on Friday, ask away!!!!

Xx Dani

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I QUIT SUGAR ebook 50% discount offer!!!

When I saw this come into my inbox I immediately thought of you!!!

This weekend the lovely Sarah Wilson who is the author of I QUIT SUGAR is offering 50% off her ebook which is AMAZING!!!!

I QUIT SUGAR special offer this Australia Day long weekend 

In fact perfect for all of us doing the no added sugar challenge next month!!! I even have a copy!!!

Go check it out as it may give you ideas on how to curb your sweet tooth cravings throughout our challenge or FOREVER. I think Sarah is amazing as she has totally eliminated sugar from her diet. She is my inspiration!!!

Here is what we had for breakfast this morning:

NO ADDED SUGAR PANCAKES ;-)

No added sugar pancakes

I simply mixed wholemeal flour with 2 eggs, whisked in buttermilk (or mix yogurt with milk) add some vanilla essence and any other spices you like. I made this batter a lot thicker to my typical traditional pancakes AKA crepes so you just add as milk to make the right consistency you like.

Blueberry pancakes with no added sugar

I then sprinkle blueberries and leave others plain for kids to add yogurts, walnuts, honey or whatever is a semi healthy optional topping.....

I QUIT SUGAR EBOOK

Just a reminder, I'll be posting my daily food journal over the 14 day challenge to give you some other inspiration and ideas. Otherwise grab yourself a copy of I QUIT SUGAR as I find it extremely useful and get so many ideas from her recipe book. It's amazing!!!! Especially with the 50% offer this weekend. Ends Tuesday 29th February.

Have a sensational weekend (HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to all my Australian friends) and don't forget to register for our NO ADDED SUGAR challenge  (simply subscribe to my blog) that starts next Friday 1st February and ends on Valentines Day 14th February.

 Xx Dani

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