I’m not claiming this is healthy, But by spreading the chocolate thinly, the idea is you’ll eat less of it! And with additional toppings adding to the nutritional value, it’s a step closer to being healthier. It’s certainly better than demolishing a family size block of milk chocolate. You might need to put it out of sight in an air tight container fairly quickly though otherwise you’ll be coming back for more. midlifemenu.com/recipes/chocolate-bark
Read MoreThere’s way more to salads than just lettuce, tomato and cucumber - that’s just a garnish!
This recipe brings you a salad that will serve as a lunch or dinner option and keep you going for ages. It features some of your favourite ingredients but in salad form. And if you’re not a meat eater, you can easily swap tempeh or tofu for the bacon. Plus you can add in any other ingredients you love or are lurking in the back of the fridge. Go on! Be imaginative and make your summer salads a riot of colour and flavour. midlifemenu.com/recipes/blt-salad-bowl
Read MoreChia seeds are having their moment just now and rightly so! They are power houses of nutrition, including protein, fibre, omega 3 and anti-oxidants. This means they’re great at breakfast to see you through to lunch without the munchies or to stop the evening snacking. This recipe is quick to whip up with only three ingredients and it keeps well in the fridge so I make a batch on a Sunday evening so that my weekday breakfasts are sorted all in one go. Don’t be put off by the word ‘pudding’ in the title - that just describes the texture, although I admit that some people find the texture a little bit ‘gelatinous’!! It’s also lovely warmed up like porridge when the temperatures start to fall again. midlifemenu.com/recipes/coconut-chia-pudding
Read MoreWith just three ingredients and cooked in 15 minutes, these tasty mushrooms are a regular standby for me if I need to rustle something up quickly. Plus you can vary what you use as a topping depending on what’s in the cupboard or needs using up in the fridge. And they’re very forgiving with the oven temperature if you’ve got something already in the oven cooking.
Serve them with sweet potato wedges and salad and if there’s any left over you can slice them up as a filling for a pitta or on top of a salad with a dollop of hummus for lunch the next day. Midlifemenu.com/recipes/cheesy-mushrooms
Read MoreWhen I was recently asked for a hummus recipe, I realised that I just tend to throw ingredients together without weighing or measuring anything! So, this forced me to write down exactly what I do and also to double check it before I publish it. The verdict? My husband tells me it’s the best yet and I should have doubled the ingredients because we ate it all in one sitting. I know it’s really convenient to buy hummus but it’s super easy to make yourself and you’ll know exactly what’s gone into it. Go on! have a go… midlifemenu.com/recipes/hummus
Read MoreDon’t discount tofu stir fry because you’re not veggie or vegan! I agree that tofu doesn’t have a load of flavour but in this recipe there’s plenty to pack a punch. If you’re thinking of eating a bit lighter as summer tentatively starts to put in an appearance then why not try this recipe this week? I know it’s perhaps one of the more alternative recipes of late but it’s a regular in our house and even the hubbie is good with it! midlifemenu.com/recipes/tofu-stir-fry
Read MoreI was late to the party with sweet potato toast! I convinced myself that it wouldn’t really cook and that it was a bit of a faff. But I’m converted :) It’s dead easy to do, taste great and is a fab alternative to bread. The flavour is quite sweet though so we tend to mix lemon juice and fresh coriander through the avocado (like a simplified guacamole) and a grind of black pepper. Super yummy and will keep you full right through until lunch. midlifemenu.com/recipes/sweet-potato-toast
Read MoreQuinoa is a great alternative to heavier carbs like pasta and rice, plus it’s full of protein which helps fill you up and keep your energy levels balanced. But it’s bland on it’s own without any ‘pepping’ up - in fact one of my friends has decided she doesn’t like it because it’s so tasteless…but I’m on a mission to prove her wrong with this recipe! Feel free to add your own variations so long as it’s got plenty of flavour. midlifemenu.com/recipes/quinoa
Read MoreThese are a regular occurrence in our household! They’re crunchy and crispy and you can adjust the flavour to be salty or spicy or a bit of both. If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to a packet of salt and vinegar, then give these a try. It might take a couple of goes to get the crispiness just right without burning them, but it will be worth it! midlifemenu.com/recipes/kale-crisps
Read MoreA quick mid-week curry that uses curry paste and whatever veggies to hand. It also makes a plain piece of white fish far more tasty. An ideal combination of bags of flavour with minimum effort. Perfect for a work night meal or perhaps a Friday night when you fancy curry but are resisting the take-away! midlifemenu.com/recipes/quick-fish-curry
Read MoreBreakfast tends to be a very high carb meal, traditionally cereal or toast. While these taste great, they won’t keep you full for long and they can put you on the blood sugar rollercoaster for the rest of the day. But some of my clients struggle with giving up their cereal for breakfast so this granola recipe keeps the usual granola ingredients but with less sugar to reduce any blood sugar spikes and dips. www.midlifemenu.com/recipes/low-sugar-granola
Read MoreThese are super useful, and tasty, breakfast muffins that can be prepped and frozen at the weekend and then defrosted and heated up in the microwave each morning or when you get to work. I find people really struggle with breakfast alternatives to toast and cereal which seem so convenient. Here’s your breakfast alternative! www.midlifemenu.com/recipes/veggie-breakfast-egg-muffins
Read MoreThese snacks are super easy to prep if you’ve already got the oven on for something else, like your dinner. The temperature doesn’t have to be exact as you can toast them for longer or shorter time depending on the temperature. I always make sure we’ve got a tub of both these snacks on hand. The nuts are great with fruit as a snack. The seeds can be used as snacks but also sprinkled on any dish that needs a salty hit or a crunchy texture, such as soups and salads. They’re great as part of your weekend prep to have in the cupboard for quick snacks during the week. www.midlifemenu.com/recipes/nuts-and-seeds
Read MoreI absolutely love peanut butter and when combined with dark chocolate, I’m in heaven! If you have a weakness for Reece’s peanut butter cups then I think you’re going to like this recipe. Am I saying they’re healthy? Well…not exactly but they’re certainly lower sugar and higher protein than the bought versions so they are steps in the right direction. You can make them with all different nut or seed butters or even tahini. www.midlifemenu.com/recipes/dark-chocolate-peanut-butter-cups
Read MoreIf you’re after a (slightly) lower sugar alternative to chocolates, try this recipe for almond chocolate bites. With dark chocolate and whole nuts, there’s no nasties or processed ingredients. Perfect for that little pick-me-up just when you need it without undoing all your healthy eating habits. Enjoy! midlifemenu.com/recipes/almond-chocolate-bites
Read MoreI’ve been a bit slow to embrace the cauliflower alternatives. This was mainly because I was only trying cauliflower rice and not adding any spices to zing it up a bit (check out the cauliflower rice ideas). I found it all a bit bland. But now I’m a convert - flavour it up a bit and it’s great, especially as per this picture where I’ve put it on top of a shepherd’s pie mix. midlifemenu.com/recipes/cauliflower-mash
Read MoreIf you're trying to incorporate some healthier habits into your weekly menu, but you also want that comfort feeling, why not try these chicken burgers? Perfect for a Friday night maybe with some sweet potato wedges; bread roll not needed! midlifemenu.com/recipes/greek-chicken-burgers
Read MoreIf you're trying to include more greens into your diet, which is a great idea by the way, this recipe might help you. 'Jazzing' up any greens - spinach, cabbage, kale, chard - with garlic and lemon just makes it way more tasty. Why not try it with your Sunday lunch? midlifemenu.com/recipes/garlicky-greens
Read MoreWith just one ingredient, this quick and easy substitute for whipped double cream contains good fats and way more nutrition than the dairy variety - it's a staple in our house. midlifemenu.com/recipes/coconut-whipped-cream
Read MoreKeep your midweek cooking quick and easy with this one pan frittata. The variations are endless - it can be veggie or have meat or fish added to it. You can serve it with sweet potato wedges and salad or hot veg. It will use up all the old veggies that are at the back of your fridge. And it will be on the table within 20 mins. www.midlifemenu.com/recipes/frittata
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