Eating Healthy with Yumbox

Pack a healthy lunch with Yumbox and stick to your New Year's Resolutions to eat better!

Eat Healthy with Yumbox

I don't know where to begin singing these Yumbox praises. Seriously, without a doubt, this is the coolest, most convenient lunch box I've ever used. When I first opened my gleaming, bright pink Yumbox, I thought: There's no way that small amount of food will fill me up!  I was completely wrong!

It's the season of promises and resolutions & for many foodies, that extends to the kitchen!  Here are 9 cooking resolutions to see you through the year ahead & make you a better cook!

9 Cooking Resolutions for the New Year

At this time of year, the majority of us vow to become better people doing all sorts of things we feel responsible adults should do. And while traditional resolutions are all well and good, there's nothing like a bit of a lighthearted resolution to help you rediscover your passion! Especially one that results in something edible and delicious. Here are 9 resolutions you'll actually want to try (and actually will be able to achieve in the new year!).

Gluten Free Havarti & Caramelised Onion Canapes for New Year's Eve

Ring in 2016 with these decadent gluten free Castello Havarti cheese canapes!

Yield: a dozen
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: No cooking required

New Year's Eve Gluten Free Havarti Canapes

One of the best things about New Year's Eve is having a sophisticated late night soiree, passing nibbles and drinks around the room as you count down the end of the year and start of a new one. No New Year's Eve party worth attending skimps on the canapes! This recipe is ridiculously easy; there's no cooking involved (unless you decide to go whole hog and make your own homemade chutney) and it's ready to throw together in minutes!

Although I've branded it as being a New Year's Eve recipe, you can easily use it any time of year as an appetiser or canape for any party you find yourself hosting! Go as lavish or as budget on the crispbreads or crackers and the chutney, but do not skimp on the cheese! The cheese is the star of this recipe. I used an indulgent Havarti, from Castello that is so creamy and moreish even the most fussy cheese eater won't be able to resist.

Mulled Wine Moscow Mules with Waitrose's Gluten Free Christmas Products

Pair a Waitrose gluten free mince pie or Christmas pudding with an indulgent mulled wine in a trendy Moscow Mule mug & kickstart your festivities!

Yield: 2 mugs
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Mulled Wine Moscow Mules

'Tis the season for festive cheer and, if you're in Britain, loads of mince pies and Christmas cake! When you can't have gluten in your diet, mince pies can be more daunting than festive. Thankfully, this year, Waitrose is providing Coeliacs and gluten and wheat allergy sufferers options for Christmas food with a range of free from mince pies and Christmas cakes.

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole for a #GlutenFreeChristmas

This gluten free twist on an American classic is the perfect side dish for a #GlutenFreeChristmas!

Yield: 8 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole

Here's an American Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition you may not have come across: Green Bean Casserole. This casserole is a staple at the dinner table on the big holidays in the states and has been on my list to make gluten free for some time. It's a really easy side dish to make and you can serve it alongside turkey, ham or chicken.It would also work well as an Easter side dish, too!

Gluten Free Sausage & Spinach Soup for #SHHealthySmiles

A delicious gluten-free soup with ingredients that will give you a healthy smile!

Yield: 6-8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

Gluten Free Sausage & Spinach Soup

This soup is a deliciously, easy option for a quick late autumn/early winter dinner. I especially love this recipe because it features ingredients (courtesy of Simplyhealth) that promote healthy smiles. Just take a look at the inforgraphic at the bottom of this post for more ideas about how to cook your way to a healthy smile.

 A gluten free take on a classic Greek dessert with a floral twist!

Yield: up to 2 dozen
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Gluten Free Pistachio & Rose Baklava

At the age of 18, I was desperate to travel the world. I dreamt of leaving America and heading anywhere, passport and camera in hand. As a student at uni, jetsetting off around the world wouldn't be an option until a semester spent studying abroad my final year, so I had to make do with the next best thing: hanging out with international students in my campus's I-House, going to cultural talks and food festivals. It was at one such festival that I fell in love with the sweet, nutty heaven that is baklava.

A #GloriousAdventure with Food

I love food -- both this food blog and my plus size lifestyle blog are evidence of that. One of  the most incredible things about food is its power to transport you. Tastebuds are shapeshifters, working with scents, they can catapult you to foreign lands, inspiring you to visit, to travel, all off the back of a sweet, floral coconut or the heady potency of spice.

Gluten Free Roasted Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad with Honeyed Balsamic Vinaigrette

This warm winter salad features roasted butternut squash, quinoa and a few surprising twists, drizzled with homemade honeyed balsamic vinaigrette, it's gluten free, mostly vegan and vegetarian!

Yield: 2 main portions or 4 side dish portions
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Vegetarian Roasted Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad with Honeyed Balsamic Vinaigrette

I'm a sucker for a good salad. I'm talking about salads with substance, with more than just a few spindly salad leaves and half chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. Salads that will fill you up and keep you full and that are perfect for any time of year. The roasted butternut squash and quinoa salad recipe I'm going to share with you today is just that type of salad: it's full of goodness and makes for a filling meal ready in just over half an hour.

Visiting Blackpool as a #TravelodgeTourist

Journey with us as we play #TravelodgeTourist in Blackpool and discover some of the city's must-see attractions for a rip-roaring family day out!

What do you think of when you hear the word Blackpool?

 Is it the UK's number one destination for hen and stag debauchery? Or perhaps that it's a stomping ground for one of the largest and most invigorating gay communities in the Northwest? Or Strictly, the fact that it's home to one of reality TV's most-loved shows? More than just a seaside resort, Blackpool has been called the Vegas of the UK and while that comparison might be inflating things slightly, it is a splendidly dazzling destination with something for everyone.