We have all learnt many lessons this past couple of strange years, with the numerous ups and downs. We have all been forced to adapt to the ever-changing rules and restrictions, and the opening and closing of ‘real life’ again. It seems that things can change at a moment’s notice, and it has taken incredible resilience to adapt to the ever-changing world we all find ourselves living in.

So much has been taken out of our control, and it has undoubtedly left many people with anxiety like they have never experienced before.

So, for those of us who thrive around being with other people, and are passionate about bringing people together, it has been a very strange time. I am also acutely aware that it is also going to take some time before everyone feels comfortable doing this again….

I know after the first lock-down I was very nervous about returning to real life situations, but as I gently dipped my toe in the water, I learnt to relax into it more, and I am now so very grateful to be able to access real life human connection again.

I have heard so many people say that ‘things will never be the same again,’ and perhaps they are right, but I really hope that people will feel able to start to gently dip their toes in the water. They might not want to meet in large groups, but I really hope they feel able to start taking those small tentative steps towards meeting even one friend because it is just so crucial to our well-being….

I can’t begin to describe how heart- warmed I felt after I was to be able to meet several people from my little healthy community this weekend, as we gathered for a picnic in the great outdoors at huge local common.

Sometimes we can make life more complicated than it needs to be, and we can underestimate the power of simply being ‘together’ . We laughed, shared stories, and salads, tea and cake, and I for one revelled in the pure simple pleasure of real human connection.

I hope that we will never take this for granted again.

I am fortunate to be connected with many brilliant people who have taught me to appreciate the small things in life, and to make a conscious choice to enjoy more simple pleasures, and I am keen to embody this more and to share this crucial message with others.

I hope that I will be able to bring people back together in person more and more as life slowly returns to a new normal, but in the meantime, I will continue to do what I can on-line.

We have recently started a Women’s Health Monthly Zoom Call to bring women together to share stories and support and inspire each other and I am looking forward to our next one at 1pm on 21st July.

My role as a health coach is to help people to create simple, sustainable, healthy habits in all the different areas of their health and well-being. Clearly making healthy food choices is a crucial part of the puzzle, but there is often so much information available that it can sometimes leave people feeling bewildered and overwhelmed.

My aim will therefore be to help people get some clarity around food. Clearly there is no one ‘perfect diet’  or one diet that ‘fits all’. I also by no means eat a perfect diet 100% of the time myself. However,  I hope that I can share some ideas that will be valuable to everyone.

If anyone asks me what one thing is, they can add to their diet, it will be a colourful variety of fruit and vegetables every time.

I have shared salads and recipes for several years now at various events. So, I thought I would share an old favourite that I took to the picnic with you here. It  is packed with healthy protein, fats and carbs, and colourful fruit and veg. Feel free to adapt the recipe in any way you like and add any veg that you would like. The more veg the better and all that!!

I hope you enjoy it.

Nutty Mango Quinoa Salad

8 oz quinoa

3 tbsp Olive oil

1 small mango chopped into small cubes

Small punnet of cherry tomatoes

½ cucumber

4 tbsp pumpkin seeds

2oz toasted cashew nuts

2 tsp medium curry paste

Grated zest & juice of 1 lime

4 tbsp fresh mint

Salt & pepper to taste

• Make up quinoa as per recipe below
• Stir in mango, tomato, cucumber, seeds & nuts
• Whisk together the curry paste, lime, mint, oil, seasoning & stir into the quinoa

Perfectly cooked Quinoa

1 cup quinoa (6oz)

1 3/4 cups of water

• Rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer
• Place in a pot with the water & bring to the boil
• Lower the heat, cover & cook for 12-15 minutes, until all the water is absorbed
• Turn off the heat, place a dry paper towel between the pot and the lid & allow the quinoa to cool before fluffing it up with a fork.

Please do reach out if you would like to join our Women’s Health call next week, or if you simply would like to reach out and connect. I would be delighted to hear from you!

In the meantime, please take good care of yourself, Harriet x