Take 6

These 6 great ingredients pack a nutritional punch and are easy to add to your daily diet

 Tomatoes

Firstly the long list of nutrients includes Vitamns A, C and K and their deep red colour is courtesy of the antioxidant lycopene. I love them simply sliced and drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil (another powerhouse) and they make a great base for so many recipes

Chia Seeds

Like flax seeds these are a treasure chest of plant specific Omega 3 fatty acid ALA. These are even easier to have around the house as they don’t need to be ground or kept in the fridge. Sprinkle them into porridge, cereals, flapjacks, bread mixtures and smoothies.

Blueberries

Packed full of carotenoids and flavonoids so good for the brain, heart protective, great for memory, preventing UTIs, and packed with vitamins C and E too.

Throw them on top of cereals, into smoothie or pack into lunchboxes.

Lesser known grains Amaranth, Millet, Farro, Bulgur

Make it your mission to get to know these grains as an alternative to couscous which I love but variety is nice. They are easy to cook, are a great base for loading with vegetables and are nice and filling as well as being really inexpensive.

Spinach

Chock full of nutrients including iron, calcium, Vitamin A and folate which is great for our metabolism. I prefer to buy frozen as you get much more out of a pack of frozen but throwing a handful of fresh washed spinach into a smoothie is a great sneaky way to ups its nutritional punch.

Kidney Beans

I love beans of all types for making chilis and burgers. Packed with fibre as well as magnesium, potassium and iron and not forgetting their antioxidants. Easily used as a meat substitute in your favourite bolognaise recipe and a perfect partner for tex mex style chilis.