Welcome to my new segment on the blog: Superfoodie Spotlight!
Since I started this blog and during my Health Coaching studies at IIN, I have been meeting so many other amazing healthy foodies – and I had to make sure you got to meet them so they can inspire you too!
Jo Hodson is a fellow student in my Integrative Nutrition class, it was only later that I realised I had started reading her blog waaay before even meeting her through my IIN class! She shares some amazing plant-based, gluten-free and sugar-free recipes with beautiful photos over at Including Cake! I am so excited for both of us to graduate IIN in just a few short months! Woohoo! And I can’t wait to see what Jo gets up to in the future.
What initially got you into healthy eating and lifestyle?
I had always felt as though I was ‘healthy’ but had never really questioned it. I went along with societies expectations and tried to get my ‘5 a day’ to balance out the odd chocolate bar. It was about 3 years ago in a previous relationship with a vegan guy who opened my eyes to nutrition and lifestyle. I fell into by accident but then there was no turning back. My life has since changed beyond recognition both physically and mentally.
What is your #1 tip for healing disease?
A highly alkaline diet focusing on real whole foods. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a vegan, vegetarian, paleo or follow a particular dietary lifestyle due to health conditions there is no reason not to pack in veggies…and lots of them! Even if you are a meat eater, I personally think meat should be kept to a minimum, get creative in getting your protein.
What’s your favourite quick snack?
Can I choose two things…please! Either porridge with lots of superfood toppings or a ‘bliss ball’ of some kind (dates, nuts and cocoa/spices blitzed together)
What are your daily self-care non-negotiables?
This is the area I am still working hard on. Whilst my nutrition and fitness feel pretty optimum at this point in my life. My self care and self love has always been something that is lacking in comparison. Saying that I always start the day with 1 litre of warm lemon water and take the time to drink this mindfully to set me up for the day. It’s a beautiful habit.
What’s your favourite…
Documentary? I can’t pick one. Forks Over Knives and Food Matters are up there though.
Book? The China Study… it changed my mindset and my life.
Vegetable? Spinach (so versatile)
Blog? Just one favourite?? Ok I’m not going to pick a food based one because there are simply too many to choose so I’m going to say Zen Habits… so much truth when often I most need to hear it.
Smoothies or juices? Smoothies… I prefer to keep the fibre!
Can you share you’re favourite recipe with us?
My favourite category of meals has to be… ‘bressert’ I enjoy creating recipes that are naturally sweet without any refined sugars so healthy enough for breakfast but sweet enough for dessert.
This particular recipe is also one of my favourites as I almost always have the ingredients to hand, and it’s so quick to mix up and bake. It’s foolproof and it’s my perfect weekend brunch! You could also get creative with other flavours in much the same way… I often make a tropical version using coconut milk for the liquid component and pineapple for the fruit, topped with a few coconut curls.
Enjoy!
Recipe: Apple and blueberry baked oatmeal
- ⅔ cup oats (GF if needed)
- tiny pinch salt
- 1¼ cup apple juice
- 1 apple- grated
- 1 tbs chia/flax seed
- ½ tsp mixed spice or cinnamon
- large handful frozen blueberries (I haven't tried with fresh so I am not sure of cooking times)
- small handful of pumpkin seeds (or other seeds/nuts as preferred)
- Mix everything together reserving most of the blueberries and pumpkin seeds to add on the top last. Spoon into a medium oven dish and add the blueberries pumpkin seeds. Sprinkle with extra sugar if you like, but this was seriously sweet enough for me (I would even serve it as desert) just from the fruit and fruit juice.
- Bake at 180ºC for approx. 25 mins until the topping is golden. Serve immediately.
About Jo:
Jo Hodson lives in England and is the health conscious plant-based foodie and recipe developer behind the holistic health website Including Cake and creator of the health food range of treats and snacks Wholeplus.
What first began as an extension of her creative lifestyle, became all encompassing after completing a Certificate in Plant Based Nutrition, followed by a desire to further her studies and knowledge to empower others to express themselves, with diplomas in both Holistic Health Coaching and Personal Performance Coaching currently ongoing.
“Where health and indulgence collide” is her mantra and you can visit her to share the love on includingcake.com and wholeplus.com. You’ll also find her sharing food and hanging out here: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest.