well, it’s been a lousy couple of weeks for me – i’ve had the sniffles, a sore throat and chesty cough for most of it and am still suffering. hopefully you’ll all be in better shape than me but if not, or if you just want to make sure you stay ahead of the nasties check out these immune-boosting diet tips.

read more over at the daily tiffin, a blog that helps people have a healthy family lifestyle. i'll write about healthy eating, over at the daily tiffin, every fortnight.

changes in the weather mean that a lot of us are seeing changes in our skin – often it gets slightly drier, maybe flaky and a little dull looking as autumn gives way to winter. if, like me, you could do with a bit of help, small changes in the way you eat can have a huge impact – beauty really does come from within!

food which are rich in the antioxidant vitamins and minerals (vitamins, a, c and e plus selenium) will help address any festive over-indulgences, as well as help your body respond to the changes in season. boost your intake of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids and ensure that your digestive system is working well to help add a glow to your skin.

read more over at the daily tiffin, a blog that helps people have a healthy family lifestyle. i'll write about healthy eating, over at the daily tiffin, every fortnight.

i’ve just returned to london after 2 weeks holiday in italy and despite having only been back at work for 4 days i’m already struggling. my concentration is minimal and my ability to focus on the task at hand seems to have gone awol.

urgent action is needed and i’ve been researching ways to boost my brainpower. i thought i’d share my top 5 with you in case the increasingly wintry days are getting to you too. these tips are also good for kids who’re struggling now the excitement of the new school term has worn off.

read more over at the daily tiffin, a blog that helps people have a healthy family lifestyle. i'll write about healthy eating, over at the daily tiffin, every fortnight.

last month’s observer food monthly contained a feature on simple summer meals which was 101 “recipes” that’d be ready in 10 minutes or less.

i was quite excited by the headline but looking through the ideas i was disappointed at how few of the recipes excited me.

in fact, only one was particularly interesting, but i did go through the list circling those that tickled my fancy and thought i’d share my top 15 with you. obviously you can also go through the long list to see what delights i missed!

read more over at the daily tiffin, a blog that helps people have a healthy family lifestyle. i'll write about healthy eating, over at the daily tiffin, every fortnight. 

here in london the weather seems to have finally got back on track. the rain has stopped, the sun is out and temperatures are rising. finally, it’s starting to feel like summer.

it’s at times like this when i wish that i had a garden. warm afternoons, balmy evenings, outdoor dining and the freckles to go with it! still, it’s not all doom and gloom as london is full of fabulous parks just begging you to visit and have a picnic. more excitingly (for some) there are also lots of fabulous beaches only a short train journey away.

choosing what to eat is when it starts to get tricky. most supermarkets are well tuned to the laziness that lurks within us all and offer a wide variety of picnic friendly foods. as well as the ubiquitous (aka boring) sandwiches there are tubs of tzatziki and taramasalata, nestled alongside pasta, bean, lentil and rice salads. bags of vegetable crudités and the seemingly-endless variety of cheeses and cold meats complement the quiches and pies. so many choices, and all ours in exchange for a few folding green notes.

and it all sounds quite healthy too so what’s the problem?

read more over at the daily tiffin, a blog that helps people have a healthy family lifestyle. i'll write about healthy eating, for the daily tiffin, every fortnight.