- Studio Update
- It’s back! What’s in Season at the Allotment
- Easy Healthy Seasonal Recipe: Spicy Parsnip Soup
- Article: The Steady Plod
Hello healthy people,
The end of winter seems to last forever, but spring is on it’s way. The snowdrops and crocii are up in our local parks, the days are getting longer, but still chilly. We put away the studio SAD light and are helping clients put together training programmes for the warmer months. Now is a good time to start. Once you’ve got the exercise habit, it’s easier to keep going.
And as the seasons are awakening, I’m drawn to my allotment. So here’s…
What’s in Season at the Allotment
We start the growing year looking a wee bit bare – with only leeks and parsnips coming out the ground. We’ve got some onions and potatoes in store, nearly the end. The rhubarb thinks it’s spring and already starting to grow. We’ve started off some seedlings in the house (tomato, basil, spring onions) and are ‘chitting’ our new crop of potatoes ready for sowing in spring.
Easy Healthy Seasonal Recipe: Spicy Parsnip Soup (ve)
This recipe is a variation of one shared by a client for her fasting days (I too fast from time to time). The beauty of this soup is that it uses two veggies I’m still harvesting from the allotment – parsnips and leeks. Sweet and woody, the turmeric brings out the natural flavours of these hardy winter veg.
1 tbsp olive oil
A few big parsnips, peeled and diced
1 onion or leek, chopped
1 tbsp grated fresh root ginger
dash green chilli sauce
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground turmeric
2 tbsp mango chutney
salt and pepper to taste
Juice 1 lime
1 L water
Natural yoghurt and chopped coriander to garnish (optional)
– Heat oil in a large pan and add onion / leek, garlic, chilli and ginger. Saute 4 – 5 minutes, until softened.
– Add parsnips and cook a further 2- 3 minutes.
– Add cumin seeds, coriander and turmeric and cook a further minute, stirring constantly.
– Add 1 tbsp chutney and water, season well, bring to boil.
– Simmer 15 minutes until parsnip is soft.
– Cool, then zizz.
– Stir in lime juice, reheat then serve.
– Garnish with dollop of natural yoghurt and mango chutney.
Article: The Steady Plod
I’m a big fan of the steady plod. Benefits of a steady plod, or slow jog, is that it will get you fit, can help burn body fat, is easier to recover from than high intensity exercise and gives you a nice release of feelgood neurotransmitters.
Those who are happy at a steady plod are those who exercise for their own satisfaction. Many folk run not because they want to win races, but because they recognise the benefits of slow and long cardio exercise.
Low intensity (or steady plodding) used to be known as LSD training (Long Slow Distance), but has recently changed name to LIIS (Low Intensity Steady State) training. The clue is in the name, it involves exerting yourself at lower intensity, for longer. A good example is so that you feel ‘slightly puffed’ for 30 minutes or more. For many deconditioned (i.e. less fit) individuals, fast walking will get you into this ‘zone’.
This is the cardio I recommend to all new clients. We all need to get our heart rate up regularly. Our heart is a muscle and it needs exercising, just like any other muscle. Strong cardiac muscle = easier life.
Steady plodding is a theme for my Dad, the cover star of Australian The Senior magazine (pictured). ‘Peter the painter’ as his race number describes him, is a fan of the steady plod and is still running in events in his 70’s. Like myself, he’s not the fastest in the pack, but as you can see, running brings a big smile to his face, which is the important thing.
Have a happy and healthy March,
Tracy 🙂