HEALTHYFRENCHWIFE- Claire Power

Healthy Vegan Recipes

product review

Recipe

Why I choose Califia Farms!

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Have you reached your #chocolatelimit this past Easter weekend? Are you already
thinking of what recipes to make for Mother’s Day? I have a great new recipe for you: Almond Raspberry Buckwheat bread – this recipe is gluten-free, vegan and refined sugar-free so you can feel good about enjoying a slice or 2!

I collaborated with Califia Farms to create this recipe and used their Unsweetened Almond Milk. I love that their plant-based milks have no added sugar and are carrageenan-free. They also have great taste, texture and the bottles are pretty cool! You can find them nationwide (Australia) in the main supermarkets as well as independents like your local IGA. They also have an awesome range of cold brew coffees and I need to try them next for my morning coffee – especially their XX Espresso Cold Brew! I have been making vegan sweets for over 4-5 years and using a quality plant-based milk such as Califia Farms Almond Milk can really make or break plant-based baking!
So here is the recipe- I hope you like it! Don’t forget to tag me @healthyfrenchwife
on Instagram if you make it! I love seeing your recreations.

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Almond Buckwheat Raspberry Bread

  • 1 cup of buckwheat flour
  • 1/2 cup of almond meal
  • 1 cup of Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 1/2 cup of coconut sugar or sweetener of choice
  • 2 tsp of baking powder
  • 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp almond essence
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 cup of frozen raspberries
  • slivered almonds to top

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Line a loaf tin with baking paper
3. In a mixing bowl, add the buckwheat flour, almond meal, essences, sweetener,
baking powder and combine.
4. Then add the almond milk and stir.
5. Add the melted coconut oil and combine well.6. Pour into your loaf tin and press some raspberries in the dough as well as top the
bread with extras and the slivered almonds.
7. Bake for 50 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

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Sleep X Review and my 6 tips for a Healthy Sleep

Sleep X Mattresses Review and my tips for a good night sleep

I was lucky enough to be gifted to single SLEEP X mattresses a few weeks ago and they have been used by my toddler twins since going in their “big kids” beds. They have loved their new Sleep X single mattresses and beds and have been sleeping great! They are non-allergenic, antibacterial and Australian made. The mattresses arrived in boxes and were so easy and quick to open and ready for use. They also make great trampolines for toddlers!

If you want to order a Sleep X mattress I have a 10% off code for you: HEALTHSLEEPLIVE. #sleepx #sleepxmattress #xandgoodnight

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As a mum and nutritionist, I know how important sleep is- for both your physical health and emotional health! Lacking sleep as a new mum is very hard. It is probably the thing I like the least being a mum – having to lose sleep a lot for the first few years. That is why I was very interested in trialling the Sleep X mattresses as I wanted to make sure my twin toddlers will have a good night sleep.

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My 6 Tips for a Healthy Sleep for adults and children:

  1. Remove chocolate/ caffeine treats in the afternoon and evenings

Reducing coffee intake and chocolate in the evenings especially just before bed time can make a world of difference if you struggle to fall asleep at night. Chocolate contains cacao which contains caffeine. Some people are very sensitive and you might think you are fine but your evening chocolate habit might be the reason why you cannot fall asleep before midnight! Children are even more sensitive to caffeine so make sure your little one isn’t having too much cacao or chocolate in the afternoons/evenings.

  1. Reduce fatty meals

Eating high fat- heavy meals before bed can lead to the feeling of indigestion and acid reflux and make it hard to fall asleep. Laying on your left side and having a peppermint/digestion tea can help if you have had a heavier meal than usual.

  1. Develop healthy bedtime rituals

Bedtime rituals are so important for babies and children to develop good sleeping habits but are still relevant for adults. Bedtime rituals such as a bath or shower, putting on your favourite pyjamas, moisturiser, a cup of herbal tea and reading a book can help your brain switch from daytime to night-time!

  1. Reduce blue light exposure

I am very guilty of spending my evenings on my phone, computer or watching TV but did you know phones emit an artificial blue light which can disrupt your circadian rhythm that causes the release of melatonin helping you sleep. The artificial blue light makes your brain believe it is daytime thus falling asleep can be more difficult and you won’t sleep as deeply. I now use some blue light glasses in the evenings or turn off my phone 30 minutes before going to bed and instead read a book.

  1. Create a nice environment

Having a comfortable mattress, a dark fresh room, clean crisp linens and a warm doona makes it so much more enjoyable to go to bed. My twins love going to bed in their ‘big kids beds’ and I do too! I also diffuse lavender essential oil in our room for sleeping deeply and we keep the temperature of the bedrooms comfortable.

  1. Eat a healthy diet high in magnesium

Magnesium is a very important mineral for a lot of reasons including for having a good night sleep. You can get your magnesium from green vegetables, avocados, nuts, seeds, whole-grains and fruits such as a banana (which contains 9% of your magnesium RDI).

Sometimes it might be required to add a magnesium supplement in your diet if you are someone who sweats a lot, are very active, stressed or pregnant. Magnesium supplements can come in tablets, powders or topical creams. Make sure to check with your pharmacist for the best dosage and form for you. I personally use a magnesium powder and it made a huge difference during my pregnancy to fight off pregnancy insomnia!

If you have tried a few of these healthy sleep tips and still struggle with insomnia you might want to consult with your doctor and check your thyroid and other hormone levels for example. 

The Sleep X mattresses were gifted to me by the company Sleep X but these are my tips and own review. IMG_5670IMG_5696IMG_5710