Despite owning quite a few healthy eating cookery books (click here for a roundup of past favourites) I’ve made the meals so many times that I felt in need of some new inspiration. My search led me to Alice Liveing, formerly known as Clean Eating Alice. The pint sized personal trainer’s Instagram account has built a massive following on Instagram thanks to her inspiring posts on fitness and healthy eating. That success has led to 3 books published so far sharing her favourite recipes and workouts.
I chose to buy her first cookbook Eat Well Everyday as it sounded like a good all rounder. The recipes are split into Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snack sections with clear bright photos to give you an idea of how the finished meals should look.
Whilst I do love flicking through the pages of a beautifully illustrated cookery book I was such an eager beaver that I decided to purchase the digital version of this one. It meant that I could download the book to my devices straight away using the Kindle App, plus it was cheaper than buying a hard copy.
I’m starting to think that digital recipe books are the way forward as I’ve found it super handy for days when I haven’t planned any meals in advance. I can flick through the recipes on my phone during my lunch break, choose one that I fancy cooking and then pop to the supermarket on the way home to pick up the bits I need. I don’t even need to write a shopping list as I can just bookmark the page.
Overall I’m really pleased that I bought Eat Well Everyday as it’s exactly what I was looking for. The recipes are simple and don’t require too much skill in the kitchen, in most cases just a bit of chopping and food prep. There are lots of exciting ingredients featured in the book such as tahini and ras el hanout which help to pack flavour into the healthy dishes.
Rather than just telling you that I love this book though (which I do!) I thought I’d show you some of the things I’ve cooked so far and my thoughts on them so that you can get a closer look at the recipes.
This recipe appealed to me as it takes the humble courgette and gives it an exciting makeover. It’s simple enough to prep and make, just cut the courgette into batons, dip them in egg and oats and then fry them in a little bit of oil in a pan. Nothing else needs any cooking, it’s served with chopped spinach, smoked salmon, wedges of lemon and seasoning, so it’s quick to whip up at any time of day.
I found that the courgette fritters were actually rather filling and it looked really healthy which made me FEEL healthier for eating it!
LovedByLaura? Yes I give this a solid 7.5 out of 10!
This one split opinions! I really enjoyed the flavour combinations with a burst of tangy feta offset by sweet pomegranate, complimented by a nutty tahini dressing. When I then cooked it a second time for the fella however he said, I quote: “It’s a bit too healthy for my liking!” The abundance of aubergine wasn’t a winner for him.
It took all of 5 minutes to prepare but does take about 40 minutes to bake in the oven so it’s not as quick to whip up as some of the others, but once it’s cooking you can leave it so that’s 40 minutes that you can use to do something productive. Or you can watch Netflix. Both valid choices.
LovedByLaura? Yes – I give this one a tasty 7 out of 10.
LovedByLaura’s Fella? Not so much.
You might notice that there’s no picture accompanying this one – that’s because I didn’t want to put you off your dinner! It did not turn out like picture…
The problem was that it required 200g Puy lentils which are cooked with other ingredients in a saucepan for 20 minutes and I couldn’t find them at the supermarket so I used red lentils instead. BIG mistake. Huge.
It turns out that whilst Puy lentils keep their form when cooked, red lentils break down. When I lifted the saucepan lid after the allotted time I found that my lentils had turned to mush and looked like a very dodgy coloured mashed potato. Mmm appetising! When I finally plucked up the courage to try the mess I’d created it tasted really good, but I just couldn’t get over the appearance.
LovedByLaura? Not so much, because the main ingredient wasn’t easily found and I had to use a substitute which didn’t work as well. I’ve given it 4 out of 10 because the flavour was good and it showed promise but I wouldn’t attempt it again in a hurry.
This is like a healthy version of a fry up with gooey bits of cheese in it – sold!
I’ll be honest, it’s definitely not in the same league of deliciousness as an actual fry up, but it’s a good enough substitute if you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight. Smoked paprika and cumin give the tomato base more depth and the eggs are an energy boosting source of protein.
LovedByLaura? Yes – another solid 7 out of 10 for easiness to cook and a full up feeling that lasts until your next meal.
Overall the recipes in this book are not going to win awards for being the most flavoursome and complex things you’ll ever eat, but if you’re looking for healthy meal inspiration and want to keep your recipes quick, simple and tasty this book is a great place to start!
