Fish N' Chips, a kiwi classic...

There is one thing I am adamant to prove - that following a 'real food' or 'plant-based' diet isn't boring, it doesn't lack 'fun,' and it doesn't leave you with a feeling of 'missing out.'

There are obviously foods you will choose not to consume as much of any more, or at all - if that's how you roll - but once you jump on the 'bandwagon' of making healthy food choices, after some time your taste buds start to crave the food that makes your body thrive. The very food that is the result of healthy food choices.

One 'kiwi' classic we don't have to say 'sayonara' to is good-old Fish n' chips. For those of you who did not grow up in New Zealand, Fish n' Chips is the Friday evening summer dinner that is enjoyed on the beach during sun-set.

In this recipe I used gurnard for my fish, but almost any white fish will be fine. And it is crusted with Parmesan, which is always going to be a good time.

These kumara fries are out of this world as well - so follow the recipe exactly.

Mexican "Caesar" salad

Technically, a Caesar salad is "a salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper."

This is therefore not a Caesar salad, however having a creamy dressing, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese and some lime juice gives it some similarities.

One cool supermarket discovery I recently made is jarred chargrilled capsicums (the ones that aren't stored in sugar or any strange ingredients).  They are such a handy item to keep in your refrigerator and a heap cheaper (and easier) than chargrilling fresh ones yourself at around $6 a jar.  If you would like to roast your capsicums yourself though, feel most free!

This dish was inspired by about ten different recipe books of mine ranging from What Katie Ate (thanks Jessie and Saz), to Annabel Langbein's new book Cook through the seasons (thanks Mum).  I tend to go a little overboard on the research at times!

Green Carbonara

Searching for a way to up your vegetable intake - zucchini noodles or "zoodles" are a fun option.  These may not be for everyone but we love them and felt like being a bit creative with our cooking this week.  You can use zoodles in place of any pasta, they are easy to prepare and much lighter on the stomach.  There are various tools out there to make zoodles.  Most people recommend using a 'spiralizer' which creates lovely curly noodles.  I can't quite afford one of those, and don't much like appliances so have a julienne peeler similar to this one which I picked up for $11 (which comes in very handy for making salads).  I've even seen someone use a grater to achieve them!

Quinoa and Almond Crusted Chicken Tenderloins with Coriander Yoghurt Sauce

I feel within my rights to say that fried food is one of the joys of summer. There is nothing like enjoying a bottle of cider - with something fried on the side – on a Friday afternoon post work.

It is an unfortunate reality that a lot of fried food these days can compromise our health due to the oils and the batters frequently used. With this in mind, I was determined to recreate one of my husband’s favourite past times – fried chicken – eliminating common harmful oils and batters full of refined flours.

The Goodness of Chocolate Bark and What to Fuel Your Body When

Here’s an idea for a gift, a dinner party, or a casual Sunday afternoon treat: Salted Chocolate & Almond Bark. If you’re not a fan of salted sweet food, then eliminate the salt for straight and pure Chocolate and Almond Bark – who wouldn’t like that?!

What I especially love about this recipe is that it isn’t only an ‘alternative’ to chocolate, it actually benefits our bodies when consumed in moderation (1 - 2 pieces per day, if not having other chocolate). These benefits are found in the raw cacao, coconut oil, and cacao powder. Maple syrup is present to sweeten the bitter cacao, but doesn’t have many health benefits unfortunately.