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Category: The Weekly Balance

The Weekly Balance – Week 3

Welcome back to another Weekly Balance post from me to you guys! I've been so so delighted with how many of you have been reading these articles - I love writing them and I'm really glad you all seem to be enjoying checking them out each week. Let's have a look at how this week … Continue reading The Weekly Balance – Week 3

The Weekly Balance – Week #2

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Well hey there gang - welcome to week 2 of The Weekly Balance! I was delighted with the feedback I got from you guys after last week's first installment. If you haven't seen Week 1 or the Introduction to this series yet, you can check both out here. Basically, I wanted to write more regularly on my … Continue reading The Weekly Balance – Week #2

The Weekly Balance – Week #1

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Alright, here goes! The first of my 'Weekly Balance' posts. So this week for me has been a bit 'all over the place' as we say in Ireland. I'd like to wish you all HAPPY NEW YEAR and the very best wishes for 2020! I can't believe New Year's Eve and Day were just this … Continue reading The Weekly Balance – Week #1

The Weekly Balance – An Introduction

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Okay gang, here's the deal. I love to write. But finding TIME to write in and outside of my day job as a doctor is pretty tricky, especially since I started a new job as a public health specialist registrar (i.e. senior doctor trainee) in July 2019. There's 24 hours in the day, and quite … Continue reading The Weekly Balance – An Introduction

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MEAL PREP IDEAS 🍏 . . 👉 What are your favourite make-ahead recipes??? I've shared mine for the last couple of weeks below! . . 🙋‍♀️ One of my favourite parts of the weekend is when I take an hour or so to play music (or Grey's Anatomy 😉) in my kitchen and cook, to do a bit of meal preparation for the week ahead. Sometimes that's my chance to try new recipes to share on my blog, and sometimes it's a chance to try recipes by people I follow here! So here are some ideas from recipes I've loved in the last 2 weeks which are a mix of my own & others! . . 🍌 Breakfasts - Although Overnight Oats is my go to, I've been loving Baked Oats this week. I've posted a recipe for Fruit and Nut Baked Oats on my blog today! This recipe makes tasty squares you can pair with a couple of scoops of yoghurt 👌 . . 🥦 Lunch - This week I've made the Nutty Chickpeas and Roasted Greens recipe by @thefoodmedic ! Its VERY tasty and I'll definitely be making it again. Last week I shared a Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Mango recipe on the blog which was a great lunch decision too! . . 🌶 Dinner - This week I've made a big batch of my Sweet and Smoky Double Bean Chili, paired with quinoa! This is one of my favourite and go-to vegetarian recipes on my blog - very handy if you're trying more plant-based meals this month/year. . . 👌Snacks - I always have a snack packed in my bag. One of my favourite snack recipes is the Chocolate Protein Bars recipe by @daveynutrition - I make a batch pretty much every week! . . 💕 Let me know in a comment below what your go-to make ahead recipes are, I'd love to hear! Hit the link in my stories or on my page to find my recipes on the blog if you wanna try them! #theirishbalance #midweekmeals #foodinspiration #vegetarianrecipes #inmykitchen

What Do We Know About This So Far? ☝️ . . 👩‍⚕️Many of you I’m sure will have seen recent articles about the current situation in Wuhan, China, & given the headlines today, I thought it might be a good idea to put my public health hat on here & talk about what we know so far. Please note – this situation is evolving quite quickly, so I’ve based the info in this post on the most up to date summary from Irish (the HPSC) & US (the CDC) public health authorities. Their websites are regularly updated with more info than I can fit in this post so do check them out! . . 👉There is currently an outbreak ongoing of a novel (i.e. new) coronavirus in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. . . 👉What’s a coronavirus? 👉As defined by the CDC – ‘Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats.’ Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve & affect humans, and then potentially spread from human to human – this is what happened with previous SARS and MERS viral outbreaks. These viruses are zoonotic – meaning that they can spread between animals & people. . . 👉To date, many of the affected patients in the Wuhan outbreak have been connected in some way to a large animal & seafood market (first report was on New Year’s Eve). There have been over 200 cases of respiratory illness & 4 deaths due to this virus, with cases reported outside of Wuhan also. Last night Chinese health authorities confirmed cases of the virus have been transmitted from person to person. . . 👩‍⚕️It’s important for now to keep up to date with trustworthy websites like the HPSC and CDC, & with decent news outlets. The HPSC states the risk of introduction of the virus to European countries is considered low, but can’t be excluded. . . 👩‍⚕️As always, standard hygiene recommendations to prevent spread of any illness apply: 👉Hand hygiene 👉Covering your mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing, or doing so into your elbow/a single-use tissue 👉Avoiding close contact with persons with symptoms of respiratory illness 👉If travel is planned to China, check out the CDC and HPSC recommendations! . . #theirishbalance #publichealth

An Anti- #BlueMonday Post 🙋‍♀️🙅‍♀️👇 . . 💕 On my commute to work this morning the news headlines included a piece about today being 'Blue Monday', the name given to the third Monday in January, as apparently being 'the most depressing day of the year.' . . 💕 Is that a helpful or scientifically sound news story?! 🤷‍♀️ I think not. Blue Monday was coined as the name given to the third Monday in January, apparently beginning in 2005, as part of a marketing campaign for a travel company. It's really not cool to pinpoint one day of the year as being the 'most depressing.' As with most chronic health conditions, depression is complex & multifactorial in origin, & definitely doesn't reduce to a single day in January. . . 💕 I don't think its particularly helpful to start the day by giving people a reason to feel 'blue' - so I decided to share a post with some ideas of what positives we can ADD to our lives for 2020, and which can help our mental health too 👇 . . 👭 MORE social connection - pop a date in the diary to meet that friend or family member you've been meaning to! 🍏 MORE fresh fruits & vegetables - 5-7 a day folks! 🚶‍♀️ MORE movement - every little bit helps your physical and mental health! 🧘‍♀️ MORE time for you each day. Even just 5 mins to sit & think as you have that morning cuppa! 📚 MORE reading - that was a 2019 goal for me & it's been a wonderful habit I've kept up! 🎶 MORE music - sing out loud (whether you can or not!), dance around the kitchen, play or learn to play that instrument! 👩‍⚕️ MORE health admin. Ladies, have you booked that smear test you've been meaning to? Or maybe you're in the age group to get your BreastCheck or BowelCheck screen. Put it in the diary! 😴 MORE Sleep. You'll never not thank yourself for that one! 💕 MORE fun! Memories don't make themselves gang 😉 💪 MORE of what scares you. For me, that's putting myself out there in Galway to make new friends this year. It's really hard but I've committed to giving it my best shot. Out of the comfort zone comes growth 😊 . . 💕 Let me know what positives you're ADDING to your life for 2020! #theirishbalance #2020goals

RECIPE 🥑 Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Mango Salad 🥑 . . 🥑 With avocado too, hence the emoji 😊 . . 🥑This recipe is a lovely colourful creation, ideal to brighten up dark January days! I’m so excited to see you guys try it – one of my favourites on the blog to date! . . 🥑Recipe (Serves 4-5) 🥑Ingredients: A few stalks of fresh coriander 10 cherry/baby tomatoes 1 400g tin of black beans, drained and rinsed 1 ripe avocado 1 medium sweet potato 1 mango 1 red bell pepper, de-seeded, core removed, and sliced into bite-size pieces Juice of 1 lime . . 🥑 Method: 👉Pre-heat the oven to 200C and line a baking tray with tinfoil greased with a little olive oil. 👉Wash the sweet potato, and then chop the sweet potato in bite-size chunks, and spread the chunks onto the baking tray. Roast in the oven for approximately 30 minutes until a fork pierces the flesh easily, turning the chunks over halfway. 👉While the sweet potatoes are roasting, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Take a large mixing bowl, and add the drained and rinsed black beans. 👉Chop up the avocado flesh into small pieces, and add those to the bowl. 👉Slice the tomatoes into quarters, and add those to the salad. 👉Slice the skin off the mango, and slice up the mango flesh into small pieces. Add those too! 👉Take the fresh coriander, and remove the leaves from the stalks. Add the leaves to the salad. 👉Stir everything up until well mixed. 👉Slice to lime in half and squeeze the juice of each half into the bowl. Stir everything up again. 👉When the sweet potatoes are done, allow them to cool for about 20 minutes, then add them to the salad, and stir everything up again. 👉You’re done! Serve as the salad is or add portions to lunchboxes – this made a really handy colourful work lunch for me recently! Feel free to add a handful of spinach or other greens to the lunchboxes if you like, that’s what I did! . . 🥑Enjoy guys! Tag me if you try this one out 😊 And happy Sunday to you all whatever you're up to! I'll share my meal prep for this week later on today 💕 #theirishbalance #blackbeans #vegetarianrecipes #mango #sweetpotato #veganuaryrecipes #veggiefriendly

Get Some Offline Time Into Your Weekend 👇 . . 💕 I've taken to deleting social media off my phone at the weekends for most of the day and it really is such a lovely way to switch off. Especially if you've got plans for yourself or with others - for me, it's like sometimes with social media I feel like it's almost as if I have an 'Instagram' tab open in my brain. If that makes sense 😂 And while I love the content I share here and what it brings you guys, I have to shut that tab down for periods of time in my week and weekend. . . 💕 One of my friends said something last year I've never forgotten since - 'I'm so excited to have a break for a few days, just to be able to THINK.' They were up to their eyes in work, and about to go on a well deserved holiday. But doesn't that make so much sense for social media too? . . 💕 We fill our brains with Instagram content, Podcasts, music, conversations, work, study, school, college - and we often forget to give our mind a little bit of freedom. To give it time to fill with our own thoughts and ideas and feelings, not those of others. I'm definitely guilty of that at times, partly because I love Podcasts so much 😂 . . 💕 Giving yourself some offline time also gets your head up in the real world a little bit more, which is fab for your neck 😂 But also means you take in the little moments of the day that can bring a smile, like this view I've shared here 😊 . . 💕 I'll stop rambling now - happy weekend to you all, and maybe this post might inspire you to spend some time offline this weekend 😊 Look out for a recipe coming your way in the morning! #theirishbalance #sunset #thisisgalway #offline #weekend

RECIPE 🍅 LENTIL RAGU 🍅 . . 🍅 Okay, I'm seriously chuffed with this one, I'm not gonna lie. This recipe is based on an old recipe on my blog from back when I did a 'Veggie on a budget' series! I adapted it at the weekend and this tasty cosy comforting belly hug Lentil Ragu was the result! So let's cook shall we? . . 🍅Recipe (Serves 5) Ingredients: 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic cloves, finely minced 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp sweet paprika 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tbsp dried oregano 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp tomato puree 1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 2 x 250g packs of pre-cooked lentils (I used the @aldi_ireland brand!) 200ml water (or vegetable stock) 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 medium size carrot 1 bell pepper 1 courgette A pinch of sea salt and black pepper . . 🍅Method 👉Chop your garlic finely, and then the veggies (into bite size chunks), and set aside. 👉Next, set a large pot on a medium heat, and add the olive oil. 👉Cook the red onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes in the oil, until softened. 👉Add your spices and herbs, and cook for another few minutes so the onions are coated. 👉Add the rest of your veggies, except for the spinach leaves, and cook for another 4-5 minutes. 👉Time to add the liquids – pour in the chopped tomatoes, water/stock, tomato puree and balsamic vinegar, and stir everything up together. 👉Finally, add the lentils, season with sea salt and black pepper, stir and bring to the boil. 👉Turn down the heat to the lowest setting, and cover. 👉Serve with whatever pasta you please! This is delicious with spaghetti, tagliatelle or fettucine pasta! . . 🍅 Enjoy folks! Tag me if you try this one out as always! Recipe up on my blog too 😍 #theirishbalance #lentils #lentilragu #lentilbolognaise #plantbasedmeals #midweekmeals #plantbased

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Fruit and Nut Baked Oats
The Weekly Balance – Week 3
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