Quick Bean Burger Recipe

​Yep, give me a good old bean burger anytime!!  The trouble is, when you are gluten free, vegan and nut free, it's pretty rare to find something suitable on the menu at your local restaurant or even supermarket. 
Well after much desperation, I came up with a SUPER easy recipe which hits the spot, not deep fried, holds together well AND tastes great is a bun or on its own!!  Check out the video below to see how you can make yours   in a few simple steps.

​Substitutions?

​If you are not a fan of Red Kidney Beans, don't panic, as I have used black beans, butter beans and chickpeas to mix things up and they all still turn out great!  Let me know how you like to have your burgers!

xoxo

Staying healthy over the summer - Top 5 Tips

Hey Guys, OK so I know Thursdays are usually Inspired By Vu recipe days, however, I thought I'd mix things up this week, as I have had a lot of people ask me questions about staying fit over the summer. You know how it goes - train hard all through spring to get into you strapless dresses or show off those ripped abs, arms etc, then summer comes and so we reward ourselves with the extra ice-creams, iced drinks and of course all the BBQ offerings! Well, I'm here to remind us all that we can CONTINUE our healthy habits over the summer too! I know its hot and sticky and maybe the idea of going for a run in the heat is not appealing, but here are some easy ways to stay on track over the summer;

1.Early Morning Workouts - Now this is an easy one for me, as I am completely a morning person and if I want to go for a run in the summer, I make sure I get up a little earlier than usual before the sun hits its peak and I am able to sustain my energy levels without the sun knocking me out!

2. Go for a walk instead - It's the perfect time to soak up that vitamin D, so make sure you step out at lunch time and take in some of that fresh air. I never leave home without wearing my Fitbug which helps me to monitor my activity levels.

3.Try something new - Yes! Summer is a great time to mix up your workouts and try something a little different. My go to workouts are usually HIIT workouts, but I LOVE to dance, so lately I have been going back to my dance roots. Why not try a dip in the pool or a water fight with your kids in the park, that should get you moving around! Remember, if you are doing an activity that you love, you are more likely to keep it going.

4. Stay hydrated - Water should really be your best friend in these summer months. It's the only way to stay hydrates minus the calories. I know those iced drinks from those coffee shops can be tasty, but they are full of alot of calories, so get creative and make your own water infused drinks instead.

5.Stay moisturised - No matter your skin tone, we all need protection from those sun rays as heat stoke is no joke! So make sure you are using the appropriate moisturiser/sun cream for you. I know sunglasses and sun hats may be considered accessories, but they really are NECESSITIES during these hot months, so make sure that you are protecting your eyes and your head when you are on the go.

What are your top tips for staying healthy over the summer months?


xoxo

Falafel's on the spotlight


Ok so following on from last week, we are going to be cooking up a storm using one of my favourite kitchen essentials - yes, the Nutri Ninja!!!  Now I know that there are a wealth of blender machines out there, but for me, it does the job and has spared me from spending hundreds!

This week I am sharing my baked falafel recipe. Traditionally, these high protein balls are fried and served in pita, but I have modified the recipe to make them the Inspired By Vu way and will be using the oven   They are super easy to make and I love having them with my chickpea pancakes or with a giant green salad with a side of hummus (yummy!!).  Check out the video below to find out how you can make your own falafels.

One thing I would say, is that once you have made your mixture,try to leave it to rest in the fridge before you form your balls and put them in the oven.  I have found that it helps the mixture to settle better and avoids them from crumbling when you take them out of the oven.

Let me know how your falafels turned out.  If you are on Instagram or Twitter, don't forget to follow me @inspiredbyvu and tag me in any of your pictures!


​Happy Sunday x

Is it Hummus or Houmous?


Yay we have sunshine, which means that it is officially BBQ season!!!  Now, contrary to what some might think, just because you're vegan or gluten free, it doesn't mean that we don't like to eat!!  Believe me, I have been to many a BBQ and have been offered a basic salad (you know those dry lettuce, cucumber and tomato ones.....no offense but LOL), because everything else on the menu is "contaminated"

So these days, I go prepared and whip up a batch of my own little goodies.  This week, I am sharing my EASY hummus recipe that I whipped up using my Nutri Ninja (LOVE that machine!!)  Hummus goes with everything and even brightens up a "basic salad". Click on the video below for the full ingredients.

Now although hummus has a chickpea base, who says you can't mix things up and substitute your chickpeas for another type of bean or even vegetable -Courgette Hummus works just as well.

Next week, we are going to be making Falafels!!!

xoxo