If you are like me then you are probably overall the articles, social media posts and talks about living a healthier life. And whilst I for one am not one for telling anyone they need to change. I can say that when it comes to our health, we can all do better. Not just for things like losing weight but also for overall health. Personally, I’ve been really inspired to get healthier.

With an active toddler, a busy social life, and not one but three jobs, I feel I need to pay particular attention to my health to keep up with all of it. Have good mental health and be able to climb the five flights of stairs to our apartment. And whilst I currently am not in my best health with a tooth abscess and on antibiotics. I am still trying to implement some of these healthier habits throughout my days and weeks.

1. Drink more water: We all know that drinking water is good for you and as hard as it can be, one of the ways I like to up my water intake is by starting my day with a glass of lemon water in the morning. And ending it with a glass of water in the evenings. Throughout the day (when I remember, I like to carry around my glass water bottle with me that reminds me to hydrate.
2. Move your body: Whilst moving your body every day can seem impossible. It is necessary. Moving your body does not have to mean doing an intense cardio session or hitting the gym. It can be as simple as taking a walk or even doing some sort of yoga or stretching.
3. Eating more fruit and vegetables: As a mom with a toddler. I often find that the best way to get my toddler to implement healthy behaviour’s in her diet and food choices is by doing the same. This means snacking on peas instead of chips. Eating lots of fruit and making all of this tasty by adding vegetables like spinach to my smoothies, or reaching for an apple instead of a biscuit when I find myself needing a midday snack. Again how far you take this is up to you. And you do not always have to take the healthier option. The name of the game is balance and accountability.
4. Get more sleep: As a struggling insomniac, I can tell you now how hard this is for me. But I do n-know that when I sleep more, I feel better and can be more productive throughout my day. Aiming for quality sleep is just as important as quantity, which means ensuring your room is comfortable, clean and electronics free for better sleep.
5. Connect with loved ones: With so much being thrown our way the past few years, one of the best ways to take care of our health is by talking to loved ones. I know that it can feel like you are being a burden when sharing struggles with those you love. But trust me when I say that it is well worth it. And it is better than getting into a mental funk that is hard to pull yourself from. So whether it’s sending funny memes or calling a friend in the morning. Or my personal favourite, getting in cuddles with my daughter every night. I always make sure to find ways to connect with those I love.

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Marketing is an incredible tool to get us to think we need to buy things to live the lifestyle we aspire. It is very deliberate to make us feel we are missing out or inadequate if we don’t use certain products. No part of our life is left untouched. Including the products we buy to clean our households. We are made to feel our house won’t be clean if we don’t use certain products. Using the wrong detergent will leave our clothes stained. Our bathrooms and ovens won’t shine. The list goes on.

What advertisers don’t mention is the long list of harmful ingredients used to make these products. Some are mildly dangerous to human health. Causing eye irritations, skin rashes, headaches, and asthma. Others are potentially fatal and proven to be carcinogenic. Many cleaning products contain VOC’s which are volatile organic compounds, including ammonia and bleach. As the American Lung Association warns, “Cleaning supplies and household products containing VOCs and other toxic substances can include, but are not limited to:

• Aerosol spray products, including health, beauty, and cleaning products;
• Air fresheners;
• Chlorine bleach*;
• Detergent and dishwashing liquid;
• Dry cleaning chemicals;
• Rug and upholstery cleaners;
• Furniture and floor polish; and
• Oven cleaners.1,2

*Never mix bleach or any bleach-containing product with any cleaner containing ammonia. The gases created from this combination can lead to chronic breathing problems and even death.’’ Their report goes on to explain, that recent research reveals natural fragrances in cleaning products, especially air fresheners, can react with the ozone from indoor air sources and outdoor air to form formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. And ozone is a harmful but invisible gas, that worsens asthma and other lung diseases. Such particles can cause heart attacks and stroke.

Not only are these products expensive, but they are also harmful to our health. The reality is our grandmothers had clean houses, clean clothes, using only natural products that worked. Here are some of our tried and tested tips to make sure your home clean and healthy without wasting your money.

The main ingredients you will need are baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, castille soap and water!

All-Purpose Cleaner

 Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 2 liters of water.

Laundry Detergent

Mix 2 cups of washing soda with the gratings from one 5-ounce bar of castile soap. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Limescale in kettles and taps

Pour half a cup of vinegar in a kettle with 2 cups of water and let boil for a few minutes. Soak tap filters in pure vinegar

Marks on Walls and Painted Surfaces

Apply baking soda to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

This will clean most ink spots, pencil, crayon, or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces 

Oven Cleaner

Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup salt, and ¼ cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout the oven interior. (Avoid bare metal and any openings.) Let sit overnight. Wipe clean in the morning.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into the toilet basin and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse.

Tub and Tile Cleaner

For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For more challenging jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.

Window Cleaner

Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter of warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Only use the black and white newspapers, not with colour print. Best not to clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, as streaks will show when dry. Please do not add more vinegar than the recipe states, as it may lead to etching and cloud glass.

Stainless Steel

Clean with a dampened cloth with undiluted white vinegar or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 liter of water and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth. For stainless steel sinks, pour some baking soda on an absorbent cloth to clean, rinse, and wipe dry using a clean cloth.

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Flavour… probably the only memorable take out of a good meal. Yes, texture and colours play an important role too, but if it didn’t hit the flavour notes, its just as notable as the last big mac meal you had. So let’s kick things off right. Start with laying the foundation of flavour as we traverse this food journey together.

A lot of aspiring foodies/home cooks sometimes struggle with flavour, ending up with complicated dishes that have the whole pantry load of ingredients in the dish all in the name sake of chasing for that savour. Good thing is, if you enjoy your way around the kitchen, overtime you learn and unlearn new skills that really turn you into a more confident cook who understands when to use what and how, with that said too, there aren’t any rules.

I partially blame it on culinary practitioners – I mean we all buy recipe books, google recipes follow food blogs etc but I feel there isn’t enough emphasis and recipe sharing about creating pantry hacks from the professionals themselves, recipes that can help the everyday cook create winning dishes. Where are the recipes and blogs on creating, 4-5 must have hacks in your pantry and I refer to the foundation again. From flavoured oils to ferments to pestos, all the arsenals that with just a drizzle or spoonful can really lift a once was bland dish into something that’s just bursting with flavour – helping you navigate your way in the kitchen with much ease. Well fear not, I come bearing gifts… over the next few articles I want to share a few recipes of my favourite trusted hacks that have saved many of my meals.

To start, my absolute favourite and go to hack… Preserved lemons. This requires patience, as the magic takes about a month. Its literally a quick process of jam packing cut and salted lemons into a sterilized jar then waiting it out for about a month or so – in this time the salt cures the lemons, creating a flavour like no other. Nothing is will ever be the same again… a month of patience will have you gaining intense, bold lemony flavour that transforms salads, roasts etc into sublime dishes. It is one of North African’s best discoveries yet.

Enough talking, lets make this simple un-intimidating pantry hack… this recipe was extracted from Yottam Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem cookbook.

Preserved Lemons

What you need:
1L glass jar
boiling water
6 unwaxed lemons
6 tablespoons coarse sea salt
2 sprigs rosemary (optional)
1 large red chilli
juice of 6 lemons
olive oil

What you do:
Fill the jar with hot, boiled water and let it sit for a few minutes to sterilize it. Pour the water out and let it air dry without touching the inside or drying it with a cloth.
Wash the lemons and cut a cross in them from one end to about 2cm from the bottom so the 4 quarters are still attached. Pour a tablespoon of salt into each lemon, then fit them tightly into the jar. Seal the jar and leave it for at least a week. I left mine in a cupboard.
After the first week, remove the lid and push the lemons down to squeeze as much juice out as you can. Add the rosemary, chilli, and as much lemon juice as you need to cover the lemons. Pour a thin layer of olive oil on top. Seal the jar and leave in a cool place for at least 4 weeks. And voila!

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