Spring Refreshers
Eye brightener, Teeth sparklers, Liver tonic, Wild Garlic ideas
THE PINKS AND GREENS I LOVED THIS WEEK
This is my weekly post with ways to feel bright and things to eat to make that easy, so thank you for reading, do leave a heart below, they all tell me it means you bubble to the surface more, but share it with someone who you think would like any or all of it.
The wild hail and freezing temps were abrupt today. After the glimmers of sunshine got me going, the candy floss fluff-lined streets and the actual Spring Equinox, marking the tipping point of light into our days. Fool’s spring or not , from here on there will be more light than night, so I am ready to dust down my wintry limbs and freshen up. This feels much more like the natural switch up moment than January ever does, and the alluring overload of these blossom pinks and mossy greens together seem to have been everywhere this week, so I put them all here.
The renewal and reflective traditions of both Lent and Ramadan began over the last few weeks, coinciding with my annual urge to shift things and brighten up in all ways. From the inside out, by focussing in on my plate ratios - upping the colours and plants and fibre which we know is the key to satiety as well as the thriving health of the trillions of bacteria living in our gut. Which can often feel woolly and theoretical - so I have some of the things you can actually add here, whether you want to make anything or not.
EASY HEALTH ADDS
SEEDS
The folk from Zoe put on THE FIBRE FESTIVAL at St Bart’s Hospital that I was invited to a couple of weeks ago and Dr Fede Amati and their nutritionist Sarah Berry (good name for that line of work) discussed the data they now have, the studies they’re doing and the ways we can easily increase our levels without feeling panicked.
They have created their own seed and berry and herb blend 30 DAILY which adds 15g to your breakfast with one scoop on your yoghurt.
FERMENTED FOODS
Whilst there I sampled the wares that were lining the room on display - all obviously designed to be fibre providers and gut health heroes. It was long after lunch and I was starving, and the fabulous Elena, owner of the living ferments company FERMARY had a table full of PINK KIMCHI covered cheeses and Jalapeño sauce’d hams. If you’ve tried fermented foods and screwed up your face, please try these, they are delicacies.
I have been adding spoonfuls to my lunch plate (with sardines or eggs or mackerel for the no cooking option) for the tart tang and crunch, but as an easy vegetable I haven’t chopped, plus all the billions of good bacteria for your gut.
DRINKS I’ve adored when not drinking for the last three weeks to give myself a real freshen up. I have the usual suspects in my fridge, Mother Root and Botivo but I LOVE the water kefir by Agua de Madre and this is also another bringer to the gut health party unlike others that we might think - like Kombucha. Water Kefir makes a real impact that has been studied to
“increase beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), enhance the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium, and reduce harmful, bacteria” PMC Home 2025
LIVER LOVE
And whilst not drinking I found a renewed love for this botanical shot designed by THE LIVER CLINIC where I had a fibroscan last week and found out that I had improved the health of mine since last year (more on this next week). But I spoke at length to the team about how this can help shift a liver that is bombarded by everyday medications, sugar and painkillers - all three the much heavier on the organ than alcohol.
EYE BRIGHT
Pixi sent me these eye treats that I don’t think I would normally have looked at, but the tub of brightening pads went on a few afternoons last week whilst finishing emails and I did see some shiny smoothness where there normally was a craggy eye corner by 5pm. They are steeped in Vitamin C, liquorice and ginseng to pep up your undereyes, which I think makes all the difference to how I feel.
The roll on eye serum comes with a trio of snazzy Steel rollers, and I was obedient and did what the tube said and kept it in the fridge which made circling the eye area with them a lovely morning treat.
After battling with a sea of bamboo toothbrushes a few years ago that the dentist didn't think did their job anyway, I got a couple of new SURI toothbrushes - an electric one but done so much better.
Firstly I only recharge it once a month, no sloppy mess on the sink as it sits on a sleek mirror mount, has an aluminium body, recyclable heads and a recharging travel case that has a UV cleaning system. The dentist also approves and I have branched out and got the the rest of the family the 2.0 which comes in new colours.
I have gathered things together here if you want to have a spring shop to freshen yourself up:
THINGS TO SEE
WEST END GIRL ON TOUR
After that October weekend when her album appeared from nowhere and I spent 36 hours listening to it on repeat (Spotify gave me lots of badges….) I did all I could to get a ticket to her Palladium run. Do what you can to see this - there are tickets to festivals and arenas on sale now and it is an astonishing event. Lily Allen has done something unique and perfect and no-one has done anything like this before.
DAVID HOCKNEY
Always a tonic, it’s free to book and is a lovely hour spent walking through the seasons of his lockdown in France.
WAYS TO ADD WILD GARLIC:
My Wild Garlic Pesto is above to click through to.
Crisp Spring Chicken with Wild Garlic and Lemon
Just the ticket when the wild garlic is growing in every nook and cranny you can see. No need to pop to the shops for this fresh, delicious addition to your lunch table. It has a lot of lovely Vitamins A & C and the power of antimicrobials and antivirals to keep you fighting fit. A simple, flavour packed tray bake that I could eat every day of the week, and takes a couple of minutes to throw together.
