Come and cosy up with a steaming bowl of parsnip soup - 10 / 10 club November thread

[FrannyonFire]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY

(if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion)

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY

(can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more)

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being.

Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

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look at my beginning post on this thread for detailed fruit and veg portion sizes.

It is confusing, Pitchounette.

I really struggle to eat fruit franny I just find it all a bit boring especially now I'm trying to be a bit better about eating seasonally and limiting food miles etc.

I need to do a bit more stewing I think - stewed fruit on porridge would be a good start to the day.

I could eat fruit all day

Dp says I am a fruit slut

but I know what you mean about the food miles, we asked to have only UK fruit in our box scheme for about 3 months and jeez was I sick of apples and manky pears at the end of it

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Oh Paps that's ok. But when you make it and it is wonderful, all credit must go to Nigel

When I first made it I thought it was so good that I almost emailed him at the Observer! How sad am I

I have done ok with f&v - orange juice, apple, grapes, raw carrot, and veg soup with lentils, leek, turnip, carrot, onion. Might sneak in a satsuma before bed too.

And no I don't feel like wine tonight, no sir no wine for me

Well, no, I don't always fancy what he serves up but I love the way he writes

Oh, Aviatrix, there is a section in the book for fathers (of nursing toddlers)

Morning - sitting here eating a bowl of apple, banana and satsuma. Have been abit slack lately. Felt like going for a run this morning This treatment I have had is making my energy surge abit! Thankfully am over that feeling

What I really liked about the energy work I had done Franny is that there was very little talking and introspective analysing. When I told her I had images, she said that i should send them away and not dwell on them. I am no fan of new age tbh (looked at the website, the language style they use is off putting, will have a better read though), in fact I almost did not make an appointment to see the woman cos I thought she looked tooooo fluffy She used to be a midwife, still works with preganant woman to assist during pregnancy and in birth. Wish I had known about her as I ended up C-Section after a home birth with dd.

I do like visualisation and the imagination though

Am at work today which drains my energy at the moment but have a thermos of veggie and lentil soup for lunch and a stack of fruit to get through.

Tried grated apple of porridge this morning and chopmping through all that goodness felt like hard work (and took an age to eat on the busiest morning of our week).

Am feeling very full!

tatties no wine for me either. And an early night.

I'm still feeling tired and have had horrendous bouts of coughing and eyes watering so I am wondering if this might be an allergy.
I have been eating too much dairy so will cut that out for a few days to see if it helps.
(I can't belieeeve Carte D'or Greek Honey and Yoghurt icecream could do me any harm, seems like a vegetable it's so wholesome!!)

Earthymama I highly recommend that you gargle the onion and oil concotion I posted about earlier. I am converted after laughing at my mother for 2 years about it.... it worked and the stuff from the chemist did not

Good evening everyone and sorry to hear about people still feeling under the weather. I have struggled to get enough portions today so am going to make up for it with a plate of fruit when ds is in bed. Had to rush at breakfast (you are right puddle, it all takes a long time to eat), did quite well at lunch with M+S giant couscous thing and big beetroot salad, and then had a lovely tea and cake session in a cafe with ds who I had not seen all day.

Oh he is better today (am sure you have all been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear ) but had to stay at home with DP this morning instead of coming to my toddler class, just in case he had another attack of the runs. My god it was peaceful and easy to run the group without him

Hello..late check in. Sorry to hear that some of you are under the weather. Glad you DS is definitely on the mend Franny.

My F & V intake has gone from 0 to 8ish at the moment, but I am determined to get to 10! I do feel better already, which is probably just smugness rather than any physical benefit yet. Another plus is that my tummy is already flatter. My digestion must be improving or something...how good is that?
I had a very boring diet before, so this has been quite radical, I hope I stick to it!

How did you feel being away from ds all day Aviatrix? My ds wont go to sleep without my essential equipment either... (Have I mentioned that before?! ) When I laid down with him tonight to put him to bed I fell asleep too! He's just so warm and snuggly it's hard not to sometimes

Had the rest of my lentil & veg soup for tea, but haven't had enough fruit today. I've got lots to use up though. We're going away at the weekend so might make up a big fruit salad tomorrow and see if I get more eaten that way...

StrangeTown, going from 0 - 8 is really fantastic. I would have thought the effect on your digestion would be fairly dramatic - hope it isn't too dramatic.

I don't know if everyone has seen Greeny's thread about her poor boys which explains why she hasn't been around this week. We are sending you all lots of fruity good wishes Greeny

Aviatrix that was quite a long day for you at work - how did you get on?

I've seen Greenies thread, pretty horrendous from he signs of it, I think she can be excused
You all sound as if you are doing really well, what with grating things on porridge and other clever little tricks
I had museli and apples for breakfast today. But am getting into cooking kale and purple kale and all the strong green leaves that I have always struggled to like. So if anyone wants any recipes let me know
It was my birthday yesterday, which is another reason why you haven't heard from me, too busy guzzling chocolate cake.

Oh happy birthday Overrun! Was it a good day for you?

I like the taste of kale etc but find it hard to be arsed to wash and cook it Plus I always think I am going to find little bugs in it - sad I know

I should be at work today but am at home with a poorly ds and feeling a bit queasy myself. I have just watched him drop off to sleep on the sofa which was lolvely (he's 6 and I rarely get to see him doing the droopy glazed eye thing these days). Hopefully dd won't get it next.

Did well on the fruit yesterday but had quite an unhealthy supper of egg chips and frozen peas!

Happy birthday overrunnerbean! And I would love kale recipes if you can be bothered to post them.

Had a lovely birthday thanks, and in case you want to risk the Kale, here is the recipe:
250g of curly Kale or Cavolo nero
3tbsps of virgin olive oil
1 lge onion
2 sprigs of rosemary
1 red chilli thinly slice and seeded
4 garlic cloves

Trim Kale and rinse well, cut into shreds 1cm thick, shake off excess water but no need to dry
Heal oil and add onion turn down heat and fry gently till tender, then add rosemary, chilli and garlic and fry for 1 minute

pack in kale and cover with tight fitting lid and reduce heat to minium setting and leave to cook for 20 mintutes, stir at 5 minutes and then again 10 minutes later. Remove rosemary stalks, season and serve.
Should kill any bugs
My real birthday treat is going to a gastro pub called the Bell at Skenrith if any one has heard of it.

Oh wow, a really good dinner coming up then Overrun? Please tell us what it is like (I haven't heard of it, sorry....where is Skenrith? Sounds Yorkshire-ish?)

Oh and get well puddle and puddle Jr (what is a small puddle called? A spillage? )