Australia: a healthy cafe guide

After over a year of fantasizing, dreaming and planning, my housemate Emma and I set off for a month of travelling around Australia! We started off in Melbourne, then headed to Sydney and then made our way up the East coast towards Cairns via Byron Bay, Brisbane, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach and The Whitsundays, before spending a few days relaxing in Hong Kong on our way back to London! 

One of the many things I have been looking forward to in Australia is the massive craze of health-focused restaurants with gluten-free and vegan options, that I have found mainly through following other Instagram foodie accounts.

Melbourne

I was constantly hearing about how Melbourne has the highest ration of breakfast café to person so made it my mission to check out the quirky and hipster brunch spots as I could in the few days I spent there, and my favourites were Mr Mister, where I had a poached egg quinoa salad breakfast bowl, and Combi, where I got the Dragon Fruit Bowl: dragon fruit blended with mango, banana and coconut water, topped with watermelon balls, sliced apple, strawberries, crispy coconut, chia seeds, cranberry, goji berries, activated caramelised buckini and garnished with passion fruit, and to drink I went for the "Velvet Cacao": raw cacao powder, cacao nibs, coconut flesh, cinnamon, banana, raw chocolate protein powder and house-made almond mylk.

Sydney

Bondi Wholefoods - The menu here exceeded my already high expectations with my favourite dish being a fluffy stack of superfood mesquite vanilla vegan PANCAKES with a decadent "white chocolate" sauce, zesty orange cashew cream, topped with tropical fruit and sprinkled with crushed pistachio nuts and a dehydrated orange round!

Speedo's Café - I got the "Pink Pittaya" smoothie bowl with gluten-free granola and vegan blueberry doughnut. I drank the "Peanut Nutter" smoothie: almond milk, peanut butter, maca powder, banana, dates and cinnamon! I also tried the vegan burger with a chickpea, flax and sesame seed patty in a wholemeal bun which was fantastic.

Centre Point Tower - a revolving restaurant on the top floor of the tallest building in the city with the most fantastic views - but beware, it's rather pricey!

Byron Bay

With its hippie chilled-out vibe and it's vast choice of trendy cafés specialising in açai bowls and avocado toast, Byron Bay was one of my favourite places in Oz.

Bay Leaf Café - I had the most delicious avocado on gluten-free toast with a poached egg, watercress, lemon and sea salt, washed down with a tall glass of ginger kombucha. The "Humble Apple Crumble" is a scrumptious drink based on oat milk, frozen bananas, apple and spices, topped with housemade granola. But what I loved the most here was the "Spiced Golden Milk" - this balanced and nourishing drink consists of a traditional Aryuveda Turmeric paste made with a blend of spices to help unlock turmeric's powerful healing qualities, made with coconut oil and almond milk.

Dip - I feasted on Wild Rice Porridge with apricots, dates, poached pear and oat milk.

The Top Shop - I enjoyed an antioxidant-rich açai bowl topped with cacao nibs, dessicated coconut, fresh berries and granola, while Emma went for a warming porridge with blueberries, chopped banana, cinnamon and maple syrup (which obviously I ended up finishing!)

Orgasmic - Found my own little slice of Israel in the middle of Byron Bay, and ordered hummus, salsa, baba ganoush aubergine dip, falafel, lettuce, Israeli salad, cabbage, sauerkraut, tabbouleh, tahini and pita bread.

Brisbane

Sol Natural Foods - I got the Turmeric Smoothie Bowl with fresh ginger, cinnamon, banana, coconut, maple and housemade almond milk, topped with kiwi, strawberries, buckinis, shredded coconut, mixed seeds and edible flowers!

Cairns

Paleo Cafe - This gem was right opposite my hostel (Gilligans), and everything is free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar, making life a lot easier for people with intolerances like myself! I enjoyed flicking through their Paleo recipe book whilst munching on a slice of walnut banana cake and sipping a maca berry coconut smoothie, or tucking into an açai bowl topped with maple-nut granola, raspberry coulis, flaked coconut, banana coins and blueberries, and drinking either a matcha latte, or a chai latte with natural spices, tea leaves, honey and coconut milk.

Grill'd Burgers - I got the "Veggie Vitality" burger made from a quinoa, beetroot, sweet potato and spinach patty, with avocado, golden pineapple, grated carrot and cos letttuce, served in a low-carb "super bun" which is free from gluten and grains and high in protein (made with almond flour and coconut flour), and a side of zuccini fries.

YOMG - While I'm not usually a fan of frozen yoghurt, this fro-yo bar offered an assortment of dairy-free flavours including banana-cinnamon which I just could not pass on! Plus it's all about the toppings...

Lilypad Café - On my last day in Cairns, I ordered the shakshuka here - eggs, spicy tomato, chickpea, spinach and panfried tempeh, with sautéed potatoes and gluten-free seeded toast.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my healthy finds around Oz. Let me know if you guys have tried any of them, or if you have any other recommendations leave a comment below!

Eli x


P.S. Thanks to @sophiapw_runs, @freshlysnapped and @sarahmalcs for some of the suggestions!

July favourites

It's crazy to think that July has already come and gone. Time is passing by so quickly but that means one thing - it's that that time of the month again to do a round-up of my favourite items this month!

1. Mykonos - From the clear blue sea to the "no sleep" vibes of the day-clubs and nightclubs, this stunning Greek island is the perfect party-holiday destination! I found every restaurant there impressive in its own way, from Interni in the market to Nobu at The Belvedere Hotel.

2. Mac matte lipstick A24 Viva Glam - I have busted this red lipstick out out from the back of my make-up drawer and rekindled my love for this product. It has become a permanent addition to my handbag and my go-to bolder lip look. 

3. The beach - I'm a sun baby, I love it, it makes me happier and I honestly feel more like me when I come home with freckles on my face, salt in my hair and sand in my clothes.

4. Clinique Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream - Whilst I can't say that it's stopped me aging, I can say that it's really thick and creamy to apply but then it feels so light-weight and firm once you gently rub it in. You can't go wrong with Clinique!

5. Spa hotel getaways in the countryside - my mum and I just got back from spending a couple of days in Cowley Manor, located in the heart of the Cotswolds, where we pampered ourselves getting massages and facials, relaxed in the sauna and steam room, and made use of the indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Things I Love About Summer

Travelling

Sand between my toes

The salty scent of the sea

Barbecues in the garden

Clear starry skies

The sound of the ice cream truck

Being tanned

The long, lingering daylight hours

Fresh watermelon

Picnics in Hyde Park

Wavy beach hair

Outdoor concerts and music festivals (I recently went to Wireless Festival!)

Iced coffee

Finding unique seashells

The crashing of the waves

Flip flops

Watching the sun set over the ocean

Lemonade stands

Bright coloured beach towels

Bare feet

Pool parties

More time for reading books

Ditching the gym to exercise outdoors: walking, cycling, swimming, hiking, kayaking, yoga in the park...

What are your favourite things about the summer? Comment below - I'd love to hear from some of you!

June favourites of the month

I know it's not even the middle of June yet, let alone the end of it, but I thought I’d do my June favourites early because I already have a few!

1. Seasonal fruit - not only is it fresher and tastier than fruit that is not in season, but it also packs in more nutrients. This month's picks include strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, cherries, plums and my absolute favourite: Indian Alfonso mangoes, which are so much sweeter and more flavoursome than regular mangoes!

2. Festivals - from music festivals to colour festivals to food festivals. At the beginning of the month, I attended HOLI On The Downs in Nottingham (where I go to university), inspired by the original Indian Holi festival, where people throw coloured powder paint on each other in the afternoon sunshine with music blasting in the background. Coming up soon is the Foodies Festival at Alexandra Palace, the UK’s largest celebration of food & drink, which I am really looking forward to! Also lined up for me is Wireless Festival, where Drake is headlining, and PartyNextDoor, Major Lazer, Labrinth, Fuse ODG and Maverick Sabre are performing among lots of other stars! I'd love to go to a music festival abroad one day in the future - Benicassim, Sonar and Tomorrowland all sound great, but above all my dream is to go to Coachella!

3. I know I’m so behind the times with this one but I’ve started watching Girls, starring Lena Dunham. I’m already well into season 2 as its on my go-to binge watching list! I love all the characters; either you are one (or have aspects of them) or you know someone like them, which makes it even more relatable and funny!

4. My fourth favourite this month is Bootcamp Pilates in Notting Hill. I’ve been going for about a month and I Iove the fact that doing pilates on a reformer is so much more challenging for your whole body (especially your core) than just basic pilates on a mat. 

5. Finally, here are a few songs I've been listening to at the moment:

• I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times) - Jamie xx (feat. Young Thug and Popcaan)

• Everyday - A$AP Rocky (feat. Rod Stewart, Miguel and Mark Ronson)

• Somebody - Natalie La Rose (feat. Jeremih)

• Is This Love - Bob Marley (Montmartre Remix)

That’s all from me today but let me know some of your favourites this month in the comments if you like or feel free to let me know what you thought of mine!

How to cope with exam stress

Exam season = stress. Depending on how you react, this could mean sleepless nights, constant tiredness, anxiety attacks, poor appetite, emotional eating, headaches and negative mindsets.

Here are my top tips to help you cope with stress around this time of year.

1. Nutrition

Fuel your brain as well as your body. A balanced diet is the key to optimal cognitive functioning. 60% of your brain is fat, so be sure to consume lots of Omega 3's, such as avocado, salmon, nuts, flax seeds and chia seeds.

Protein contains amino acids, which are vital for brain functioning. Some of the best sources include meat, chicken, fish, lentils, beans, quinoa, oats, nuts and chickpeas.

Carbohydrates give you energy. Ideally go for wholegrains, pulses, fruit and vegetables - there's a reason marathon-runners are known to have a pre-race banana!

Vitamins and minerals are crucual, particularly iron, vitamin B and zinc for preventing tiredness, and can be obtained from kale, spinach, red meat and lentils.

In addition, beware that too much sugar and processed foods will make you feel tired and sick, cause energy highs and lows and even insomnia!

2. Hydration

The average human body is made up of well over 50% water, the brain being about 85% water! It is obvious that dehydration will severely impact your ability to focus. 

I start the day by drinking 1 litre of water, and  carry a bottle of water with me to sip on throughout the day, which I like to infuse with slices of lemon and cucumber for a refreshing taste. I also drink plenty of green tea and peppermint tea, but avoid coffee as too much caffeine can make me feel jittery. 

3. Exercise

When you're busy and stressed, it's understandable that you might not want to exercise - but nothing de-stresses the mind faster than physical activity, so try to find a way to build it into your timetable. Exercise is great for helping you concentrate and it's also a real mood booster, plus it makes you sleep better! Being stuck indoors all day is not fun, so go for a walk outdoors and soak up some vitamin D!

4. Socialising

You can't spend the entire month of exam season locked away in your room studying! Plan your breaks and give yourself some time off and enjoy life! Having that balance makes a real difference to your wellbeing and stops you feeling depressed and isolated. Why not combine revision with socialising? You could form study groups where you can share notes and motivate each other!

Keep things in perspective and stay positive - it is possible to survive exams and there is life after exams - just think how great summer is going to be!

Good luck!

How to overcome winter blues

When I think of winter, I think of shorter days, dark gloomy skies and dreary mornings. My mind is flooded with images of never-ending rain, bitter cold, whistling winds, pale skin, bright blue veins, layered clothing, thick woollen socks, colds and flu, dull faces and early nights.

However, I have realised that perhaps winter isn't so bad after all. Although summer is undoubtedly my favourite season, winter is a good excuse to drink hot chocolate with marshmallows at any time throughout the day, curl up with a hot water bottle, go shopping for cashmere sweaters, admire the Christmas light displays, smell the roasted chestnuts along Oxford Street, go ice-skating, drink from Starbucks' seasonal red cups, visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and indulge in candy canes and gingerbread men!

Good things about today

It really is the little things in life. A little positivity goes a long way...

I woke up

Morning stretches

Green tea

Breakfast with my best friend

Cereal :)

Uni lectures in French, Spanish and Portuguese; constantly learning new things

Fresh kiwi-pineapple-banana smoothie

Spoke to my brother on the phone

Sweated in the gym

Listened to songs that resonate with an aspect of my life

Washed my hair with coconut shampoo

Let it dry naturally

My ASOS order arrived with my first pair of New Balance trainers

Got a load of washing done

Lit my favourite Dyptique scented candle 

Ticked some things off my "to do" list

Painted my nails

Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant
Vanilla ice-cream

Spotted the beautiful moon

Bed

Excited for another day tomorrow!