Eat Pray Workout - Australia's Leading Lifestyle & Healthy Living Blog

Berrylicious Coconut Cream Scone Biscuits (GF & DF options)

May 8, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

These Berrylicious Coconut Cream Scone Biscuits are a favourite to make in our house because not only are they mouth wateringly delicious, they are low in sugar and simple to make, meaning the little people in the family can enjoy baking and eating them too! They have a crunchy outer like a biscuit, and a soft fluffy inner like a scone. Best of all, they use simple pantry items, which I can guarantee most of us have on hand. They’re gluten free and low in dairy (although I’ve provided completely dairy free options too). I hope you and your family love them as much as we do!

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Grief and COVID-19 – counsellor shares how to thrive in the face of loss

April 28, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

I invited counsellor and psychotherapist Mandy Scotney, to share her insights with us on navigating grief and loss due to COVID-19. Most of us have experienced either the loss of jobs, income, family members due to illness or borders closing, freedoms to travel, freedoms to have family celebrations and more. The loss of control over our lives, freedoms and perhaps sense of identity has left many of us experiencing the grieving process. I knew Mandy would offer us a valuable professional insight with practical tips, but what I wasn’t expecting from her article was her own vulnerability of how her life was crumbling down around her too. An incredible read, with valuable food for thought.

‘The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.’

– Elisabeth Kubler-Ross…

Three Easy Steps to Infusing your own Olive Oil

April 22, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

If you’ve been with me for a while you will be aware that I love olive oil, extra virgin olive oil to be precise (nutritionally there is a big difference). I use it for cooking, mix it with a balsamic for salad dressings or pair it with dukkah and bread as an appetizer. If you were with me through my low FODMAPs journey (hello, you loyal reader) then you’ll know that garlic is one of the common contributors to IBS, but it’s also one of the most common ingredients when it comes to cooking! Disaster! But that is where infused olive oils come in to save the day. They retain the flavour of the ingredient, without the compounds that cause gastric distress.

It used to be that you could only find infused olive oils in specialty stores, but there is now a wide range available in your regular supermarket. Cobram Estate (my favourite olive oil producer) make an excellent range, and they are Australian too (see their farm I visited here)! I use a lot of these in my pantry, particularly the garlic variety. As much as I love convenience of buying these oils in the supermarket, there is something so satisfying about infusing your own olive oil. It might be due to nostalgia? The romance of a simple, homemade kitchen? The extra bit of love put into the meal? Maybe it’s the combination of all of those things. Whatever it is, I love being able to do things myself, and I want to share this method so you can do it too. Because of the simplicity of this item the quality of your ingredients really matters, so choose the best ingredients you can afford. As with all new projects it is best to start simple. I chose some fresh herbs (rosemary and garlic) to begin my preserving process. There are a number of ways to make your own infused olive oil, but I have chosen cold infusion as it is the most simple.

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This company provides dignity and confidence to women in need by gifting their natural & organic pads.

April 18, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

Have you ever had to miss school because you had your period and if you went to school you would be bullied for it? Has your education been put at risk because you weren’t able to hygienically manage your period? Have you ever been unable to afford or have access to basic sanitary products? …To be honest I feel uncomfortable even writing these questions because I know that the answer for me (and most of you) is a definite no, yet I know some of our sisters both at home and around the world do experience these problems, and their health, education and livelihood is impacted. It breaks my heart!

I often feel a bit helpless and overwhelmed when I hear about the unjust challenges facing so many women in the world. I don’t know where to start or what, if any, difference I could make to their situation. It can be easier to just ignore it. Or maybe to stop reading this post, -but WAIT! Before you do that, I want to stop you and ask you for another five minutes of your time. Are you with me?

There is a EASY way you can help.

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What are the Immune Boosting Ingredients a Naturopath always has on hand?

March 27, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

As we head into the cooler months, keeping our immune systems in tip-top shape starts to become front of mind for many of us. While there is certainly no conclusive proof that the food we eat or supplements we take will protect us from infection, it is important to think about ways that we can support and maintain a healthy immune system. According to naturopath Angela Cali, eating plenty of immune boosting ingredients is just one of the steps we can take (along with getting enough sleep and regular exercise). A nutritious diet will help our bodies maintain a healthy immune response to anything that comes our way in the shape of colds, flu and viruses.

Here are Angela Cali’s top 5 immune boosting ingredients:

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At home video workouts – get your instructor led gym classes at home!

March 23, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

THE GYM IS CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19! I can’t exercise.
Even when it’s open, it’s too expensive. I’ll do it when I earn more.
I’m a mum, how the heck am I going to be able to exercise?!
I don’t feel confident or comfortable in a gym class environment; I feel like everyone is thinking how fat or unco I look.
Exercising on my own at home is boring and let’s be honest, I am not motivated enough.
I don’t have any work out gear (weights, cardio machines, etc) at home. What the heck could I do without it?

Bust the excuses not to workout

Do any of these sound familiar? Have you used one or two of them before to excuse your lack of exercise? I know I have. And for the most part, they can be real, valid reasons that we don’t engage in exercise in any given week. Gyms can be expensive and intimidating, and it can be difficult to get the time to go, especially when you’re a mum. Exercise just became even more difficult because most gyms have been closed due to CORVID-19! It’s not easy – I know! BUT, I sincerely believe from the bottom of my heart that every little bit of activity you do does you good, physically, mentally and emotionally.

So, let me help you get it happening – at home.

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What to Look for when Choosing an Eco-friendly Sanitary Product

March 11, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

The love for eco-friendly and chemical free food, makeup and skin care products is becoming widespread in Australia. One area I feel is overlooked (probably as a result of less marketing) is eco-friendly sanitary products. On one of the most absorbent and sensitive parts of a women’s body, chemical filled pads or tampons are still the norm in Australia. Not only are mainstream pads not ideal for your body, they are far from ecofriendly, only adding to the world’s extraordinary amounts of landfill and pollution. So let’s talk about some more eco-friendly and body-friendly options for managing a period.

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Public or Private Hospital for Birth in Australia?

March 6, 2020 By Amy Darcy Leave a Comment

Giving birth is a life-changing experience that a mother will always remember, so it is important your birth memory is a positive one. You can foster this by being informed of and knowing your birthing options. I’ve found one of the most common discussions around birthing options is whether to choose a public or private hospital for birth in Australia – it’s an important personal decision and a significant one at that, as it can affect your experience depending on the level of support you are after. As a mum of two, I’ve experienced birth in both, so thought I would share my journey with you and hope it will help other mothers make their choice regarding the need for private health cover for pregnancy and beyond.

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MooGoo skin care and dusty girls makeup with fresh flowers

Recently, I was gifted some MooGoo Skincare and Dusty Girls Makeup to try. I was really excited when I found amongst these gifts non-aluminium deodorant – did you know how bad that can be for you?! If not, I’m going to tell you a little about it in this post. Moogoo skincare are an Australian company that focus on producing natural…

It’s important that you sleep well to help you perform at your optimum throughout the day. Sleep helps increase energy, focus and emotional balance to name a few. To help you ward off daytime fatigue and a disruptive night’s sleep, I want to share a few things that I’ve found helpful when it comes to finding…