Nothing lasts forever, so live in the right now
What I eat in a week
Since running my marathon 5 weeks ago, I’ve found motivation and purpose seriously hard to come by and put this completely down to not having a goal. I need to be intentional about my running. So starting this week, I’m going to run a marathon each week over the course of 4 or 5 days.
This week, Mr Denham was in Lisbon, Portugal for 3 nights and I was away at a Women and Leadership Conference for 2 nights.
Monday 7th November
It was such a beautiful, sunny winter’s morning today. We started our day with my Apple Crumble Porridge – Porridge made with Alpro Cashew Milk topped with chopped Apples cooked in Date Nectar, Cinnamon and Ground Cloves, Sultanas, chopped Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds.
For lunch I had a bowl of my Roasted Carrot Soup. I got home from work at about 8pm and popped the remaining half of an Aubergine in the oven with a little Olive Oil and Ground Cumin. I roasted it for about 20 minutes and then added two boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs to the roasting tin to warm (they had already been cooked.) I served them both with some steamed Green Kale and Broccoli and two mini Mozzarella balls.
Tuesday 8th November
8 miles on a beautifully cold winters morning was the perfect start to my new running intention. My breakfast was almost as perfect! Porridge made with Cashew Milk topped with warmed Berries, Coconut and Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was a bowl of soup and dinner was some of my Bean and Chorizo Chilli with some steamed Kale and Broccoli, warmed up in the microwave at work.
Wednesday 9th November
My morning started with another great breakfast – Porridge made with Alpro Cashew Milk, topped with chopped Apple and Plum cooked in Date Nectar with Greek Yoghurt and Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was more soup and dinner was another portion of Bean and Chorizo Chilli.
Recipe for my Bean and Chorizo Chilli
Serves 4
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 2 Red Onions, sliced
- 100g Chorizo, sliced
- 2 cloves of Garlic, crushed
- 2 x 400g tinned Chopped Tomatoes
- 1 tin Butter Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tin Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tin Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Cook the onions in the coconut oil in a large, deep frying pan over a medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until soft. Add the chopped chorizo and garlic and fry for another 4 minutes. Add all the other ingredients, turn the heat down and leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring often. Serve with steamed vegetables and rice (optional).
Thursday 10th November
Another gorgeous winter’s morning was great motivation to get my trainers on and get out running again. I did 7 miles before heading home and packing for two nights away. As it was already late morning, I skipped breakfast for the first time in months, going straight for an early lunch.
I had a bowl of Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup and a toasted Wholemeal Pitta Bread stuffed with Chicken Thigh and Mozzarella and some Sweet Cos Lettuce.
After lunch, I drove up the M40 to the Jury’s Inn Hotel, Hinckley Island in Leicestershire for a two day Women and Leadership Conference.
Dinner was a three course affair – starter of Rocket, Tomato and Mozzarella Salad; main course of Roast Chicken, Dauphinoise Potatoes and Vegetables; Lemon Posset with Raspberries for pudding.
Friday 11th November
After a tedious 2 mile run on a treadmill in the hotel’s gym, I had Porridge topped with mixed Berries and Natural Yoghurt for breakfast.
For lunch, I had a bowl of Broccoli and Stilton soup with a plate of various salads and cooked meats.
Dinner was once again 3 courses – Ham hock terrine and Piccalilli, Salmon Fillet with mashed Potato and Vegetables, and Pear Bakewell Tart with Cream.
Saturday 12th November
Even a treadmill can’t stop me running! 3 miles this morning, whilst watching Wednesday night’s episode of Masterchef. Breakfast was Porridge again, this time topped with dried Apricots and Dates and a handful of Granola.
After a morning of seminars, I had a bowl of Vegetable Soup and a plate of various salads for lunch and then headed back down the M40 to home.
This evening was mine and Mr Denham’s only night together this week. He flew home from Lisbon on Thursday after I had left for the conference and then flies out to Barcelona tomorrow.
For dinner, we had a Waitrose 1 Beef Ritolo with some steamed Tenderstem Broccoli. For pudding, we had our favourite Toffee Apple Pudding with Kelly’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream.
Sunday 13th November
This morning’s Porridge was made with Alpro Cashew Milk and topped with warmed Berries, Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter, Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds.
We spent the day packing our home into boxes, ready for moving in the next few weeks, and watching rugby. For lunch, I roasted a Topside of Beef, made a massive Yorkshire Pudding and served them both with some Broad Beans, Tenderstem Broccoli and a big helping of Gravy.
Mr Denham left just after 3.30pm and I went out for my final run of the week. Setting my new running goal has been brilliant and I have run 27.6 miles this week.
After getting home and having a bath, I made myself Poached Eggs on toasted Rye Bread for supper. I then made a big pan of Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup – this week I have used Carrots, Parsnips, Sweet Potatoes and Red Onions as this is what was leftover in the fridge!
November is flying past! Mr Denham is in Barcelona this week and we maybe moving house – fingers crossed! Having packed lots of our belongings into boxes ready for the move, the house feels very empty and soulless and I am definitely ready to start our new adventure in Southsea.
Enjoy your week. And remember…
Eat Better. Not Less.
What I eat in a week
This week, Mr Denham is away enjoying the warmth of Autumn in Madrid whilst I am at home trying to get used to having to layer up, always wear a coat and have the heating on in the house!
Monday 31st October
We started our morning with Porridge made with Coconut and Almond Milk and frozen Blueberries cooked through it. It was topped with fresh Kiwi, Greek Yoghurt and Pumpkin Seeds. The colours were incredible on a cold, dark winter’s morning.
For lunch, I had a hearty bowl of Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup. Once home, Mr Denham and I went for an evening run (our main motivation, if I’m being really honest, was to avoid answering the door to all the local children trick or treating!) and cooked Fish Pie topped with Sweet Potato Mash for dinner.
I have made this a few times recently, and really like the sweetness of the potatoes combined with the smokiness of the fish – I use the Waitrose Cod and Salmon mix, which contains Cod, Salmon and Smoked Cod and make a sauce using Almond Milk.
Tuesday 1st November
I was up early again this morning and before heading to work made Porridge with Coconut and Almond Milk and topped it with Kiwi, Banana, Blueberries and Pumpkin Seeds with a drizzle of Date Nectar for some added sweetness.
Mr Denham flew to Madrid this afternoon, and so I was left to fend for myself for another three nights. We are moving house in a matter of days and so my mission over recent weeks has been to empty the freezer!
This evening’s ‘using something up’ dinner was a grilled Venison Burger with half an Aubergine and some Cherry Tomatoes, oven cooked with some Ground Cumin and a little Olive Oil, served with some steamed Green Kale and Broccoli.
Simple but delicious.
Wednesday 2nd November
Another cold winter’s morning. Another warming bowl of porridge. This morning it was made with Almond Milk and topped with Pears, cooked with a drizzle of Date Nectar and some mixed Dried Fruit, and some Pumpkin Seeds.
I spent every hour or daylight at work and eventually dragged myself away from my desk well into the evening. Both lunch and dinner were various items selected and grabbed from the vending machine at work!
Thursday 3rd November
After three 5.30am alarms in a row, I really appreciated a slight lie-in this morning. I was still out of the house at 7.15am and managed a 6.5km run before my breakfast of Porridge made with Almond Milk topped with Pear and Plum cooked with Date Nectar, a sprinkling of Pumpkin Seeds and a drizzle of Greek Yoghurt.
For lunch, I had a bowl of Vegetable and Pearly Barley Soup. Dinner was some leftover Vegetables and the other grilled Venison Burger, all warmed up in the microwave at work!
Friday 4th November
This week’s breakfasts have all been very similar and this morning was no different! With Mr Denham away so much, I find things I buy last so much longer than usual and therefore can’t mix things up as much as I would like.
Lunch was my last bowl of Vegetable and Pearly Barley Soup. Mr Denham flew home from Madrid this afternoon and we both arrived home at about 6pm.
For dinner, we had Pork Mince Taco’s using an Old El Paso Stand n Stuff Soft Taco Kit. We added Soured Cream, Guacamole with added Green Chilli and Sweet Cos Lettuce.
With our meal, we shared a bottle of Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer, which I heard recommended on a recent issue of the Jess Lively show. She describes it as a smooth Scottish beer with hints of toffee, vanilla and oak. It was really easy to drink and tasted great.
For pudding, we tucked into our favourite Kelly’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream with fresh Raspberries.
Saturday 5th November
After a week off, we were back at our local Parkrun on a very cold, slightly damp under foot morning.
Once we were home, showered and had warmed up, we tucked into perfectly Poached Eggs on toasted Rye Bread.
Having both had really full on weeks, we spent the rest of the morning relaxing and catching up with each other’s adventures.
For lunch, we had toasted Grand Rustic bread topped with Guacamole and Mozzarella and Raspberry Jam and fresh Raspberries.
In the evening, we drove into South London to see some dear friends and their two-year daughter. After sparklers in the back garden and double story-time, we tucked into a wonderful feast of Beef Massaman served with Basmati Rice and a selection of Indian Snacks.
For pudding, I made Toffee Apple Pudding again, this time with the Pecan nuts, and served it with Extra Thick Double Cream.
Sunday 6th November
Mr Denham was serving on the Production Team at both services at Church today and left home at 7.15am. I went out at the same time and had a great 7 mile run in the fresh, cold, winter’s air. Before heading down the A3 to join Mr Denham at Church, I had Porridge made with Cashew Milk and topped with Pear and Plums cooked in Date Nectar with some Pumpkin Seeds.
After Church, we headed to Pie and Vinyl in Southsea with four friends for lunch. We hadn’t been here before but had heard some great things. We weren’t disappointed! I had the Porksea Islander (British Pulled Pork with Fennel Seeds and a Caramelised Onion Chutney topped with double crispy Crackling) and Mr Denham had the Daily Pie Special, which had Pork Ribs, Sweetcorn and Coleslaw in it! We both had our pies with mash and minted peas. I highly recommend this place!
After lunch, we went for a brisk walk along Southsea Beach and then I headed home whilst Mr Denham went to the Evening Service.
In the evening, I made Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup from Eat Smart by Niomi Smart for my lunches and a big pan of Chorizo and Bean Chilli for dinners.
I can’t believe it is November already. October was full of delicious food and adventure. We have some great plans for the coming month including seeing dear friends and of course moving to Southsea. We are super excited about our move and are looking forward to making new friends, exploring new places and having new adventures!
Enjoy your week. And remember…
Eat Better. Not Less.
What I eat in a week
Another full on week filled with work, running, great friends and delicious food.
Monday 24th October
This morning was a cold, damp and misty affair. After a 5.30am alarm, the only way I know how to motivate myself is with a big steaming bowl of porridge.
I made the porridge using Alpro Cashew Milk, a little Cinnamon and some Sultanas, and topped it with chopped Banana, Greek Yoghurt, Pumpkin Seeds and a spoonful of Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter.
For lunch, I had a bowl of the Farmhouse Vegetable Soup I made yesterday. It was absolutely delicious and so nourishing. The combination of Root Vegetables and Pearl Barley kept me full all afternoon.
After a long day at work, I had a quick, yet delicious, dinner of grilled Pork Loin Steak with a Chilli glaze with a pouch of Tilda Coconut and Jerk Rice.
Tuesday 25th October
Another cold morning. Another dreamy bowl of Porridge. This morning’s was made with Alpro Cashew Milk and had Greek Yoghurt swirled through it. I then cooked some chopped Plum and Apple in Date Nectar with a teaspoon of Cinnamon and topped my Porridge with this and a sprinkling of Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was another bowl of delicious Farmhouse Vegetable Soup. As soon as I got in from work, I went for a quick run before one of my best friends came for dinner.
Having marinated a Pork Rack of Ribs in Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce overnight, I cooked it in the oven for 40 minutes along with some homemade Sweet Potato Wedges and served it with a big portion of Sweetcorn. For pudding, we had Chocolate Fondant Puddings.
Wednesday 26th October
I started my morning with a quick 6km run and then made this delicious breakfast to fuel myself for the day. The Porridge was made with 100ml Alpro Coconut and Almond Milk and 100ml Alpro Cashew Milk and topped with half an Apple cooked in Date Nectar.
For lunch, I had half a pouch of Jamie’s Tomato and Olive Quinoa with Brown Rice, Kibbles Wheat and Fennel with some homemade Ratatouille I found in the freezer.
For dinner, I had a bowl of my Farmhouse Vegetable Soup.
Thursday 27th October
With a really long day ahead of me, I started with a great looking breakfast! Porridge made with Alpro Coconut and Almond Milk topped with Kiwi, Plum, desiccated Coconut and Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was Farmhouse Soup (I will definitely be making this again!) Early evening, I headed over to another Branch for a meeting (sadly 20 miles in the opposite direction to home!)
After a 65 mile commute home, along my favourite road the M25(!), I just about managed to warm up some more homemade Ratatouille and topped it with some grated Cheddar Cheese (we really like Collier’s Cheddar as it is super creamy and a really great strength.)
Friday 28th October
I love breakfast! I can’t believe I used to miss this vital meal so frequently. My relationship with food continues to develop, but breakfast is now a must and sets me up so well for whatever the day will throw at me.
This morning’s breakfast was Coconut and Almond Milk Porridge cooked with Blueberries, swirled with Greek Yoghurt and topped with Kiwi, Pumpkin Seeds and homemade Apple Sauce.
With Mr Denham away all week (Prague then Rome), I worked six days rather than my usual five, and so was super grateful for an earlier finish today (I managed to leave work around 3pm!) I spent my evening making our Christmas Cake (separate blog post to follow with my recipe) and realised at about 8pm that I didn’t have anything in the house for dinner.
A quick dash down the road to my local Waitrose resulted in a dinner of Chicken and Chorizo Soup with a toasted Wholemeal Pitta Bread (in the freezer) with some Babaganoush! Random but just what I fancied.
Saturday 29th October
I woke feeling exhausted but knew I could get through day six of six at work as Mr Denham would be home when I got back this evening!
For breakfast I had Apples and Sultanas cooked in Date Nectar on creamy Porridge made with Coconut and Almond milk and swirled with Greek Yoghurt and homemade Apple Sauce, sprinkled with Pumpkin Seeds.
I had my last portion of Farmhouse Vegetable Soup for lunch and then for dinner we had a ‘throw it all together and hope for the best’ kinda meal!
Having not seen each other for 7 days, Mr Denham and I got distracted my catching up and hearing all about each other’s week and so our food was a little charred! We had roasted Butternut Squash stuffed with Bulgar Wheat and Quinoa, Black Olives, Red Peppers and Tomatoes.
Sunday 30th October
I was up early again this morning and made another batch of Farmhouse Vegetable Soup before breakfast. When I was grabbing a few bits last night in Waitrose, I forgot that the recipe included Broccoli so used some Butternut Squash instead.
For breakfast, I made one of our favourite’s – Porridge made with Coconut and Almond Milk, swirled with Greek Yoghurt and topped with Plum’s cooked in Date Nectar and sprinkled with Pumpkin Seeds and some leftover Crumble topping.
After breakfast we headed down the A3 for the morning service at Harbour Church, Portsmouth and then had lunch with our best friends at their home in Southsea.
We were on pudding duty and I made a Toffee Apple Pudding using a recipe from BBC Goodfood (my current favourite recipe inspiration go-to). It was absolutely delicious and I will definitely be making it again. We served it with hot Vanilla Custard!
After lunch, we went for a walk along the beach and then Mr Denham and I went for a 9km run around the city as the sunset.
For dinner, I roasted some Chickpeas, Butternut Squash and Chorizo and served it with Sundried Tomatoes and Mozzarella. Chickpeas are brilliant as a snack when roasted with Paprika or Cumin and are a great source of protein.
And so another week draws to an end. This was Mr Denham’s longest stint away from home and I’m really looking forward to having him around a bit more. He has five trips left to go before Christmas (Madrid, Lisbon, Munich, Barcelona and finally Paris.) Bring on December 1st when he will be home!
Enjoy your week. And remember…
Eat Better. Not Less.
A day trip to Winchester
Winchester is a beautiful city nestled on the banks of the River Itchin, some 60 miles south-west of London, in the heartland of Hampshire.
We have visited the city on numerous occasions – once for a family wedding and several times for the great shopping – however have never explored it’s Roman history and Gothic architecture. We decided to be tourists for a day and had an amazing adventure in this wonderfully vibrant city.
Travel
Drive – Winchester is easily accessible from the M3; with plenty of car parking in and around the city and a Park and Ride service offered from various locations on the outskirts.
***We parked in the River Park Leisure Centre Car Park. It was really reasonably priced, payment could be made on your phone and we were able to extend our parking time remotely.***
Train – there are great rail links between London Waterloo and Winchester, with four direct trains an hour costing around £15 each way.
See and Do
Take a tour of Winchester Cathedral and climb the 213 steps of the Tower.
Wander through the Inner Close and explore the boutique shops in Kingsgate.
Walk along Castle Street to see the house in which Jane Austen spent her last weeks.
Explore the ruins of Wolvesey Castle.
Discover the Bollard Art in The Square.
Be entertained by Buskers and Street Artists on the High Street.
Eat and Drink
Rawberry Juice Bar and Cafe is an absolute gem in the city and is well worth a visit for any meal of the day or just a juice pit-stop.
We shared a Halloumi, Spinach and Beetroot Hummus Wrap and a bowl of Green Vegetable Soup and had a decaffeinated Cappuccino and Earl Grey Tea to drink. The food was absolutely delicious and so delicately flavoured.
They serve a great selection of Juices, Salads, Wraps and Soups. All of the food is Vegetarian and many of the options are Vegan and Paleo.
Unfamiliarity in a familiar place.
That’s what we experienced on our adventure in Winchester. You should try it one day. Discover, with new eyes, a place you thought you knew!
What I eat in a week
This week I have another 2-day course, 2 days in Branch and a second 3 day weekend in a row!
With Mr Denham in Berlin, I set about fending for myself for a couple of days.
The weather has definitely turned cold in England now as we head rapidly towards winter, however we are still being blessed with some sunshine most days.
Monday 17th October
I started my week with a bowl of Porridge topped with some of my favourites – Berries, Banana, Greek Yoghurt and Pumpkin Seeds.
After a really long day at work (I was out of the house 12 and a half hours), the last thing I wanted to do was cook for myself. However, I’m really glad I did! This Lemon, Broccoli and Sesame Seed Roast Chicken was absolutely delicious and super simple to make. I had half this evening and left half for Mr Denham’s lunch later on in the week.
Tuesday 18th October
This morning was another early start and before heading off to my course, I had a bowl of Porridge made with Alpro Coconut Milk, Mixed Spice and Sultanas topped with homemade Apple Sauce, Greek Yoghurt and Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was a selection of salads at the conference centre and dinner was a ‘throw it all in a wok’ kind of stir fry.
Wednesday 19th October
Another cold, autumn morning began with my go-to breakfast. Porridge! This morning I made it with Alpro Coconut Milk and Flaked Almonds and topped it with Kiwi, Sultanas, Greek Yoghurt, homemade Apple Sauce and Pumpkin Seeds.
Lunch was once again a selection of salads, including Tuna Nicoise and Tomato and Mozzarella.
Mr Denham was home by the time I got back from my post-work run. For supper we had Steamed Fish and Pak Choi Parcels with Jasmine Rice, made with slightly smoked Salmon fillets.
Thursday 20th October
Breakfast was Porridge made with Alpro Oat Milk topped with this week’s favourite toppings and a cheeky spoonful of Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter.
Lunch was a bowl of Waitrose Love Life Tomato and Basil Soup, eaten very quickly during a ridiculously busy day at work.
We were at friend’s for dinner, in Portsmouth, and I was on pudding duty.
I made a baked Blueberry and Lime Cheesecake. It was a combination of various recipes and I will do a separate post with my recipe. This tasted as good as it looked and served 10 people really easily.
I think baked Cheesecake could become my signature dessert!
Friday 21st October
Mr Denham and I were both off today and we started our morning with the perfect breakfast for a chilly, autumnal day – Porridge made with Alpro Oat Milk topped with chopped Apple cooked with Sultanas and Mixed Spice and a handful of Pecan Nuts.
We spent the day exploring Winchester and found an amazing place for lunch. Rawberry Juice Bar and Cafe serves a great selection of Juices, Salads, Wraps and Soups. All of the food is Vegetarian and many of the options are Vegan and Paleo.
We shared a Halloumi, Spinach and Beetroot Hummus Wrap and a bowl of Green Vegetable Soup and had a decaffeinated Cappuccino and Earl Grey Tea to drink. The food was absolutely delicious and so delicately flavoured. This place is definitely worth a visit if you are in Winchester.
For dinner, we had Mexican Rice with Chipotle Pork and Avocado Salsa. We used Pork Shoulder Steaks and baked them whole before cutting them into slices once they were cooked (this ensured the meat stayed moist). For pudding, we had some leftover Blueberry Cheesecake topped with grated Dark Chocolate and Double Cream!
Saturday 22nd October
It was a really misty morning when we got up and we fuelled ourselves for Parkrun with a hearty bowl of Porridge made with Alpro Oat Milk and topped with Kiwi, Blueberries, homemade Apple Sauce, Greek Yoghurt and Pumpkin Seeds.
We had a very relaxing morning and then headed to Waitrose early afternoon to do the weekly food shop. Having not eaten lunch, we had mini Hot Cross Buns and a pot of tea about 4pm before Mr Denham headed back to Heathrow for the next leg on his European Tour. For dinner, I had Pork Loin Steak stir fry whilst watching Strictly Come Dancing.
Sunday 23rd October
Despite having a relatively late night (for me!) and no specific reason to get up early, I was still awake at 7am and began my morning cooking. I made a batch of Farmhouse Vegetable Soup from Niomi Smart’s new recipe book Eat Smart for this week’s lunches at work.
For breakfast, I had Porridge made with Alpro Cashew Milk topped with Kiwi, Blueberries, Greek Yoghurt and Coconut and Peanut Butter.
Lunch was a very late affair, as I had been down to Portsmouth for the morning service at Harbour Church, and consisted of a Taiko Simple Sushi pack and a Feta and Lemon Quinoa Salad, both from Waitrose.
After a quick evening run, I threw a Waitrose Sweet Baby Vegetable Stir Fry pack into a wok with some mini Chicken Breast Fillets, a splash of Soy Sauce,a sprinkle of Sesame Seeds and a teaspoon of Peanut Butter.
And so another week draws to an end. I have a really busy week at work ahead of me and Mr Denham is out of the country all week. I really feel like I’ve lost my running mojo this week. I’m determined to get it back next week!
Enjoy your week. And remember…
Eat Better. Not Less.
A Weekend in Bath
A weekend in Bath has been on my wish-list for some time and even made it’s way onto my 2016 Vision Board. My amazing husband booked 2 nights away as a gift for our Wedding Anniversary and so I began planning our upcoming trip. We visited in mid-October and were blessed with beautiful blue skies and warm, autumnal sunshine.
Rest and Sleep
AirBnb has very quickly become my favourite place to find accommodation. We stayed in a beautiful apartment on Great South Pulteney Street – The Printers Pad. Within a 5 minute walk of the city centre, this was the perfect base for our weekend of exploring. It was really tastefully decorated, well equipped and spacious enough for 4 of us.
See and Do
Wander around the grounds of The Rec and imagine the atmosphere on a game day.
Stroll along the River Avon.
Explore Victoria Park and the Botanical Gardens.
Walk around the Royal Crescent.
Admire the beautiful architecture of Bath Abbey and climb the 212 steps of the tower.
Visit the Roman Baths and immerse yourself in steeped history.
Watch the sunset from Alexander Park.
Enjoy beautiful views of the city on the Bath Skyline walk.
Eat and Drink
Feast on amazing Thai food at Thaikhun, Little Southgate.
Drink specialty coffee at Colonna and Small’s, Chapel Row.
Lunch on delicious, generously filled bagels from the Whole Bagel, Upper Borough Walls.
While away an evening, eating great food and listening to live jazz, at Green Park Brasserie.
We had a wonderful weekend in this beautiful, city with it’s quintessentially British charm. I fell in love the moment we drove down the rolling hills into the bowl of the city and would highly recommend a visit to one of the most stunning cities in England.
What I eat in a week
Another week, another European City. This week Mr Denham is in Stockholm with work. My quest to continue running four to five times a week continues and I am trying my best to cook properly when I’m on my own. This week I am away with work for a night and then we are away for 2 nights at the end of the week.
Monday 10th October
This morning’s post-run, pre-work breakfast was a warming bowl of Porridge made with Oats, Chia Seeds and Oat Milk topped with Peach, Blueberries and flaked Almonds.
For lunch, I had my last portion of Warming Squash Soup from the batch I made last week. Dinner at work was also a last, this time it was the Slow Cooked Beef Chilli I made using the recipe from Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome by the Lean Machines.
Tuesday 11th October
I began the chilly, autumnal morning with a warming bowl of Porridge. Today’s toppings were Blueberries, Nectarine and Pumpkin Seeds with a cheeky spoonful of Peanut Butter.
I had a 2-day regional manager’s meeting at a Conference Centre and Hotel in Cookham, Berkshire and lunch was a selection of salads.
Dinner was a delicious 3 course meal of a Smoked Salmon starter, Tandoori spiced Cod Fillet with Vegetable Rice followed by Autumn Fruit Crumble with Vanilla Ice-cream.
Wednesday 12th October
I started my morning with a 6km run along the Thames as the sun rose and the riverside wildlife woke up, stretched and began searching for their first meal of the day. My first meal of the day was two perfectly Poached Eggs on Wholemeal Toast.
Lunch was another selection of salads at the Conference Centre. Mr Denham arrived back into the country this afternoon and having picked him up from Heathrow, we headed to my in-laws for a family Roast Dinner -my mother-in-law does them so well!
Pudding was Apple Cake, Autumnal Fruit and thick Vanilla Custard.
Thursday 13th October
We had a very early start as I needed to be at work for 7.30am. Lunch was a bowl of hearty Pearl Barley soup.
After a ridiculously busy day, it was a pleasure to have Mr Denham pick me up from work and we headed back up through the Surrey Hills to home.
For dinner we had Chicken Katsu Curry with lots of Vegetables that needed eating up (Corn, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas, Green Beans, Red Onion and Green Pepper), followed by homemade Double Chocolate Cookie with Kelly’s Praline Caramel and Honeycomb Crunch Ice cream.
Friday 14th October
Breakfast was a colourful bowl of Porridge made with Coconut and Oat Milk topped with cooked Apple, fresh Raspberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Greek Yoghurt and Peanut Butter.
We were spending the weekend in Bath with my parents and headed along the M4 mid-morning. For lunch, we had burritos from Mission Burrito followed by a sweet treat from Ben’s Cookies.
We had pre-booked a table at Thaikhun – a brand new restaurant in the newly renovated Little Southgate of Bath. I had read a number of great reviews about other Thaikhun restaurants and so our expectations were high.
We were not disappointed!
We began our Thai Feast with the Sukumvit 38 Platter for 2 people and the Bangkok Street Platter for 2. We all had a bit of everything and it was all totally delicious!
For main course, we had the ‘Make Your Own Pinto’ for 4 people. We had a portion of:
- Chicken Massaman Curry
- Thai Green Chicken Curry
- Gai Phad Med (Chicken with Cashew Nut)
- Nua Phad Kra Prao (Beef with Chilli and Thai Basil)
- Moo Prik King (Pork Belly in Red Curry)
- Pad Thai Chicken
- Jasmine Rice
- Sticky Rice
It was an incredible array of dishes, each one tasting really authentic and delicious. Needless to say we didn’t have room for pudding, although we did manage to all have a Almond Magnum on the walk back to our apartment!
Saturday 15th October
We started our morning with a tourist run at Bath Skyline Parkrun and then had yummy bowls of Porridge made with Oatly Milk topped with Berries and Greek Yoghurt.
For lunch we had bagels from Whole Bagel. Mr Denham and I opted for a Spanish Club on a Multiseed Bagel, which included Chicken, Chorizo, Roasted Peppers, Mayonnaise and Mixed Leaves. My parents had a Multiseed Bagel filled with French Brie, Pear, Italian Proscuitto, Rocket, Roasted Walnuts and Balsamic Dressing.
Having bought a box of cookies from Ben’s Cookies, we each had one with a cup of tea after a busy day of exploring the city. We shared one each of the following flavours:
- White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut
- Triple Chocolate Chunk
- Cranberry and White Chocolate
- Ginger
They were the best cookies I’ve tasted (apart from my own homemade owns)!
In the evening, we went to Green Park Brasserie for dinner. I chose this restaurant because of the live jazz. There was a great atmosphere and the food was really nice.
We shared a Baked Camembert with French Bread, Crudités and Shallot Marmalade and my parents had a Mediterranean Mezze Sharing Board. For main course, I had the Grilled Sweet Chilli Chicken, Roasted Roquito Pepper, Sugar Snap and Peashoot Salad. Mr Denham had Pork Cutlet, Tender Stem Broccoli with Apple and Vanilla Ketchup and we shared some Sweet Potato Fries.
Sunday 16th October
As usual, breakfast was a warming bowl of Porridge – this morning’s was made with Oatly Milk and topped with Berries, sliced Banana and Greek Yoghurt.
We loved our lunch so much yesterday that we opted for bagels again today! Between us we had two Avocado and Smoked Salmon bagels, a Smoked Bacon and Brie on a Sundried Tomato and Olive Bagel and a Pulled Pork one. They were as good if not better than yesterday’s! We enjoyed them sitting on fallen tree trunks overlooking the city from Claverton Down.
On our way home, we stopped in Chippenham and had Tea and Scones at Patisserie Valerie before making our separate ways to Surrey and Cheshire.
Once home, having dropped Mr Denham off at Heathrow for another flight to Europe (this time to Berlin), I did a 10km run and then made myself Roasted Butternut Squash stuffed with Chorizo, Shallot, Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapeno Peppers, Sundried Tomatoes and Garden Peas.
And so another week draws to an end. It has been full of adventure and delicious food. A perfect week.
Enjoy your week and remember…
Eat Better, Not Less
What I eat in a week
Last week was an absolute whirlwind. For seven months I trained four to five times a week, thought about everything I ate, and didn’t drink alcohol.
All for 3 hours and 51 minutes of running.
And now what happens…
I definitely have a sense of loss and need to work out how I will fill this and what goal I am going to aim for next.
Monday 3rd October
The morning after the marathon…….apart from ridiculously achey knees, I felt great and tucked into a delicious bowl of Porridge made with Alpro Coconut Almond Milk with a teaspoon of honey topped with Banana, Blackforest Berries and a spoonful of Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter.
For dinner, I had roasted some Butternut Squash and then stirfried it with a sliced Chicken Breast, some chopped Cherry Tomatoes and sliced Green Peppers. I topped the bowl with half a sliced Avocado and some crumbled Feta Cheese. A bowl of absolute goodness!
Tuesday 4th October
Forty-two hours after finishing my first marathon, the trainers were laced up again and I ran 4.8km on a beautiful, crisp autumnal morning. I then tucked into a big bowl of Porridge and Chia Pudding with fresh Nectarines, Kiwi and Pumpkin Seeds.
For lunch, I had a Two-Egg Omelette made with Feta Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes and a spoonful of Hot Chilli Sauce.
Supper was Chicken Breast, Red Pepper and Red Onion, stirfried with Paprika and Chilli Flakes served in a Corn Tortilla Wrap with homemade Guacamole, Salsa and Sourcream followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding served with Salted Caramel Icecream.
Delicious!
Wednesday 5th October
I started my morning by making a batch of Warming Squash Soup from Eat Smart by Niomi Smart. It was really simple to make (only using one pan!), super convenient to take to work for lunches and tasted great!
My lunch at work looked a little something like this…
With Mr Denham home from Amsterdam, normal cooking habits resumed – I prepare the ingredients and he cooks. Tonight’s dinner was Vegetable Laksa from Niomi Smart’s book Eat Smart. These had just the right amount of spice and were perfect bowls of goodness for an autumnal evening.
Thursday 6th October
I started my morning with a bowl of Porridge (it can’t have looked very good as I didn’t take a photo of it!) and then headed to a Conference Centre near Maidenhead, Berkshire for a work course.
Lunches there are always great and today was no exception. I had a great selection of cold salads followed by some granola, greek yoghurt and fruit compote.
Once home, Mr Denham and I went for a run and then cooked this Chicken and Quinoa Stirfry from Lean in 15 by Joe Wicks. Instead of a pre-cooked pouch of Quinoa, we used Waitrose Love Life Quinoa with Bulgar Wheat (approx 60g uncooked per person), which only takes 10-12 minutes to cook in boiling water. This was a perfect post-workout dinner and tasted really good.
Friday 7th October
Growing up, breakfast was only ever a weekend meal. Now it’s my favourite meal of the day. This morning we had Porridge made with Almond and Coconut Milk topped with Banana, fresh Figs, Nectarine, a sprinkle of Pumpkin Seeds and a spoonful of Pip and Nut crunchy Maple Peanut Butter.
My course was two days, so lunch was another plateful of delicious salad’s. Today’s included various Charcuterie Meat, Mozzarella and Sundried Tomato Salad, Quinoa Salad and Couscous Salad.
Tomorrow marks 9 years since Mr Denham took me on our First Date. We went to the Trafford Centre near Manchester, did some shopping, and then went to Pizza Hut for dinner. With him flying off to Sweden tomorrow afternoon, we decided to celebrate this evening.
We ordered Pizza Hut takeaway (one large Super Supreme Italian base), drank Champagne (my first drink since completing the marathon!) and watched Friday night rugby. Such a perfect way to celebrate the last 9 years together.
Saturday 8th October
Our pre-Parkrun breakfast was a bowl of Porridge made with Alpro Oat Milk topped with Kiwi, Apricot and Berries with a spoonful of Alpro Vanilla Yoghurt and a sprinkling of Pumpkin Seeds. It must have been the perfect fuel as I took another 25 seconds of my Personal Best and went under 21 minutes for the first time (20 mins 42 secs).
Mr Denham left shortly after we got home from Parkrun – this time flying to Stockholm for 4 nights.
Lunch was a bowl of Warming Squash Soup and dinner was a portion of the Slow Cooked Beef Chilli from Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome by the Lean Machines, I made a couple of weeks ago and had frozen for such occasions as late night Saturday shifts at work!
Sunday 9th October
As normal, I woke around 6.20am (even on a Sunday!) and by 6.30am was in my kitchen baking.
Since deciding to move to Southsea, Portsmouth, we have joined Harbour Church and now, whenever we can, drive the 50 miles down the A3 to be at one of the services. With Mr Denham away, I had decided to try out the evening service and has been asked if I would like to bake for approx 50 people for the pre-service Coffee and Cake time.
Of course my answer was yes! Why would I miss an opportunity to spend time in my beautiful kitchen, making delicious cakes that I could take Instagram-worthy photos of?
I made Peach and Blueberry Crumble Cake, two Caramel Apple Loaf Cakes (one with Walnuts and one without) and 24 double Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookies. ***I will do a separate post with each of the recipes.***
Having baked for a number of hours(!), I went for a quick run and then had a ‘what have I got in my fridge’ kind of lunch.
I had a bowl of Kale and Quinoa topped with Feta Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes, followed by some tinned Peach Halves (leftover from baking) with Greek Yoghurt, Granola and grated Dark Chocolate.
My baking went down really well at Church – I was a little nervous as I hadn’t baked for a number of years – and I have now been asked to do it in on a regular basis. Just got to work out how I balance baking, a long-run and Church on a Sunday now!
This week has been a great mix of adventure and delicious food. One of my main goals that I set out at the beginning of the year, was to run more. Running a marathon was just a consequence of this. I am so pleased I have run 5 times this week and have truly discovered a love for it.
Enjoy your week and remember…
Eat Better, not Less
What I eat in a week
This week is the second of twelve that Mr Denham is away in Europe for 3 or 4 nights. I think I’m bored of him being away already!
I’ve tried to mix my meals up as much as possible whilst he’s been away but don’t feel like I’ve transitioned into Autumn very well. I’m still clinging on to salad at lunchtime with the addition of warming bowls of soup. I’ll definitely be making some more of my Butternut Squash, Chorizo, Feta and Quinoa Salad for next week’s lunches.
As this week progresses, my carb intake increases as I get closer to running my marathon on Sunday morning.
***I have been picking and choosing meals from this Marathon Meal Plan I found on the BBC Goodfood Website.***
Monday 26th September
I can honestly say I’ve never had an omelette for breakfast before, although I am a massive fan of poached or boiled eggs.
This morning, I had a delicious Feta and Sundried Tomato Omelette from the BBC Goodfood Website. It was so tasty and filling, and I genuinely didn’t feel hungry until lunchtime.
Lunch was a Tuna and Avocado Salad and for dinner I had a portion of Slow Cooked Beef Chilli from Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome by the Lean Machines, served with a pouch of Tilda Pulses and Rice Edamame, Spring Onion and Wasabi.
Tuesday 27th September
Having loved it so much yesterday, I had the same omelette for breakfast this morning with my usual cup of PG Tips and a big glass of water. A friend gave me a bottle of Forever Freedom Orange Flavoured Aloe Vera Juice as it’s meant to be great for maintaining healthy joints (perfect for my running) and so I also had a 60ml of this.
For lunch, I had a Pesto Chicken and Courgetti Salad that I picked up from the Coop very late on Monday evening having discovered I needed some milk.
After a relatively easy paced evening run, dinner was a baked Sweet Potato topped with a Tomato, Red Onion, Carrot and Chorizo sauce and a big handful of Green Salad and Cucumbers. Not the most ‘Instagramable’ meal but delicious nonetheless!
For pudding, I had a some Greek Yoghurt topped with Berries, Apricots, Kiwi, a sprinkling of Porridge Oats and a spoonful of Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter. Beautiful!
Wednesday 28th September
I started my day with my penultimate run before my marathon and then had this beautiful bowl of goodness for breakfast.
This morning’s Porridge Recipe
- 50g Essential Waitrose Porridge Oats with Wheatbran
- 200ml Alpro Coconut and Almond Milk
- 1 Banana, chopped
- 50g Essential Waitrose Frozen Berries
- Handful of Pumpkin Seeds
For lunch I had a hearty bowl of Tomato and Basil Soup and salad with cucumber. Working a mid-shift (10am-7pm) means having a late supper when I get home, so something nice and easy is always welcome. This evening I had another portion of Slow Cooked Beef Chilli with a pouch of Green Giant Express Sweetcorn and some Greek Yoghurt to cool it all down.
Thursday 29th September
This morning was just ‘one of those’. I snoozed my alarm for 15 minutes and then managed to turn it off completely, meaning I only had 30 minutes to get ready for work. Easy said than done at 6am, especially when the shower then decides to be luke warm!
This bowl of Porridge made with Coconut and Almond Milk topped with Essential Waitrose Frozen Blackforest Fruits, fresh Kiwi and Apricots and a sprinkle of Pumpkin Seeds did manage to put a little smile on my face. However pushed for time I am, I always make time for breakfast and making it look delicious (something that I have only done in recent months but it makes such a difference to my day!)
Lunch was another bowl of soup – today’s was Broccoli and Lancashire Cheese – with a big serving of salad.
Mr Denham was home when I got back from work. It was so nice to not come home to an empty (apart from two hungry cats) house.
For dinner, we had Mexican Chicken Stew with Quinoa and Beans from the BBC Goodfood Website. We used a pouch of Tilda Quinoa, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds and Chickpeas instead of Pinto Beans because that’s what we had in the cupboard!
Friday 30th September
How can it possibly be the last day of September already? Where has the month gone? Autumn is well and truly upon us. The leaves are turning beautiful shades of red and brown and it is very definitely dark when the alarm goes off in the morning.
I started this morning with a trusty bowl of Porridge topped with my usual frozen Berries, Banana and a spoonful of Pip and Nut Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter.
Lunch was the beginning of my carb-loading – a baked Sweet Potato with Tuna and Feta Cheese. I am finding this week really challenging with my increased food/calorie consumption and minimal running. Every muscle in my body just wants to go out and run!
For supper, we made Chicken Pad Thai using a Thai Taste kit and added some Chickpeas and Curly Kale we had in the fridge.
Super easy. Super tasty.
Pudding was some muesli with Alpro Soya Vanilla yoghurt and fresh Kiwi and Apricot. And a square (or two) of Lindt Chocolate!
Saturday 1st October
As the sun rose, I went for my final run before the big day tomorrow. Once we got home from Parkrun (Mr Denham ran and I volunteered as Backup Timer), I made warming bowls of Autumnal Porridge made with Almond Milk topped with Apples, Black forest Berries and Apricots cooked with Cinnamon and Ground Cloves.
For lunch, we had Rice and Bean Enchiladas as I continued to carb-load, followed by a yoghurt topped with granola.
In the afternoon we headed down the M3 to Wimborne, Dorset to stay with my Grandad overnight. My Grandad and husband shared a Charlie Bigham’s Fish Pie, whilst I had a big bowl of Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms. For pudding we had Pear and Blackberry Crumble with creamy custard.
Sunday 2nd October
The big day!
I can’t quite believe this day is finally here. I have been training for the last 7 months for today and am ready to smash it.
I started my day with a big bowl of Porridge made with Almond Milk topped with Pear and Black forest Berries and as Mr Denham and I made our way to the starting area of the Bournemouth Marathon, I ate half a banana!
During the race, I had half a Nakd Apricot Crunch, lots of water, a couple of energy gels and 8-10 Jelly Babies!
I wasn’t well after the run and wasn’t able to eat anything till 8 in the evening. When my appetite did come back (and boy did it come back!), I had a Tilda Sundried Tomato Rice pouch with Avocado and Feta Cheese followed by 2 Waitrose Mini Hot Cross Buns, which had been in our freezer for months, if not years!
Completing a marathon was the greatest achievement of my life so far! I have never felt so many different emotions in such a short space of time – exhilaration, excitement, nervousness, frustration, determination, exhaustion, pride and many more!
I am looking forward to continuing my running journey and seeing where it takes me next. My relationship with food has improved immensely and I don’t want to lose this and I am looking forward to maintaining a great balance between food and exercise.
But having not had a ‘proper’ drink in months, I am really excited to have a glass of ice cold Prosecco!
Enjoy your week.
Our Italian Adventure: Part Two – 24 hours in Pisa
We took the train from Roma Centrale Station and arrived in Pisa around 5pm. We found our hotel, showered, changed and went out to explore the city.
Rest and Sleep
I found it really difficult to find accommodation in Pisa that was within our budget and not miles out of town.
We stayed at Helvetia Pisa Tower, which was less than a 5 minute walk from The Leaning Tower. If I’m really honest, it was more of a hostel than a hotel, however it was cheap, functional and in the perfect location!
See and Do
Climb The Leaning Tower and watch the sunset over the Baptistry.
Wander through the tranquil Il Camposanto.
Stroll through the streets on the southern bank of the River Arno marvelling at all of the beautiful doors.
Spend some time in Giardino Scotto – a little oasis in the hustle and bustle.
Find the Tuttomondo mural.
Take ‘that photo’.
Eat and Drink
Enjoy dinner on Via Santa Maria whilst being entertained by the street artists and musicians.
Have brunch and coffee at Filter Coffee Lab – this is a must!!
Eat Gelato.
Marvel at the displays in the supermarkets.
Our Highlight
Discovering the street artist Exit Enter and tracing his work across the city. We spent a good 3-4 hours walking around the back streets of Pisa, completely off the beaten track. His work is very simple but has a really powerful message running through all of it. We loved it and really felt like we got to know him as an artist.
24 hours was the perfect amount of time to explore Pisa and tick off everything on our to-see list. It is definitely worth a day trip or one night stay if you are passing or staying in nearby Florence.
What I eat in a week
This was the first week Mr Denham was out of the country for 3 nights and I had to fend for myself! I re-logged everything we had in the freezer, planned the weeks meal, did the food shop and got cooking.
Monday 19th September
I started the day with a bowl of Porridge made with Alpro Coconut Milk and topped with Essential Waitrose Frozen Black forest Berries and some Pumpkin Seeds. A great start to the week!
The weather seems to have decided it’s Autumn, so for lunch I had a steaming bowl of Glorious Singapore Crushed Tomato Skinnylicious Soup followed by some Itsu Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes and an Apple.
For dinner, we had pan fried Sea Bass Fillet with stir fried Yellow and Red Peppers, Pak Choi, Beansprouts and Carrot.
Tuesday 20th September
I started my morning with a quick 5km run around town and then had Porridge made with Alpro Almond Dark Chocolate Milk topped with frozen Berries.
I was on a course at Head Office today, so lunch was a mixture of salads followed by some fresh Fruit Salad.
Once home, I had a throw it all in the pan kind of dinner! Chicken and loads of Vegetables stir fried in Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil with some cheeky Peanut Butter.
Wednesday 21st September
After another morning run, I had a bowl of sunshine for breakfast! Greek Yoghurt topped with fresh Fig, Apricot and Kiwi with some Porridge Oats for texture (added post-photo.)
For lunch, I had Raw Pad Thai with a grilled Chicken Breast. This was really delicious, super easy to make and surprisingly filling.
Dinner was Fish Pie topped with Sweet Potato Mash that I had found in the freezer and warmed up in the microwave at work.
Thursday 22nd September
Another day. Another morning run. It was a bit cooler this morning, so I made some Porridge with Alpro Coconut and Almond Milk and topped it with some beautifully colourful fresh Fruit.
Lunch was a portion of Turkey Moussaka from Lean in 15 by Joe Wicks served with a pouch of Green Giant Express Sweetcorn.
Dinner was another bowl of Raw Pad Thai with a cup of Twinings Buttermint Tea in the Dining Room at work.
Friday 23rd September
Breakfast was two perfectly poached Eggs on toasted Rye Bread. A wonderful start to the day!
For lunch, I had more Raw Pad Thai followed by some Fresh Fruit with Yoghurt.
Mr Denham arrived home this evening!
For dinner, we cooked Cod Parcels (although we used Haddock) from Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome by The Lean Machines. These were absolutely delicious and we will definitely be having these again. Next time, I think I will add some chorizo to them for a smokey paprika flavour. For pudding, we had Sticky Cinnamon Figs with Greek Yoghurt.
Saturday 24th September
Our post-Parkrun breakfast was Warming Apple Crumble Porridge from The Body Bible by Alice Liveing. This is Mr Denham’s favourite and was a great start to a cold Autumnal morning.
We spent the day wondering round Farnham Food Festival, eating as many different samples as possible and trying to make a meal out of nibbles! We treated ourselves to a Cranberry, Apricot and Seeds Flapjack from a stand run by a local Women’s Group. It felt almost healthy!
For dinner, we had Turkey Burgers with homemade Salsa and Guacamole served with some Sweet Potato Fries from The Body Bible. For pudding we had Salted Praline ice cream. Lots of it!
Whilst we were making dinner, we also made a batch of Slow Cooked Beef Chilli ,from Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome by the Lean Machines, for me to have next week whilst Mr Denham is away.
Sunday 25th September
We were up early again this morning and by 9am were heading down the A3 to Portsmouth. We had the most amazing Cinnamon Rolls before the service at Harbour Church and afterwards headed into Southsea to grab a bite to eat.
We had Honey Roast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches sat watching hundreds of boats passing along the Solent into Portsmouth and Southampton Harbour’s and then had a New Forest Banoffee Ice cream because it would be rude not to!
Once home, Mr Denham packed ready for his next trip (this time to Frankfurt for 4 nights) and I got ready to do my last long run before my marathon.
My supper, after 22km at race pace, was the last portion of Raw Pad Thai with some stir fried Turkey Thigh Mince with extra Carrot and Yellow Pepper.
And so another week comes to an end. With Mr Denham being away so much, our time together is so precious and we are loving making amazing memories and going on adventures.
Next week is my build up towards running my marathon on Sunday, so you will see more carbohydrates and generally more calories in my meals over the coming days.
Enjoy your week.
Our Italian Adventure: Part One – Exploring Rome
Our Italian Adventure began with 3 wonderful days in Rome.
We walked and ran miles; exploring all four corners of the city, eating lots of delicious food, falling in love with a beautiful city and trying our best to not look like tourists.
Rest and Sleep
We stayed in a brilliant apartment in the Prati area of the city. This was our first experience with Airbnb and we loved it!
Delizioso appartamento a 2 passi dal Vaticano
The flat was in a great residential area; 10 minutes walk from the nearest Metro station, 10 minutes walk to the Vatican and St Peter’s Square and surrounded by some brilliant restaurants.
See and Do
Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Explore Trastevere and it’s beautiful cobbled streets.
Walk to the top of Gianicolo Hill to see incredible views across the city.
Wonder at the beautiful architecture and paintings within the many Piazzas and Churches.
Mingle in the crowds around St Peter’s Square.
Wander along the River Tiver with the locals.
Stroll through Villa Borghese and hire a boat.
Eat and Drink
Try as many flavours of gelato as possible.
Grab a pastry (or two) from Dolce Maniera – the best bakery in Rome!
Drop into Camp de’ Fiori one morning to discover the freshest fruit and vegetables being sold by local suppliers.
Try Cacio e Pepe – a traditional Roman pasta dish.
Spend a Friday night with locals eating delicious burgers and drinking craft beer at Birretta and Wine.
**Top tip – we used TripAdvisor to find local restaurants near our apartment. They offer some great discounts through Fork.com, which made choosing from the huge number of places to eat much simpler!**
We absolutely loved our time in Rome.
3 nights, 2 days was the perfect amount to explore without feeling overwhelmed or under any sort of time pressure.
Rome, it was a pleasure. We will be back!
seek adventure everyday 