Working on a set of recipes exclusively for Herbalife Nutrition, celebrity chef Rachel Allen invited the Herbalife team to her own home in Cork, Ireland. And although the weather was slightly grim , her warm personality  lit up the room and the mood of the whole team. Rachel is the perfect host who will go out of her way to keep everyone happy, and -of course- well-fed. Humble and kind hearted, Rachel can talk about condiments or eggs with such passion and her burning enthusiasm for food shines through all of her recipes. She also shares Herbalife’s ethos about healthy eating, which is always a key element in all of the exclusive recipes she is developing for Herbalife Nutrition.

For more of Rachel’s amazing, exclusive Herbalife Nutrition recipes click here. 

 

There’s a great synergy between the Herbalife ethos and mine

HN: This is your second campaign with Herbalife Nutrition, so what did you initially know about the brand and how do you feel about it now?

Rachel: I initially thought Herbalife just made protein drinks, and I wasn’t aware about  the company’s ethos. what is great is how Herbalife promotes the whole active, healthy lifestyle. It’s really lovely that the recipes that I am writing for the company, tie in with that – it has a nice synergy. I think the message is that no matter how busy our lifestyles are, we can always make time to eat well and pay attention to what we’re putting into our bodies.

HN: Which products do you like?

Rachel: The F1 Banana Cream! I had it this morning actually, because I knew that I wouldn’t get to get time to have breakfast. And I really like the F1 Vanilla because I find it’s just really versatile with other flavours. It’s a great one to blend in with fruit and vegetables too l, like I did with the Green Goddess shake.

‘I do love food that looks lovely but isn’t very fussy to create’

HN: Do you like to cook and eat a huge variety of food at all?

Rachel: Yes, I’m really passionate about having the rainbow of colours in my diet, and I’ve tried to reflect that in the recipes I’ve created for Herbalife Nutrition.

I do love simple, seasonal food. Dishes that look lovely but aren’t very fussy to create; simple, concentrating on the ingredients.

Good ingredients give me good energy; I find if you notice you feel lethargic it’s often because you’ve eaten lots of bad food, and then you top up on sugary treats for a quick fix which leads to more lethargy. It’s a repetitive cycle which can be avoided by making sensible choices and eating a balanced, nutritious diet.  I try not to get into that bad cycle.

HN: What is your ethos and how does that resonate with the Herbalife ethos?

Rachel: I am very passionate about healthy food, and how it makes me feel. I really like to have a well-balanced diet and the way it makes me feel.

That’s why it made such sense working with Herbalife Nutrition, because it’s all about finding a good, healthy, balanced way of life. .

HN: Tell us about the recipes we’ve filmed today?

Rachel: The F1 Banana Cream Pancakes are delicious and a real treat for any day of the week. You can make it with lots of berries or grapes if you wish, it’s a great opportunity to get in lots of extra fruits. And of course, you can up the oats and decrease the flour if you like, or use gluten-free flour instead.

The Broad Bean guacamole, is a great way to eat lots of greens and is a perfect breakfast or lunch dish.

Lastly, the Chicken Casserole is just a really nicely balanced dish for all the family. It’s so versatile and you can play around with other vegetables in there too; parsnips with carrots for example, celeriac and any other root vegetables work really well. I also love to put lots of greens in at the end like charred kale for an extra dose of vitamins. I love recipes like this that allow you to vary the ingredients according to the seasons and what I have in stock.

HN: What are your favourite meals and favourite ingredients?

Rachel: Chicken often appears as a bit of an all-round favourite, great for easy casual entertaining, as well as for a cosy family supper. Whether it’s roast or it’s casserole, it’s always a winnerI also couldn’t be without eggs – they never fail to make a delicious breakfast! Poached egg is delicious with so many things and is great served on top of broad bean guacamole on grilled sourdough. They bring so much goodness and are the fastest little food to throw together.

Other favourite ingredients, are chorizo, which I add into anything, be it a chicken casserole or a lovely beany broth soup. It brings so much flavour.

I’m also quite particular about my olive oil; I like to use  a good extra virgin olive oil, because for the goodness, but also for the flavour and also I like a certain amount of butter. For me it’s about having those basic good quality ingredients – delicious sea salt, lots of lemons, big bulbs of garlic…

HN: Do you have any tips for people who want a good healthy breakfast option?

Rachel: I always like to use free range eggs with greens. Two eggs whisked up, cooked in the tiniest bit of butter or olive oil, or coconut oil, and just cooked really quickly as an omelette. And you can add in your greens, whether it’s kale, spinach, chard, wild garlic greens. Even wild garlic leaves with chorizo, tomatoes, coriander, parsley. An omelette base is just brilliant and can just be so versatile.

HN: Is anyone from you family on the shakes, using the shakes?

Rachel: Lucca has been actually. (16-year-old Lucca is a successful Formula 4 driver). He has been making really nice ones with Vanilla with banana and peanut or nut butter.. It’s great as post-workout type of shake which ticks the box perfectly for him as he was looking for a healthy option, complimenting his workout.

He used the F1 Vanilla more than the others I think it’s a great all-rounder. Mind you the F1 New Generation Banana Cream would be really good with nut butter in it as well…

‘Meals are a great way for the family to get together and decompress’

HN: What is your favourite meal of the day, and why?

Rachel: At the weekend it might be breakfast, because we tend to spend a bit of time on breakfast at the weekend. It’s a family get together type of thing. But evening meals are also lovely for everyone to digest the day, talk, sit and relax, perhaps have a glass of wine.  it’s about decompressing and appreciating that time together

HN: What are your go-to meals for a family dinner?

Rachel: We tend to mix it up a little bit. It depends on our moods and also on who is the cook at a given evening. Isaac, my husband quite often cooks, it depends which one of us has been around more during the day that have had some time.

I love making fresh pasta, and then just having it really simply with lots of greens and some olive oil, a little bit of garlic, I absolutely love that and my daughter, Scarlett does too. But then the next day it could be an Asian stir fry, ora classic Irish stew made with lamb. When I cook I do try and please everyone, including myself. I don’t cook two separate meals, it’s just one meal we all eat the same thing.

HN: What is the favourite part for you in your job?

Rachel: The variety, and getting to eat, I just love eating.

HN: You’re a feeder as well not just an eater aren’t you?

Rachel: Yes, otherwise I’d eat it all myself, speaking of which I need to give you biscuits.

HN: What are your plans for 2019?

Rachel: I think I, I am always driving for balance, I think that’s because I’m a Libra, what horoscope are you?

HN: I’m a Leo.

Rachel: Yes, balance in my life, to perhaps, maybe start building a new house.

HN: That’s a big plan.

Rachel: Indeed it is.

Huevos rancheros es un plato de desayuno de inspiración mexicana que es magro, ligero y lleno de proteínas. Excelente para el desayuno o el almuerzo, es fácil y económico de preparar, la opción perfecta si no tiene mucho tiempo.

Sirve 1

INGREDIENTES

• 3 huevos
• 2 cucharadas de leche
• Sal y pimienta
• 1 cucharada de tomate cortado en cubitos (se retiran las semillas)
• 2 cucharaditas de cebolla roja picada o cebolleta
• una pizca de chiles deshuesados ​​picados
• 1 cucharada de cilantro picado
• un poco de mantequilla para fritura

Rachel ha preparado algunas otras recetas emocionantes exclusivamente para Herbalife Nutrition. Algunos de estos incluyen: Ensalada búlgara de trigo , hecho en casa mantequilla de nuez ,  ensalada pegajosa cerdo con especias de Asia ,  zanahoria Apple y ensalada de pepino,  calabacín, menta y Frittata de queso de cabra,  Brown Soda bollos con semillas  y Fórmula 1 Banana Pancakes .

MÉTODO

Prepara tu tomate, cebolla, guindilla y cilantro. Dejar de lado. En un bol, mezcle los tres huevos con la leche y sazone. Derrita la mantequilla en una cacerola, agregue los huevos y cocine a fuego suave durante 3 a 5 minutos, usando una cuchara de madera para raspar el huevo cocido de la parte inferior de la cacerola mientras se cocina. Justo antes de que esté listo revuelva en los otros ingredientes. El secreto es calentar estos ingredientes pero no cocinarlos. Es necesario aferrarse a los sabores crudos frescos. Servir inmediatamente con unas cuñas de tortilla frita o un delicioso pan tostado.

INFORMACIÓN NUTRICIONAL

Por porción:

Kcal	263
Gordo (g)	18.5
Carbohidratos (g)	5.1
Azúcares (g)	3.6
Fibra	0.7
Proteína (g)	19.2

Estas recetas son perfectas para alguien que toma dos batidos al día y busca una adición a su estilo de vida activo y saludable. Descubre más en

Herbalife Nutrition puede ayudar a complementar su dieta con suplementos de vitaminas y minerales que satisfagan sus necesidades individuales. Ordene el suyo hoy mismo en   http://www.richardhowlett.goherbalife.com  con una devolución de dinero de treinta días, ¡la prueba está en la 

Simple & delicious, this vibrant soup is great at any time of the day and is an ideal lunch choice if you’re watching your weight. You can switch the butter for coconut or olive oil if you prefer.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 25g butter
• 5 spring onions, chopped
• 1-2 garlic cloves, chopped
• salt and pepper
• 850ml chicken or vegetable stock
• 450g good frozen peas
• 2 tbsp chopped mint (or coriander)

Rachel has prepared some other exciting recipes exclusively for Herbalife Nutrition. Some of these include: Bulgar Wheat Salad, Homemade Nut Butter, Asian-Spiced Sticky Pork Salad, Carrot Apple and Cucumber Salad, Courgette, Mint and Goat’s Cheese Frittata, Brown Soda Scones with Seeds, F1 Banana Cream Pancakes. and Broad Bean Guacamole on Toast.

METHOD

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, then add the spring onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a butter wrapper or greaseproof paper, put on the lid and sweat over a low heat for 3 or 4 minutes or until the onions are cooked. Then add the stock, turn up the heat to high and bring up to the boil.
Add the peas and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, making sure to remove the lid as soon as it comes to the boil (this keeps the peas’ fresh green colour intact). Add the mint/coriander (or both!) and transfer to a food processor for blending. Season and then serve.

Note: Like most soups, this freezes really well once cooled. Avoid prolonged boiling and simmering of this soup in order to retain the fresh green colour.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Per serving:

Kcal	149
Fat (g)	6.1
Carbs (g)	18.0
Sugars (g)	6.7
Protein (g)	7.0
Fibre (g)	7.0

These recipes are perfect for someone who is taking two shakes a day and looking for an addition to their healthy active lifestyle. Find out more on

Herbalife Nutrition can help complement your diet with vitamin & mineral supplements which meets your individual needs. Order yours today at  http://www.richardhowlett.goherbalife.com with a thirty day money back guarantee the proof is in the eating!

Packed with nutrient-rich courgettes, this quick and easy frittata (or Italian omelette!) is great served warm out of the oven or at room temperature.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• 2-3 courgettes, unpeeled (try to choose small ones)
• 15g butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 2 generous tbsp chopped mint
• salt and pepper
• 25g butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 150g soft goats cheese

Rachel has prepared some other exciting recipes exclusively for Herbalife Nutrition. Some of these include: Bulgar Wheat Salad, Homemade Nut Butter, Asian-Spiced Sticky Pork Salad, and Carrot, Apple and Cucumber Salad.

METHOD

Grate one side of each unpeeled courgette, then as soon as you get down to the seeds, turn to the other side and then continue to grate, leaving out the seedy centre. Heat a frying pan and add the 15g of the butter and the olive oil and cook the courgette until just soft but not coloured, about 2 minutes. Then season with the salt and pepper to taste.

Next, whisk the eggs, add in the milk, crushed garlic, chopped mint and then season with the salt and pepper. Then stir in the cooked grated courgettes.

Heat a frying pan till warm then add in the 25g of butter and the 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Allow the butter to melt and foam, swirling it around to coat the pan, then pour in the egg mixture. Cook on a low heat until it’s golden underneath, about 10 minutes, then place the goats cheese in rough pieces about the size of a hazelnut and place under a hot grill or in an oven preheated to 220’C /425’F/Gas 7 to set the top. It should be just cooked in the centre.

Place the pan on a board and serve as is, or slide on to a plate and then cut into wedges to serve.

Note: You could also make individual frittatas by brushing a muffin tin with olive oil and then filling each cup three quarters full. Pop into the oven heated to 180’C/350’F/gas 4 for 20-25 minutes or until firm in the centre. These are good to bring along on a picnic, as they’re still tasty served cold. As a result of making it this way, you should get 20 individual frittatas.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Per serving:

Kcal	270
Fat (g)	22.0
Saturates (g)	10.0
Carbs (g)	1.0
Sugars (g)	1.0
Fibre (g)	1.0
Protein (g)	15.0
Salt (g)	0.78

These recipes are perfect for someone who is taking two shakes a day and looking for an addition to their healthy active lifestyle. Find out more visit the link below:

Herbalife Nutrition can help complement your diet with vitamin & mineral supplements which meets your individual needs. Order yours today at  http://www.richardhowlett.goherbalife.com with a thirty day money back guarantee the proof is in the eating!

A light, crisp and colourful salad for those days when you really want something cool and nourishing. You can team it with meat or fish if you like, or keep it simple and enjoy it as it comes.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• 225g grated apple
• 150g grated carrot
• 50g grated cucumber
• 2 tbs honey
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar
• A little salt and pepper

Rachel has prepared some other exciting recipes exclusively for Herbalife Nutrition. Some of these include: Bulgar Wheat Salad, Homemade Nut Butter and Asian-Spiced Sticky Pork Salad

METHOD

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss until dressed. This salad is best prepared fresh when you’re ready to eat.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Per serving:

Kcal	52
Fat (g)	0.3
Saturates (g)	0.1
Carbs (g)	11.0
Sugars (g)	11.0
Fibre (g)	1.0
Protein (g)	1.0
Salt (g)	0.02

These recipes are perfect for someone who is taking two shakes a day and looking for an addition to their healthy active lifestyle. Find out more on

Herbalife Nutrition can help complement your diet with vitamin & mineral supplements which meets your individual needs. Order yours today at  http://www.richardhowlett.goherbalife.com with a thirty day money back guarantee the proof is in the eating!