Savoury – Beary Strong

Fish Pie

For comfort food aFISHionados.

Austria is beautiful: I love my new home country and I never regret moving here long time ago. The quality of life is gorgeous and the quality of food too: a high variety of regional veggies, game meat, poultry, fantastic dairy products… But there is one thing that Austria lacks: fish. Well, you can get it, but you have to pay quite a lot for decent quality. No wonder that every time Stefan and I are travelling somewhere, we crave for fish like mad: seafood, sushi, salmon, smoked fish, it doesn’t matter, we eat it all. Having a fishmonger near to our Airbnb during our last summer escape in Edinburgh was a blessing though. I always wanted to do a fish pie and finally got the chance to create this simple yet comforting dish.

Waldorf Salad

The light and protein packed version.

I know, Waldorf salad sounds boring, somehow very 80’s and not so exciting as perhaps a duck roast or shortbread. But to be honest I really like it: it’s refreshing, creamy and it has a sentimental component for me. My mum bought it from the butcher and we ate it with all kinds of meat. In Italy the meat is usually cooked in a quite boring way (no sauces, scarse seasoning) and the Waldorf salad was a real highlight. The original recipe requires mayonnaise which does not fit in our current macros. Nevertheless, we managed to create a lighter but no less tastier version of it.

Chicken Tray Bake

Juicy, tender chicken and delicious roasted veggies.

So, I heard you don’t have much time for cooking. No problem, I’ve got you covered! There aren’t a lot of recipes that allow you to prepare a mountain of protein while at the same time cooking up a healthy side dish (only stews are nearly as efficient). We combine chicken thighs with tasty veggies, bold spices and refreshing citrus fruits. The reward is crispy chicken skin, tender meat and delicious veggies for days.

Cauliflower Roast

A celebration of a humble vegetable.

As much as I like cauliflower rice, making it is a chore. Shredding the cauliflower into rice results in tiny white pieces jumping around in my kitchen. I simply hate it. Therefore I am really glad that I found this recipe. It celebrates the cauliflower. We don’t turn it into faux-something. We honor it by treating it just like a sunday roast. And we get a lot in return: tender white flesh and a spicy bark. Try this one and thank me later, it will change your relationship to cauliflower forever.

Red Cabbage With Apples And Chestnuts

A soulfood staple.

Autumn and winter may be gray and cold, but you can find very bright, warming vegetables in these seasons, like pumpkin or red cabbage. Their beautiful colour brightens up an otherwise mostly dull season and make me happy. This time, I want to share my favorite red cabbage recipe with you, that has been time tested and is loved by friends and family.

Pumpkin Pie Two Ways

I love pumpkin pie because my mum used to bake it in the early 90s for Halloween even if no one was celebrating it in Milan those times. It was an original American recipe which she brought back from Philadelphia where she lived in the 70s together with my dad and older brother. Of course she shared the recipe with me as I moved to Vienna but I had gut issues and was not tolerating grains, eggs and dairy products well. Therefore Stefan and I developed our own version: it is not cut-friendly if you are very low on calories (check the macros) but it is gluten-free and suitable for the vegan folk too. But if you would like to try the real stuff, I’ve included my mum’s recipe too.

Insulin Sensitivity and Diet Patterns

Has the endless discussion about low-carb vs. low-fat come to an end?

On my way to horseriding I’ve been listening to a great podcast by Danny Lennon with Prof. Christopher Gardner on a recently published paper with the title “Effect of Low-Fat vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet on 12-Month Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Association With Genotype Pattern or Insulin Secretion” . I would like to give you some insights in the research findings as well as write down some of the thoughts Prof. Gardner expressed in the podcast.

Why I Don’t Like Meal Plans

Implement lifetime strategies for diet success.

Good old meal plans … I’ve almost forgot about them, but whenever I browse a fitness magazine, they catch my attention. Out of curiosity I start reading them and I am always amused about them: if it is a meal plan in a men’s magazine, you feel taken back to the old bro science ages of chicken breast, white rice and steamed brokkoli. If it is a meal plan for women, I see plenty of smoothie bowls, porridge, pasta and woefully low amounts of protein. I mean I get it, meal plans seem to be an easy solution for weight loss, but I think you can do better!

Habits Of Successful Clients

Focus on these habits to ensure great progress.

Every client is unique. Each of you has different mindsets, strengths, weaknesses, goals and limitations. Exactly this is what makes my job so enjoyable: variety! Nevertheless, there are some desirable traits that make the chance of a positive outcome easier. I have observed that successful clients rock some particular habits right from the beginning or adopt them very early in their fitness journey. Read on to learn from them how to be a more successful self.

Foodies Welcome

Why being a foodie will help you getting fit.

Being a foodie can be a blessing when you are dieting. However, many people cannot imagine this being an advantage. You instantly think about all the delicious, extremely energy dense, highly palatable foods that will be most likely be a no-go for a long time to come. Sure, your diet will have to change if you want to change your body, but this process doesn’t have to suck. How is that even possible? I’m glad you asked! Read on, embrace your foodie-ism and delve in.