So many of us go about our busy lives without eating wholesome food. Yet without giving our body what it truly needs to fuel us through the day (and night), we get ill, feel low, and have trouble sleeping. In a bowl, mix the lemon juice, chopped garlic and cayenne. Add the honey and stir all the ingredients together well, using a small whisk if you need to. That feeling of being tranquil, with the absence of any strong emotions or stressful thought patterns is such a nice idea, isn’t it? But daily life, chores, family commitments, and worries can often mean that calm isn’t something we feel or practice often enough. Maybe we have even forgotten what it actually feels like to be calm? Add the tomatoes and 250ml/9fl oz hot water and cook for 1 minute. Add the rest of the veggies, apart from the spinach, stir and cover with a lid. Turn the heat down to low and cook for about 20 minutes until the veggies are softened. Add the Brazil nuts and spinach and cook for another few minutes.

The gut plays a vital role in our health,” Ogston writes, “by helping control digestion and assisting our immune system. There is also a lot of recent research showing that our gut health has a direct link to our emotions and mood. Place the sliced potatoes over the top of the stew and season well with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until the potatoes are golden. I think making it a priority is something everyone can do. It could just be going for a walk at lunchtime – getting out of the office to have a breath of fresh air and sit on your own – or making a conscious effort to do something for you every day, whatever that may be.” The Healing Cookbook takes self-care to the next level. In this four-colour illustrated book, plant-based chef Gemma Ogston shows readers how to supercharge their immune system and boost their mood, to feel better and stay well. It comes at a time when many of us have struggled with our health and are looking for ways to recover from illness and stay well. iamhollyhusler -From belting out original pop tunes at the London O2 stage to 20,000 people, whilst supporting Westlife, to singing healing mantras and playing magical instruments, to seas of sleeping yogis, at events and studios across the globe; Holly’sjourney has led to a deep desire to help people find conscious connection and their own inner peace.

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With over 60 delicious recipes, including Barley and Miso Risotto with Greens and Crispy Shrooms to boost energy levels and mood, Super Nourish Stir Fry with Kimchi to support gut health and immunity, and Tummy-loving Simple Stew to ease digestive issues, The Healing Cookbook is the path to wellness and vitality. Read more Look Inside Details Be authentic. Never ever stop being you! What advice would you offer for women looking to embark on a similar career? This is exactly why she wanted the recipes in her book to be both physically and mentally nourishing. She avoids using phrases like ‘guilt-free’ and tells me it’s more about taking care over the food you’re eating, and making it a pleasurable experience.

We moved to Brighton in 2011 and I worked at the Brighton Oasis project for a few years as a counsellor before moving to Barcelona. This is where I started cooking from home for a living and set up Gems Wholesome Kitchen. The rest is history! How and when did you train in hospitality, was there a particular reason for this career path? I have always worked in bars, clubs and in front of the house but I’ve never done any formal training.My kids were the reason I wanted to change careers all those years ago. Having them gave me a sense of drive to pursue what made me happy. It’s true that I cannot work as much and take opportunities as I am a mum but I would never change it. Recently my son was going through a really difficult time so I had to turn down work, as I needed to be around more. They always come first and are also quite involved in my work. I do a lot of family events and collaborations, the kids are always around and involved. It’s great as they often come with me when I go away to work at festivals or events. I have created that and it’s brilliant! Who have been your mentors? So many amazing women and chefs out there that inspire me and have supported me along the way. Foodie-wise, Gaz Oakly, Bettina Campolucci, Sara Popowa, Lauren Lovatt, Saba Rahaba. And my kids inspire me daily. When we are stressed or have a million things going around our minds, it can be hard to drop off to sleep. Or maybe you can get to sleep without much of a problem but find yourself wide awake a couple of hours later staring at the ceiling. . . . Of course, if there’s something specific worrying you and keeping you awake, then the best solution is to try and resolve that issue once and for all. But in the meantime, or if that’s just not possible right now, try these simple steps for achieving a deeply restful night’s sleep so you wake up feeling rejuvenated. Reading more about Gemma, I learned that she turned to a plant-based diet after a number of miscarriages. “I had to have all sorts of tests. I tried acupuncture, and then I started looking into diet and how food can help,” Gemma says. “I didn't go totally vegan, but I started eating much better – way more plants and whole foods, and now I have my two babies. I was having treatment at the time as well, but it just helped with my mood and made me feel better.” I left school at 16 went to art college and dropped out after about six months. Headed to London at 17 and got my first front of house job in the Oxo Tower London. I then went on to Virgin Atlantic where I worked in the cabin crew and basically partied my way around the world. That only lasted a few years and ended up working in various clubs and bars around Soho working on the door for clubs and also having a lot of fun!

Cooking wise I am self-taught and have learnt most things from my Mum – she was amazing in the kitchen! Recipes we love: Barley and Miso Risotto with Greens and Crispy Shrooms, Super Nourish Stir Fry with Kimchi, and Tummy-loving Simple Stew. Nourishing and comforting plant-based recipes to boost your energy, help you sleep, and brighten your mood. Eating well is a vital part of good health, and yet so many of us are not fuelling our bodies in the right way. Presented in 4 parts: Recovery, Replenish; Staying Well and Supercharge, with a wellness toolkit, this beautiful book outlines how to harness the power of plant-based eating to recover from illness, and create a strong foundation of long-term health.

Cooking and learning. The plant-based food scene is so exciting at the moment and I am learning every day. Plants are incredible and for me it isn’t just about cooking and recipes but learning all about the healing power of plants and how we can incorporate them into our diet. Am always reading and learning something new. Gemma found her way to becoming a plant-based champion as founder and chef at Gem’s Wholesome Kitchen after a whirlwind career in travel, hospitality and welfare. She is a devoted mother of two children – who inspire her every day to work hard but maintain a healthy work and life balance. Don’t worry if you’re not getting as many hours each night as you think you should, but do take a look at ways you can introduce more moments of rest into your daily life and at improving the quality of the sleep that you do get. Maybe set aside one night a week to go to bed early or let yourself nap in the afternoon on the weekend if you’re tired. Even just slowing things down a notch or two as you go about your day, allowing yourself to pause for a quiet moment or making the time to do absolutely nothing for a few hours every so often so you can relax and unwind will help you feel all the more rested.

Add the celery, onion, carrot and garlic and cook until it is all soft, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in the smoked paprika, butterbeans, tinned tomatoes and parsley, then add the greens and stir until they’re just wilted. This first chapter is all about retreating into yourself for a little while, slowing the pace down so that you can gather your energies together again. I’ve included sections on how to get more rest into your days, with ideas and recipes to calm the nerves and reduce anxiety, and to aid properly peaceful sleep. I’ve also shared an easy restorative mindfulness exercise, which you can even practice while you are preparing a delicious meal for yourself! The chapter closes with one of my favorite sections in the book—Cozy. Whether it’s a sleep-in on the weekend or snuggling down into the sofa after a long day, I believe getting cozy is essential to our well-being. It should be a MUST in your self-care routine. Time is always a huge obstacle as I never have enough of it, I need more to work as much as I want to and also to be at home as much as I want to be. Do you have children?.

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Yes two. Has raising a family effected your career development? If so, how and why do you think that is? What’s it about? A recipe and self-care book rolled into one, this is the first of its kind. With over 60 delicious recipes including fiery bean stew for the days we feel we need some comforting, calming miso pasta to give your gut a boost and indulgent chocolate pud for those days you need a treat. This is a recipe book for anyone who feels they need some good mood food to replenish and restore – the type of food that takes away guilt and makes you feel good inside and out. This is where her passion for mood foods really began, but cooking has always been a big part of Gemma’s life. Growing up in a big family, as the youngest of five, everyone had chores to do around the house, so Gemma’s mum taught her to cook.