Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. It’s still possible to indulge in your favorite foods, while nourishing your body at the same time. Here we share clean versions of delicious recipes that will leave you feeling and looking incredible and not to mention, incredibly satisfied

Name: Therese “Thess” Elgquist

Instagram:  @plantbasedbythess

Job description: Cookbook Author, Content Creator and Influencer

Eat this for: Lots of greens becauseit makes you happy, and furthermore,makes your body happy! My dietis built up ofvegetables, legumes and whole cereals. Also, I try to add quite a lot of fermented foods, sprouts and shots with ingredients such as ginger, turmeric and lemon, which I think tastes great. They’re great for you too, as they’re packed with antioxidants and other benefits. 

Top 3 Instagram accounts for inspiration: Depends on what mood I’m in. If I want travel inspiration, delicious recipes or workout ideas, I’ll be into different ones. However, a few that always inspire me are:

@undanflykter (for travel and beautiful photos)

@gkstories (for food)

@panaceas_pantry (for baked things)

 Favorite skin food ingredient and why: All whole food plant based ingredients really! Eating lots of varied vegetables and other whole food plant based ingredients means you’ll get a lot of different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants.

Go-to quick, healthy meal: Hummus bowl topped with seasonal veggies and lots of herbs, or savoury porridge topped with things like fresh garden tomatoes, spinach, thin slices of fennel and toasted nuts! Ready in just a few minutes, can be varied depending on the season and whatever you have at home. Great for both the environment and you. And, it tastes great too of course!

Skincare mantra: Using all natural products, making sure to get enough sleep, and eating lots of different greens and other plant based foods, is my go-to, to take care of my skin and body. And, always using sun protection.

Also, taking the time to take care of myself is really important. Having a home spa and in the evening, slowing down, and turning off all things digital and social. Lighting candles, reading a book and going for a run. These things are important for my over all well being, which of course affects my skin too!

Recipe: 

Swedish “Kladdkaka” with coconut yogurt, strawberries and candied pumpkin seeds

8-10 servings

1dl (deciliter) = .4 cups

Ingredients:

1 dl oat flour

1 dl coconut sugar

1/2 dl cacao powder

1/2 tsp flakey salt

2 1/2 dl oat milk, or any other plant milk

1 dl tahini

12 fresh dates, pitted

100 grams dark chocolate

1/2 Tbsp coconut oil + coconut flakes for the baking tin

Candied pumpkin seeds recipe:

1 dl pumpkin seeds

1 Tbsp maple syrup

1 pinch of flakey salt

Topping

2 dl coconut yogurt

250 grams fresh strawberries

fresh mint or fresh chocolate mint

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 175°C. Line a springform cake tin with baking paper (I usually put baking paper in the bottom, then grease the sides, and sprinkle with coconut flakes).

Blend all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix oat milk, tahini and dates until smooth using an immersion blender or high speed blender. Break the chocolate into smaller pieces and melt it over a water bath. Add the oat milk mixture and chocolate to the mixing bowl and fold together.

Pour the cake mixture in to the springform tin.

Bake the cake in the oven for 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Put in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.

Toast the pumpkin seeds on medium heat, in a dry pan, until they start to pop and get slightly golden. Add the maple syrup and pinch of flakey salt, stirring around and frying for a few seconds before removing from the heat. Put on baking paper and let cool.

Top the Kladdkaka with coconut yogurt, fresh strawberries and candied pumpkin seeds. Garnish with fresh mint or chocolate mint!