In The Kitchen With: Lucy Bee

In a brand new series, we’re taking you behind the scenes and into the kitchen with some of your favourite wellness experts. To kick things off, we pinned down Lucy Buckingham – better known (or shouted by The Body Coach) as Lucy Bee.

Call us nosy – but we wanted to know what’s in the fridge and how our favourite healthy foodies stock their pantries. Thankfully Lucy, the superfood-charged woman behind Lucy Bee Coconut Oil, allowed us to peek into hers – and also let us in on her weekly shopping list and weeknight meal staples. We will say this – she makes a mean omelette, is totally organic, and has a cookbook coming out soon that this insight will certainly inspire you to get your hands on!

HOW LUCY EATS:

So what’s on the shopping list when you’re getting ready to cook up something scrumptious?

It varies every week. I always look for organic ingredients and though some things vary week to week, there’ll always be fish or meat on my list. I tend to eat a lot of chicken.

We’re fortunate that we get a lot of home-grown vegetables from the garden but any that we don’t have will be on my shopping list. I do love my fruit so some fruit to snack on throughout the day, will definitely feature and I’m lucky I get all my eggs from my lovely chickens (otherwise that would be on the list every week).

We go into the kitchen with Lucy Buckingham aka Lucy Bee
Image: Lucy Bee

Do you do food prep? Or do you just throw it all together when your tummy starts to rumble?

I’m lucky that I work at home, so, I don’t need to food prep but I always try to plan what I will be eating that day as I do snack way too much!

I’d recommend to food-prep if you work in an office as it makes life much easier and you know what you’re eating. When I worked as a beauty therapist I always made something the night before and would often use any leftovers, such as sweet potato, for my lunch the next day. It’s important to fuel yourself with the right food making sure you have energy for the day ahead. It’s too easy to end up eating something you will regret later as you had no other options!

You’re a food lover (obviously), and you love cooking, what foods do you make from scratch and which will you buy?

I always make almond milk now as it’s so easy, likewise with hummus, pesto, salad dressings, pasta sauces and Thai themed sauces. My family and I always make things from scratch where possible. Growing up a coeliac, I have always had to check labels and cook from scratch, so it’s second nature for me.

In the kitchen with Lucy Bee
Image: In the kitchen with Lucy Bee

WHERE LUCY SHOPS:

Let’s go green: do you think it’s important to buy all of your fruit and veg organic? Or just the ones that are particularly vulnerable to nasties in regular farming environments?

I really believe in the value of organic foods – as a family we totally buy into the value of organic farming methods not only for the nutritional content but also for the planet and wildlife.

I’m really lucky in the fact that I have grown up with a garden patch as my dad loves growing his own vegetables so we always have lots of options from there. I always eat with the seasons too and my mum and dad freeze vegetables and fruit if we have too much, so that we can enjoy them later in the year!

How big is your basket? Do you do big shops all at once or do a more European style of shopping – smaller, more regular shops?

I don’t plan my shops, so sometimes they are big shops or sometimes small. I always get inspired by people’s posts on social media so find myself in a shop buying ingredients to make something delicious I have seen on there.

Where do you go for hard-to-find health products?

Health food shops! Though I often check Amazon as they have lots of great products on there. We also have a link on our website and if you shop for anything at all on Amazon via this link, Lucy Bee receives 5% commission from Amazon, all of which we give to our chosen charity.

Superfoods – which ones will we find if we nosy around your cupboard  and what’s your favourite way to get it in your diet?

In my store cupboard you’ll always find cacao, chia seeds, maca, lucuma, turmeric and cinnamon. I use these ingredients a lot, in smoothies and foods.

I make my own granola, healthy superfood bites, smoothies and add them when making desserts, or sprinkled in omelettes. I love making cacao hot chocolate with a teaspoon of Lucy Bee and home-made almond milk.

What do you eat when you’ve come home, short on time, and desperate for some food?

I tend to throw whatever I can together to make something nutritious and delicious. I find omelettes are great for this, as long as you have the eggs to make the omelettes!!

Do you plan all of your meals for the week? Or atleast have a vague idea?

I guess to some extent I plan my meals daily but only in as much as I’m dreaming at my desk (or wherever I am) thinking – what can I eat next!? Mostly I like to wake up and see what I fancy that day – as long as it’s in the fridge or cupboard!

I don’t focus on portion sizes much either – I just eat enough to fuel my body depending on how hungry I am, so that means it’s always changing.

DINNER PARTY FAVOURITES:

What’s your ideal dinner party menu?

It depends on my mood. As long as it’s a meal with lots of different flavours, textures and made with natural ingredients, then I’m happy!

Oh and Sashimi salmon never goes wrong as far as canapés go – delicious and quick to eat!

In the kitchen with Lucy Bee
Image: In the kitchen with Lucy Bee

What will we find you sipping on? A green cocktail? A glass of your favourite wine?

I love strawberry Daiquiri’s. A good white wine on a sunny day with friends and a nice glass of red in the winter with steak. It’s all about balance and I still like to enjoy myself. As they say, “Everything in moderation!”

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