Apologies for being Awol last week – I was down and out with the plague, aka pneumonia, which kicked my butt! I’m used to shaking off a cold in a day or two so this was a bit of a knock to my confidence. A little reminder that I’m human and just maybe I should be getting a little more rest and sleep.

Sleep in the run up to Beat the Couch is always a little on the low side though … I tend to lie awake agonising over numbers. Still, we had another wonderfully successful sign up (99 new runners!) and now I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Normally I am a huge fan of cooking – I’ll pop something on Apple TV or chat with the Irishman. If I’m lucky, the girls will cook with me. However it happens, it’s usually relaxing. But cooking when you’re not well? Not a fan.

This time though, we tested out a few recipes that were so quick and easy it really wasn’t a chore. I know takeout is an option, but when if one of us is sick, I always want to make something completely nourishing. And nothing is more nourishing than home-cooking from scratch!

This fajita recipe required quite a lot of vegetable chopping, but was much quicker than I imagined.

I loved that we made the seasoning from scratch, using up things we had in the cupboard and avoiding the additives in store-bought mixes.

I also LOVED that it was all cooked on one sheet pan, baked in the oven. It’s so easy to then just pop everything into a wrap or on top of a bed of rice.

I’ve also made it with cubes of butternut squash added to the tray, adding a dose of colourful healthy carbs.

This means you don’t need a wrap or rice, just serve it in warm bowls and you’re done. Ultimately, it’s a really flexible recipe and a great way to use up leftover veggies in the fridge.

And for those of you who did our Healthy Kickstart earlier this year, the Zesty Avocado Dip is delicious as a drizzle or on the side of this dish.

It helps to balance out the heat from the spices and adds a lovely extra dimension to all the flavours.

Confession! This recipe isn’t entirely my own. The kids sent it to me from Instagram and I just adjusted the spices and veggies a bit.

I replaced green pepper with broccoli as it’s so much more nutrient dense!

Social media has it’s downsides of course, but the recipe sharing from the kids is a bonus.

It helps keep family dinners fresh and they are more excited about helping to prep when it is something they have picked out themselves.

Give this one a whirl, it’s so good!

Chicken fajita traybake

(serves 4)

(Large baking sheet required)

Ingredients:

8 chicken thighs, skinless and bones (trimmed of extra fat)

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

1 large head of broccoli

1 medium red onion

Light olive oil

Maple syrup

Spice blend:

2 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp oregano

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp white pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 395F

2. Prep your spice blend by mixing everything together in a small bowl.

3. De-seed and thinly slice the peppers, thinly slice the onion and chop the broccoli into small florets. Place them on a large baking sheet.

4. Prep the chicken by removing any large bits of fat and chop into bite-sized pieces. Add to the tray.

5. Drizzle the everything with light olive oil and a small amount of maple syrup. Scatter all of the spice blend over chicken and veg. Using your hands, toss everything together until well coated in the spices.

6. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, check the chicken is cooked through. As you are using chicken thighs, it should be nice and tender!

7. Serve in wraps or on top of a bed of rice. Drizzle over the zesty avocado dressing from the kick-start. And that’s it – so easy!

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION, BNTA is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK She works at Waterfront Wellness in Bermuda. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda or instagram @naturalbda