Angelina Riccio: My Food & Fitness Regime

With a three-year-old daughter, my mornings start early. As a full-time working mum, I have to be pretty organised, especially when working from home. I’m usually up between 5:30am and 6am and start with some stretches and breathing exercises. I also try to write down three to five intentions for the day, and what I’m grateful for – I find this helps keep life in perspective. 

Before breakfast, I drink warm lemon water, which wakes up my digestive system. I then have a small glass of water kefir (a probiotic, naturally fizzy, fermented drink) followed by a smoothie after at least 15 minutes. During the winter, however, I love a warm breakfast. There’s something about the shift in seasons that makes me crave certain foods. I love buckwheat porridge made with almond milk, chia seeds, cinnamon and pears or berries. This is such a comforting dish to eat on a chilly morning, and the fact that it’s rich in protein, zinc, manganese and fibre is an added bonus. 

My immune system is my number one priority right now. During the winter, I make sure I’m taking a vitamin C and bioflavonoids supplement, together with a vitamin D3 and K2 oral drop formula. This combination keeps my immune system strong and aids the absorption of calcium. I also love Bare Biology’s omega supplements, Wild Nutrition’s probiotics and am also taking one of Ross Barr’s fertility supplements. 

I haven’t eaten meat for eight years and avoid dairy where possible. I am now around 80% plant-based, and drink oat milk as a dairy alternative. I was vegetarian as a child and came back to it when I started Purearth. I try to buy organic where possible and am particularly careful around foods like berries and spinach, both of which can contain high levels of pesticides. I couldn’t live without my weekly Abel & Cole delivery for the convenience – it also makes eating seasonally a breeze. 

During the week, I keep meals fuss-free. Whether it’s for lunch or supper, I try to prepare meals that my daughter can enjoy, and which can be elevated for my husband and I by adding things like chilli and garlic. Roasted vegetables, lentils, quinoa, avocado and creamy tahini dressings are staples, and when I’m working from home, lunch is something along the lines of a quinoa salad or hummus with crackers and crudités. I try and add a handful of something green to most meals, including breakfast, and this usually comes in the form of spinach, kale or a baby leaf salad. Weekly regulars in my supermarket trolley include hummus, plum cherry tomatoes, garlic and tenderstem broccoli. 

Jackfruit is a recent favourite discovery. I made jackfruit tacos over the weekend with lime marinated red onions, avocado and spicy salsa – the flavour combination took me straight back to my honeymoon in Holbox, Mexico. It’s great to add to tagines and curries when you’re looking for added texture. I rate Biona’s tinned version.

Being half Italian, cooking is in my blood. I’m happiest when I’m at home with a table full of friends and family and am counting down the days until we can do this again. I’ve always taken inspiration from my Italian roots, as well as my travels around South East Asia and India when it comes to cooking. I love nothing more than preparing a pho from scratch or a creamy Thai coconut curry. Being Italian, I also can’t live without pasta. 

I’ve been filling the restaurant void with the odd takeaway. After living in London for 16 years, I recently took the plunge and moved out to Surrey with my husband and daughter. We’re only a 30-minute train ride from London, so I still feel near the hustle and bustle, but a bit closer to nature, too. Being further out of the city, there are fewer takeaway options (I love a Vietnamese or Thai), but I recently found a great local Thai restaurant that delivers, which is a god send. Pre-lockdown, I would eat out once or twice a week – I love all the Vietnamese spots on the Kingsland Road or Santo Remedio in London Bridge for delicious tacos and a cheeky margarita.