I am scared.

I can feel my heart racing and my breathing start to quicken.

I am covered in cold sweat.

The world starts closing in and becoming smaller.

It feels like I am wearing a box of bees on my head, or, a cardboard box trapping me inside my self.

But I am lying in my bed and I have just woken up.

Alot of my mornings start this way.

And today was a particularly bad start.

Today I have 3 lots of appointments with mental health professionals.

And scared does not accurately word how I feel.

Scared of leaving the house.

Scared of meeting these people.

Scared of talking openly.

And scared of having panic attacks in the process.

It’s a lot easier to type how horrifying and scary life has become.

And a lot harder to talk about with people without becoming completely manic and terrified.

So what could I fill my stomach with to calm my mind?

A light and refreshing bowl of Matcha Zoats.

Apart from the fact that Matcha is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, iron and magnesium; it ALSO naturally calms the mind and body and enhances mood.

It’s a great caffeine alternative to coffee without all the anxiety and stomach jitters that come with it.

I was bought this matcha as a gift and I appreciate that not everyone has it to hand or can afford to buy some.

Another thing, I recommend and I’m going to practice this morning is MINDFULNESS. So much of our lives is reliving the past or worrying about the future. But what about this very moment? This very millisecond. Mindfulness helps us regain LIVING in the PRESENT moment, and it’s something I’m starting to practice.

Try avoiding sugar in the morning to help with anxiety and panic. Sugar has a habit of getting us buzzed then …… crashing and can also cloud the mind. I’ve topped these zoats with kiwi and blueberries which are both LOW IN SUGAR fruits.

I’ve also topped it with coconut yoghurt which is naturally LOW IN SUGAR and packed full of natural PROBIOTICS.

Grated courgette for an extra bit of GREEN to enhance the colour of matcha and add some extra fibre.

I’ve also added Macacha Peace Protein Blend for some extra peace, extra protein and extra natural sweetness but you could quite easily add vanilla extract or maple syrup or honey.

All these ingredients sound like I spend LOTS of MONEY each week on my food shop.

This week I spent UNDER £20 because I did most of my shop in Aldi (budget supermarket) and a few items in Sainsburys (bigger supermarket). I only bought exactly what I needed, planning my week ahead.

I appreciate today’s recipe is a little ‘whackier’ for a lot of people. Over the next week I am dedicating my oatmeal recipes to bringing it back to BASICS. What you can do SIMPLY with what you have in your cupboard. What you can do SIMPLY with SPICES. I want to make porridge/oatmeal as ACCESSIBLE as possible to make DELICIOUS in the morning.

Matcha Peace Zoats

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Serving: serves 1 (double quantities as you go if serving for more)

What you’ll need:

• 45g of oats
• 1/4 courgette/zucchini grated.
• Enough (Rebel Kitchen or alternartive) Matcha Milk or Matcha Latte to cover oats and a little more.
• 2 tbsp of water
• 1 tbsp of Matcha Powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• Sweetener – Vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, maple syrup or honey.
• Kiwi fruit sliced and blueberries to top.
• 1 tbsp of coconut yoghurt
• Optional – half a handful of almond/cashew nuts

How to make it:

• Slice kiwi fruit (removing skin if you want to) and grate courgette/zucchini.
• Place oats, matcha and pinch of salt into a small saucepan or microwavable bowl.
• Pour enough matcha milk/ matcha latte to cover the oats and a little bit more. Add 2 tbsp of water. Stir so it is all incorporated.
• If heating on the hob, heat at a low temperature stirring gently to avoid porridge sticking to bottom of pan. Keep stirring until the porridge thickens, adding the sweetener (vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract/maple syrup/honey). Keep stirring until it reaches the consistency that you desire. You can add more milk if needed. Transfer to bowl.
• If heating in microwave, heat for 2 mins. Then stir. Add
  sweetener (vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract/maple syrup/honey) . Heat for another 2 mins. Stir. Heat for an extra one minute if you want it slightly thicker. You can add more milk if needed.
• Top with sliced kiwi and blueberries. Add a dollop of coconut yoghurt and almond/cashews (optional)
• Sit down, take a deep breath in, hold and breath out slowly. Feel yourself in the present moment.
• EnJOY your zoats mindfully, taking notice of each bite you take.

Much LOVE and PEACE to you all,

Joy xxx