The Long Life Plan

Age Defying Recipes, Exercise Routines and Beauty Tips

Reset yourself with deliciously healthy recipes, tips, tools and tricks to regain confidence, self-esteem and energy.

Faye James' inspired healthy living plan not only gets your groove back but also gives you more time to do all the things you really want to do.

The Long Life Plan includes:
• Nutritiously balanced recipes
• Easy to follow exercise plans to increase strength and flexibility
• 30 minute Yoga routines
• 30 minute Pilates mat workouts that can be done before and after work
• Beauty tips to help fight ageing and maintain a youthful glow
• Recipes for beauty tonics, beauty lotions, masks, bath soaks and how to make creams at home

Faye James is a food, beauty and health journalist and health and wellness coach with over 20 years of experience. She has created recipes, magazines and cookbooks for brands such as Woolworths and Weight Watchers and has written for publications such as ELLE, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, Australian Woman's Weekly, New Idea, WHO, Practical Parenting, Femail, The Daily Mail and Daily Express.

She is a 43 years old mother of two who mastered the art of feeling youthful, energetic and beautiful with her easy to follow and practical advice and tips.

The Long Life Plan
New Holland Publishers Australia
Author: Faye James
RRP: $35

Chocolate Brownies, Three Ways

Makes: 12
Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
Base recipe:
½ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla bean extract
3 large eggs
1 cup almond flour
½ cup cacao
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Avocado fudge:
1 avocado, mashed
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Red velvet and walnut:
4 beetroots (beets), puréed and roasted
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Sweet potato macadamia:
1 sweet potato, puréed and roasted
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Method
Heat oven to 180°C (355°F). Line a 20cm square tin with greased baking paper.
Mix eggs with maple syrup and vanilla until smooth. Fold in dry ingredients and then fold through chosen ingredient.
Pour into tin. Smooth over surface and cook for 20-25 minutes. Texture should be a little gooey in the middle.

Interview with Faye James

Question: What inspired you to write The Long Life Plan?

Faye James: It was really my ten-year-old daughter Mia that inspired me. She said to me "Mummy you love cooking so much you have to share your recipes." But I didn't just want to write a cookbook, I wanted to share my whole healthy philosophy too. That way, it's a complete health plan in one book.


Question: Why is Pilates and yoga crucial to you living your best life?

Faye James: I find as you age, you lose flexibility, your core weakens and your muscles go flacid. Both Yoga and Pilates are excellent forms of exercise which help all of these issues. Yoga particularly for flexibility and Pilates for muscle and core strength.


Question: Which of the recipes featured holds the most memories, for you?

Faye James: I have a couple of family recipes in my book. Particularly the Nourishing Chicken and Ginger Broth and the Turmeric Fish curry. Both of which were some of my favourites growing up.


Question: How did you prioritise your health and fitness?

Faye James: I write a schedule and stick by it religiously. My typical day looks like this:
I usually write out the plan from 6am to 6pm daily. For example, my daily plan will look something like this:
6am – 30-minute yoga or Pilates routine

6.30 – Hot shower using one of my homemade body scrubs
7am – Take my lemon juice and cider vinegar shot to cleanse the liver then enjoy one of my make ahead breakfasts such as Quinoa Bircher with berries then make one of my green tea and fresh ginger quenchers, which I'll sip throughout the day to keep me hydrated throughout, my immune system in check and my metabolism high. Drop the kids off to school. I have a six-year-old and a 10-year-old so I need to ensure my day is well organised so I can keep them on track.
8am – Start work
10am – Enjoy one of my Snacks, Three Hacks such as my Rainbow Hummus which is one made with turmeric and cauliflower, another made with beetroot and another made with carrot.
Noon – Enjoy one of my Batch Cook lunches such as vegetarian shepherd's pie, made with cauliflower mash and a giant green leafy salad. Salad is always a hero in my lunches and dinners.
2pm – Enjoy my Matcha Green Smoothie or Beautifying Watercress Soup. It's important to ensure your body is getting those extra greens you need to keep your body nourished and energised.
5pm – Finish work then pick up kids from OOSH and go for a brisk 30-minute walk along the beach or park or a swim – anything to get a little cardio in and refresh the body and soul
6pm – Enjoy one of my 1 Ingredient Three ways dinners such as Salmon and Coconut Fishcakes served with a big green leafy salad.
7pm – Relax with my Homemade Face Mask, switch off all devices and ensure you don't eat any else for the day. I strongly believe in giving your body a 12 hour fast to help regenerate cells and ensure your body has ample time to digest and heal.


Question: Can you share your Turmeric Face Mask, with us?

Faye James: Ingredients
2 tablespoons of ground oats
1 teaspoon of turmeric
½ a mashed avocado
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon of manuka honey

Method
Combine ingredients together and apply a thin layer on the face. Let dry for 20 minutes before washing off. Store the rest in the fridge in an airtight container. Use once a week.

Zucchini, Pea and Feta Fritters

Serves 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
2 zucchinis (courgettes), grated
250g (8¾ oz) of goat's feta
1 cup of frozen green peas
2 spring onions (scallions), thinly sliced
3 eggs, whisked
2 tablespoons coconut flour
Zest of one lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed avocado, rocket (arugula) and heirloom tomatoes, to serve

Yoghurt dressing
Juice of one lemon
Handful of chopped mint
1 cup coconut yoghurt

Method
Grate zucchini, place in bowl and add crumbled feta, peas, spring onions and whisked eggs. Fold through four and lemon zest and season to taste.
Shape into patties and pan fry between 3-5 minutes each side.
Serve with mashed avocado, rocket and heirloom tomatoes.
For the dressing, simply mix the lemon, coconut yoghurt and chopped mint together.
Drizzle fritters with the yoghurt dressing.

The Long Life Plan
New Holland Publishers Australia
Author: Faye James
RRP: $35