Perfect for those chilly winter mornings this is a beautiful balanced breakfast full of delicious flavours and super food goodness.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup of water
1 cup of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 star anise
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 cup of quinoa
2 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
1 handful of blueberries
1 banana, sliced

DIRECTIONS
Place water, coconut milk, cinnamon, star anise, vanilla and nutmeg in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the quinoa and simmer for approximately 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Stir often to ensure the quinoa doesn’t stick to the bottom of the saucepan. Add the honey and walnuts and stir through.

Pour into four bowls and top with the blueberries and sliced banana.

Serves 4
Preparation 5 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes

For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.

Base
1 cup dried dates
1 cup raw almonds
2 tablespoons cacao powder
½  tablespoon coconut oil
¼ cup sliced almonds

Topping
2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup fresh strawberries slices

To Make Base:
In the food processor place the dates, almonds and cacao. Process until fine and crumbly. Add the coconut oil and process further until combined. Add the sliced almonds and mix through and stir through. Line a baking tin or dish with parchment paper and press the mixture into the base of the tin. Place in fridge to set.

To Make Topping:
In a saucepan over a medium heat place the coconut oil and melt. Cut the two cups of strawberries in half and add to the saucepan along with the honey, vanilla and cinnamon. Let simmer over a low heat for five minutes until the mixture looks gooey.

Remove from the heat and let cool. Assemble this dish right before serving by placing the base on a large serving plate, top with the cooled strawberry coulis and then top with the fresh sliced strawberries and a sprinkle of sliced almonds. Cut into bars and serve.

Makes 12

For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.

Hands up if you’re in a toxic relationship with Uber Eats? You want to bite that hand feeding you, even though, technically, that hand is yours. So maybe this is a self-restraint issue? Don’t worry, this isn’t a therapy session- just a list of healthy takeaways that don’t require any restraint at all! Because, well, they’re healthy, obviously?

Here’s your cheat sheet for the best healthy takeaway eats on the Gold Coast.

Dalas Kitchen

As wholesome as it gets, Dalas Kitchen is a gourmet salad bar with two Gold Coast locations, online delivery and catering. They’re known for the most deluxe salads, but also serve sangas (on house-made focaccia), bagels and sodas too! Ran out of time to meal prep? Just order’ Dalas At Your Desk’ via their website!

Our pick: the vegan and dairy-free Bangin’ Cauli’ with panko-crusted roasted cauliflower, Asian slaw, mint, coriander, shallots, crushed peanuts and a creamy maple sriracha dressing!
Where: 2247 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach and 6 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach

Govinda’s 

Voted Gold Coast’s best healthy vegan eats, Govindas is not just a restaurant, but a mission. They’re a non-profit serving up feel-good, budget-friendly, and ethically made vegetarian fare. Every dish is as soul-nourishing as the next, with curries, salads, sides and more. They also run specials daily!

Our pick: Thursday’s Shepherd’s Pie– a classic!
Where: 20 James St, Burleigh Heads and 72 Griffith St, Coolangatta

Cardamom Pod

This place is a plant-based paradise; every dish is a visual and nutritional masterpiece. If you’re yet to experience the best of vegan cuisine, let Cardamon Pod be your gateway! It’s as decadent and exciting as vegan dishes come- from raw cakes to globally inspired mains.

Our pick: Vegan Madras Chicken Tacos with tamarind popcorn ‘chicken’, bhuja, BBQ corn chat salsa, madras mayo and jalapeño cheese pakoras.
Where: 3/3 Brolga Ave, Brickworks Ferry Road, Southport 

Just Fresh Made

Quick, healthy and tasty- Just Fresh Made is your go-to for mouthwatering salads, spuds, wraps and fresh juices. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or a little heartier, Just Fresh Made has you covered every day of the week.

Our pick: Classic Fresh Veg Spud loaded with your choice of protein, smashed avo, tomato salsa, kale mix, sour cream and herb butter.
Where: Shop 1/84 Scarborough Street, Southport

Banana Blossom Broadbeach

They’re the Asian-inspired salad bar shaking up the fast-food game with zingy Asian bowls and rolls full of flavour and crunch. Banana Blossom is an East Coast favourite, serving in locations from the Sunny Coast to Bondi Beach. Their salads, rice bowls, and rice paper rolls are a fast, healthy and flavourful way to get your takeaway fix.

Our pick: Satay Salad with chicken, tofu or beef, plus pineapple, rice noodles, bean sprouts and a mouthwatering Malay-style dressing.
Where: Shop E117 Oracle East 6 Charles Ave, Broadbeach

Poke Poke

Come for the poke, stay for the roti wraps and smoothie bowls. This Mermaid Beach gem dishes up generous, customisable bowls with all the toppings your taste buds could desire. They offer plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options to suit all!

Our pick: Nacho Bowl with chilli con carne, smoked sour cream, guac, habanero jam, and crunchy wonton chips.
Where: 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Easy House Vegan Restaurant

Plant-based yum cha? What about take-home banquet packs?! Hell yeah! This little vegan restaurant in Mermaid Beach serves up mind-blowing Asian yum cha and meals that are so damn good it’s earned them a 92% recommendation on Facebook! This place is a not-to-miss, with insane hot pots, soups and noodles, and even vegan ‘meat’ and ‘seafood’ dishes.

Our pick: Any noodle dish (seriously, you can’t go wrong)- but don’t skip the entrees.
Where: 90 Market St, Mermaid Waters

Okazu

Three words, well, dishes; donburi, okonomiyaki and sushi. Does healthy takeaway get much better than Japanese soul food? Okazu does it best- fast, fresh and in two locations. They also do poke bowls, burgers, bento combo meals and plenty of options for the kiddies.

Our pick: Teriyaki Beef Okonomiyaki with a side of miso soup.
Where: 1/2223 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach and 90 Markeri St Mermaid Waters

Fish Bowl

Don’t let the same put you off because this famed franchise is single-handedly making salads great again! They taste so damn good you forget you’re getting your entire daily intake of veg in one bowl! Build your own or pick from a menu of stacked bowls.

Our pick: The O.G. Chicken with poached chicken, kale, beets, crispy shallots, seaweed salad and roasted sesame dressing.
Where: Soul Boardwalk Shop T120B/4 Esplanade Surfers Paradise, Shop/4252 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina and 2 James Street Burleigh Heads 

Fox’s Pantry

Your servo snack stop just got a serious glow-up. Fox’s Pantry is a gourmet grocer/café hybrid (also a servo) serving fresh and fab whole eats, including sandwiches, salads, soups and more. Whether you follow a vegan, gluten free, dairy free or, keto lifestyle or diet….they have something ya!

Our pick: whatever you get, just don’t leave without a smoothie!
Where: 468 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Sumptuous Fine Foods

This Currumbin spot is a treasure trove of health-conscious delights. While catering is their main gig, their in-house and takeaway eats are at the next level. They use only the highest quality ingredients to make only the best-tasting eats that will fill your belly and warm your heart.

Our pick: the Organic Handcrafted Tofu Burger
Where: Shop 2 – 30 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin

Words by Chelsea Ipsen