Healthy roast pumpkin, turmeric and argan soup recipe

• 1 Medium sized pumpkin
• 1 onion
• 1 tbsp culinary argan oil
• 1 tsp of ground turmeric (a VITL favourite!) 
• 1 tsp cumin
• 500ml vegetable stock (or chicken stock for non-vegans)
• 2 garlic cloves

For the pumpkin

1. Put the oven on at 165 degrees celsius
2. Remove the pumpkin core and scrape the seeds out of the center
3. Chop the pumpkin into 1-2 inch slices 
4. Drizzle argan oil onto a parchment lined baking tray
5. Distribute the pumpkin evenly and roll around until lightly covered in oil
6. Sprinkle 1 tsp of turmeric and cumin onto the pumpkin
7. Roast for approx 25 minutes until the pumpkin skin blisters and browns

For the soup base 

1. Chop the onion and garlic cloves
2. Simmer in a pan with salt and pepper until soft
3. Add the roasted pumpkin to the pan
4. Pour over the stock
5. Bring the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes
6. Blend the soup and serve with sourdough and a drizzle of argan oil, pumpkin seeds, a sprinkle of turmeric and anything else you fancy!

Meet Cyn!

Finding simple ways to achieve the perfect work-life balance is something Cyn from wellness blog 'CynCity' has down to a T. We caught up to find out how she manages to fit healthy eating, exercise, a social life, blogging, AND a full-time job in one of the world's busiest cities all into her schedule without losing her cool.

We're always intrigued to know when and why people make the decision to start prioritizing their health. When did your wellness journey begin? 

After finishing university, I started a desk job and started following fitness stars who lived in LA and Australia. They all seemed to have these beautiful places where they could go and work out, and loads of local fresh produce at their fingertips, but the reality here in the UK seemed a little different. Outdoor exercise is often weather and light dependent, and gyms (especially the more glamorous ones) can be so expensive, so I came up with simple life hacks things you could do in your room or local area to lose pounds without having to actually spend them.  

On the food front, once I got my head around what a 'zucchini', 'eggplant' and, ummm 'cilantro' were... I realised we also had access to some beautiful and delicious local products right here on our home turf. All we needed to do was spend a few more minutes in the kitchen and less in the less-than-healthy food stores near work. 

Wellness is about balance. Balance is being able to do the things that make you happy while treating your body in a way that keeps you healthy and stress-free. By living this way, I managed to lose 4 stone without having to think about calorie counting.  

Wow, that's quite an achievement! What are your top tips for others trying to lose weight in a more balanced, sustainable way? 

Keep it simple. Really. If it's got an ingredient you don't understand in it... leave it. Fat is your friend and sugar is your enemy. Protein should take pride of place, and vegetables should surround it. In general, if it's beige... don't eat it. And of course, move your body. A minimum of 10,000 steps a day. Get an app if it helps. If you can't manage that, you need to make time to.

It's often said that if you start your day right, the rest will follow. What does the perfect morning routine look like to you? 

• Wake up and snooze for 5 minutes - don't jump straight out of bed! 
• Downstairs for an espresso and a glass of room temp water. 
• Shower and rub down in Argan Oil. 
• If I have time, I'll make some eggs and avo but if not I grab two boiled eggs from the fridge and nibble away. 

What do you think the greatest challenge is for busy working professionals? How do you overcome it?

Time. Your time is taken away from your very fingertips without you realizing BUT if you don't take time for your own wellness - no one else will. I think it is really important to make sure you take your lunch break and go for a walk - I promise you having a break and getting your blood moving will make you far more pro-active than working through

Do you have a motivational quote you live by to help you #LiveLifeBetter? 

If you keep doing what you did you will always get what you got.  

---

Are you a health or fitness professional who loves VITL and has a passion for teaching people how to #LiveLifeBetter? Why not become a #teamVITL ambassador today? Head to ambassador.VITL.com to find out all the perks and how to apply.