Now that my month long pilates challenge is finally underway – I’ve gone five times this week, with another three weeks of hour long daily classes still to go – I find that I really need a sustaining breakfast, but equally don’t want to scoff down anything too heavy.

Whilst reading through the usual glut of daily emails I get from the various blogs I subscribe to, I came across this recipe for an organic, uber healthy shake, devised by fashion director Ursula Lake (of NeverUnderDressed & owner of swimwear line Violet Lake) and decided to give it a whirl.

That random health food shop I always pass on Sixth Avenue, but generally never think of going near, Balanced Living, suddenly came to mind and I popped in yesterday for the first time ever, with a long list of ingredients.

The words ‘health food shop’ conjure up – to me anyway – an image of zero glamour; a woman with hairy legs in open toe sandals, say.  Perhaps slightly harsh, but you know what I mean.

Well, banish those thoughts from your mind.  The downstairs of this joint is a beautiful, airy…gasp…stylish, organic cafe:

And I loved the cluster of wooden herb boxes by the front door:

You can even sit outside if you want to

The shop part of it all is upstairs. I left with armfuls of promising sounding things, like spirulina, after a slight credit card melting moment when it came to paying for it all.  Note to the cashier: saying “Don’t worry, it’s all imported from the US” does not make parting with my cash easier to bear.

So this is what I ate/drank first thing today and I’m going to have one a few times a week in place of breakfast.  Despite how it looks, and what it’s made of, it was surprisingly good.

Here are the rather ‘worthy’ ingredients, most of which I bought at stylish quiche-and-sandals shop. What I couldn’t get there (natural peanut butter and almond milk) I got from Fairprice Finest which has a very good health food section:

The general recipe is as follows: a scoop of Warrior Food Protein Powder, a banana, a tablespoonful of Raw Cocoa (gives it a lovely rich chocolatey taste), 1 teaspoonful of organic peanut butter with no added salt or sugar (it’s meant to be cashew butter but I couldn’t find any), a tablespoon of chia seeds and 2 teaspoons of spirulina. Add about half a cup of unsweetened almond milk, some ice…and blend until smooth and drinkable (add more almond milk if you need to, I rather under did it initially this morning).

And I promise it’s not as bad as it looks and will see you through until lunchtime.

Breathe Pilates is the studio who has issued me the 30-day pilates challenge. They are based in Newton and on the East Coast.  

*Ursula Lake’s recipe was featured on LibertyLondonGirl.