For seven years, the LCL North Sea Regatta has been a highlight for all attendees. The event, what’s in a name, centres around an exhilarating sailing race. Yet, those with less sea-faring prowess aren't left hanging—quite literally this time. At LCL, we place a high value on health and wellbeing, which is why some participants enjoyed a beautiful bike ride along beaches, dunes, and polders, as well as a ‘Healthy Eating & Detox’ workshop led by STUDIO fit. This left LCL team members, clients, and suppliers with a plateful of healthy tips to share.

After waving off the sailors, we embarked from Nieuwpoort on an e-bike journey along the coast and dunes, reaching all the way to Knokke and back. By noon, we had clocked up a solid 38km. The ride continued to the Bloso Centrum Spaarbekken, where we met Jade from ‘Jade’s Plantiful Life’ for the workshop. She tackled basic, but important, questions about what constitutes healthy eating, its impacts, and how to easily integrate it into your life.

Jade immediately highlighted that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition; what works for one might not work for another. So, we returned to the basics: what are our foods made of? As it turns out, macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are vital as they provide energy, and we need a lot of them. Carbohydrates and fats, Jade mentioned, are often unfairly treated and banned. It's crucial to differentiate between simple and complex carbohydrates, and between saturated and unsaturated fats, avoiding only the former group. Micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are just as essential in smaller quantities. With 13 essential vitamins, each serving a unique function, plus minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, it’s clear why a balanced diet isn’t simple.

Jade came to the rescue with practical tips and easy recipes. First up was a ‘creamy berry and banana smoothie’. According to Jade, a healthy smoothie should be nutritious and balanced—better yet, one you can chew on to fully activate your digestion. The ingredients included bananas, frozen berries, cashew paste, plant milk, chia seeds, and... cauliflower rice. Yes, with its relatively neutral taste, cauliflower adds extra fibre, vitamins, and balances blood sugar levels.

Next, we tried cacao-hazelnut brownies with another surprising main ingredient: dates. Unlike traditional versions, this dessert was packed with vitamins and minerals and was also vegan. The chocolate used was nearly pure, with 99% cacao, providing a unique taste. Cacao contains antioxidants and supports our mood by producing endorphins, so it’s genuinely happiness-inducing. Highly recommended!

Then, we discussed detox, which doesn’t mean starving yourself or extreme dieting. It's about removing toxins from your body by nourishing it with natural, nutritious foods, which can make you feel more energetic and improve digestion. We put theory into practice with a ‘morning kickstart juice’. Alongside ginger and turmeric, black pepper was the surprising addition—not for seasoning, but because it enhances the absorption of curcumin (from turmeric) by the body. Intriguing, given turmeric’s powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A spicy juice, ideal for the morning, as the kick of the ginger wakes you up instantly.

Lastly, we briefly explored Ayurveda—literally 'knowledge of long life', an ancient Indian health system that takes a holistic approach to health. Based on ‘doshas’, or forces within your body, it customises dietary patterns to prevent and heal diseases. Ayurveda’s principles align perfectly with the nutritional advice discussed, focusing on simple, natural food and the addition of herbs and spices.

What do Jade and STUDIO fit want us to take away from the workshop? They hope participants are inspired to consciously opt for unprocessed foods and to eat a varied and balanced diet. They stress that healthy eating is achievable for busy people through smart choices, like using a steamer and buying organic seasonal vegetables in all colours, enabling a healthy meal in just 20 minutes. Or you could attend a workshop yourself, or even consider setting up a wellness plan for your employees to take charge of their health. All of this certainly left us hungry for more!