5 December Mindful Moments, Friends Friday & A Bit of Fibre Maths

Today’s mindful activity was to write a Christmas list — not a list of things to buy, but a list of the intangibles I most want from the season. When I read that prompt this morning, I instantly decided to… postpone it.

I make lists in my head constantly — usually when I’m drying my hair or, like last night, when excitement kept me awake. I had been buzzing from the FIT Partners offer and my tour with Sarah, who was so genuinely pleasant. One part of my mind wanted to jump into that exciting opportunity; the other reminded me calmly that, right now, my time and financial priorities lie elsewhere.

In hindsight, getting up to actually write down the chaos would probably have been wise. A Christmas list from the heart rather than the head can feel vulnerable — especially if reality doesn’t match the hope. And while many people happily discuss their lists, today I wasn’t that person.

But the day brought something else lovely: Friend’s Friday — now officially a thing since Paul visited last week.

Today I met my friends Felicity and Michelle in Wimbledon. We aimed for around 11:00 to 12:00, and it worked beautifully. Breakfast had been the second half of my buckwheat porridge, and once a few household chores were done, I set off into a chilled but sunny morning.

As usual, the three of us talked like waterfalls for nearly three hours. I realised that Pret’s espresso is actually quite decent — probably even better from a china cup — and two of us tried the chicken shawarma wrap. I liked it; Felicity thought it was a bit dry. Naturally, I was mostly interested in the fibre content, which I’ll inevitably still try to estimate later because eating out always makes that trickier.

On my way home, while waiting for the train, the cold suddenly seeped into my bones. The wind was sharp — the kind of cold that made me daydream about the infrared sauna Sarah had shown me yesterday. I didn’t warm up much on the journey, so instead of going home, I decided I needed movement and headed to Waitrose.

Yesterday I had picked up their weekly paper and spotted a recipe for Calabrian Sausage & Beans on Sourdough— claiming 15.9 g of fibre per serving. I was sceptical but intrigued. It looked convenient; the kids would likely enjoy it. Sadly, I couldn’t find the Bold Bean Co Rich Tomato Baked Beans the recipe uses, which would have added a bit of acidity. The organic baked beans I bought were fine nutritionally but disappointingly sweet, sugary, and thick — not what the dish really needed.

Still, the kids liked it. Lentil somehow managed to avoid her rocket yet again but had no trouble finishing Felicity’s homemade gingerbread cake. No surprise there.

To help digest the sausage and cake, I walked around the block. The weather had turned truly hostile — cold, windy, and rainy — yet the dog walkers were still out. Good on them.

By the time I returned, the kids had disappeared to their rooms, and I settled with a pot of fresh peppermint tea left over from the pitta pockets earlier this week. It was exactly right for the moment.

I also started listening to The Dish podcast — new for me. The photo of Joe Marler caught my eye (I first noticed him on The Traitors), and curiosity won.

A Quick Note on Fibre & the Recipe

After working it all out this evening, I realised I most likely still reached over 30 g of fibre today, even with approximate values for the foods eaten out. A reassuring reminder that steady choices across the day really make a difference.

If you’d like to try the recipe I loosely followed, here it is:

Calabrian Sausage & Beans on Sourdough (Waitrose — Serves 4)

• Olive oil

• 1 pack No.1 Calabrian sausages (4 pieces)

• 2 × 325 g jars Bold Bean Co Rich Tomato Baked Beans

• 8 slices sourdough

• 20 g Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved

• Wild rocket

• ½ lemon (I used fig balsamic instead)

• Optional: mozzarella or cheddar (we used leftover mozzarella, and Lentil went for cheddar)

My version:I didn’t follow the recipe strictly. I put the sausages straight into the oven for 25 minutes — far less fat and fuss than frying. I gently warmed the beans and added mozzarella only after serving. The rocket I dressed separately and served in small bowls because the beans came in such a sweet, sticky sauce.

All in all, the sausage itself was delicious, with the right depth and spice for a chilling winter day.

If You Enjoyed This Post…

If you’re interested in more mindful living reflections, simple nutrition tips, fibre breakdowns, or easy weeknight meals, feel free to subscribe to my blog or follow along on Instagram @the_chickpeahub.

And if you try the sausage & beans recipe — or adapt it your own way — I’d love to hear how it turns out.