Pasta with Pesto and Asparagus (Ready in 20 Minutes)

This pesto pasta is a super-easy recipe for when you don’t have much time to cook and want to whip up a delicious meal in a flash. The creamy asparagus pesto adds a touch of luxury to the dish, making it ideal for treating your loved ones to a homemade dinner that has that little something extra.

Een week als stagiair: de koude keuken, 2 docenten komen op bezoek en deadline voor mijn eindwerk

I worked on the cold side of the kitchen for the first time; two instructors came to visit the restaurant, and in the meantime, I’m working day and night on my final project. Fortunately, the weather is on our side, though that might not be a logical consequence of the story about how I once improvised a menu for fifteen nuns in a convent. I’ll also explain how I managed to pull that off. 

Homemade granola bars for on the go in 20 minutes 

They’re the perfect snack you look forward to all day long. Plus, they keep you full for a long time and give you the energy to happily skip along for the rest of the day. I took them with me to Paris, but I’m sure that even without a view of the Eiffel Tower, this granola bar will put a smile on your face. 

Letters from Lisbon – Will Everything Turn Out All Right After All?

This week, I moved into my new place, put the finishing touches on a project that I’ll be sharing with you very soon, and finally made it through the week. Here’s what my fourth week in Lisbon was like as a student doing an internship at a Michelin-starred restaurant. 

Brieven uit Lissabon – wanneer het allemaal misloopt (soloreis voor stage)

It has rained a lot here since my last letter. It made the apartment where I was staying uninhabitable, and I had to find another place to stay at the last minute. My internship is, of course, still going on as usual, and I already have some news to share about it. An unexpected turn of events that I didn’t see coming…

Brieven uit Lissabon – 5 must see plekjes en eerste ervaring als student

In deze serie neem ik je mee achter de schermen van het leven van een Belgische studente Culinary Arts die 4 maanden naar Portugal verhuist voor een stage in een sterrenrestaurant. Dit is een brief van mijn eerste week in Lissabon, inclusief de exactie adressen van enkele plekjes die je moet gezien hebben als je in de regio bent.

Ode aan 2025 en een blik vooruit

Happy New Year! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite photos from the past year. 2025 was mostly filled with studying, with a trip to Spain and China as a break from it all. Over the summer, I filmed a cooking show featuring seasonal and easy-to-make dishes. I started out as a student entrepreneur and was able to make several people happy with delicious, healthy catering. 

Spring Roll with Fennel and Basil

This is a quick and easy recipe for Vietnamese spring rolls. For the filling, I use seasonal vegetables: fennel, lamb’s lettuce, and carrots. Folding the spring rolls is really not difficult. In this recipe, I explain the process step by step, so you’re guaranteed a great result. This dish makes for a delicious, light, yet truly satisfying meal. 

Zero-Waste Pesto Made from Carrot Tops 

You definitely shouldn't throw away carrot tops—you can use them to make this delicious pesto. We serve it with lentils and steamed carrots—a delicious vegan, zero-food-waste dish.

5 Fall Dishes That Are Ready in 30 Minutes

Here, I’m sharing 5 recipes with you that will help you whip up a delicious, vegetable-packed meal in under half an hour. They all feature seasonal fall vegetables.

Rice with Leeks, Peas, and Shrimp

Ready in 30 minutes and packed with vegetables. This dish with leeks, peas, and rice is an easy meal for when you're short on time. The shrimp add a festive touch.

Quinoa with Grilled Fall Vegetables (vegan)

The parsnip adds earthy and floral notes to the dish, the sweet potato lends a subtle sweetness, and the fennel adds an interesting twist with its fresh, anise-like flavor. We serve it with quinoa, which gets an extra dimension from a broth made with basil sprigs—a zero-waste touch. This is a super-easy fall recipe!

Ginger Cookies

These ginger cookies are the perfect activity for a rainy afternoon. They’re not hard to make, but they’ll give you all the coziness you’re craving. This is a super fun recipe for fall.

Pak Choi Vegetable Dish

Whether it’s for Grandma’s birthday, a romantic date night, or just a really delicious dinner with that little something extra… this recipe is incredibly versatile. It’s easy to make, and in less than half an hour, you’ll have a delicious, healthy feast.

How to Make Your Own Tomato Passata (A Family Recipe)

This is a family recipe for tomato passata. The method I’m sharing here is the authentic recipe, just as my grandma used to make it. Making tomato passata from scratch takes a little time and love, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s not difficult at all.

Lunch Salad in 12 Minutes

Summer isn’t over yet… Soak up the last rays of sunshine with this summery dish, made, of course, with seasonal vegetables that are available right now. This lunch is ready in 12 minutes, so you can spend the rest of your lunch break etching that summery feeling into your memories.

Smoothie with bok choy and blueberries

If you have the chance to make a smoothie with blueberries, you should definitely take it. 😉 And if you can also sneak in some vegetables—which will only make your smoothie taste even better—then you know you’re on the right track. This smoothie combines summery, seasonal ingredients into a sweet treat that’s the perfect breakfast for any busy day.

A 5-course summer dinner you can prepare in advance—with recipes and matching mocktails

Each course is paired with a complementary drink. Warm weather and long, light days are the perfect excuse to enjoy good food in good company. That’s why I’ve put together this five-course menu featuring healthy recipes packed with vegetables—enough to keep you enjoying the evening all night long. You can prepare most of the recipes ahead of time.

Chickpea appetizers with the perfect blend of spices

Today marks exactly 4 years since Zoë’s Healthy Life was founded. We’re celebrating with a festive recipe. This is my go-to recipe for making your own cocktail nuts, and I’m sharing the exact measurements and ingredients with you now. Enjoy! Make them as an appetizer for friends or as a snack for yourself.  

4 Life Lessons I Learned in 4 Years of Blogging – Part 4

This week marks the 4th anniversary of Zoë’s Healthy Life. I started this food blog when I was 16. I’m 20 now, and in this series I’m sharing the 4 life lessons I’ve learned over the past 4 years of blogging. This is lesson 4. Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the party dish!

4 Life Lessons I Learned in 4 Years of Blogging – Part 3

This week marks the 4th anniversary of Zoë’s Healthy Life. I started this food blog when I was 16. I’m 20 now, and in this series, I’m sharing the 4 life lessons I’ve learned over the past 4 years of blogging. This is lesson 3.

4 Life Lessons I Learned in 4 Years of Blogging – Part 2

This week marks the 4th anniversary of Zoë’s Healthy Life. I started this food blog when I was 16. I’m 20 now, and in this series, I’m sharing the 4 life lessons I’ve learned over the past 4 years of blogging. This is lesson 2.

4 Life Lessons I Learned in 4 Years of Blogging – Part 1

This week marks the 4th anniversary of Zoë’s Healthy Life. I started this food blog when I was 16. I’m 20 now, and in this series, I’m sharing the 4 life lessons I’ve learned over the past 4 years of blogging. This is lesson 1. 

Summer mocktail

This mocktail is vibrant, refreshing, and has a subtle hint of sweetness. It’s a delightful thirst-quencher on hot days and the perfect aperitif when you want to really treat your friends to a summer dinner party. With its rich flavor, this mocktail will keep you captivated until the very last sip—and it’s completely alcohol-free, too. Enjoy!

How I Turned a Story into a Dish

In a world where dietary advice is thrown at you from all sides, I want my dishes to tell a story. That’s why I took on the challenge of basing all the recipes for my cooking show *De Zomermenu* on personal stories and drawings. This new potato purée with seasonal vegetables is also based on a diary excerpt that I illustrated with a drawing. 

Mashed Baby Potatoes with Seasonal Vegetables

Once again, I’ve put together a festive dish for you that’s simple and quick to make, but that will really impress your guests. This dish features a generous serving of summer vegetables.

Pasta with artichokes, mushrooms, and olives

This is a quick one-pot dish featuring artichokes, olives, and mushrooms, among other ingredients. It’s a dish you can proudly serve at a festive dinner with friends, but it also fits perfectly into a busy schedule.

Summer Berry Smoothie

This berry smoothie is a fresh, summery breakfast. It’s perfect as a refreshing treat on hot summer days and a healthy way to start the day. Join me for a live cooking session in this first episode of my cooking show, *The Summer Menu*! I’ll walk you through every step of making this delicious smoothie, and along the way, I’ll share lots of interesting facts about the ingredients. 

I'm starting a cooking show!!

I’m going to tell you something exciting. This summer, I’m filming my own cooking show, and you’ll be able to follow along from the front row. I started my food blog when I was 16, and now, a few years later, I’m filming my own cooking show. How cool is that? In this video, I’ll give you a vivid overview of the project I’ve been dreaming about my whole life.

Part 2: Study Trip to China as a Culinary Arts Student 

This is the second part of my experience in China. In this video, I’ll take you to the Great Wall of China, to a tea ceremony, and to some cultural landmarks like the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City. You’ll also get a little taste of the economy through a few company visits. We visited Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing. We took the bullet train and stayed in some very nice hotels. Enjoy the video!

Study Trip to China as a Culinary Arts Student

In March, I went on a study trip to China. In this video, I’ll take you through my experience and share the insights I gained about Chinese culture, the economy, the people, and their way of life.

Muesli Bars – A Healthy Snack

This quick snack only takes about twenty minutes to prepare, and then you’ll have something delicious to take your mind off things all week long. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry, so this recipe finally gives them a useful purpose. Have fun making it, and to all the students and anyone else short on time: good luck!

Eggplant Salad with Halloumi (One-Pot Dish)

Eggplant, haloumi, strawberries, and basil—it’s a bold combination, yet very flavorful. This is the kind of dish that keeps you captivated until the very last bite. It’s perfect as a quick lunch, or pair it with some bread or pasta to turn it into a hearty dinner. Enjoy!

Gilda – A Spanish appetizer

This is a dish full of character, featuring the classic flavors of Basque cuisine, served to perfection. It’s the perfect appetizer for a festive occasion!

Lente ontbijt uit de oven met appel en pistache

This is a fresh and sweet breakfast that’s perfect to enjoy with the spring sun on your face, while the breeze carries the scent of cherry blossoms from the neighbor’s garden and the chirping of a passing house sparrow subtly breaks the silence. This dish is also delicious when the weather isn’t quite as nice, or if you have time in the morning to wait fifteen minutes for the oven but don’t feel like putting in a lot of effort for breakfast. In all these cases, this breakfast will put a smile on your face.

10 Recipe Ideas for a Cozy (Healthy) Easter Brunch

In this blog, I’ve selected 10 dishes you can make to turn your Easter brunch into a healthy feast without having to spend hours cooking or putting in a lot of effort. These are festive favorites and beloved morning recipes to make your breakfast ritual just a little more special and luxurious. Enjoy!

Easter – Chocolate Truffles

When you say “Easter,” you think of Easter eggs and other chocolate treats, don’t you? The smell of chocolate and that delightful crunch when you break a chocolate bar evoke nostalgic memories for many food lovers. Be sure to add these homemade chocolate truffles to your bucket list!

Refreshing Blueberry Smoothie

This is truly one of my favorite breakfasts. It’s the kind of dish I often make on weekends when I’m home because it doesn’t require much thought, but the end result is always super delicious. It’s a great dish to enjoy while sitting in the morning sun, watching my dogs happily scamper around the yard. But even if you have to get up early, don’t have much time, and want to grab a quick bite before heading out the door, this smoothie makes everything better. In short, there are many situations where this simple yet delicious recipe really shines.  

Quick appetizer with sumac, lamb's lettuce, and hard-boiled eggs

This is a light, fresh, and sunny appetizer that doesn’t take much time or effort to make. You only need a few ingredients, but each one adds its own unique flavor to the dish. This way, you can create a very flavorful and surprising dish in a minimalist way. This dish is the perfect way to start a fun get-together with friends, but it also makes a delicious snack. Enjoy!

Study Tour Through Andalusia as a Culinary Arts Student

In January, I went on a study trip through Andalusia to experience the splendor that Spanish culture has to offer. The focus was on the hospitality sector, so expect a mix of breathtaking hotels and vibrant gastronomy. For a change of pace, we also explored nature and played the curious tourist. In this video, I’ll bring the sun, warmth, and magic of this trip through Andalusia right to you. Enjoy!

Memory of Spring Mocktail

Aren’t we all a little tired of the cold? With its vibrant appearance and floral aromas, this Memory of Spring Mocktail embodies our longing for spring. It’s like a quiet plea for the first blossoms, whose colors reflect in the morning dew on the grass.

How to Recognize High-Quality Olive Oil

Last month, I visited Basilippo in southern Spain. They produce very high-quality olive oil there, and we were given an explanation of the different types of olive oil they sell and how to recognize good olive oil and use it in dishes. Here’s a quick overview of the most important things I learned there.

Valentine's Day – Almond Cookies with Cornflowers

Homemade cookies are such a thoughtful gift to give to the people you care about. It’s a way to show someone you’re thinking of them—a wordless message that says, “I care about you.” Cooking can be a form of art, where you tell a story through your choice of ingredients and the love you put into the dish.  Still, you don’t have to be a master chef to pull off this recipe. Anyone can make these cookies, and I’m sure everyone will enjoy them too!

Curry packed with vegetables

This curry is a tasty and easy way to incorporate a generous serving of vegetables into a meal. This dish is a colorful feast for the eyes, a source of nutrients, and a meal you can easily prepare in advance. Enjoy!

A Tribute to 2024 and a Look Ahead

2024 was the first year of my life that I was able to focus entirely on what I love doing most: cooking—and, above all, pulling out all the stops to become really good at it. In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes with a few photos to share some moments I’m incredibly grateful for and some valuable lessons I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. 

Tartlets with chocolate-peanut butter cream and fresh strawberries – Christmas dessert menu

A large cake is a delicious but predictable dessert. With these little cakes, you’ll be able to surprise your guests in a whole new way. In terms of taste and appearance, however, this smaller version is certainly no less impressive! They have everything you’d expect from a cake, but with a recipe that requires much less effort. The crisp crust, creamy chocolate and peanut filling, and the finishing touch of fresh strawberries make these tartlets a stylish way to end a sparkling meal and a cozy get-together.

Açaí Puree with Beets and Parsnips – Main Course for the Christmas Menu

The main course of our Christmas menu is a colorful and festive dish that will warm everyone’s heart. The purée is made from beets, parsnips, and acai. The deep, earthy, and slightly bitter flavor of the beets is combined with the distinctive taste of the parsnips and the fresh, subtly sweet notes of the acai berries. It all comes together in perfect harmony.

Grilled Eggplant with Dukkah and Parsley – Christmas Menu Appetizer

This dish is a creative combination of a few pure flavors that together make up the appetizer on our Christmas menu. The grilled eggplant is finished with honey, dukkah, parsley, and red pepper balls. The result will go down in history as colorful, chic, and super delicious!

Announcement: 2024 Christmas Menu at Zoë’s Healthy Life

Delicious food brings people closer together and can be the start of many enjoyable moments and beautiful memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. If you want to get cooking this Christmas to treat your loved ones to a heartwarming meal, look no further. This year, Zoë’s Healthy Life is offering a complete Christmas menu. Get ready for appetizers, a starter, a main course, and a dessert that will set the table ablaze.

Muffins with açaí filling 

Muffins are traditionally easy and simple to make, and they’re a treat for young and old alike. This version with an açaí filling is just as simple to prepare but offers a slightly more refined flavor. The muffins have a subtle vanilla flavor and a soft texture. In the filling, the açaí provides a deep and rich flavor reminiscent of blueberries and chocolate, with hints of citrus, flower petals, and caramel.

Luxury dessert cup with saffron and strawberry

Whether as a fancy dessert to impress your guests or simply as a luxurious treat for yourself, this recipe is incredibly versatile. Plus, it takes no more than 10 minutes to make. This dessert has a rich, fresh, and sweet flavor—all with just 5 ingredients.

One-Pot Dish with Eggplant and Spinach (Ready in 15 Minutes)

This dish comes together quickly, and you only really need to dirty one pan. With eggplant, mushrooms, spinach, and pointed bell peppers, this pasta dish provides a generous serving of vegetables. Paired with cream cheese, it’s a heavenly combination. It’s one of those dishes that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day. The recipe is designed so that you can prepare most of the dish while the pasta is cooking.

DIY Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

In the spirit of not throwing away anything that’s edible and super delicious, I’m going to show you how to roast pumpkin seeds and turn them into an incredibly flavorful ingredient that makes whatever you add them to just that little bit more special. Once you’ve tasted these home-roasted gems, they’ll have won you over! It really doesn’t take much effort, and if you’ve already bought a pumpkin to cook with, it would be a shame to throw away such an incredibly delicious part of it. 

October's seasonal vegetables

Here is a list of all the seasonal fruits and vegetables available in October. This way, you can enjoy all the wonderful things nature has to offer right now in the best way possible: by cooking and sharing meals with the people you love. 

Chocolate Spread with Zucchini

Chocolate Spread with Zucchini Chocolate spread is at the very top of many people’s (especially children’s) list of favorite foods. Dishes with vegetables often rank lower on that list. How cool would it be if you could incorporate those vegetables into recipes that have already won everyone’s hearts? That’s exactly what we’re going to do today. One thing…

Lees Meer

The Best Way to Defrost Food

Just as freezing food properly is important for ensuring its quality and safety, so is thawing it correctly. In this blog, you’ll learn everything you need to know about thawing food. 

Freezing Food Safely – Here's What to Keep in Mind

In this blog, you’ll learn everything you need to know about safely freezing food: how long your food will keep, the best ways to freeze it, which foods you should never freeze, how to organize your freezer most efficiently, and how to maintain it. You can read all about it here…