Exclusive! Helen Flanagan’s food coach Mel Wells tells Now how she’s helping the pregnant star stay healthy
If we looked this stylish five months before giving birth, we’d be over the moon. Helen Flanagan was pictured out shopping at the Trafford Centre in her hometown of Manchester last week wearing a figure-hugging dress with bare legs, ankle boots and a cool leather jacket – and she and her bump looked positively glowing.
Now we know why. Helen, 24, has been house-hunting with her footballer boyfriend Scott Sinclair, and we can reveal that, since Tweeting about her love of Nando’s and salted popcorn in early February, she’s had a total diet overhaul, and is sensibly seeking the help of celebrity food coach Mel Wells, founder of thegreengoddesslife.com.
Helen has made no secret of her desire to be a mum. ‘I think it’s the best thing you can be in life,’ she’s said. So no wonder she was frantic and stressed about choosing the best food for her bump. On Instagram, she’s been posting snaps of smoothies, porridge and shopping baskets full of fresh veg. Last week she uploaded a shot of four healthy dishes with the caption: ‘Trying to be as #greengoddess as I can be.’
It’s all thanks to Mel, who’s been encouraging Helen to eat a variety of healthy foods. ‘Helen came to me because she wanted to make sure she was getting the best nutrition for her baby,’ says Mel, whose clients include former MIC star Ashley James and Hollyoaks‘ Stephanie Waring.
‘She said her eating wasn’t great and that she wanted to improve it for her baby. So I’ve given her a mainly plant-based diet that’s high in folate, protein, fibre and essential fats. She’s been craving salty and savoury snacks, so we’re making sure she satisfies those cravings with nourishing foods such as hearty vegetable stews, vegan chillis and chickpea coconut curry.’
Mel maintains Helen isn’t depriving herself of anything, either. ‘No calorie counting,’ she says. ‘If Helen has a craving, she goes for it. We’ve worked hard to get her a good relationship with food and her body. She’s going to make a fantastic mum.’
Although Helen‘s suffered with morning sickness, Tweeting last month: ‘Throwing my breakfast up this morning… I think it’s because I’m tired today,’ Mel assures us that Helen‘s now feeling ‘great’. And looking at these photos, we believe her!
Our impeccably placed sources also assure us her romance with Scott, 25, is going from strength to strength, too. Although the couple haven’t been spotted out together too frequently of late, Helen recently posted pictures on Instagram of both her and Scott when they were kids, captioning it: ‘6 months we can’t wait to meet you x,’ in reference to the impending birth.
The pair have been together for five years and were spotted talking to an estate agent as they checked out properties in Birmingham last month. ‘Scott‘s been busy training at Aston Villa but when he’s free they go and see houses together,’ says our source. ‘They can’t wait for Helen to give birth.’
Helen, who played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street for 12 years, opened up about her relationship with Scott in January. ‘Scott‘s known I’ve wanted to be a mum since pretty early in our relationship,’ she said. ‘So when I turned 24, we both felt it was our time to finally have our baby. A mum is everything I’ve genuinely wanted to be. I’m convinced it’s a boy – I love the name Flynn.’
Our source adds that Helen is set to spend Mother’s Day with her mum Julia as she gets ready to celebrate becoming a mother herself. ‘Her younger sister Jessica has been busy organising a very special baby shower for her, too,’ reveals our insider. ‘Helen is coping really well with the pregnancy. She’s so excited about the baby and is the happiest she’s ever been.’ Aww, good on you, Flanners!
Scarlett Russell
The post REVEALED! Helen Flanagan’s baby bump diet appeared first on Now magazine.