With the Christmas season in full swing it is time to get out the baking tins and wooden spoons for some seriously delicious Christmas baking. Not only will it brighten your day and make the last weeks of work that little bit sweeter – homemade baking makes for wonderful Christmas presents for loved ones and colleagues. After all Christmas is about food… and giving!! Continue reading “NAUGHTY ‘N’ NICE RUMBALLS”
I had the pleasure of listening to the wonderfully talented Nutritionist Ruth Tongue at Tally Rye’s Secret HIIT Club event on the 5th of December. After we refueled from our insanely intense sweat sess with the most divine chocolate peanut butter protein shakes from ProteinHaus, we sat down to talk about the healthy way to ‘survive’ the silly season. It seems silly that we even have to refer to it as ‘survive’, like we either miss out on the Christmas treats and cry or we eat them and die. Sounds rough right. She was so informative and I honestly felt like I learnt a great deal. So here is a little recap from the notes I scribbled down. Continue reading “SILLY SEASON TIPS WITH NUTRITIONIST; RUTH TONGUE”
I am sure you have heard of the 80/20 lifestyle consisting of 80% clean and healthy food + 20% indulgent treat food = 100% perfect balance. This is the ‘lifestyle’ (not diet… I hate that word) that I like to follow and live by. It means that I eat healthy and clean foods majority of the time but then let myself indulge in the most naughty of naughty treats without any guilt or regret. When I focus on treating myself 20% of the time it means that I am naturally eating healthy the other 80% without trying. Continue reading “80/20 LIFESTYLE”
For day 24 of Nutritional November and conveniently TreatYoSelfTuesday I bring you this iced mocha smoothie to kick start your day. Packed with protein, potassium, healthy carbs, fats and caffeine it will be sure to set you off on the right foot.
ICED MOCHA SMOOTHIE
Serves 1 – GF DF P SF – 3 minutes
1-2 frozen bananas
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (the native dark cacao by Bare Blends is my fave)
1 tsp instant coffee powder
Whizz all the ingredients in a blender and enjoy in a big glass or on the go. Happy TUESDAY!!!
K
Granola is an absolute staple when it comes to pantry breakfasts essentials. You can use it to decorate your smoothie jar or bowls, enjoy some with yoghurt and berries, eat it like muesli or even sprinkle some on your muffins (banana date muffin recipe HERE) before they hit the oven. However, not all granolas are created equally or are the ‘healthy’ option when it comes to breakfast. Just because it says gluten free or natural doesn’t mean that it is healthy or clean. Unfortunately!!
But the perfect solution is to make your own granola!! It is literally a toss and mix sort of recipe and you should have most ingredients in your pantry already. You can make different flavours or add what ever you like depending on your taste buds. My favourite would have to be the maple and cinnamon granola. Of course with my mild (ok major) cinnamon addiction you can see why I love this one so much. Especially with xmas only around the corner its the perfect present to jar up and gift to loved ones and therefore I give you – THE CHRISTMAS SPICED GRANOLA!!! Jam packed with maple, cinnamon and apple. What’s not to love?
MAPLE, APPLE AND CINNAMON CHRISTMAS GRANOLA
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup mixed nuts – lightly chopped or crushed
2/3 cup shredded coconut or coconut flakes
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup pepitas and sunflower seeds
1TBS cinnamon
1tsp nutmeg
2/3 cup pure maple syrup (you can use honey if preferred)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup apple sauce
ADD THE FOLLOWING AFTER BAKING
1/2 cup currents or sultanas
2/3 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup goji berries (the red berries looks very festive)
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. In a LARGE bowl melt the coconut oil and add the maple, apple sauce and spices. In a separate bowl add all the oats, seeds, nuts and coconut and mix thoroughly – do not add the dried fruit as it will burn in the oven. Slowly pour the ‘wet’ mixture onto the oats and mix with your hands until well combined.
Spread the mixture evenly over 2 lined oven trays and place in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Give it a toss (with tongs) and place it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Be careful not to burn it. When it looks nice and crunchy take out of the oven and leave to cool. Toss in the chopped dried fruit and simply jar up!! Store in the pantry in a sealed container or jar for up to 4 weeks.
K
IF YOU WANT TO LOSE FAT – YOU HAVE GOT TO EAT FAT
Now for some this does sound crazy I understand … but honestly I could not offer a better tip that just that. Although as usual there is the fine print with such a statement. You have to eat the RIGHT types of fat which are essential to our diet and important for good health. These are the GOOD FATS. But what are the different types of fats and which ones are good or better than others?? Continue reading “BIG FAT TRUTH”
Sunday again? The weeks are SERIOUSLY flying past. Nothing like getting to Monday morning after a hugely busy weekend with nothing organised or planned, not to mention any time to just tune out and relax. You only have yourself to thank for the uncomfortable or baggy underwear you will be wearing Monday because you skipped washing day, or the over priced lunch you had to buy because you didn’t have time to do the grocery shop and all you had in the house was peanut butter and tuna tins. We have all been there. Continue reading “TUNE OUT”
If there is one thing that I truly hate… it is being hungover. I used to be the type of girl who could chug vodka from a bottle (yes i have a dark side buried deep below the surface from my younger years – don’t we all?) and I would NEVER get hungover or be sick the next day. Probably because I regrettably vomited it all out that night, but anyway… and then things changed as I got older and BOOM. Now any more than just two wines with dinner and I can’t help but wake up feeling seedy. Continue reading “SPEAR A HANGOVER”
Chocolate is just one of those things that makes us happy. FACT! It’s actually scientifically proven too!! OH YOU BETCHA. Chocolate is a very nutritious source of antioxidants which are good for our inner health, skin, brain function and hormones. Personally I don’t need much more reason than that and that’s why I rarely go a day without some form of chocolate. And why should we? Continue reading “CHOCA-HOLIC”
So as I sit here staring out the window trying to gain focus and get my head around my massive to do list regarding GETTING A JOB I procrastinate a little and come across this amazing post by Women’s Health UK about job interviews. Seems appropriate for a read. Instead of trying to compete with their article and write one of my own (I mean who is going to take advice about job interviews from an… um…. unemployed person) I thought I would be better off using them as a feature post for day 11 of Nutritional November on my blog. Continue reading “THE COLOUR YOU SHOULD WEAR FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB INTERVIEW… OR DATE”
KATIE MORGAN 