MATCHA COCONUT BALLS

If you follow any health or fitness foodie on instagram you are bound to have come across Matcha Green Tea Powder. Not only does it have the most beautiful green colour and make everything look stunning, it is amazingly good for you too. Just like regular green tea which is packed with antioxidants, matcha is great for your insides and metabolism. Green tea not only speeds up your metabolism and gives you energy, it is great for detoxing and weightloss! Continue reading “MATCHA COCONUT BALLS”

MEAL PLAN MONDAY #1

Each week or so I will give an example of a clean and lean food diary which you can follow for the week. It will include a variety of lean proteins, healthy fats and wholesome carbohydrates, the key macro nutrients required by the body.   Continue reading “MEAL PLAN MONDAY #1”

SNACK HAPPY

If there is something that I excel at in life… it is snacking! Road trips, aeroplane flights (I swear my bag is always 50% food), weekend escapes, movie dates… you name it, I’ve got the snacks covered. I am honestly like a child. The only way to keep me happy is occupying me with food. Continue reading “SNACK HAPPY”

FEATURE FRIDAY – CHOCOLATE COVERED CACAO FUDGE PROTEIN BALLS

Friday again… I know I keep saying it but seriously WHERE ARE THE DAYS GOING? This feature Friday I have chosen the incredible Laura Henshaw. I am loving her blog, instagram and latest Ebook (with Steph Smith >> LINK HERE) lately and keep finding myself back on her page (creep)! Not only is her food incredibly delicious and nutritious but she has a wonderful well minded and balanced relationship with food and the health and fitness industry. Being a model she is constantly faced with pressures to be thinner and hotter each day but she maintains a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy wholesome foods and 7-8 hours sleep each night. Laura loves her on the go high protein snacks and has recently started a protein company of her own called Four Protein >> site HERE. Laura says “My favorite snack are these delicious little protein filled chocolaty balls. They are packed with protein, good fats (from the nuts) and taste amazing (tick all the boxes.) The best part is they are completely clean and although taste like chocolate have zero added sugar.” This recipe for Chocolate Covered Cacao Fudge Protein Balls made me drool and I think you should all try it out this weekend. Nothing like a little chocolaty goodness to get you in the mood for the weekend!!

 

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CHOCOLATE COVERED CACAO FUDGE PROTEIN BALLS

Protein Ball

1 cup of almonds*
1 cup of medjool dates
1/2 cup of chocolate protein powder**
2/3 cup of organic desiccated or flaked coconut
2 heaped tbs organic cacao powder
1 tbs coconut oil
Extra coconut or cacao powder to roll balls in

Chocolate coating (Optional)

2 tbs coconut oil
2 tbs cacao powder
1/2 tsp stevia***

METHOD

1. Combine all ingredients (a part from extra coconut and cacao for rolling) for the protein balls in a food processor until combined.

2. Once combined roll into balls – I prefer mine quite small but you can make them whatever size you like.

3. Melt coconut oil and mix in cacao powder and stevia.

4. Roll balls in coconut, cacao or the chocolate mixture (this is only a good idea if they will be refrigerated at all times as the coconut oil will melt and can be quite messy)

5. Put balls rolled in chocolate mixture in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until mixture sets and then transfer to fridge. Balls not covered in the chocolate mixture can go straight into the fridge!

NOTES:

* If you are allergic to nuts you can replace the almonds with sunflower seeds/pepitas/linseed (a mix of all three is best)
** This is optional however I would recommend it adding it to increase the protein content. You could use almond meal or coconut flour instead
*** You can sweeten with your preferred sweetener- coconut sugar or honey also works.

Enjoy! Xx

Check out Laura’s website/blog >> HERE

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RASPBERRY CASHEW CHOC SMOOTHIE

I recently got my hot little hands on a box of the NEW Loving Earth chocolate range and COULD NOT wait to dig into the raspberry cashew flavour! Boy was it incredible. Just what I was expecting and more. I decided to whip is a super cheeky afternoon delight using my new products teamed with my all time favourite bare blends. Try this smoothie – it is mouth watering!! Add ice if you like it extra thick and enjoy it with a spoon! Like me! The berries powder is super high in antioxidants and the healthy essential fats and protein from the cashews and powder help decrease the rate of sugar absorption into your blood stream.

raspberry choc

RASPBERRY CASHEW CHOC SMOOTHIE

Serves 1 – GF DF R V P SF – 5 minutes

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

small handful unsalted cashews

2 squares NEW raspberry cashew Loving Earth Chocolate >> SHOP HERE

1 cup almond milk

1 tsp Bare Berries powder >> SHOP HERE

1 scoop Dark Cacao WPI powder >> SHOP HERE

ice (optional)

 

METHOD:

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

Top with some extra chocolate shavings and cashews and enjoy

K

Here is why this smoothie is so jam packed with nutritious goodness;

RASPBERRIES/BERRY POWDER; high in antioxidants they are great for all things beauty. Your skin, your hair and that radiant glow are all thanks to antioxidants found in berries. Raspberries are low in fructose (fruit sugars) and can be the perfect ingredient in your next smoothie. They also offer a bounty of health benefits, from helping control weight to possibly helping prevent cancer* (Live Strong.)

GREEK YOGHURT; is a great calcium source which is vital for healthy and strong bones. It also provides the body with added protein and prebiotics for healthy gut bacteria. For people who have intolerances to foods sometimes the problem starts when your gut bacteria is out of whack. So before you cull the dairy and yoghurt why not scull it instead and see if your tummy is happier.

PROTEIN POWDER; double nutritious if you use cacao protein powder too. Protein in smoothies makes them a wholesome healthy light meal or snack on the go. The protein aids in muscle recovery and will keep you fuller for longer

CASHEWS; packed with healthy unsaturated fats cashews can help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. They are actually lower in fat than many other nuts which a lot of people do not know. Cashews are also great for reducing diabetes and blood sugar levels, so next time you are having some fruit or sugar – grab some cashews.

CACAO; super high in antioxidants this is the number 1 reason health professionals and foodies eat chocolate. Hint Hint; The darker the better because it contains the most cacao. Cacao is natures energy source and a high antioxidant known for its ability to cross your blood-brain barrier to help protect your nervous system.

 

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EGGS; ALL THAT THEY ARE CRACKED UP TO BE?

Eggs are a very important part of a healthy lifestyle and one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. They are a great source of healthy fats and protein which keep you feeling full. They are also super easy to cook, relatively inexpensive and easy to transport!! Continue reading “EGGS; ALL THAT THEY ARE CRACKED UP TO BE?”

FEATURE FRIDAY – VEGAN DOUBLE CHOC MINT THICKSHAKE

This Feature Friday on the blog I bring you Sabrina Muscat. A wholesome lifestyle advocate with a deep-rooted interest in health and nutrition. With ongoing study in nutritional science and life coaching, Sabrina has dedicated her life to investigating what it means to live a healthy, natural and organic life. Check out this amazing vegan thick shake recipe of hers. And choc mint… my fave! Continue reading “FEATURE FRIDAY – VEGAN DOUBLE CHOC MINT THICKSHAKE”

SALTED CARAMEL VANILLA NUT PROTEIN BALLS

Protein balls are an absolute essential for the freezer in my house! I even have a stash in the freezer at work if I am about to dash off to a meeting and need something to get me by until my late lunch. Although they can be dangerous for people like me with zero self control when it comes to sweet treats! I tried rolling them super large so that eating one was enough although I just ended up eating a couple anyway. My limit is 3. You gotta draw the line somewhere! Continue reading “SALTED CARAMEL VANILLA NUT PROTEIN BALLS”

HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO I NEED?

Ok so this is a bit of a controversial topic and depending on what you read you will get a variety of different opinions and answers. Well it’s the case with every topic right? Eat this, don’t eat that. Take this, don’t take that. Continue reading “HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO I NEED?”

EATING BEFORE AND AFTER A WORKOUT?

When it comes to eating healthy and working out, I rarely fall off the bandwagon. My daily routine consists of leafy greens, my morning coffee, sweaty gym sessions, stretching (and of course sitting on my bum 9-5… yes it’s not all lululemon and relaxing) But despite being a health nut/gym rat, there is one thing that has always stumped me… What to eat before and after a workout? and when? Continue reading “EATING BEFORE AND AFTER A WORKOUT?”