Buy Wholefoods Online - Review*

I love using wholefoods and healthy foods but it can be hard to find them in regular supermarkets. When I was contacted by family run & independent wholefoods company called Buy Wholefoods Online I thought it was a fantastic way to get healthy foods delivered directly to your door.

I received some really great products which I have been told are some of the most popular available, each with their own benefits.



When I saw the Maca Powder, I wasn't quite sure what to do with it so had a look online. It has been tipped as the top superfood for 2018 and can be added to smoothies, porridge, granola, shakes and baking. It's such a versatile product and the recommended dose is 1-2 teaspoons a day. It's rich in antioxidants and can boost male fertility. It's excellent value on Buy Wholefoods Online compared to other leading brands.

Alongside the Maca, I received Raw Cacao Powder. This is something I have used before and is becoming increasingly popular. It has an intense deep chocolate flavour, similar to cocoa powder however it has not gone through the same process so retains all of its goodness and flavour. Again this can be added to porridge, smoothies and whatever takes your fancy. I like using it for raw energy bars.

Raw Honey is something that has been growing in popularity and I see it more and more popping up in shops and in healthy recipes. Raw honey can be hard to find but is said to have a much better taste than normal honey which I completely agree with. Raw honey is unfiltered and unpasturised which enables it to keep all of the great health benefits that honey is meant to have. It can also help to counter pollen allergies so I am going to let my fiancé have some of this to see if it helps with his hayfever this year. Another interesting fact is that honey is said to be a natural antibacterial with wound healing effects and has been used to treat burns and wounds! Who'd have thought it.

I love pumpkin seeds and was very happy to see a whole 500g bag of them! They're ideal as a snack as they are rich in protein and full of healthy fats. I like them on top of some nut butter on toast. You can use them in homemade granola and cereal bar recipes too as well as in salads which can add some texture. They are loaded with health benefits and are also said to improve sleep! I can't wait to make a start on these.

Last but not least I received some Spirulina Tablets. I have previously tried the powdered version of this and didn't really like the taste as it has a slight algae flavour so I was pleased that I was sent the tablet form as it's a lot easier to swallow. This has been a famous super-food for a while now and is something that can be taken daily. It has so many benefits including speeding up weight loss. I will let you know how I get on with these.

Overall, I am really happy with my bundle of wholefoods and can't wait to incorporate these into my diet and lifestyle. To purchase these items yourself and many more amazing foods, head to Buy Wholefoods Online.

*I received these products free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Chinese New Year Teriyaki Salmon Recipe Feat Very Lazy*

Chinese New Year is fast approaching on Friday 16th February and in the run up I have thought about recreating my favourite Chinese dishes at home. The only problem I have had in the past is that there are so many ingredients that come together to create delicious flavours and it can sometimes be

Very Lazy very kindly provided me with some ingredients as well as the following recipe which I give them credit for.

Instead of ordering a takeaway, why not recreate your favourite Chinese dish in just a few minutes? Whether you’re making a sizzling stir fry or moist and tender Salmon Teriyaki, cooking with Very Lazy is the ultimate hassle-free experience. No need for dicing, slicing, washing, chopping and prepping – just pick up a jar or two and let Very Lazy do the hard work for you.

TERIYAKI SALMON WITH GARLIC NOODLES
   
Serves: 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
For Teriyaki Salmon:
2 Salmon fillets
3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce,
1 teaspoons Very Lazy chopped garlic
1 teaspoons Very Lazy Chopped ginger,
4-5 tablespoons dark soy sauce,
1 tablespoons clear honey

For garlic noodles:
150g dried egg noodles,
1 teaspoons Very Lazy chopped garlic,
1teaspoons Very Lazy lemongrass Paste
Sesame oil to taste
Sesame seeds (optional)

Photo provided by Very Lazy - Salmon centred.

Method:
1. Pre heat oven to 220c.
2. Combine garlic, ginger, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce and honey in a small saucepan, bring to the boil and reduce until thickened slightly.
3. Coat the salmon with the cooled sauce from above and place in the oven for 10 minutes, basting with more sauce half way through.
4. Whilst the salmon is in the oven cook the noodles according to pack instructions, drain and set aside.
5. Gently fry Very Lazy Chopped Garlic and lemongrass paste in a little oil before stirring in the cooked and drained noodles. Add few drops of sesame oil.
6. Serve salmon on top of noodles and garnish with a few sprinkle of sesame seeds.

For more tasty Very Lazy recipes and inspiration visit www.verylazy.com and to find out more about Very Lazy follow on Twitter @VeryLazyFood, Instagram @VeryLazyFoodUK or Facebook @VeryLazyFood.

*I received some of these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Losing Weight and Fat Freezing Treatments*

So as many of you may know right now, I am officially getting married and need to shift some serious weight before I even start to try on some dresses let alone actually walk down that aisle. I thought I would do a monthly weigh in with a few of the things I have tried out throughout the month and how my weight is changing whether that be up or down! So I am going to aim to post these monthly if this one goes down well so please let me know what you think. Now that my holiday is out of the way, I have a clear run until Christmas so will be trying my best. My fiancé has also set up a training plan for me and kitted me out with some new gym equipment. He has also been taking my measurements bi-weekly so I can track those too.

For those who don’t want to read through the whole thing, I will do a quick summary at the top.

Month 1 Starting Weight – 12 Stone 11.5 lbs
Month 2 Starting Weight – 12 Stone 5.5lbs
Total Weight Loss for Month 1 – 6lbs

I recently heard about Fat Freezing treatments available at Pulse Light Clinic in London. It’s a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that treats that stubborn fat that exercise simply won’t touch! Once the fat has been removed, it is gone for good. 

CoolSculpting is suitable for fat all over the body including double chins, love handles, back fat, saggy bums and flabby thighs. Fat freezing is exactly how it sounds, your fat literally gets frozen away in a safe, effective and FDA approved way. The technology used is called Cryolipolysis and is done without needles or surgery. The CoolSculpting pack is placed onto the area that is going to be treated and is left for only one hour. During this time the fat cells are being frozen which then causes them to die. They are then flushed out of your body! The below video is fantastic if you want to know a little bit more.

If you are looking to get this treatment done then you can contact the clinic on the below addresses:

Tottenham Court Road Clinic

5 Percy Street, London, W1T IDG

Tel: 0207 205 4085

Fenchurch Street Clinic

1st Floor, 152 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 6BB

Tel: 0207 523 5158

I won’t post my exact measurements but can tell you that this month I lost about 2 inches from each leg, and 4 inches around my stomach and waist. I also lost an inch from each arm, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing! Onto my weekly losses for this month, I have included some of the meals that I have been eating. Let me know if you have any questions – or what you think! And if you would like to see more of these posts please let me know and I can make sure I do that for you.

Week 1 – Weigh in (12 Stone 11.5 lbs)

This is my starting point after a week’s holiday in Wales eating to my heart’s content. , I knew that the scales weren’t going to like me today but it’s good to have a starting point. We started the week off with a Shepherd’s Pie, packed with veg and for the rest of the week our meals consisted of pasta bake with lean pork meatballs, vegetable chilli, salmon with stir fry vegetables and rice, slow cooked sausage casserole and lean turkey mince meatballs with pasta. For lunches I have been enjoying some vegetable soups and I have been snacking on fruit, yoghurt and lean meats.

Week 2 – Weigh in (12 Stone 7.5 lbs) -4lbs

This week I was pleased to see a loss after being back to healthy eating for a week. This week’s food consisted of a risotto, curry, sausage pasta bake, ostrich steaks, salmon and a Mediterranean chicken pilaf. I have also been snacking on grapes and lean meats as well as some low fat yoghurts. For lunches I made a spicy butternut squash soup with onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, celery and chilli which has been lovely and warming during the colder weather.

Week 3 – Weigh in (12 stone 7lbs) -0.5lbs

This week I had a reasonably good week food wise but the weekend knocked me well and truly off the wagon. I was lucky to scrape a loss this week I think! Pleased with my half a pound off, I sailed onto week 4.

Week 4 – Weigh in (12 stone 5.5lbs) – 1.5lbs

This week was what I called a ‘light’ week where I seem to get away with eating lots of food but still losing weight. It’s just one of those months I guess!

*Sponsored Post

Celebrate Summer With the Alpro Coconut Range*

Summer is in full swing and I don’t know about you but not only does the weather get nicer, so does the food! I love indulging in summery dishes made with fresh ingredients. I am celebrating summer with the new Alpro Coconut range which is absolutely perfect for this season!

The Alpro coconut range includes Alpro Coconut Original drink and Alpro Plain with Coconut plant-based alternative to yogurt. Both of these can be used in a variety of ways to spice up your meals this summer whether it be a snack or a main dish.

With The Alpro Plain with Coconut I had this for breakfast with some oats, chia seeds and frozen blueberries mixed in. The consistency is really creamy and this has a delicious flavour. 

Why not try eating this inside a cornet cone for a healthier alternative to Ice Cream? Failing that, try overnight oats, or you could even use this in a curry!

I decided to adapt the Alpro fruit lollies recipe using the Alpro Coconut drink that I was kindly sent. I didn’t have all of the same fruit as the recipe so just used what I had in the house and they turned out delicious. That’s the beauty of this recipe, you can simply pop in whatever fruit you like and it will still be refreshingly delicious for this summer!  Not forgetting these are also gluten and lactose free!

Ingredients:
400ml Alpro Coconut Original Drink
2 tbsp icing sugar
Raspberries
Blueberries
Ice lolly moulds and sticks.

Method:
Divide your fruit pieces among 4-6 ice lolly moulds. Blend the Alpro Coconut Original with the icing sugar until a smooth consistency is reached. Carefully pour your Alpro Coconut mix into the moulds until they are full, then insert a lollypop stick. Set in the freezer overnight and enjoy! The Alpro Coconut drink is delicious and has no added sugars. It only contains 40 calories per 200ml glass so your ice lollies are super low in calories so you can have these completely guilt free! I added some dried edible flowers too which made the lollies look nice and added a nice hint of flavour.

Alternative ways of having this drink is to splash over cereal, add to a smoothie or simply drink on its own.

Overall, I love the new Alpro Coconut range, will you be trying it out?

*I received some of these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Overnight Oats Recipe With Alpro Go On Plain*

I've been having overnight oats every week for the past year or so now, and I am always asked for the recipe. They are super easy to make and a great grab-and-go breakfast if you prepare these the night before. These are so versatile. You can change up the fruit, add some flavouring to the yoghurt, add nuts, seeds, chia seeds or even chocolate. The possibilities are endless. Make it your own! 

I recently received some Alpro Go On Plain and thought this would be a great addition to my daily overnight oats. The Go On Plain is the new plant based alternative to strained yoghurt. It has a smooth texture and a mild taste so is perfect for both sweet and savoury recipes. I have used it in my oats for a sweet breakfast but it can also be used to create dips or stirred into curries to give them a creamy texture. The product is very versatile and I will be using it in my cooking as an alternative to fatty dairy products. It also has the added benefit of being gluten free.

To make my overnight oats, I use the following:

40g Plain Dry Porridge Oats

½ a Tub of Alpro Go On Plain

Any Fruit you like – Raspberries and Blueberries for me!

I use a jar to put these in so I can grab it in the morning, take it to work and eat it right away but you can use a bowl or a lunchbox as well, whatever is convenient.

I started off by layering the Alpro Go On Plain with the oats then the fruit. Keep doing this until you have ran out of ingredients. I try and make sure the oats are fully covered so that they can soak up the yoghurt overnight. Sometimes I add a dash of milk to make sure the oats are all covered, I think the Alpro Oat Original would be the perfect addition!

When I have reached the top, I seal the lid and refrigerate overnight. You can literally put anything in these oats and they will taste great. I have tried them with chocolate chips, banana, peanut butter or pineapple.  The combinations are endless. Let me know if you have tried overnight oats, and what your favourite combination of flavours is!

The Alpro Go On Plain gave the overnight oats a really creamy texture the next day and tasted absolutely gorgeous in the morning! Will you be trying out the Alpro Go On Plain?

*I received some items free of charge in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Book Review: Eat Smart by Niomi Smart

I love recipe books and when I saw that Youtuber/Blogger Niomi Smart was bringing out her own offering I had to get my hands on it. Albeit this was a few months ago now I have had the book long enough to really review it. I managed to pre-order a copy early on so actually managed to get a signed one which was pretty cool even if it was unintentional. First off, I love the cover. The foil spoon extends to the back of the book and the photo on the front is simple yet effective. 

The recipes inside are inspired by her every day healthy eating and she even incorporates flavours from her holidays. Whilst these recipes are plant based, this isn’t shoved in your face and shows you that vegan food can also be super flavoursome and varied. There are plenty of healthy dishes in here but there are also plenty of sweet treats and will offer you an alternative perspective on cooking up some of your much loved foods. The ingredients are readily available and although some more obscure and expensive superfoods are mentioned, Niomi outlines the fact that you don’t actually ‘need’ to use these products.

The recipes are split into breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides & snacks, desserts and drinks and range from delicious tarts to jammy dodgers, smoothie bowls and ice cream. There really is something for everyone in this book. The recipes are laid out clearly and the photos are stunning and clear. There is also a ‘what I eat in a week’ double page showing what Niomi eats on a non-work out weekday and workout weekend days so it’s good to see a real life example of how these recipes can be places into a daily meal plan.

Overall I am glad I purchased this book, I am really enjoying using it and feeling less guilty for eating healthy snacks over ones laden with sugar and fats.

Ethical Superstore Energy Bar Review*

I love trying different protein and energy bars so when I was offered the chance to try some bars from Ethical Superstore I couldn’t wait to see what they were like and if they matched up to my usual brands.

I was lucky enough to receive a box of Planet Organic Cacao Brazil Nut Energise Bars which are 30g each. A pack of four will cost you £3.96 which I think is a pretty good price for these, I often see protein bars for more than £2 a pop. You can reduce the cost by buying in bulk, a case of 20 will cost you just £18.81. The bars are wheat and gluten free, vegan and organic. These handy sized bars are packed full of protein, fibre and vitamin E and are packed with dates, cashew butter, almonds, hemp protein, brazil nuts, cacao powder and vanilla. They remind me of nak’d bars but hold a nice rich flavour to them. The best part about reviewing a product is getting to taste test it and these bars did not disappoint, they’re ideal for a post or pre gym workout and small enough to pop in your pocket.

If you’d like to buy some of these bars for yourself, head over to Ethical Superstore.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Jim Jams Chocolate Spreads*

I love chocolate spread, I eat it with pancakes, on toast, on the spoon, drizzled on ice cream and any way I see fit. When I received these delicious spreads from Jim Jams I stuck a spoon in and dug in straight away. Jim Jams are the award winning creators of a range of reduced sugar jams and chocolate spreads. Mother Kellie Bath wanted something healthier for her children so, with husband Kevin, launched a range of healthier spreads. I received the Milk Chocolate Spread and the Hazelnut Chocolate Spread. 

The Hazelnut spread has 83% less sugar than standard chocolate spreads. This has even won a Great Taste Award and I can see why – it’s super tasty. On first impressions this tastes just as good as other chocolate spreads I have tried and you’d never know there was less sugar in them. If anything these are less sickly and you can taste the flavours a lot more. I decided to try both spreads on toast and this spreads like a dream and has a perfectly smooth consistency. 

The Milk Chocolate spread also contains less sugar than other brands. On average these jars contain around 494kcal per 100g with the rival brands coming in at approximately 550kcal. These spreads come in a 350g jar and as soon as I opened the lid I could smell the rich chocolatey flavour. Once opened you can store this in the cupboard for 3 months, although I don’t think it will last that long before I eat it all! I can’t wait to try this on porridge and between layers of pancakes.

Other varieties of Jim Jams include Raspberry Jam, Orange Marmalade, Strawberry Jam and Blackcurrant Jam, all with reduced sugar. If these are as nice as the chocolate spreads then I will definitely be giving them a go. Pick up your jar of Jim Jams in Tesco, Ocado or Holland and Barrett. 

*I received these products free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

Your Smoothie Your Way With Alpro*

I am a big lover of smoothies especially in the summer but I get bored quickly and often struggle to decide what to have in them. I was invited to get involved in a campaign from Alpro around around their new smoothie platform that’s launched online to help you create your perfect smoothie. I couldn’t wait to get on board and have fun with the recipe ideas. I’ve come up with 3 delicious smoothies (tried and tasted!) with the help of the Alpro Smoothie Platform which I have shared with you below so keep reading to find out more!

Using the Alpro Smoothie Platform is simple, simply click on the ‘create your smoothie’ button, choose your favourite Alpro product and click through the screens adding different ingredients as you go along. The website even suggests some great matches of things that go well. I had so much fun playing around with ingredients and came up with some delicious new smoothie recipes. Although the ingredients in these smoothies varies, the method remains the same. Simply put all of the ingredients into a blender, blitz and enjoy!

Passionate Coconut Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Coconut Original
50g Fresh Peach
40g Fresh Passion Fruit
Dried Mango

This smoothie is fruity and delicious. The Alpro Coconut Original is a delicious blend of refreshing coconut with the light taste of rice and mixed with the peach, passion fruit and dried mango makes this smoothie an absolute tropical treat. I kept back some of my dried mango and a few passion fruit seeds and just added these to the top of the drink to provide the perfect garnish. This smoothie was my favourite of the three but it was a hard decision, they were all delicious!

Creamy Berry Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Simply Plain
70g Raspberries
70g Strawberries
Raisins

This smoothie was a lot creamier than the last using the Alpro Simply Plain and is the soya alternative to yoghurt. The Alpro Simply Plan has a mild taste and a smooth texture but us the perfect blank canvas for you to add other ingredients to. Combined with the strawberries, raspberries and raisins this created the perfect thick and creamy berry smoothie. If this is too thick for you, feel free to add a bit of water to thin the consistency a little.

Nutnana Power Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Almond Unsweetened Drink
60g Banana
60g Spinach
Walnuts

This is the ultimate post workout smoothie and I drank this after the gym to give me an energy boost. The banana is a great source of potassium and spinach gives you a good iron hit. What I love most about this smoothie is that you can’t really taste the spinach but you know it’s in there doing some good. The Alpro Almond milk is something I drink often in coffee and this delicious nutty drink has a delicate roasted almond flavour. Not only does this drink go well with fruits, it pairs really nicely with chocolate. Why not change up the recipe by adding a spoonful of cocoa powder for a delicious chocolatey smoothie!

I really enjoyed making these Alpro based smoothies and will definitely be repurchasing the products in the future in order to make even more delicious recipes! These smoothies have gone down a storm in my house and I know I will be referring back to this post and the Alpro Smoothie Platform in the future.

Which is your favourite smoothie of the three recipes? If you’d like to create your own smoothie, head over to the Alpro Smoothie Platform and start mixing flavours! Send me your recipes, I’d love to try them!

*I received some Alpro goodies free of charge in exchange for creating some delicious recipes. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

'For Goodness Shakes' Protein Coconut Water*

Being on a diet, specifically Slimming World, means that when I want to refuel during or after a workout I have to waste a lot of calories (or syns) on a powdery protein shake. Often these protein drinks aren’t refreshing and I find myself trying to drink them as soon as possible. It seems such a waste! When I heard about the For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water range I knew that I needed to try them as soon as possible and share them with you all. I have already had a great response on Instagram of fellow Slimmers wanting a similar product!

For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water is a new range of deliciously-flavoured soft drinks which give you a protein boost, zero fat and no added sugar. The refreshing blend of coconut water and spring water, boosted with 10g Whey Protein Isolate is just what I crave when I’ve been in the gym. It comes in two refreshing flavours, Tropical and Orange & Mango. I received the Tropical and Mango & Orange flavours. These shakes are available exclusively in ASDA for just £1.99. My Gym just happens to be right next to an Asda which is an added bonus meaning I can pop in and pick up one of these before I start my workout.

I thought both flavours were fruity and refreshing but my favourite was the Mango & Orange flavour. Adding the extra protein into my workout pushes me to go for longer and I find myself doing more reps at a higher weight. The bonus is this is essentially water; you can drink this during your workout and it won’t sit heavy in your stomach. You can also drink this alongside a meal or keep it for on the go. Not only does it hydrate you, the protein will help you to grow and maintain your lean functional muscles when used as part of a balanced diet and exercise plan.

The fact that these are just 52 calories is mind blowing compared to some of the high calorie protein drinks I have had in the past especially as they taste so nice. There is no harm in adding in extra protein around your training and many people don’t wish to take this in the form of a supplement. This drink is refreshing and you’d never even know you were getting a 10g protein hit as an added extra. I love that this low calorie drink can be incorporated into my diet and I have been looking for a low calorie protein drink for what seems like forever!

Overall, I was really impressed with these drinks and they give my work outs that extra boost that I sometimes need and I don’t have to ‘waste’ 100’s of calories drinking a powdery bland protein shake. Find out more information about the For Goodness Shakes range over on their website. Have you seen these around? Will you be trying them out?

*I received these drinks free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way,

Detox Tea Ice Lollies - Feat. Indigo Herbs*

It’s officially summer to me now the sun is shining and I can finally dust off my sandals and bikini… well I could dust off my bikini if I felt confident wearing one! How many of us planned to get fit this summer and have fallen off the wagon. I personally put my hands up, but not all hope is lost. When I was contacted by Indigo Herbs to create a recipe using some of their products I knew I had to come up with something delicious and healthy but keep with the summer theme.

Indigo Herbs kindly sent me their Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea and Strawberry Tea Infuser. The herbal tea is a warm blend of fennel, liquorice, nettle, dandelion, red clover and ginger. I decided that with these ingredients and a few added extras that I would make some refreshing ice lollies that don’t break the calorie bank!

Ingredients (Makes 4):
Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea
Strawberry Tea Infuser
50g Fresh Strawberries
Ice Lolly Moulds
800ml Water

Method:
First, add some of the Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea into the Strawberry Tea Infuser and add to a mug of boiling water. Let this brew for about 5 minutes, then add the boiling water to a jug of approximately 800ml worth of cold water and set aside to cool.

Chop some strawberries into small pieces and place a small amount into each lolly mould. Pour your Detox Tea mix into the lolly moulds and set in the freezer to cool for around 4-6 hours.

These ice lollies were easy to make, taste great and super low on calories. They are the perfect treat for this summer if you are trying to look your best. You can also mix up the fruit if you prefer. Try adding mango and kiwi or pineapple chunks instead of the strawberries.

Of course you can also use the Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea as it is intended. It contains 100% pure ingredients which is clearly outlined on the packaging and is also vegan. I love that the packaging is simple but contains all the information you need to know. There are clear instructions on the back of the packet explaining how much you need to use and how long to brew the tea for.

Will you be making these refreshing lollies this summer? Let me know what you think. Check out my other Indigo Herbs recipes if you get a moment, I have made Gingerbread Men, Banana Loaf, Tandoori Chicken and Energy Balls.

*I was provided with the items from Indigo Herbs free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.