Perfect Pineapple- Urban Fruit snack

As a student I need snacks which are easy to carry (along with all my books), tasty, filling (for long days at uni) and of course vegan. 

I found these Urban fruit snacks on sale and decided to try some. It is simply baked fruit. That's it, nothing else. It is obviously a healthier alternative to snacking on chocolate or crisps allowing you to eat well on the go. 

I like how convenient these are, there's no way I could fit a whole pineapple in my bag so these are perfect for getting a fruit fix without any hassle or weird looks. They also have a great taste, it feels like you are eating sweets rather than fruit making them a great choice for anyone who doesn't usually eat healthy food but wants to start or for children's packed lunches as they can eat healthy but not necessarily feel like they are. 

I am a fan of this product and will be getting them again. They are a winner for the convenience, the excellent taste and the lack of additives. Try some for a guilt free snack. vegan

How to make Chocolate Nice Cream

Nice cream is a healthy way to eat dessert while adding to your daily intake of fruit and vegetables. It is so easy to make, simply blend frozen fruit with non dairy milk and any flavourings such as vanilla or cinnamon. I personally like using bananas, mango and pineapple but any fruit is good, you can simply use what you have available. To add the chocolate flavour you simple add 1-2 tbsp of cocoa powder or cacao powder if you want to make it even healthier. I like to top my nice cream with chia seeds as it adds a nice crunch. 

Also pictured is the accidentally vegan Ruffle Raspberry bar, in case you need more chocolate. It was nice to try this bar although the coconut taste was too overpowering for me so I'll stick with my healthier dessert in future. 

How to use Banana as a substitute for butter or eggs in baking

Bananas are a great substitute for dairy items and eggs in baking as the fruit can give the same outcome whilst making your baked good just that bit healthier. Here's how to use bananas as a substitute: 

1. To replace a whole egg in baking use 1/2 a mashed up banana for each egg needed. This works great in chewy recipes like brownies. 
2. Whatever amount of butter is needed in a recipe substitute the same amount of mashed up banana. This works well in chocolate cakes which will cover the banana taste. Or use the banana flavour to your advantage in banana muffins. 
3. Use them for flavour. Instead of syrups and flavourings which can be unnatural and full of sugar and calories use bananas to naturally sweeten cakes, biscuits and breads. Simply add some pureed bananas to your mixture, the amount will depend on how strong you want the flavour. 1 banana will be enough to flavour a cake. 

It is so easy to be healthy, even when baking. These ideas are great for making your sweet treats just that bit healthier and it is one way to increase your fruit intake if you don't like just eating bananas. Hope these ideas help you when you need a baking replacement. 

Ways to Eat more Fruit

We all want to be healthy but sometimes you can neglect the foods which are good for you. Eating more fruit is one way to improve your health but many people struggle to hit the five a day target. So here are some tips to help you increase your fruit intake: 

• Make smoothies. You can have your five a day in one delicious drink. Simple. 
• Add chopped banana onto peanut butter on toast. This is the perfect healthy combination of protein and potassium, this is a great pre-workout meal. 
• Eat chopped up fruit alongside your lunch, it makes a meal more interesting and not to mention more colourful. 
• Start eating avocados, this fruit is mainly used in savoury dishes so you can increase your fruit intake whilst eating your evening meal. 
• At the start of the day make up a fruit salad and leave it in a big tub to eat throughout the day. If it is already prepared you are more likely to snack on fruit rather than anything else. 
• Make nice cream for dessert, turning frozen fruit into an ice cream alternative is one delicious way to eat healthier. Simply blend frozen fruit (bananas are commonly used for nice cream) with non dairy milk adding any flavouring you want such as cacao powder for a guilt free dessert. 
• Make jam. Turn your favourite fruit into a homemade jam. There are some simple recipes which can easily be made with blended fruit. This can then be added to toast. 

These are some easy ways to eat more fruit. It can be easy to eat your five a day or more by using more interesting ways of using fruit. 

Healthy Lunch

After trying and failing to do raw til 4 (What can I say I like cooked food) I am still determined to eat more raw food every day as it is full of nutrients and great for staying well and keeping healthy. I also love training at the gym and need good food to help my muscles recover. 

One way I have been eating more fruit is by eating it for lunch. It is easy to chop up different fruits, they are filling, full of natural flavour and make you feel good. This lunch I prepared was a banana, an apple an a pear eaten with some cashew nuts for a healthy source of fat and a home made ginger biscuit and a vanilla herbal tea. 

I love having a mix of flavours in a meal and fruit is naturally sweet making it a tasty lunch. Try swapping your daily sandwich for something more natural and try a raw lunch. 

Strawberry YoYo Bear

My current favourite on the go snack is YoYo Bears, I just love how simple they are. Made from pure fruit each snack counts as one of your five a day. You can't get much healthier than that. I love keeping one in my bag for when I am out and about and want something to eat. They are small enough to carry around and packaged in paper which is recyclable. I love everything about these snacks and love trying different flavours. This strawberry snack was deliciously sweet and one of my favourite flavours so far. 

Find out more about the range here: http://www.bearnibbles.co.uk/yoyos

Yo Yo Bear

So these snacks are probably meant for kids but it's pure fruit, in a yo yo shape in mango flavour so I couldn't resist. These are perfect hiking snacks, they are healthy, sweet and easily carried. They would also be good for packed lunches or a snack to keep in your bag when you are out and about, I try to go for healthy snacking options where possible and this is perfect as you can satisfy a sweet tooth while eating one of your five a day. 

Look out for these products in shops as well, there has been a move away from having unhealthy options near tills as the government is trying to encourage people to choose healthier options. If you were wondering why things like Yo Yo Bears and dried fruit were on show in shops where you queue to pay this is why. I'm all for this move as I think any opportunity to help people live a healthier life is important. Although I happily choose this product without any prompting- it's mango and has a cute bear on the recyclable packaging, what more could you ask for! 

Farmers Market Finds

One of the best places to find fresh fruit and vegetables is by shopping at farmers markets. The countryside is one place where this is easy to do- you have access to fresh food straight from the farm. They are also great places to find exciting products and try new foods. They are also usually cheaper as you are buying straight from the farmers there is no middleman, no transport costs so you can buy cheap, fresh, healthy food easily. If you live in the city there are usually farmers markets every so often so search for ones in your area and support British farmers. With demands for cheap foods in supermarkets a lot of farmers are struggling so shopping directly from them supports their trade. Another thing I liked was hardly any of the fruit and vegetables were wrapped in plastic, I hate all the packaging used on food like this as it is so wasteful and damaging for the environment, buying loose food is one way to become more eco friendly, it can be hard to do in supermarkets as they like wrapping everything in sight in plastic, if you stay still long enough in the fruit and veg isle they'll probably wrap you up too so buy loose where possible and support farmers. 

Wheatgrass and fruit is proving to be one of my favourite pre-gym snacks. It gives you the quick energy boost that you need before a workout. I am definitely loving the health benefits of wheatgrass and think it is helping me improve my energy levels and stay healthy. Fruit is always a great snack before the gym as the sugars give you a natural energy source and it helps you eat at least five portions of fruit and veg a day. 

Pulsin Cacao, Peanut & Choc Chip bars

I was excited to find these Pulsin bars as I had never heard of them and they contain some of my favourite foods. I love peanuts and who doesn't love chocolate chips. Combine them with Cacao and you are on to a winner. 

They come in boxes of three and there are other flavours to try. They contain natural ingredients, are gluten free and are obviously vegan. These bars are perfect for snacking on whilst out and about. I enjoyed mine whilst walking round the park and reading. It is both filling and lightweight making it the ideal on the go snack. It reminds me of nakd bars so if you like them you will love these products. 

I like this brand as well as they are making healthier alternatives to snacking. By only using natural ingredients you can enjoy something tasty and guilt free. I definitely think these are perfect additions to lunches or a great option to keep in your bag for when you feel hungry. I'm looking forward to trying other options. 

Find out more about the brand here: http://www.pulsin.co.uk/

Whitworths Fruit

 The fresh food isle isn't the only place to look for your fruit fix, these bags of fruit from Whitworths are perfect for baking and snacking. They tend to be sold with the baking ingredients such as flour and sugar and are perfect for adding to cakes. The handy, resealable bags mean you don't have to use all the fruit straight away. It also makes them perfect for travelling as they are small enough to bring in a bag. These dates are delicious and lovely on their own but they are perfect for baking in a sticky toffee pudding as they are already chopped and prepared. The figs are tasty and great for snacking especially if you are eating more raw food or want a healthier snack. I plan to use the dates in a recipe soon which will be on the blog soon. 

Find out more about the range at http://whitworths.co.uk/ 

Smoothie bowl toppings

Here's just a few ideas to make your smoothie bowls delicious, filling and looking good on your pictures because if you eat healthy and don't share a picture of it does it really count?

Some delicious toppings include: 

• Grapes- add some sweetness and colour to your smoothie bowl
• Banana- a classic topping, it's filling and will give you an energy boost
• Apple- sweet, healthy and easily chopped up
• Melon- with it's high water content it will help fill you up 
• Oats- these are filling and give you prolonged energy, perfect if a smoothie bowl is your breakfast

These are just a few ideas to help make your meal even more amazing. Always add a selection of toppings as it will make the meal tasty and give you a range of vitamins and minerals. Enjoy! 

The benefits of lemon water

Some people swear by lemon water and believe it has many health benefits. While many of us will only reach for a lemon when we are ill and in need of a boost to our immune system there are many reasons why drinking lemon water should be part of your daily routine: 

1. It gives out immune system a boost. Why wait until you are ill, drink a glass each day and fight off those pesky coughs and colds. 
2. It cleanses your body. Drinking lemon water can actually help flush toxins out of your body.
3. It is also great for digestion. 
4. Lemon water is believed to help people lose weight. So this is a top tip for those looking to shed some pounds. 
5. It is a great breath freshener. No need for expensive mouthwashes, this drink can do the work for you. 
6. It can make your skin clear. Who needs make-up when you have lemons! 
7. Another great reason to drink lemon water is because it is an excellent source of potassium and vitamin c. 

There are so many health benefits to lemons. Adding lemon water to your diet either daily or weekly can help you stay fit and healthy, what better reason to add a few to your fruit bowl. 

Eating Organic for Less

Aldi are continuing to provide more organic food, these banana's are the latest product I have discovered. This whole bunch of fairtrade and organic bananas were only £1.08. They are priced based on weight so all the bunches were different prices but they were all around this price. I think this is so reasonable as it is a similar price to buying non-organic bananas in other supermarkets. I really welcome the bargain stores like Aldi starting to stock organic food as it means living an organic lifestyle is becoming more doable on a budget. Taste wise these bananas are lovely, fresh and sweet tasting, I do think they taste better than the non organic version although this may be because I know they are healthier and better for me as well as better for the environment. I also like that they are fairtrade as I like supporting ethical products. With items like this in shops eating organic for less is easier than ever. 

Cheap Fruit in the Frozen isle

A top tip for getting more fruit in your diet for cheap is to buy it frozen. Mixed bags, frozen berries or different fruits are often cheaper to buy frozen. They are great for adding to smoothies or defrosting and adding to fruit salads. 

Eating healthy can be expensive so finding cheaper ways to eat well for less are essential. Next time you are stocking up on fruit head to the frozen section and see if you can save money. 

Smoothie bowl for breakfast

As part of my raw April challenge I have been trying to think of new and different breakfast ideas. I like smoothie bowls and to make it more filling I added oats. Cinnamon was added as it has many good health benefits, it is believed to lower blood sugar and can fight infections plus it added taste to the smoothie. 

For this smoothie bowl I blended Honeydew melon, frozen mixed berries and frozen rhubarb with water, placed it in a bowl and added oats stirring them into the mixture. It is like a healthy cereal alternative. 

One benefit of this breakfast is that it is sweet so you feel like you are eating a dessert in the morning. The frozen fruit makes it cold and the berries add flavour without needing to use a non dairy milk. It is a healthy way to start the day and is making my raw challenge a lot easier. 

Benefits of Kiwi fruit

The benefits of Kiwi Fruit: 

1) Kiwis are a nutrient dense food- they are high in nutrients and low in calories making them a perfect choice for anyone looking to get healthy and lose weight. 

2) The fruit is packed with Vitamin C, this is needed to boost the immune system and reduce stress levels. 

3)  The Kiwi fruit provides a fat free form of Vitamin E. This is needed to boost the immune system and can help lower cholesterol. 

4) Kiwis are also a source of magnesium which can help improve your energy levels and is important for muscle function. 

5) Kiwis can help you sleep, they contain antioxidants and serotonin that are useful to helping you sleep. 

6) The fruit is also a good source of dietary fibre. Increasing your fibre intake is great for improving heart health and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. 

7) Kiwi fruit is great for skin health. They can keep your skin clear and beautiful. 

Clearly this fruit is an amazing addition to your diet. It is great in salads, smoothies and as a decorative addition to desserts and with all it's benefits it is even great just to eat alone to radically improve your health. 

Smoothie bowl

A smoothie bowl is the latest craze. It makes a healthy breakfast or a quick snack. It allows you to get nutrients and vitamins easily and helps you eat the recommended five a day portions of fruit and vegetables.  

I wanted to try this craze so using the basic ingredients that I had available I tried making my own version. I blended a banana with frozen mixed berries and rhubarb that I had bought frozen and keep in the freezer for adding to smoothies. Frozen fruit tends to be cheaper and is useful to have in. 

I added in a teaspoon of protein powder that I usually add to smoothies and mixed with water and oat milk. 

This was the result. Using mixed berries means you end up with a rich red coloured smoothie. The thicker the better as instead of drinking this you will be eating it in a bowl. 

The next step is to add extra toppings. The toppings really make the smoothie bowl and can change daily depending on what you feel like eating. Fruit is a great idea, maybe try cutting up a banana or apple, I added oats and sunflower seeds as these are what I had available. This really is something you can adapt seasonally or depending on what foods you have to hand. 

Oat milk makes the smoothie creamy and was a nice addition, I used my favourite brand Oatly, this organic version of the drink is the same price as the regular oat milk that they sell and they are a really ethical company that I like to support.

A smoothie bowl is a really healthy dish, it's sweet enough to seem like you are having dessert for breakfast but you know it's all healthy with natural sugars. I will definitely be trying this again with more toppings! 

Raw food Lunch

Some days a sandwich just won't cut it. Having the same thing for lunch can get boring so if you are in a rush, want to be healthy or just want a change try a raw food lunch. 

A mixture of fruit and vegetables will make it interesting and having a variety of flavours will make lunch time exciting again. 

This picture shows raw organic carrots, grapes and nectarines. Eating raw foods whole as opposed to in smoothies helps keep you full longer and they are filled with essential nutrients and vitamins. 

Keep it healthy and simple this lunch time and step away from the boring bread!