MISS HOLLY P
A BIT OF ME . A BIT OF FOOD . A BIT OF WINE
blog

Raw Gorilla Healthy Breakfasts

 

The lovely team at Raw Gorilla sent me over a box of all 5 of their all natural breakfast blends to try so I’m gonna give you a full look into what I thought, where to get it and how I enjoyed eating it!

 

So why a gorilla? These folks can dub their name sake to our primal pals because they simply want to follow the eating habits of a gorilla! Gorillas are happy and healthy and that is how they think humans should eat and feel. All these products are vegan, paleo, gluten free, raw and organic! No added ANYTHING, all sugars are naturally occurring and everything is unprocessed and unrefined! 100% natural (and of course it comes in 100% recyclable packaging) its a RAWvelution!

 

I’m gonna start with my favourite of the 5! The Cacao Crunchies! The delicious little dessert-esque clusters are just as good for nibbling on alone for a snack as served up for a full breakfast meal, a hearty mixture of raw cacao nibs, coconut, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, dates and buckwheat seeds. I always take a little snack pot of nuts and berries to work and now I add a few of these too, its really curbed the cravings for something more naughty!

 

 

I loved all of them but the Rawberry Crispies was another fave, I was always big fan of those more mainstream cereals with the dried strawberries until I saw the nutrition chart (WHOA) but these are just as tasty and packed with goodness as opposed to refined sugars! This one is a mix of strawberries, lucuma, pecans, sunflower seeds and coconut chips. I enjoyed it particularly with strawberry yoghurt.

 

 

The Cacao Crispies were a winner of a 2016 Great Taste Award and team some of the familiar flavours from the Cacao Crunchies (my fave) with ctivated buckwheat seeds, cacao, lucuma, coconut chips, dates and raw almonds. This one definitely has more coconut in and has that more tropical flavour that a decent portion of coconut punches in. It has a nice chewy trail mix texture and is lovely served with natural yoghurt.

 

 

Mighty Muesli- Keto Breakfast is a good one too- with the Keto Diet becoming more and more popular to have something which emulates a ‘bowl of cereal’ type meal can be challenging. Coming in at just 2.8G of carbs per 35G you can enjoy keto diet or not guilt free! This protein rich blend contains sunflower, pumpkin, chia & flax seeds, tossed with coconut, cacao Nibs and cashew nuts. I enjoyed this one eaten with yoghurt, almond milk or in a smoothie bowl.

 

 

Then lastly the Original Crispies- tigernuts, maca, figs, sunflower seeds and buckwheat seeds. This one you can definitely taste the maca and without all those big flavour ingredients like the others i liked this one eaten like an actual cereal just over milk in the morning and it definitely energized me and kept me going until lunchtime!

 

 

 

So all in all a pretty positive review?! Coming in at over £5 a box Raw Gorilla is something that I would love to always have on the go but couldn’t afford to eat every single day. A box isn’t huge at 250g but you do need much smaller portions than with a normal cereal. Having it to add to other breakfasts like smoothie bowls and yoghurt pots makes it go a long way and certainly makes the usual things more interesting! Heres a few of mine!

 

 

If you do fancy giving it a try you can shop HERE I do definitely recommend the Cacao Crunchies! Trust me you’ll have your hand in the box nibbling on those clusters when you fancy a treat!

 

Has anyone else tried these products? Great concept, great message and great taste! It’s a thumbs up from me!

 

Thanks for reading,

H x

health

Mahi Fine Foods Hot Sauce and Marinades

Anyone that knows me or follows my eating habits will know that I have a real thing for making EVERYTHING spicy so when Mahi Fine Foods offered to send me over some samples of their products I was buzzing to try and I told them the hotter the better! Mahi really appealed to me which is why I got in touch with them as all their products are made without any artificial ingredients and preservatives which so many of my beloved are packed with, their packaging is all 100% recyclable, they are going carbon neutral, have a commitment to make all their practices as environmentally friendly as possible and strive for sustainability plus its all made right here in the UK and they have great respect and relationships with the farmers that provide produce. So thats a little background check done and its all sounding great but does it taste good?

They sent me 2 marinades and a hot sauce called Bhut Jolokia, this one was my absolute favorite so it seems like a good place to start.

This little firecracker has already won a good taste gold award and it is HOT! I love it! the heat is intense but not so much that you can’t taste your food and it has a really nice flavour. I have added it into stir fries, chilli con carne, on burgers, used it as a dipping sauce, used it in the base of tacos, put it over my eggs for a little punch, you name it! If you’re a hot head like me just add it into anything! This sauce is an absolute cupboard essential for the chilli lover and now its available in Sainbury’s its accessible for anyone!

I was sent 2 marinades too, one Peri Peri rub and one wing marinade. The Peri Peri Rub is lovely, think Nandos sauces but without half the sweeteners etc they have in theirs, they recommended to marinate before cooking so I marinated my chicken thighs for about 6 hours before I cooked them.

I used an Alice Liveing recipe from one of her books slightly adapted it and I did spicy Mahi chicken thighs with sweet potato wedges and cherry tomatoes. It’s actually really really spicy, but it was delicious! Marinating it slowly really let the flavour soak into the meat and softened the intensity but another time when I coated the meat in the sauce and cooked it straight away with a thick glaze the flavour intensified so theres options.

For my tray bake you need- 1kg of chicken thighs marinated in the sauce, 2 sweet potatoes cut in to wedges, 1 red onion cut into wedges and half a pack of cherry tomatoes, literally lay it all out in an oven proof tray or dish, lightly season and a tiny drizzle of olive oil and bang it in the oven for 45 mins to 1 hr on about 180 degrees. It could not be more simple to cook. Easy, nutritious, delicious and theres usually enough left for lunch so meal prep done for a couple of days!

Then I had the wings marinade which is from the BBQ range and is a medium heat, this still packed a punch but the flavour was much sweeter and lighter than the other one. Im not a huge fan of wings so I went rogue and marinated some turkey breast strips in it and made some wholemeal turkey salad wraps with it and it was lovely. I’ve used all the sauces with turkey as an alternative and it still works just as well. I would love to try them on the BBQ to add that chargrilled sexiness but until we see some sun that will not be happening so watch this space for that follow up!

So all in all, if you are trying to stamp out all those hidden extras you didn’t order from our condiments Mahi is a lovely product from a company with a heart who have complete sustainability engrained into their ethos and now it available in mainstream supermarkets such as Sainbury’s there is no reason to not give it a bash! Especially that Bhut Jolokia sauce, I sprinkle that shizzle on eeeeeeeeverything, seriously get yourself involved in that!

Let me know how you get on!

H x

girl talk

Is Your Pill Working For You? Hormonal identity crisis no more!

Hi all,

I just wanted to revisit a topic I shared some struggles with last year and update you all on some changes I’ve made and what a life change it has been for me.

So, I’m 29, 30 next month, I was put on the pill at 15 to reduce my PMS and calm down my skin, heavy periods etc. I’ve always been on the 21 day pill and have tried a few different brands but predominantly containing the same hormones. Anyway, not sure if you read or not but last year I really hit an all time low with my mental health, I was seriously questioning if I had some far more serious issues and if I could I have an underlying, undiagnosed condition. I was convinced there was something wrong with me. I was peaking from highs to major lows, when I was around my period I would see blind red rage, if I drank around those times I became a spiteful drunk, I lacked motivation and energy, I felt self loathing. It was just so so awful and I needed to do something about it. I went to go and visit my GP and explained how I had been feeling and she said that it was not uncommon and that my pill was no longer a good fit for me and my hormones and suggested I go on the progesterone only pill which you have no break with, I’m on Cerelle.

It has absolutely changed my life, no exaggeration. I have been on it 6 months now and my mood and attitude has been consistently good pretty much solidly and if something makes me mad I no longer feel that stomach turning red bubble of rage, I am motivated all the time (within normal reason) and since changing pill and my hormones being better and having energy 4 weeks a month rather than 2 I have lost over a stone, me and my boyfriend barely argue anymore, I’m a nicer manager at work and all in all my quality of life is so much better. I just feel like a genuinely different person and like I am my best self.

After thinking properly of course my hormones at 15 wouldn’t be the same at 30 but no one GP or family planning had ever urged me to have a review! All women are different so not necessarily this pill or contraception will be right for you but if you are finding any of my struggles sounding familiar please visit your doctor and have a chat because from that day my live changed for the better.

Thanks for reading guys, any questions just ask, H x

anxiety

Gym-timidaton- Some top tips on beating the fitness fear!

Gym success! Top tips to squash intimidation, help you not quit and have a quick reality check!

I thought I just made this word up but clearly not, Urban Dictionary sums it up quite well!

“gymtimidation
The fear of working out at a gym because everything from the crazy contraptions to the seriously ripped bodies is extraordinarily intimidating.
Jack got gymtimidation from all the muscleheads at the gym”

So you may have come across this post because you’re thinking of joining a gym for the first time and feel edgy AF about it or you’ve already joined a gym and get the fear every time you’re there so I’ve put together some little tips to help and some little truths to help you through the period until you feel like part of the furniture!

  • First and foremost! Do not worry about what other people are doing, they aren’t worrying what you’re doing, trust me!
  • And on that point also, no one is looking at you and for those who really have it bad no one is laughing at you either!
  • If you’re offered a gym induction take it! It’ll teach you the ropes, help you settle into a new space and some gyms may offer to write to a programme included which will help you be in the know!
  • Struggling to stay motivated? Maybe join a class where the shame of leaving half way through is greater than the pain of the exercise or if you can afford it get a PT to push you.
  • Don’t know what to do? Get some fitspo and do some research, use Instagram, Pinterest, you tube, books there’s loads of moves and ideas on there or actual workouts just to follow! Structure really helps!
  • Buddy up! Take a friend cause hey misery loves company *jokes* but seriously stats have shown that individuals that work out with a partner have a higher probability of reaching their goals
  • Have a plan of what you want to achieve but set realistic goals so you aren’t disappointed and want to quit because you aren’t Kayla Itsines after the first week. Results take time and effort but don’t be disheartened it’ll be worth it!
  • Try not to weigh yourself too much, max once a week! Weight loss/gain can depend on many things so don’t be too hard on yourself and remember the number on the scale isn’t everything!
  • Don’t have all the gear no idea but I do recommend feeling equipped, comfortable and confident in your clothes! So you can strut like a boss to your next exercise!
  • If you think you don’t really know what you’re doing, don’t worry, half of the rest of those people are just pretending they know what’s going on too!
health

Eating a healthy diet: A beginners guide

So on my journey of weight loss and wellbeing one thing which I get asked all the time from people is “how do you afford to eat so healthily, its so expensive”, or “how do you have the time to always make something for lunch, I’m too busy to eat healthy” or “I would eat more healthy but I don’t like….. “  So I thought I would share some top tips for anyone out there who’s bank statement alternates Prep, M&S, Boots, Nandos etc like mine used to or anyone who’s just looking to change their eating habits and doesn’t know where to start. I’ve now lost 4 stone thanks to a healthy diet and exercise. Determination and organization has paid off and at almost 30 I’m the healthiest I’ve ever felt.

A big chunk of eating healthily is in the planning and the prep. Even the prep of what your budget is for the weeks shop, when you are making time to go to the supermarket and what are you going to buy once you get there. I found it really useful to plan out the weeks meals in advance day by day and then writing a shopping list based on what is actually going to get eaten. If you  are smart too try to have crossover ingredients so you don’t buy something use a tiny bit and then the rest goes to waste. Then it’s making sure you have the discipline and motivation to do something with all the produce once you’ve bought it.

But first! Choose where you shop wisely. Doing a proper shop is vital to success and not getting things in drips and drabs and you’ll have more of what you need and aren’t topping up randomly from the more expensive quick express convenience stores. I personally choose to shop at Aldi or Lidl (I’m a real Aldi girl at heart though I could literally be their ambassador I love it so much) They have such a great selection of everything I need for for myself and Jamie to eat well, we are two people with a passion for a good diet and are very active in terms of exercise and for £50 I could feed us well for at least a week and I’m talking 3 meals a day.

Now, I’m no nutritionist or anything like that and the human diet from person to person is the most complex science but there are certain things I know personally you can’t go too wrong with. A well balanced diet will consist of a variety of different foods which will hit different nutritional goals.

I will always grab a protein to build each evening meal around so that would be for us some meat, fish or even eggs or if you’re veggie or vegan you could go meat free a substitute or legume. So chicken breasts, turkey mince, pork, chicken sausages, steaks, seabass, salmon fillets, cod loins, king prawns the options are endless and at their prices you can’t go wrong.

Then I try to eat as much fruit and veg as possible particularly those leafy greens so with my evening meal I will have a good portion of at least 2 different vegetables. Always check the super 6 too if you’re on a budget and want to load up on the veg. Essentials always in my fridge are kale, spinach, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumber, beetroot.

Then you have your carbs, sometimes if I have had a carb heavy lunch I might go for a lighter carb option but if not this will take the shape of either like a quinoa, wholegrain rice, wholewheat pasta, sweet potato or new potatoes, wholewheat pitta, bread or wrap. A personal fave is the little microwave pouches of wholegrain rice with quinoa and bulgar wheat. I think they’re about 69p and one will do me 3 lunches. I try to keep to a minimum what white carbs I eat. The prepped vegetable rices and noodles are great too if you are doing lower carbs and ares still really filling.

Then in there I’ll add my extras like making sure I’m getting my good fats so for me that would be raw nuts like almonds or cashews which are great for snacking, avocados, olive oil, eggs, seeds. (Try to remember when you’re cooking too that there is 119 calories in a tablespoon of olive oil!)

You can still snack or a healthy diet just keep away from the crisps, chocolate bars and cakes. If I need a snack or I’m having a sweet tooth moment I like to go for some fruit- berries are particularly good (try not too go too OTT with the fruit as even though it’s natural sugar you don’t wanna over do it), natural yoghurt (lush with a drizzle of honey), a square of dark chocolate. Their paleo, raw fruit and quinoa bars are great too for a snack which is just what it says on the pack with no hidden nasties. That kinda thing!

A big tip is don’t forget those pantry essentials which are always handy to knock up some delicious and healthy meals are…I can’t be without- tinned tomatoes, passatta, tomato puree, onions, frozen peas, tinned sweetcorn, tinned chickpeas, kidney beans, salad beans etc. These are all great things to have on standby! And lots of herbs and spices so you can really variate your flavours to keep it interesting.

Once you have planned and done your super healthy weekly shop you can get it home and organize your fridge with all your lovely healthy food and grab your favourite tupperware and start prepping like a boss!

One big tip with having a really healthy diet whatever your motivation- is try to make everything from scratch and do not cut corners. If you make it yourself from scratch you know just what is going into it and theres no hidden nasties that you can’t control. If you buy pre prepped meals out it can sound healthy but it can have all sorts in it if you aren’t analyzing the ingredients.

If you’re making lunches and food to take on your day to day I find it easier and time saving to do a few days at a time so you’re only doing it twice a week! Whether this is mixing it up a bit or eating the same day to day! Big batches of things that keep well are good to do this with! If you want some meal prep ideas for lunches let me know!

Do get creative!

Do snack healthy to keep the machine that is your body fueled!

Do enjoy what you’re eating and making!

Don’t deprive your body of what it needs but be smart!

Don’t be hungry! Eating healthy doesn’t mean being hungry.

Do remember that water is your best friend and make sure you’re drinking a lot of it!

I hope these tips help! When I first started out I wish someone would have written me a shopping list of sorts to point me in the right direction so I hope this does just that. Any questions just ask!

Thanks so much for reading!

H x