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Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts

V8

Juicing... the word almost fills me with me with dread... I've tried lots of juice diets, cleanses, uurrgghhh, nearly ALL of the juice fads going... and to be honest I've never lasted the course... now I'm talking the kind of juices that you have to hold your nose whilst your downing it... I'm pretty sure everyone's given them a try... yes, I love smoothies... yes, including the skin and using the whole fruit makes them very low in ProPoints so I'm not against 'juice' per say... Now, before anyone shouts how delicious and yummy and good for you they are... I know... I know... I know exactly how good they are for you and honestly I'm not against the fruit or the veggies, for me it's when they're combined! I'm a probably a juice snob... and can I also note, I'm not going to down a shot of wheat grass ever again either... no way! PLUS cleaning a juicer is second only, to my other most hated chore, ironing!




I love fruit, I think it's one of the reasons I've been so successful on the ProPoints plan, I don't over dose on it but I love snacking on it, and using it to flavour other foods like porridge, making popsicles, and adding them to my baking, blueberry muffins anyone? 


Honestly, I admire people who can drink carrots and celery, not that I don't love carrots and celery in their natural form I love my veggies I just can't drink them! Until now... and I think that's because they're mixed with fruit! 50/50!



V8 have come to town with their V-Fusion juices and I'm giving them a go! There's two in to choose from... Raspberry & Beetroot or Passion Fruit, Mango & Carrot... The Raspberry & Beetroot one is just gorgeous... it's not gloopy nor does it smell like stewed veggies (see I'm a snob) ... the fruit really gives it enough sweetness, to drink it like a lady out of a proper glass! I'm a massive raspberry fan, I used to pick them as a teenager near my grandmothers house and most of the time I had hives from eating too many... This is sweet enough to drink and the hint of beetroot is just enough to give you the healthy buzz! 



1 PP per 100ml / 3PP per 250ml serving

Low fat and free of artificial sugars means you're still getting all the good stuff without the additives! PLUS you get two of your five a day in one 250ml serving! If you're looking for a more tropical taste... the Mango & Passion fruit one is DEFINITELY worth a try! I had this one the other night at a party as I was the designated driver and in a cocktail glass no one was any the wiser! Smells so good too... and so much better than bringing a litre of diet coke for the night... I know 3PP sounds like a lot but when you think of how good it is for your insides and if you struggle to eat fruit and veg, and many people do, it might be the way to start getting the goodness into you! Water it down if you're struggling, it'll be like a cordial! 



0PP per 250ml serving 


V8 Vegetable Original juice is big in America and that too is available here... it's been produced there since 1933 and the recipe hasn't changed from day one... 8 ingredients -  tomato, celery, carrot, beetroot, parsley, lettuce watercress and spinach... all the good guys.. 100% pure vegetable juice and 150ml glass counts as one of your five a day! Bonus!

The Original Vegetable juice, not really for me, like I said I'm a bit of a juice snob... BUT it's the perfect ingredient to make Bloody Marys! See the way my mind works! AND I'm going to add it to my Zero PP soup this week to see how that works! *crosses fingers and toes*

If you can't be doing with the peeling, chopping and all that palaver... and if you don't have juicer, or one that only needs to be cleaned for an hour afterwards or if like most of us you don't have the time to make your own... these are the business! 





These are available in Dunnes and Tesco... €2.69 for 1 litre of the Original and €2.99 for 750ml of the V8 V-fusion! 

check them out >>> HERE <<< www.v8juice.com 














Rehydrate!

It's January... it's cold... and lets face it all you want is a hot chocolate with some marshmallows and a biccie... now before someone gets on their high horse, lot of January grumps around at the moment, I know you can have them on the plan... everything in moderation and that, but getting your full intake of H2O is vital, especially at this time of year... we're in hibernation mode, central heating, fires, and the heaters blowing in the car and office can dehydrate us... we're more sluggish... we're not moving as much as we would in the summer... well some of us aren't... and to keep everything 'moving' and your skin clear you've just got to get it into you... so my tips... 

First up... Buy yourself a 'water' glass... something fun or cute or with a bit of bling on it... something that's not a plastic bottle! Also a fancy water bottle doesn't need to cost the earth! Keep a bottle/glass ... in ALL these places... 




Beside the kettle, whilst you're waiting for it to boil down a small glass... On your desk,  sip it throughout the day... In the car, every traffic light, take a swig...  In your gym/swim bag, the more your exercise the more you need to replenish fluids! ...  Beside your bed,  often you're thirsty not hungry, so try a glass first before you head to the fridge for a mid night feast! 




Mine are all from Homestore & More, IKEA, Dealz, TK MAXX... they all have funky glasses, large one off wine glasses and hipster jam jars! Trust me on this, you will drink more... 



Next up.. get yourself a proper water bottle... then get another one... again leave them where you regularly sit... desk, car coffee table... again out of sight out of mind... if they're there you're more likely to sip! 



Clearly I'm a big fan of the 'pink water bottle'... 


Then... make water taste better... This post from Jamie Oliver >>> HERE  <<< made me rethink how I could enjoy water more and this post from the Yummy Life >>> HERE <<< drool! I challenge you not to want to try them out... if you love fruit like I do, get out the glass jug from the back of the cupboard, chop up some oranges, melon, some kiwi, any fruit except bananas to be honest and flavour your water naturally, feck it get a cocktail glass too if it'll make you drink it! Make it the night before and it'll be full of flavour by morning! 


Load up your fruit, top tip - give everything a good squeeze on the way in 
so the natural juices can flow! 


Play around with flavours, chopped apple, chopped grapes and lemon is delicious... 


Stock up your jug with fruit... add your water and let it 'stew' for as long as you can.. 


Apple and Blueberry a new fav of mine... again make sure you squash the blueberries so you get the flavour going... 


After 10 or 15 mins you'll see it go cloudy and that's ALL flavour! 


The orange season is nearly done, so the bigger ones are super juicy right now.. 
I leave this in the fridge with my over night oats  
and its SO refreshing in the morning! 



Just so I'm down with the kids! ahem... 
Tangent - When I was a kid, if you drank out of a jam jar 
you felt like a third world citizen! Now it's THE cool think to do! 


Oh and never underestimate the power of a straw.. you'll drink loads more with one... and most of the shops do them... the pound shop / dealz do some very cool ones... IKEA have their SUPER straws coming in again soon so keep an eye out for them, bargain too! 





Other tips... When you're out for dinner place your water glass on the side of your dominant hand... you'll automatically reach for it... we're creatures of habit! Plus think of the hangover! 


First thing after you wake up, don't reach for the coffee... try a mug of hot water with a slice of lemon... it's good to kick start your liver and kidneys... sweeten it with a drop of honey if you don't like the taste... 

Eat your water... melon, celery, cucumber, soup... lots of ways to add more to your diet.. A lot of times we're not hungry we're thirsty so have a glass of water before you reach for something to eat! 

Drinking water is so good for you.. for your skin, hair, digestive system, your liver, kidneys there's nothing negative about drinking the stuff and you're 75% made of water! 


The science bit... If you need any factual back up, check out the graphic below, you can find it >>> HERE <<< I know its American based but the facts are still the same, water is good for you! 









Banana pancakes...

Relax it's not pancake day just yet... although it seems like the year is flying by already!


These are everywhere at the moment so I thought I'd give them a try... and yes banana pancakes are YUM! Mine work out at 2PP... 3PP with the yoghurt... and SO easy!



I use 2 small bananas, I buy the kids size ones so I don't overdose on them! 
1 whole egg and 1 egg white 
Spray oil for the frying...


Pop everything into your blender/mixer ... 

at this point you can add other ingredients to vary it a little, peanut butter, 
blueberries, nutella (my next batch!) chocolate shot or 
just use tablespoon of cocoa powder whatever takes your fancy... 
just remember to point the extra bits if you have to! 


Whizz it all up and done... 


Spray your pan and... 


get ready to spoon it on... 


I kept mine small because I eat with my eyes and my mixture got me 16 baby pancakes! 
So it looks like LOADS on the plate... I KNOW!


Flip and brown on both sides and you're done in a couple of minutes... 


Great for breakfast or a quick lunch and if wanted to get all fancy a bit of icing sugar would get them looking all 'bake off!'  


Happy 4th of July!



Happy Independence Day to all the fabulous American folks on the other side of the pond! A little 'red, white & blue' snack tribute to you all as you celebrate today!

With all the berries in season now... its easy to do a low ProPoint snack star spangled banner style... I LOVE strawberries... remember my Easter carrots... well these are a twist on those... they're all over the place at the moment...






White chocolate, great selections in the supermarkets at the moment...



Blue sugar... SO easy to make... get a ziploc freezer bag... a dollop of blue food colouring GEL... not liquid and just zip them in and work the colour through the sugar... 
ready in minutes no faffing about with drying it!



Melt your chocolate... and let it cool slightly, if its too hot the sugar will just melt into it and you'll be left with blue chocolate...



Roll it gently in the sugar...



and ta da!! French fans take note!





Another easy USA style snack is 'Eton Mess' ...


Chop in your fruit...



Crush half a meringue on top...



Add yoghurt /creme fraiche / squirty creme take your pick...



Repeat the layers again...



Then decorate! 
Milky Bar Stars are a nice one to add to give you that hint of chocolate... 
you could also add a chocolate shot to it...


And serve... Mine came in at 4PP each including the chocolate...
the low ProPoint yoghurt >>> HERE <<< they would be 2PP per serving... 
bulk up the fruit too.. think raspberries, cherries... just go for it... 



For cupcake toppings... try jelly beans... and those little tubes of icing for writing...



Cake 'pearls' ...



My personal fav... jelly beans and blueberries....




Have some fun with them... the more fruit you add the better....


and the patriotic strawberries! Yes, they will leave your tongue blue!




Fruit kebabs are another simple recipe to make... 
Marshmallow - strawberry - blueberries - strawberry - marshmallow
Melt some chocolate and dip away! 




and for that added touch... 
yes, I know... I've gone mad with my dotting tool 
(I'm really crap at doing straight lines!) ... but cute huh?!? 


Happy 4th of July everyone ... 


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