Good foods to give you a boost

With Summer soon arriving and many of us having to sit through exams in the next few weeks, this is not the ideal situation to be in. Its normal that we feel tired and in need of a break. Are you guilty of eating too many unhealthy treats to keep you going throughout the day? I know I am! So here is a list of my favourite yummy foods that are also good for your health and energy levels. Enjoy!

Natural yoghurt- Contains lots of calcium and healthy bacteria to support your immune system. Is also fat burning so is good eaten daily.

Nuts- Have many nutrients and healthy fats which keep your skin, hair and nails looking good. A fistful contributes to your 5-a-day and will keep you full until you next meal, as it is full of protein and fibre.

Oats- My favourite breakfast must be porridge! They are low fat and offer slow release energy which keep you feeling full until lunch time. Check out my previous post on them!

Blueberries- Famous for making you 'clever' they are considered to be a super food with a high level of antioxidants. This supports your immune system as it fights all the free-radicals which want to attack your body.

Green tea- Used traditionally in Chinese medicine to treat anything from headaches to depression, this is also considered to be a super food by many. It speeds up metabolism and is anti-inflammatory.

Dark chocolate- Low in sugar so is much better than milk and white chocolates. Likewise to other foods listed above, it is high in antioxidants and releases endorphins, which are good for your brain and heart. Vitamins and minerals can also still found, improving your general health.

Lastly, even if this is not food, it is still extremely important....

Laughing- Known as the best medicine as it releases endorphins, relaxing the whole body. Good for your general health as it lowers stress, depression and heart problems. Did you know that laughing for only 10 minutes a day can boost your metabolism for a whole 12 hours?

Also remember to drink lots of water and sleep well, giving you plenty of time to complete tasks.

Good luck x

Banana and Chocolate Oat Cookies

After Easter the abundance of Easter eggs in my house was just getting too much, so I had to find a way to use up all the chocolate. 

What did I do? 

I found a very simple egg-free, wheat-free and banana-full recipe which is so quick it hardly requires any weighing.

Here it is:

3 ripe bananas

100g melted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large handfuls of porridge oats

handful almonds, ground or chopped

2 handfuls of dried fruit

a pinch of cinnamon

100g chocolate, chopped into little bits

Makes about 25

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees, and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.

2. In a mixing bowl mash the bananas, add the melted butter and the vanilla, giving everything a good mix.

3. Fold in the rest of the ingredients.

4. Space out the cookies on the baking sheet so there is enough space for them to expand. Roughly the size should be about 2 tsp each. 

5. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden. 

They are best enjoyed when warm!

xxx

Oats!

 Starting the day with a bowl of warm oats is one of my favourite breakfasts. Adding them to pancakes, muffins or even using them in my peanut butter cookies makes them so much healthier. But did you know they also have various skin benefits?

Oats play an important role in fighting acne or dryness. They are anti-inflammatory and absorb dirt, getting rid of all impurities. When applied to skin, if helps it form a protective barrier, reducing symptoms of itchiness, dryness and rashes. Even the Ancient Arabs and Egyptians believed they made you beautiful!

Make a simple face mask by mixing 30g oats, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1tsp honey, and 30ml water. Apply to a damp face for 15 to 20 minutes. Interested in more face masks? Click here and  for a collection of them!

You can also make a moisturising face scrub by finely grounding 1tbsp of them and mixing them with a finely ground tbsp of almonds. Add some water and use.

They are also a natural cleanser- when wet with lukewarm water they release a milky liquid that can be applied to the face. Pore size will become significantly smaller and leave your skin feeling silky.

Did you know of their various uses? Comment below!

Peanut Butter and Rolo Oat Cookies

Being a massive How I Met Your Mother fan, ever since the beginning of this last season of the show I have had an obsession for finding the perfect peanut butter cookies. They were named the 'sumbitches' and had a combination of peanut butter, caramel and chocolate, managing to calm Lily down as she made her way through them.

Partly inspired by Lorraine Pascale's recipe in 'A lighter way to bake' I think I have found the one. Soft and chewy with delicious melt-in-the-mouth caramel bits, they are not to be consumed everyday. However this recipe does try to make them lighter and healthier with oats, and and a minimal amount of added sugar. These might not posses the seemingly magical properties the 'sumbitches' had, but nonetheless are a delight to munch through.

What you need:
175g crunchy peanut butter
50g caster sugar
1 large egg
50g self-rasing flour
50g oats
50g rolos
Splash of milk

Makes 12 cookies

1)Preheat oven to 170 C.
2) Grab a bowl and mix the peanut butter, sugar and egg with a fork or spoon, until a mixture is formed.
3) Gradually fold in the flour, oats and rolos, adding a splash of milk to make the mixing easier.
4) With a spoon or using your hands, divide the mixture into 12 equal parts, placing these on a baking tray lined with paper parchment. Bake for 10 minutes.

 xxx