Friday Feature: Going Bananas!

*What do you see when you look at a banana?*

A long, curved, creamy pale fruit in a bright yellow skin, eh?

Fair enough, you are not at all wrong.   Don’t worry I haven’t gone crazy.  I see exactly the same thing too.  But, what I also see is a great source of fibre and natural sugar that is perfect for prolonged and slow energy release.

In fact there are many health benefits to eating bananas that you may not be aware of:

• High blood pressure prevention-they contain a high level of potassium and little sodium which is the perfect ratio of these ions to prevent high blood pressure
• Reduce the effects of depression- bananas contain tryptophan which is a precursor to the happy hormone serotonin, meaning more smiles all round!
• Great for anemia sufferers- they are a packed full of iron
• Improve nerve function– as they contain high levels of Vitamin B, which has been shown to enhance nerve function in some studies
• Maintains blood sugar levels– snacking on bananas between meals is a healthy way to keep blood sugar at a constant level as they contain high levels of natural sugar
• Calms mosquito bites– many believe that by rubbing the inside of a banana skin on to mosquito bites it reduces the level of irritation.

I’m a big banana fan and eat quite a lot of bananas as a snack or as an ingredient.  One of my favourite ways to use it is in my Banana and Vanilla Tofu…

They’re also great in green smoothies to make them thick and creamy.

My Triple Chocolate Nut Green Smoothie is great after a long run to fill up on those calories you have just worked so hard to burn.

And if you are not on a green smoothie high, you may like to keep it simple with something like a Chocolate and Nana Shake for instance.

They also make the best soft serve custard to go with any breakfast pudding, especially of the chocolate variety…

…delicious Chocolate Pudding with Custard!

Of course we cannot forget that bananas are a key ingredient in my Choco, PB and Nana Pudding too.

Or you may want to try my Banana Bread Batter recipe because it’s simply delicious…

…I tell no lies! 🙂

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of oats
• 1 cup of kara coconut milk (or any other non-dairy alternative)
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tap of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of ginger
• 1 mashed banana

Place the oats, water, coconut milk, cinnamon, ginger and mashed banana in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.  Check and stir the oats to make sure that all of the ingredients are incorporated.  Microwave for another 3 minutes until the oats are fully cooked.  You may have to stop and stir the oats during this time.

Once the oats are cooked pour them into the blender, until the oats turn into a smooth texture.  There should be no lumps in your banana bread mixture.

Next go heavy on the toppings.  Surely, it would be a crime not to?!?

I topped mine with banana chips that I made in my dehydrator, shredded coconut and a swirl of Hershey’s chocolate sauce.  I ate this after this mornings run and I was in banana bread heaven!

And if none of the above appeals, Alfie assures me that the skin of bananas is great for practicing your suturing techniques on…

…if you are that way inclined of course! 🙂

Are you a banana fan?

How do you like to eat your bananas?

Do you have a favourite banana recipe you’d like to share?

A lil’ appreciation

Hey y’all!! I can’t believe it’s Thursday already.  This week has just flown by for me- how’s the week been for you?!?!

Today marked the end of my PB fast.  Do you remember?  That insanely awful poem that I wrote and I was giving up PB for at least a week.  Well I managed it and haven’t touched a spoonful of the stuff or any nut butter in fact.  It was actually quite tough at first as it is something that I eat regularly in large quantities, but I persevered and it got much easier towards the end. So…

Did I miss PB?  Yes

Could I ever live without PB?  Hell no!

Am I about to dive into the nearest jar of nut butter to make up for my fast? NO!

In fact I have learnt a lot about my eating habits during this short term PB fast.  I’ve now realised that my portions are a little out of control when it comes to things like nut butters, dark chocolate dreams, granola etc.  Things that I love and tend to eat in some sort of excess.

It got to the point with PB especially that I would eat it and not really appreciate it because it was something that I would eat so often and I knew that I could go right up to the cupboard and get some. By cutting PB out, I realised that I really not need as much as I was eating before and that just having enough to satisfy any cravings (I have those often) is enough. 

I do love PB!!! 😀

Since I’ve been so busy and holed up at uni preparing a talk that I’m giving next week (eeeek!), my eats have been pretty much what has been to hand and easy.  Breakfast yesterday was a huge bowl of my Home Mixed Muesli (recipe to come) with Kara coconut milk topped with Rachel’s Organic coconut yoghurt and warm berries.

Since I was breaking my PB fast today, obviously it had to make a small appearance in this morning’s bowl of oats…

I mixed 1/2 cup of oats with Kara coconut milk, cinnamon, mixed frozen berries and drizzled it with maple syrup and 2 teaspoons, yes just 2 teaspoons, of smooth PB.   Two teaspoons is a lot less than my previous 2 tablespoons and a few finger portions, but it was enough to calm my cravings!  😀

Lunches have been straight from the freezer:

For dinner last night I made a super speedy tomato and vegetable stew.

Seriously this took me less than 25 minutes to cook and it tasted amazing!  Into the saucepan went a lot of veggies that I needed to use up such as mushrooms, butternut squash, asparagus, courgettes and half an onion.

Also two grated garlic cloves, dried mixed herbs, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, tomato puree, black eyed beans, a tsp of agave nectar all made this extra delicious.  I served it with steamed hispi cabbage ribbons and crunchy bites.

Despite being super busy I’ve found time for some dessert too…

*Chocolate and Nana Shake*

• 2 cups of crushed ice
• 1 banana
• 2 tsps of organic cocoa powder
• 4 dates (or just add some sweetener)
• 100 ml of vanilla rice milk (or any other milk alternative)

This was really refreshing after a long day! 😀

Dinner tonight was a garlic and ginger stir fry with broccoli, pak choi, mushrooms, spring onions, soya chunks and soba noodles.  I made a sauce from some yellow chilli and ginger sauce, sweet white miso, soya sauce and rice vinegar.

Exercise has been great over the past few day to help clear my head.  I’m still trying to keep everything low impact so yesterday morning I started with some free style yoga and some ab and core work.  in the afternoon I headed over to the gym to attend my first ever Spin Core class.  Guys this class is badass!  Seriously my body has never known so much pain!!! The class involved 30 minutes of full on sprinting on the spinning bikes and 30 minutes of core and abdominal work with weights.  At one point the resistance was up by 7  full turns and we were still expected to sprint!  We were only allow a 4 second break between each 20 sets of the core workout too.  Sometimes, well actually a lot of the time I had to take a sneaky break- definitely the hardest variation of spinning I have tried yet!

It was so challenging!  I loved it and want to go AGAIN and AGAIN!

This morning started with Yoga for Runners and I’ve just got back from my first Body Pump class!!! 😀 Trying out these new classes whilst my knee heals has been great.   They are lower impact on my knees and I also get a great workout- two pluses!!!

My knee is feeling much better now too!  The swelling has gone down and the tightness has all gone.  Although I don’t think I will do any running again until next week just in case. 😀

Well I can here a a few squares of Vivani mango dark chocolate calling my name- so I’m off for a few squares of that and a night of rehearsing my presentation.

Have you ever given anything up food wise and learnt anything from it?

Have you tried any new fitness classes lately?

Have an amazing Friday everyone! x

A lil’ appreciation

Hey y’all!! I can’t believe it’s Thursday already.  This week has just flown by for me- how’s the week been for you?!?!

Today marked the end of my PB fast.  Do you remember?  That insanely awful poem that I wrote and I was giving up PB for at least a week.  Well I managed it and haven’t touched a spoonful of the stuff or any nut butter in fact.  It was actually quite tough at first as it is something that I eat regularly in large quantities, but I persevered and it got much easier towards the end. So…

Did I miss PB?  Yes

Could I ever live without PB?  Hell no!

Am I about to dive into the nearest jar of nut butter to make up for my fast? NO!

In fact I have learnt a lot about my eating habits during this short term PB fast.  I’ve now realised that my portions are a little out of control when it comes to things like nut butters, dark chocolate dreams, granola etc.  Things that I love and tend to eat in some sort of excess.

It got to the point with PB especially that I would eat it and not really appreciate it because it was something that I would eat so often and I knew that I could go right up to the cupboard and get some. By cutting PB out, I realised that I really not need as much as I was eating before and that just having enough to satisfy any cravings (I have those often) is enough. 

I do love PB!!! 😀

Since I’ve been so busy and holed up at uni preparing a talk that I’m giving next week (eeeek!), my eats have been pretty much what has been to hand and easy.  Breakfast yesterday was a huge bowl of my Home Mixed Muesli (recipe to come) with Kara coconut milk topped with Rachel’s Organic coconut yoghurt and warm berries.

Since I was breaking my PB fast today, obviously it had to make a small appearance in this morning’s bowl of oats…

I mixed 1/2 cup of oats with Kara coconut milk, cinnamon, mixed frozen berries and drizzled it with maple syrup and 2 teaspoons, yes just 2 teaspoons, of smooth PB.   Two teaspoons is a lot less than my previous 2 tablespoons and a few finger portions, but it was enough to calm my cravings!  😀

Lunches have been straight from the freezer:

For dinner last night I made a super speedy tomato and vegetable stew.

Seriously this took me less than 25 minutes to cook and it tasted amazing!  Into the saucepan went a lot of veggies that I needed to use up such as mushrooms, butternut squash, asparagus, courgettes and half an onion.

Also two grated garlic cloves, dried mixed herbs, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, tomato puree, black eyed beans, a tsp of agave nectar all made this extra delicious.  I served it with steamed hispi cabbage ribbons and crunchy bites.

Despite being super busy I’ve found time for some dessert too…

*Chocolate and Nana Shake*

• 2 cups of crushed ice
• 1 banana
• 2 tsps of organic cocoa powder
• 4 dates (or just add some sweetener)
• 100 ml of vanilla rice milk (or any other milk alternative)

This was really refreshing after a long day! 😀

Dinner tonight was a garlic and ginger stir fry with broccoli, pak choi, mushrooms, spring onions, soya chunks and soba noodles.  I made a sauce from some yellow chilli and ginger sauce, sweet white miso, soya sauce and rice vinegar.

Exercise has been great over the past few day to help clear my head.  I’m still trying to keep everything low impact so yesterday morning I started with some free style yoga and some ab and core work.  in the afternoon I headed over to the gym to attend my first ever Spin Core class.  Guys this class is badass!  Seriously my body has never known so much pain!!! The class inv
olved 30 minutes of full on sprinting on the spinning bikes and 30 minutes of core and abdominal work with weights.  At one point the resistance was up by 7  full turns and we were still expected to sprint!  We were only allow a 4 second break between each 20 sets of the core workout too.  Sometimes, well actually a lot of the time I had to take a sneaky break- definitely the hardest variation of spinning I have tried yet!

It was so challenging!  I loved it and want to go AGAIN and AGAIN!

This morning started with Yoga for Runners and I’ve just got back from my first Body Pump class!!! 😀 Trying out these new classes whilst my knee heals has been great.   They are lower impact on my knees and I also get a great workout- two pluses!!!

My knee is feeling much better now too!  The swelling has gone down and the tightness has all gone.  Although I don’t think I will do any running again until next week just in case. 😀

Well I can here a a few squares of Vivani mango dark chocolate calling my name- so I’m off for a few squares of that and a night of rehearsing my presentation.

Have you ever given anything up food wise and learnt anything from it?

Have you tried any new fitness classes lately?

Have an amazing Friday everyone! x

A lil’ appreciation

Hey y’all!! I can’t believe it’s Thursday already.  This week has just flown by for me- how’s the week been for you?!?!

Today marked the end of my PB fast.  Do you remember?  That insanely awful poem that I wrote and I was giving up PB for at least a week.  Well I managed it and haven’t touched a spoonful of the stuff or any nut butter in fact.  It was actually quite tough at first as it is something that I eat regularly in large quantities, but I persevered and it got much easier towards the end. So…

Did I miss PB?  Yes

Could I ever live without PB?  Hell no!

Am I about to dive into the nearest jar of nut butter to make up for my fast? NO!

In fact I have learnt a lot about my eating habits during this short term PB fast.  I’ve now realised that my portions are a little out of control when it comes to things like nut butters, dark chocolate dreams, granola etc.  Things that I love and tend to eat in some sort of excess.

It got to the point with PB especially that I would eat it and not really appreciate it because it was something that I would eat so often and I knew that I could go right up to the cupboard and get some. By cutting PB out, I realised that I really not need as much as I was eating before and that just having enough to satisfy any cravings (I have those often) is enough. 

I do love PB!!! 😀

Since I’ve been so busy and holed up at uni preparing a talk that I’m giving next week (eeeek!), my eats have been pretty much what has been to hand and easy.  Breakfast yesterday was a huge bowl of my Home Mixed Muesli (recipe to come) with Kara coconut milk topped with Rachel’s Organic coconut yoghurt and warm berries.

Since I was breaking my PB fast today, obviously it had to make a small appearance in this morning’s bowl of oats…

I mixed 1/2 cup of oats with Kara coconut milk, cinnamon, mixed frozen berries and drizzled it with maple syrup and 2 teaspoons, yes just 2 teaspoons, of smooth PB.   Two teaspoons is a lot less than my previous 2 tablespoons and a few finger portions, but it was enough to calm my cravings!  😀

Lunches have been straight from the freezer:

For dinner last night I made a super speedy tomato and vegetable stew.

Seriously this took me less than 25 minutes to cook and it tasted amazing!  Into the saucepan went a lot of veggies that I needed to use up such as mushrooms, butternut squash, asparagus, courgettes and half an onion.

Also two grated garlic cloves, dried mixed herbs, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, tomato puree, black eyed beans, a tsp of agave nectar all made this extra delicious.  I served it with steamed hispi cabbage ribbons and crunchy bites.

Despite being super busy I’ve found time for some dessert too…

*Chocolate and Nana Shake*

• 2 cups of crushed ice
• 1 banana
• 2 tsps of organic cocoa powder
• 4 dates (or just add some sweetener)
• 100 ml of vanilla rice milk (or any other milk alternative)

This was really refreshing after a long day! 😀

Dinner tonight was a garlic and ginger stir fry with broccoli, pak choi, mushrooms, spring onions, soya chunks and soba noodles.  I made a sauce from some yellow chilli and ginger sauce, sweet white miso, soya sauce and rice vinegar.

Exercise has been great over the past few day to help clear my head.  I’m still trying to keep everything low impact so yesterday morning I started with some free style yoga and some ab and core work.  in the afternoon I headed over to the gym to attend my first ever Spin Core class.  Guys this class is badass!  Seriously my body has never known so much pain!!! The class involved 30 minutes of full on sprinting on the spinning bikes and 30 minutes of core and abdominal work with weights.  At one point the resistance was up by 7  full turns and we were still expected to sprint!  We were only allow a 4 second break between each 20 sets of the core workout too.  Sometimes, well actually a lot of the time I had to take a sneaky break- definitely the hardest variation of spinning I have tried yet!

It was so challenging!  I loved it and want to go AGAIN and AGAIN!

This morning started with Yoga for Runners and I’ve just got back from my first Body Pump class!!! 😀 Trying out these new classes whilst my knee heals has been great.   They are lower impact on my knees and I also get a great workout- two pluses!!!

My knee is feeling much better now too!  The swelling has gone down and the tightness has all gone.  Although I don’t think I will do any running again until next week just in case. 😀

Well I can here a a few squares of Vivani mango dark chocolate calling my name- so I’m off for a few squares of that and a night of rehearsing my presentation.

Have you ever given anything up food wise and learnt anything from it?

Have you tried any new fitness classes lately?

Have an amazing Friday everyone! x