Festival Frolicks (and food)

Posted on June 1, 2009 by psychotic84

The festival season is just around the corner, and that can only mean good music, beer, and lots of mud. Those of you who frequent the festivals will know it’s hard to keep a balanced diet while slumming in the fields. Here are a few basic tips to help keep you feeling healthy and full of energy until the closing night.

Try and steer clear of the greasy burger vans, most festivals offer healthier alternatives such as crepes with savoury fillings like tuna and sweetcorn. Not only are these types of foods less likely to leave you feeling bloated and lethargic, you may also find them better value for money.

If you are drinking throughout the day it can often be easy to neglect food, however carbohydrates such as noodles and pasta dishes will help provide you energy and soak up some of that excess alcohol, helping you party until the early hours.

The morning after a heavy night can put a dampner on your festival spirit, for breakfast why noy try the fruit stall. Watermelon is a favourite hangover cure of mine and a tasy way to rehydrate your body. Also remember to drink plenty of water, especially if you are walking around in the sun, the last thing you want is a rapid journey to the medical tent with sun stroke.

Festival Tip:
If the rules permit it, why not try taking a small camping stove and cooking your own rice and beans. Not only will this help the funds but it may also result in you chatting with randoms around the stove, bringing people together in a way only a festival can.

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Get Fruity – How to get your 5 a day!

Posted on May 21, 2009 by psychotic84

Fruit can be very good for you, and is often referred to as nature’s sugar, but getting that five a day can be hard work. In this weeks blog we take a look at the best fruits to help you achieve that five a day target.

Bananas - My personal favourite, they are full of potassium and are a great energy fruit as they help boost your blood sugar levels. Try having them for breakfast, or chop one up on top of your cereal, lovely.

Plums - Are natures laxative, so if you are having bowel issues these are a great fruit to eat before trying any medications.

Melons - Are great if you suffer from an acid stomach as they are full of alkaline. They can also help regulate blood pressure and are high in vitamin C.

Fruity Tip:
Try making smoothies at home, they are a fantastic and tasty way to reach your five a day target.

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Pig Tales: Reducing the fat when eating pork & other meats!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by ajthelibertine

This whole swine flu thing is giving pigs a bad name so we thought it was time to take a stand for the curly tailed ones and tell you some good things about porky pig.

There are loads of lovely food options when it comes to the hog, bacon sandwich, roasted pork belly, gammon steak, pork chop and the list goes on. Unfortunately a lot of these options are high in fat, but there are ways of reducing the fat content so you can enjoy this scrumptious white meat without feeling guilty or boarding the fast train to high cholesterol city.

First stop is at purchase, try out your local butcher for a change and request a lean cut from the loin. If pre-packed is the way you roll, compare the fat content of different pork products and see which is lower in fat. With every supermarket putting clear content labels on their meats now, this only takes a minute.

Pork is high in vitamin B1 (thiamin) and can provide up to 65% of your recommended daily intake, but more importantly helps your body break down carbohydrates. Although you may not like it, your body actually requires fat in your diet. Yep, shock, horror, fats can be good, they provide you with energy and allow your body to soak up fat-soluble vitamins.

Saying this, too much of a good thing can be bad, so try and remove as much visible fat as you can before cooking. Use low fat cooking methods like grilling, steaming, poaching or stewing. If frying is your only option, use a fat free cooking spray. All of these small additions to your cooking habits go a long way to making your favourite meal that little bit healthier.

Pork Scratching Tip
Remember these fat reducing tips are not exclusive to pork. They can be applied to all meats you choose to enjoy.

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Cold and flu fighting food!

Posted on May 1, 2009 by psychotic84

We all know there is no cure for the common cold,  just a whole load of placebo’s making pharmaceutical companies all the more rich.  There are however lots of foods that you can eat or drink to help build your immune system and keep the dreaded cold and flu virus at bay.

Vitamins A and E are two of the key vitamins our body requires to build a healthy immune system. As is of course the well known vitamin C (no we aren’t just going through the alphabet, honest). Here are some of the foods you need to chow down on to receive an immune boosting vitamin intake.

Egg yolks are a good source of vitamin A. As well as being full of protein and easy on the digestive system, they also taste great on toast.

Vitamin C is believed to help build your immune system, most people will reach for the oranges but try other citrus fruits such as kiwi which has a higher vitamin C level.

Nuts, seeds, oily fish, and whole grain foods such as rye and brown rice are all high in vitamin E.

Immune Increasing Tip:
When thinking about your immune system remember your green cross code, any orange or red fruits and vegetables are great for building the immune system. As are leafy green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage.

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Simple Saucy Servings!

Posted on April 23, 2009 by psychotic84

The old ways of passing down recipes to new generations seem to be dwindling, and it occurred to us that apart from the stuff you learn in your home economics class a lot of us may not know the basic things about cooking. So for this weeks blog we thought we would have a look at what makes a good healthy sauce and what doesn’t.

Most of the sauces you buy in supermarkets are full of preservatives and salt, which is why you’ll probably find dear old nan making her own.

Tomato based sauces are probably your healthiest and easiest option. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals and can help keep cancer at bay.

Adding garlic to a sauce not only adds to the flavour and acts as an effective vampire deterrent, but is also helps with building your immune system, and can  help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Mint is a great herb to add to the right sauce, it is beneficial for menstrual pain, and can help fight infections as well as tasting great.

Despite being high in calcium cheese sauces may not always be the healthiest option, however we all know they taste great. Try using low fat cheese and fresh herbs and ingredients to reduce the unhealthy aspect.

Parsley can add a great subtle flavour to your sauce, it is also high in antioxidants and can help lower blood pressure. As an added bonus it can leave you with lovely fresh breath.

Saucy Tip:
If you’re feeling adventurous why not fill the empty windowsill and grow your own herbs. What could be more fresh and satisfying.

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Summer Salads!

Posted on April 16, 2009 by psychotic84

Summer is just around the corner, and hopefully that means some glorious sunshine is on the way too. When its hot outside and you’ve just returned from the office, the last thing you want to do is slave over a hot stove. Here are some tips on how to keep those summer salads healthy, while maintaining maximum taste.

Salads have the ability to make you feel you are being very healthy, but  leave that hunger still niggling inside you. There’s no need to just have salad as your main meal, try it alongside some cold meats and maybe a few new potatoes.

Try to resist drenching your salad in dressing, a small amount will still add flavour, and cut down on the fat content.

Personally I love nothing better than smothering my salads in mayonnaise, but as we know this can be very high in fat. Try a small amount of light or olive oil mayonnaise, rather than the full fat stuff.

Avoid too many eggs or overloading your salad with cheese and croutons, these little extras can counterbalance all your healthy work.

Summer Salad Tip:
Be wary when ordering a salad out as they can be very high in salt content. Try preparing your own for lunch.

Click here for some scrumptious salad recipes!

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Chewing the Fat – The when and how of healthy eating!

Posted on April 10, 2009 by ajthelibertine

Healthy eating isn’t always about what you eat, you need to consider the when and how too, which actually plays a bigger part than you think. Here are some basic facts to help you get the most out of those healthy meals.

Find a routine: We all have crazy lives but at least during the week when you have your work routine in place, try and eat at regular times and places to prevent snacking and overeating. Grab food from your fruit bowl or fridge, not the vending machine.

Don’t miss breakfast: Your body needs fuel to run and during your 7-10 hours in noddy-land it’s running on empty, so starving it more means it has to work overtime to turn fats into something useful. Grab some cereal and a banana or a smoothie to kick-start your day.

Cut out the midnight munchies: It is said that you shouldn’t eat after 6pm or 7pm because these calories are more likely to be stored as fat, but really its because we tend to eat the naughty foods at night and much more of them.

Chomping Tip:
Chewing our food is something we rarely think about or do properly. Try and chew your food a few more times than usual, appreciate the tastes in your mouth and your meal will take longer to eat. This will give your body enough time to signal when your stomach is full.

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ABC of E numbers – Why E numbers can be bad for you and where you can find them!

Posted on April 2, 2009 by psychotic84

E numbers are often put into foods to enhance the colour and make the food more appealing (particularly in children’s sweets). They have been linked to hyperactivity in youngsters, and have been known to cause rashes and other more severe side effects. So which popular foods are high in E numbers, and what should we avoid in order to stay healthy?

Jam, jelly and soup are often high in bad E numbers, also known as E122. They are used as a kind of red dye and possible side effects of these have included headaches.

Other foods such as custard, ice lollys, fizzy drinks, salami and mustard are also high in various bad E numbers. All of which have recorded side effects such as insomnia, breathing difficulties and hyperactivity.

Basically, if a food has an unnatural colour, it is likely to be packed with additives and preservatives, the same goes for anything with a shelf life of over five days. So when you are pottering around the supermarket on the weekly shop, bare this in mind, especially when feeding young children.

Not all E numbers are bad, natural E numbers can be found in foods such as green vegetables, citrus fruits, lean meat, seeds and nuts. These can be beneficial for skin conditions and stronger bones.

Food Tip:

Remember everything in moderation, the odd piece of cake or fizzy drink won’t do you any harm.

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Fishy Facts – How eating seafood can help you stay healthy!

Posted on March 25, 2009 by ajthelibertine

Fish dishes are a great healthy eating choice for all occasions. You can make a tasty quick family meal, or spend a little more time and creativity concocting a romantic healthy meal for two. Whatever takes your fancy there is plenty of seafood to choose from.

Salmon and mackerel have particularly high omega 3 content, which is great for the brain and heart, beneficial for pregnant women and children, and can help build the immune system. For a healthy, tasty salmon meal take a look at Foodwitch’s fantastic fish creation.

Shellfish are low in fat and high in protein and minerals. Contrary to popular belief the cholesterol found in shellfish such as shrimp is the good kind and can actually prove beneficial, however if this is a concern for you try eating crab and scallops which contain less cholesterol.

Lets also not forget oysters which are strongly believed to be an aphrodisiac, and could help you get more from your cosy meal for two.

Fish Tip

Be sure to take care when storing fresh fish, make sure the fish is kept in the fridge or on ice and is prepared correctly.

For information on how fish can help with mental health, check out our Food For Thought blog.

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Why mum always said eat your greens!

Posted on March 18, 2009 by psychotic84

Most of us will have heard those infamous words ‘eat your vegetables or you’re not getting any pudding‘. Well, it wasn’t just your mum nagging you for the sake of it, there really are many health benefits to eating your greens.

Leafy vegetables such as spinach contain high levels of iron, which is particularly good for anyone suffering from an iron deficiency.

Broccoli can help control insulin and blood sugar levels.

Celery helps to control your blood pressure.

All of these vegetables, as well as cabbage, carrots, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and asparagus contain nutrients that can help keep cancer at bay.

Reaching that five a day target can be a challenge, so here are some vegetable rich recipes from Foodwitch, to help you on your way.

Vegtastic Tips:

  • Steaming vegetables locks in the goodness and the flavour making them tastier and healthier
  • Fresh vegetables are always best, as they contain more vitamins and minerals

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