The Breakfast Club

As the saying goes, 'Breakfast like a king'. It has always been my favourite meal of the day for some reason. A boiled egg and soldiers on a rainy Sunday morning, a hearty bowl of porridge before work or strong coffee and bagels in the city of New York. There is something about setting yourself up for the day in the best way possible- after all, make yourself a healthy breakfast and you are much more likely to continue eating healthily for the rest of the day.

Lately, I've become a huge fan of the breakfast smoothie. I was bought a mini-blender a few years ago and nowadays, it is never out of use. The beauty of a smoothie is the speed and simplicity on busy mornings. Grab a handful of your favourite fruit, some milk and a few oats and you have a perfectly healthy way to keep yourself nourished until lunch time.

They can also be surprisingly cheap. I tend to buy frozen fruit in bulk and keep it in the freezer to use in the morning and Alpro has a great range of dairy-free alternatives in their range, including Almond, Hazelnut and Coconut milks to name a few.

The great thing about making your own is not only that you will be saving your pennies from buying branded smoothies but also that you'll know exactly what is going into them. No juices from concentrate, added sugar or hidden flavourings- just natural and fresh fruit.

Here are a few of my own crafted favourites:


Berry Boost Smoothie:

This one is great before or after a run.

-1 ripe banana
-A small handful of frozen berries (try raspberries, blueberries or strawberries)
-A tablespoon of oats- (Buy a big bag of porridge oats and it will last you ages!)
-A tablespoon of low fat whey protein powder
-A teaspoon of Acai berry powder
-200ml of Almond milk

Mix it all up in the blender and drink it from a tall glass. Very refreshing and a great energy source.



Coco Loco:

This smoothie is a great weekend treat for the summer months and tastes like a holiday cocktail! Coconut milk is not only delicious but versatile too. Pour it over your cereal, use it in your cooking or mix it with pineapple juice for a virgin Pina Colada.

-A small handful of frozen pineapple and mango.
-A tablespoon of chia seeds.
-200ml of coconut milk

Blend until smooth and enjoy. For hotter days, add some ice cubes and a cheeky cocktail umbrella and pretend you're on your jollies.



Banana & Nutella Smoothie:

This smoothie is a little more indulgent and tastes great. It has a lot less sugar and nasties that shop-bought juices and milkshakes have, so it is worth a go if you want a chocolatey treat.

-1 ripe banana
-A tablespoon of raw Cacoa powder- (a little goes a very long way!)
-200ml of hazelnut milk 
-Low fat vanilla whey protein powder

Blend until smooth and serve in a tall glass.






The great thing about these smoothies is that you can pack so much goodness into one drink. Be creative- there are some great goodies in your local health shop and there are a wide variety of fruits to try!

Happy creating!

The Sunday Review

Another bank holiday for us all! I'm a little excited this week as it is my birthday on Friday and I'm planning a huge Primark haul as well as bowling, watching the new X Men film and eating my own body-weight in pizza.

I have been listening to... Kiesza. I'm a little obsessed with Hideaway and now cannot wait until I can hear more of her album. If you haven't seen the video, check it out- it features Kiesza and her dancer friends in New York and is filmed entirely in one take. 

I have been reading...A Long Way Down. I've just finished the classic by Nick Hornby (you can read my review here) and I'm finally getting around to reading The Fault in Our Stars. I've heard so many good things about this book and after delving into the first chapter, I'm already hooked. 

I have been watching...The Great Gatsby. I feel like I've been waiting for years to finally watch the Baz Lurhmann version and last weekend, I finally settled down to watch it. It was much better than I anticipated. I really like the book and the film was very true to this, depicting the hedonistic jazz age in all it's glory. Leonardo Di Caprio was brilliant as the mysterious Gatsby whilst Tobey Macguire stole the show for me as Nick Carraway. Definitely a must-see.

I have been eating...Sweet potato. I'm a little bit sweet potato obsessed at the moment. Such a healthy and nutritious thing to add to your meals, I love having them baked in the oven or cut into potato chips and sprinkled with oil. Yum.

The Sunday Review

This week has been a quiet one for various reasons. I'm trying my best to just do the things that relax me and bring me happiness at the moment. Lots of baths, good books and friends. I spent yesterday in the glorious sunshine listening to Glastonbury on the radio (and wishing I was there) followed by a lovely meal with Liam at Pizza Express. Today, my plan is to meet up with a good friend for coffee and delve back into a pile of magazines. Here is what I've been up to this week...


I have been listening to...Bruce Springsteen. Ever since seeing The Boss a few weeks ago at Wembley Stadium, I have been remembering just how brilliant he is. This album is our current favourite for playing in our kitchen. Everything feels better after blaring Dancing in the Dark out of the stereo.

I have been making... Delicious red pesto chicken and herb wedges with fresh vegetables. I'm not one to follow recipes but love making wholesome and healthy meals that don't compromise on taste. My favourite at the moment is to spread some red pesto in chicken breasts, wrap them in bacon and cook them in the oven for 30 minutes. I also chop up some potatoes and sprinkle some olive oil, a touch of salt, basil, rosemary and chilli powder. Delicious and great for summer, I think! 

I have been reading...Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. This book was an unexpected surprise after downloading it to my Kindle. Brilliantly written and life-affirming, I recommend this to anyone who feels a little lost.

I have been wishing for...a wonderful holiday in the sun. It has been a busy few months and I'm really craving a nice long week in somewhere remote with a good book, a chilled drink and the sun beating down on me. Probably doesn't help that I've got this picture of Sorrento as my screensaver at the moment. Beautiful.