Ok, I know I'm a couple of days late with todays post as World Vegan Day was on the 1st November but dates don't really seem to matter very much this year as everything is a chaotic blur. However, I did want to share one of my current favourite vegan meals - which has just launched today! You may have already seen a sneak peek of todays post and the amazing pie on my Instagram (@ofbeautyand), make sure you're following for more sneak peeks and unboxings.
If you didn't know, I'm based in Manchester and it is a wonderful city known for incredible independent shops, two world famous football teams, a history of industrial cotton manufacturing, protests and the suffragette movement, 25 Nobel laureates associated with the University of Manchester, innovation and invention and world famous bands (including Oasis, Take That and The Smiths) as well as a love for food, curry and of course, pie, in particular.
Growing up in Manchester, my mum and aunties would always cook some kind of pie once a week, usually a meat pie, cheese pie (my favourite, being vegetarian from a very young age) or steak and ale pie. Pie is a northern staple and even within my secondary school, we had a 'snack shack' where you could buy a variety of pies for lunch. I have to admit that I did have a cheese and onion pie at least three days per week during the entirety of my secondary school education and it's a wonder I was a tiny as I was.
Since switching from a long-term vegetarian diet (from the age of 11), I decided in January 2019 to finally change to a vegan diet for the foreseeable future and I'm so glad I made the change. 2019 and 2020 have been great for new vegan offerings (although not much else) with so many new products launching in stores and online. If you are considering switching to a vegan diet, I would recommend that you start gradually be reducing the amount of meat, fish, eggs or dairy that you consume and make easy substitutions such as replacing cows milk with almond milk. Also, remember that you don't have to make a drastic change instantly and every change helps.
One of the latest vegan offerings is a new sharing pie from Grateful Pies which is in the style of a French-Canadian tourtière pie that is typically filled with meat, onions, herbs and spices; however the vegan, plant based version contains green lentils, mushrooms, potatoes, spices and apples. It has been a very long time since I've had a traditional-style pie and I've never had one that contains apples but I was very pleasantly surprised - it was utterly DELICIOUS!
I didn't know if I'd like the inclusion of apples but the pie wouldn't be nearly as delicious without them - it adds such a lovely sweetness and moreish flavour to the savoury pie that I absolutely adored. The pastry was also very delicious; it reminded me of the cheese pie pastry I used to devour every lunch time at school. I think it would be fantastic to share with friends or family this christmas or new year (within the lockdown guidelines) but I would very happily eat it mostly to myself over a few days. My only complaint (and it is a minor one) is that I wish it could be frozen. Overall, I couldn't recommend it enough for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Have you tried any vegan pies? Will you be checking out the Grateful Pies website?
Since switching to a fully vegan diet in January 2019, I have tried so many new vegan products, either through subscription boxes such as DegustaBox and Treat Trunk or newly launched products in the supermarket. 2019 and 2020 have been fantastic for various vegan launches and the options for sweet treats have expanded to include biscuits, cake, cookies and ice cream to cupcakes, sweets and more. However, there's one sweet treat I used to love that I haven't tried a vegan version of yet, fudge.
I was very excited to try this package of dairy free, vegan fudge that arrived from Fab Fudge. It is their latest launch although they already have so many wonderful flavours to choose from! The new protein fudge contains 25g of protein per 150g of fudge and it contains organic hemp seeds which are packed with omega 3 and omega 6. It also contains delicious date syrup, dark chocolate and almonds, the latter is full of healthier fats and vitamins. You can find out more about the nutritional information and ingredients on their website, linked above.
I have to be honest, hemp and nut fudge doesn't sound as exciting as their Oreo, Biscoff or cinder toffee fudge (they sound incredible) but I was very presently surprised by just how delicious it was! I absolutely adore the combination of moreish dark chocolate, crunchy almonds and date syrup, it feels like a rich and indulgent treat but it is vegan and contains lots of great natural ingredients. I thought it might taste a little bitter because of the dark chocolate or a little unusual because of the hemp seeds (I haven't loved other products with hemp in them previously) but it tastes amazing and I don't think anyone would know that it was vegan - it is so creamy and very addictive. It is the perfect mid-morning or early afternoon pick me up!
If you are looking for a vegan sweet treat for yourself or a stocking filler for vegan friends or family then look no further as the fudge is utterly delicious and there are so many flavours to choose from. I'd highly recommend the hemp and nut protein fudge - it is genuinely so delicious and you'll want to eat the entire box all at once (I'm having to restraint myself)!
Use the code ofbeauty to get 15% off your order!
Have you tried any vegan fudge? Will you be checking out the Fab Fudge website?
Easter is right around the corner and that means one thing, sweet treats! Easter eggs were the highlight of April growing up and I always received so many from my parents, aunties and cousins but I don't have a demanding sweet tooth so chocolate wasn't ever a treat for me (now, if it's Haribo, that's a different story) so we always had Easter egg remnants until the summer! However, I've found so many heavenly vegan sweet treats that I love from MyProtein.
I was very kindly sent a few of their vegan products to try out, from their peanut butter and cookies to pea protein snack bars. I tried a few of their products back in 2015 but this is my first experience of their vegan range. As well as the products I'll be reviewing in today's post, their vegan range also includes protein shakes and supplements as well as a variety of whole foods such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
Let's start with my favourite product from MyProtein, their baked double chocolate cookies. I've tried a few variations of protein bars and protein cookies and if I'm honest, I hated them! The bars and cookies I've tried have a strange aftertaste and they aren't very sweet at all but thankfully these are so delicious! As well as satisfying my sweet tooth (which I only really have for brownies and cookies), they contain 13g of protein and only 289 calories per cookie.
I have been eating my way through the 12 pack I was kindly sent since I received them as they make great desk snacks - if you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand), you'll have already seen these products on my stories. They are a little grainy and slightly dry but they are very rich, chocolatey and sweet enough to fulfil my cravings. They are currently on sale at £12.84 for a pack of 12 bars in the MyProtein Easter sale and I will be buying a box in the future!
Another pack of protein bars to consider as a healthy sweet treat this Easter are the 'choc berry' protein squares which contain 12g of protein per bar and they are also high in fibre. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate and fruit combinations so I wasn't sure about these bars but they contain raspberries and that's a chocolate combination I utterly adore! While these bars aren't my favourite of the three I've tried from MyProtein, I'd still recommend them as healthy on the go or work snack.
The final snack bar for today's post is perfect for those who, like me, love the combination of sweet and savoury or salty food. There are three flavours to choose from including chocolate orange, chocolate sea salt and the flavour I have, chocolate peanut butter which is the perfect flavour of me! The chocolate peanut butter 'carb crusher' bars contain gooey caramel, crispy soy protein nuggets, cocoa powder, sea salt and pretzels which makes a very unusual snack bar - I've tried so many snacks bars but this one is quite unique.
I love the textures in the bar especially the crunchy pretzels on top! As I've said, I don't have a huge sweet tooth and I don't crave sweet treats very often so this bar is ideal for me as it helps to curb those sweet cravings but it is still fairly savoury and salty. I think the double chocolate cookie is my favourite of the three but this one is a very close second!
Last but definitely not least, one of my favourite ingredients ever, peanut butter. I love peanut butter on toast, within snack bars, as a dip for apple slices, in porridge and within Thai peanut noodle dishes, the latter is definitely my favourite way to use peanut butter. Smooth peanut butter is my go-to so this whole box of goodies was absolutely perfect!
As well as the variety of protein powders and snack bars, there's a good range of 'whole foods' or ingredients that you can use to make snacks, meals or enjoy on their own such as cashews, dried blueberries and peanut butter. Peanut butter can be a little expensive so I think this price is fantastic and it gets even better as it is currently part of their Easter sale which features a selection of products that are up to 65% off (use the code: EXTRA to get an added 25% off).
Have you tried anything from MyProtein? What sweet treats will be you enjoying this Easter weekend?
CBD has been the focus of countless wellness, food, beauty and lifestyle products over the past few months and while I was interested in the hype and the potential benefits, especially when it comes to anxiety, I didn't know where to start! I was very kindly sent a range of products from Calm Drinks which feature CBD has one of the principle ingredients.
Before we get into the review, let's define what CBD is. CBD is a Cannabinoid but it is non-psychoactive and it is legal in the UK. It has mainly been associated with helping those with anxiety, insomnia or chronic pain. The World Health Organisation suggests that CBD is safe, presents no current dependant potential and could be useful for various medical conditions. Although as with any supplement, health drink or wellness product of any kind, it is always important to be aware and properly informed of what you are purchasing and consuming.
I was kindly sent the Calm Drinks CBD cold are coffee in the 'caffe latte' flavour which contains cold brewed coffee, oat milk, maple syrup and 10mg of CBD. The CBD used is vegan friendly, sourced in the UK and contains 0% THC (the addictive, psychoactive drug). Additionally, the drinks are gluten free and each can only contains 55 calories which makes them a great option for those who keep track of their calorie intake, as I do.
As well as the caffe latte flavour, they also have an Americano flavour, premium whole bean and ground coffee, Belgian hot chocolate flakes, chocolate milk, sparkling water and coffee pods, the latter two aren't currently available just yet. However, every product contains natural ingredients and is infused with CBD.
I have a few of the oat milk caffe latte drinks and as well as the products themselves being very photogenic, the coffee itself is very good too! I have been using oat milk in coffee, cooking and baking for around four years now so it is a flavour that I am very familiar with. However, I think that if you haven't tried oat milk, then it may be a little bit of an acquired taste. I personally love the flavour of oat milk and the coffee, to me it has an almost comforting and naturally sweet flavour. As for the CBD element, it isn't something I noticed any major effect, in terms of anxiety, mood or relaxing effects but I think that may only occur with regular consumption.
Overall, I personally like the oat milk caffe latte drinks, I think they are an easy caffeine fix on the go and I like the flavour as well as the gorgeous packaging. I'm not too sure about the use of CBD just yet, although it does appear to be safe and potentially beneficial according to the WHO. I think if you're looking for a new cold brew coffee to try then give it a go. I will be trying their premium ground coffee very soon - I'll update this post as soon as I have!
Have you tried any of the Calm Drinks products? Have you tried anything (drinks, skincare or lifestyle products) that contain CBD?
* AD - gifted item sent to me, not paid
Also please do your own research and ask your doctor before taking any kind of supplement etc
Earlier this week I was very kindly invited to visit my local Cote Brasserie restaurant in Manchester with guests for a complimentary meal and drinks which was in equal parts an exciting but also an anxiety inducing offer. I'm lucky enough to receive a fair amount of lovely event invites and review experiences but I end up turning down the vast majority of emails as my anxiety prevents me from accepting.
However, I didn't want to turn down this offer as it would be a fantastic opportunity to treat my friends but also because my parents love Cote Brasserie and visited a few days before I did to celebrate their wedding anniversary. I'm so glad that I visited the restaurant and I'm grateful for the lovely invite as we had a fantastic evening and meal!
Cote Brasserie is a French restaurant chain with restaurant locations around the UK from Bristol, Bath and Brighton to Windsor, Wimbledon and Worcester. There are a variety of menus to choose from including the pre-theatre, breakfast, gluten free and children's menu to the prestige set menu and vegan/vegetarian menu. I naturally chose the vegetarian and vegan menu (as they have recently expanded their vegetarian and vegan range) but they had such a great variety of options on all of their menus so you're bound to find something you'll love.
Upon arriving we were greeted by the lovely staff at the Manchester restaurant and were seated. The decor within the restaurant is luxe but also very cosy and inviting which creates such a relaxing atmosphere. I never usually visit any restaurants as I can feel a little uncomfortable so it was a refreshing and very welcome change to the usual tense and slightly awkward feeling I typically experience.
I was given the option for the vegetarian and vegan menu which included quite a few main courses that I could choose from but I had to choose the Wild Mushroom and Walnut Parmentier (doesn't it sound delicious) as well as the Lemon Sorbet, both of which are vegan. I never choose a starter, wherever I go but my friends chose the fougasse, prawn gratinee and chicken liver parfait, all of which they loved (the fougasse looked absolutely delicious and I wish there was a vegan option available).
Being vegan, or vegetarian, can be a little tricky when it comes to eating in restaurants or even takeaways as there are usually sides and other options that seem vegan but they aren't labelled as such but thankfully on the Cote Brasserie menu, all of the vegan options are labelled as vegan including the frites and salads etc.
The vegan mushroom and walnut parmentier was so delicious and very moreish! It is almost a vegan version of a cottage pie, of sorts, so it is naturally very comforting and filling. French cuisine isn't something I'm very familiar with, especially since I became mostly vegan a few years ago but I wish it was a style of cooking I'd explored sooner as I don't think many French recipes are naturally vegan without making any changes. I would love to try and recreate this vegan parmentier sometime in the future as I think it would make a great main for family dinners.
My friends all chose from the a la carte menu and opted for the steaks which were all served with the most adorable cup of fries! Everyone loved their starter and main course and they were all served by friendly and attentive staff who were kind enough to explain the options, offer bread for the table and always be on hand for questions or ask if we needed anything.
Finally for dessert, I chose the lemon sorbet which is a sweet treat I've had on holiday in the Mediterranean so it always brings back summer holiday memories. There was a lemon or raspberry option and it was tempting to chose both but I'm glad I chose lemon as it was delicious and far creamier and flavourful than I remember the Mediterranean offerings being. My friend chose the praline crepes which looked incredible and the chocolate fondant that was the most indulgent chocolaty treat!
We all had such a lovely evening filled with lots of laughter and delicious food which is something we all needed so I'm very grateful for the review opportunity! Everything was perfect, from the food and presentation to the welcoming staff, decor and the calm, cosy atmosphere. As I've said, I don't typically enjoy going to restaurants on the whole but I would highly recommend Cote Brasserie and I would love to visit again (particularly as I loved their vegan options), which is something I didn't think I'd say about any restaurant.
Have you been to Cote Brasserie? What do you think of their menu?
Today's post is a little late as I planned to publish it during Veganuary but I've been struggling with motivation so much recently; however I am excited about today's post as it's something I haven't tried before - smoothie deliveries! Since I purchased my Nutribullet about five years ago, I have been using it constantly and the first couple of years I used it mainly for making smoothies but I have fallen out of the habit. Thankfully The Honestly Good Smoothie Co have a great solution for those, like me, who struggle to think of interesting smoothie ingredient combinations or who prefer the convenience of frozen fruit and pre-prepared ingredients.
The Honestly Good Smoothie Company very kindly sent me a range of their smoothie selections to try out and I'm impressed! They have a range of box options to choose from all of which are 100% natural and organic. You can choose between the fruity box, veggie box, green box or the variety box, the latter would be great if you haven't tried many smoothies or if you want to sample their range. The delivery options vary from one week, fortnightly or monthly and you can choose the number of smoothies in the box, either five or ten. Additionally, you can choose the delivery day (delivery is free!).
All of the smoothie kits, as well as the glass and straw, came well packaged and protected within sustainable packaging. Their kits also only use seasonal ingredients making them better for the environment. The smoothies arrive frozen with dry ice (which is very fun to dissolve but be careful) and they are all pre-portioned which is ideal for someone like me as I do keep track of the protein, fat and calories I eat each day - it's always very handy to have something I can scan the barcode of instead of weighing each ingredient.
I love the packaging for all of the kits, especially as you can see all of the ingredients and I just love how convenient they are, particularly for a super healthy and quick lunch or breakfast. To use the kits, all you have to do is add them to a blender (I use my Nutribullet and I cannot recommend it enough for everything from soup and sauces to smoothies and dips) then add in the stated amount of liquid and blend. I have been using orange juice for the fruit smoothies and almond milk for the others which works well for me but you can experiment adding different juices and plant milks to your smoothies.
The first smoothie kit I tried was the 'Good Morning Sunshine' combination which contains banana, strawberries, oats, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and almonds which is the closest combination to the smoothies I would make years ago. I love banana and strawberry smoothies and I liked the addition of the nuts and seeds, although it make the smoothie a little less smooth - it was still one of my favourites though!
My second favourite of the five I was sent has to be 'Cheer Me Up' which contains pineapple, apple, acai berry, cucumber, seeds, oats and dates as well as 'The Almond Tart One' which contains an unusual mix of pear, butternut squash, apple, avocado, prunes, almonds and cinnamon - it's surprisingly good. There are still two smoothies I have tried yet and those include: 'The Cacaonut One' (banana, sweet potato, courgette, blueberry, hazelnut, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds and salt) and 'The Fitness Fuel One' (banana, apple, cannellini beans, dates, seeds, peanuts and tofu) which again is another very unusual combination. I'll be sure to update today's post when I've tried the last two.
Overall, from the packaging, unusual flavour combinations, convenience, organic ingredients and the option of a very nutritious breakfast or lunch, I cannot recommend The Honestly Good Smoothie Company enough. The kits are very convenient, handy for those who are always busy and ideal for quick and delicious smoothies within a couple of minutes.
Today's post is a little late as I should have published it during January as it is one of my veganuary posts with Herbalife but I've been so busy and haven't had the time until now. I've been lucky enough to work with Herbalife a couple of times as I've reviewed some of their body care products and their shakes previously which you can read, here, for more information.
I was very kindly sent the new Tri Blend shake which is the first clean wellness shake from Herbalife. It is suitable for vegans, it is gluten free and it contains natural ingredients. It contains pea, quinoa and organic flaxseed so it is high in protein and fibre which is essential for every diet. If you don't consume the recommend amount of protein or fibre in any diet or struggle to cook meals that include enough then a protein shake, like the new Tri Blend Select, might be a great addition to your diet as it's easy to make as a shake or add into other meals or snacks such as porridge.
I have both the banana flavour and the coffee caramel flavour (the latter I haven't tried yet). However even though both options sound sweet, they don't contain too much sugar! I've tried other protein shakes in the past and they haven't been sweet enough or they contained lots of sugar to compensate but thankfully these have the right balance between sweetness and less sugar/lower calories.
The traditional way to use protein shakes such as these is to combine the powder with water or milk (I've used almond milk with the other Herbalife shakes I've tried and it works much better than water) but I personally don't absolutely love shakes of any kind so I'm glad that I can use the Tri Blend Select in a few ways. You can use it as a shake, add it to baked goods (such as protein flapjacks - there's a recipe on the Herbalife website if you want to try it), it can be mixed into overnight oats for an easy breakfast or you can simply add it into your porridge.
I've been using the powder solely as an addition to my porridge since I was sent it last month as it's great for not only adding flavour and sweetness but also the added nutritional benefits as well which is something I am always keeping track of. I use the Lifesum app to track my daily calories, fat and protein intake - I've been using it for almost two years now and I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you're looking to lose weight or to make sure that you are eating enough protein.
I would definitely recommend trying a protein powder within porridge as it's such an easy way to add in extra nutrients, protein and fibre - as much as I love to cook, I'm not the best at creating healthy breakfasts so this porridge combination is ideal for me. I like the banana flavour although it isn't my favourite out of the Herbalife options I've tried so far and I think the coffee caramel flavour will be perfect.
Along with the Herbalife Tri Blend Select in the banana and coffee caramel flavours, I was also very kindly sent a huge box full of fresh fruit and veggies from Boxxfresh which is a produce delivery service in which you can select the size of box you receive as well as the fresh produce. I have tried many subscription boxes but never one like this and I think it is a great idea, especially for those who are busy or find it more convenient to have groceries delivered, as I do. I have the large box at £25 but there are others ranging from £15 to £30 per box; also you can add extras to your delivery after you've selected all of the fresh items. I found ordering a box very easy, I liked the choices, everything was well packed and I cannot recommend it enough.
Have you tried anything from Herbalife? Have you tried Boxxfresh?
As some of you might know, from the beginning of 2019, I switched my diet to become fully vegan and it was been incredible; mainly because my eczema is 95% gone completely from my face and hands and it has been almost non-existent for the entire year so far which I never thought would happen!
Whenever I cook vegan meals for others, they usually assume that it's difficult, the ingredients will be very specialised and expensive or that the meals take an age to cook but none of those are true! In my experience of cooking vegetarian meals for over half of my life and vegan meals on and off for around five years, it is not difficult, very expensive or time consuming. Although if you want imported or very specific products then it could be but that's true for a non-vegan diet as well.
Within today's post, I'm going to be sharing three of my go-to meals for lazy days, all of which are quick, easy and relatively cheap to make. None of the recipes are very time consuming or difficult so if you aren't confident in the kitchen or if you are experimenting with vegan food then hopefully these three will be great beginner options to try. There are also some vegan and lazy cooking tips below too!
Butternut Squash or Sweet Potato Curry
The first option is the most time consuming but it isn't difficult! I have a full recipe on my blog for a similar chickpea and sweet potato curry with garlic cauliflower rice if you want to recreate the recipe photographed above but alternatively you could check out the creamy butternut squash curry on the Hello Fresh website which is very easy to follow with step by step photographs.
A curry of any kind but especially a mild butternut squash or sweet potato curry is a great all around, crowd pleasing option as who doesn't like a delicious, comforting curry. It is an easy recipe to batch cook if you don't have much time, it is quick to meal prep and it is low calorie but nutritious so it's an ideal option for those watching their weight and calories as I am.
Lazy Tip: pre-chopped butternut squash or sweet potato will save so much time. Also if you want a lower calorie option, you can add more veggies and less rice or you can use low fat coconut milk.
Mac 'n' Cheese
Everyone loves macaroni cheese and while the dairy version can taste utterly delicious, it always made me feel incredibly guilty; however the plethora of vegan options are just as mouthwatering but they are sometimes lower in calories and the flavour options are endless. I have two main options for cooking vegan macaroni cheese, the first is a healthy lower calorie option and the second is a very quick...not so healthy option.
The healthy macaroni cheese involves roasting butternut squash (potatoes and carrots as well, if you want) then blending it in my Nutribullet with non-dairy milk, garlic and herbs to make a velvety, creamy but healthy macaroni cheese-like sauce.
The second, super quick option is to use the Alpro soya cream which is a single cream alternative (that I've gone through countless tubs of) and gently heat it in a saucepan with garlic and a couple of slices of original Violife cheese until it becomes thicker and gooey - the texture of this sauce is spot on for the more gooey American style mac 'n' cheese.
Lazy Tip: a Nutribullet is an amazing, super quick tool to make incredibly creamy, velvety smooth sauces and dips from a variety of nuts and vegetables instead of buying (potentially expensive) pre-made sauces. I bought mine four or five years ago and it is still going strong so I think it is well worth buying.
Lemon Pasta
Last but not least is my favourite option for a quick, fresh summer meal that I can make in around ten minutes. My recipe follows the same quick cheese sauce above using Violife cheese but I also add in tarragon and lemon rind (not the juice, NOT THE JUICE). I use around half a lemon rind, finely grated to add in a subtle lemon flavour as the juice is just too strong. If you want a bit more of a nutritious option then you can follow the Hello Fresh 'power of the gods' recipe which I am going to have to veganize and recreate soon.
Lazy Tip: Frozen pre-chopped veggies are are easy addition to any pasta dish as you can add them into the water as the pasta as it is cooking. Also for quick extra flavour, garlic salt, onion salt and garlic pepper as well as dried herbs are essential.
Hello Fresh
I hope these meal ideas inspired you to create vegan alternatives but if you are struggling with time to cook or for meal ideas then check out the Hello Fresh recipe boxes which are delivered straight to your door with all of the ingredients you'll need to create the recipe you've chosen, including the curry and pasta options I've already mentioned. They have such a wide range of meal ideas and boxes to choose from for a range of dietary needs, cooking abilities and family size, so you're bound to find a recipe box to suit you.
Today's post is not only a product review but it's a last minute gift suggestion for Father's Day which is this Sunday in the UK so you do still have time to purchase a gift. My dad is such a difficult person to buy for as he always wants the same aftershave or socks each year but he does like food gifts and I can't think of a better food gift than chocolate, especially Thorntons chocolates.
Recent research has revealed the nations top ten images featuring pearls, such as The Girl With The Pearl Earring and Thorntons have recreated some of those iconic images but with a twist, a chocolate twist. They used 781 hand crafted chocolates to create the images featuring chocolate pearl jewellery which took over 130 hours to make!
Thorntons is such an iconic brand and it's a brand that was very prevalent when I was growing up as I loved their chocolate lollies, fudge and toffees! Thorntons chocolates were always special treats so I think they'd make the most ideal easy gifts. There are two flavours to choose from, salted caramel and nutty crunch as well as two size options.
The salted caramel flavour is composed of smooth milk chocolate with a gooey caramel interior flavoured with sea salt. The pearls are individually wrapped and beautifully packaged so aesthetically they've made a lovely gift on their own or as part of a gift hamper this Father's Day.
*Thorntons Pearls - Nutty Crunch (£5)
The second flavour is the 'nutty crunch' option which contains a praline centre with crisp wafer pieces and roasted hazelnuts. Sadly, it seems that there aren't any vegan options at all from Thorntons! If you are vegetarian then research their products beforehand. I haven't been able to try their new pearls but my mum loves them and surprisingly my dad, who isn't a huge chocolate fan, likes them too. If you're looking for a lovely and indulgent chocolate gift then check out Thorntons and their new and uniquely researched chocolate pearls. I do love the interesting story behind their latest creation!
Last week I received a very exciting delivery from the lovely people over at Mitch's Kitchen which is a company focusing solely on #FastPacedPlantBased meals. As you might know if you've been following my blog for a while, I have been vegetarian since I was around eleven or twelve years old and I've been on/off vegan for the past four or so years. However, since the start of 2019, I decide to make the switch permanently and I haven't been happier, especially as my eczema seems to have almost completely disappeared since then!
I'm always looking for new and exciting vegan ingredients or meals to try and thankfully 2019 seems to be the year of the vegan as more and more companies are bringing vegan options into the mainstream which makes such a change from even a year or two ago when I was struggling to find vegetarian options in the main UK supermarkets. The creators of Mitch's Kitchen also know how difficult it can be to find vegan options which is why they created their own with Mitch's Kitchen.
They currently offer a range of nine meals to choose from, all of which are completely plant based and vegan. The full ingredients list for each meal is displayed online so you know what you're buying beforehand. Each meal is handmade, they are all frozen which makes them very convenient and they can be easily heated up in the microwave in ten minutes!
I received six of their meals to try, all of which came nicely packaged within recyclable packaging which is great! The first thing that stuck me, if I'm honest, is the packaging design...I LOVE it! I know it's not the most important aspect of the product but it was a dream to photograph and beautifully designed packaging makes me want to try out their products even more.
Mitch's Kitchen Gardener's Pie ★★★★★
The first meal I tried was the Gardener's Pie which contains chestnut mushrooms, lentils, mash and red wine gravy. The meal is low fat and very low in calories, especially for the portion size which is 450g and only 333 calories. The low calories and easy to discern ingredients makes it very easy for me to add the meals into my calorie tracking app. As someone who does track calories, the low (or relatively low) calories for each meal was fantastic and it helps that all of the meals are delicious too.
The Gardener's Pie was my favourite of all of the meals, although I liked all of them but I will be buying this option in the future as it's so scrumptious, filling and healthy as well as low calorie - the perfect meal. I'll also be trying to re-create this meal as it's so moreish and contains one of my favourite herbs, sage. My first try of the Mitch's Kitchen meals was off to a fantastic start!
Buckwheat Jambalaya ★★★★
Next up is a meal I haven't even considering making or trying before, jambalaya, which is a traditional meal from Louisiana that usually consists of meat, veggies and rice but this is a vegan version. It contains rainbow peppers, tempeh chorizo, tomatoes, cayenne, lemon and buckwheat. I didn't know what to expect with this meal as I haven't tried anything similar to it before but it was SO delicious! I loved the hearty buckwheat, lemon and smokey flavour as well as the unusual tempeh chorizo, the latter was delicious but I didn't know it was tempeh as it is very different to the other tempeh products I've tried. Overall, it is not quite my favourite of the six but it's still very, very good, hence my rating.
Sunkissed Pasta ★★★★
My final four start meal was their 'sunkissed pasta' which is such a lovely name for it and it is a very Mediterranean-esque combination of flavours from cavolo nero kale, tomatoes, artichokes and olives, thankfully for me the latter is very minimal. These meals have introduced me to various food combinations I haven't tried before such as the mix of brown rice penne and butter beans, within this pasta dish. My favourite elements of this option have to be the creamy, rich sauce, kale and the sunflower seed 'parmesan'. Sadly, as with a few few frozen meals that I've tried that contain pasta, it was a little mushy but other than that, I'd be more than happy to eat it again...and again.
Moroccan Tagine ★★★★
Another meal that is low in fat and calories is the Moroccan Tagine which contains only 375 calories! It's a flavourful combination with chickpeas, aubergine, squash, lentils, tri-colour quinoa, goji berries and citrus zest. The combination of quinoa, goji berries and citrus zest is just so delicious and also very refreshing. I also liked the mix of savoury, rich flavours and the mint and citrus flavours - very North African and very delicious.
Coconut Kathal Masala ★★★
Next up, a curry with jackfruit, coconut, chickpeas, wholegrain rice, cauliflower, coriander and lots of spices. Some of the meals such as this curry, the chocolate chilli and the jambalaya all have chilli symbols on the packaging but thankfully for me, none of the meals were very spicy. I have the most sensitive tastebuds imaginable so the less chilli and spice, the better. I loved this curry, it was very filling and moreish (as all of the meals were) and it was easy to re-heat with no spillages or mess.
Chocolate Chilli ★★★
Last but not least is the one I was, admittedly, very cautious and more than a little hesitant to try it as the words 'chilli' and 'chocolate' potentially shouldn't be seen together but it was pretty good. However, it is not something I would gravitate towards or purchase as chilli and similar dishes, just aren't for me sadly but I think a lot of people would be pleasantly surprised by this offering!
Overall, I love the packaging design and ethos of the brand as well as most of the meals with the Gardener's Pie, Sunkissed Pasta and Moroccan Tagine being my favourites of the six I was very kindly sent. They're all frozen so they are very handy, they re-heat perfectly and they are all very healthy vegan meal options. If you're looking for delicious vegan meals then look no further than Mitch's Kitchen.
Would you try any of the Mitch's Kitchen vegan meals?
If you've been following my blog or social media for the past year or two then you'll have seen some of my food posts and I often share what I'm eating on my Instagram stories (@ofbeautyand). You may know that I've been vegetarian since I was a child - my grandad has had a vegetarian diet for most of his life which helped me as no-one else is vegetarian in my family so it's nice that we can both share that together.
Today's post is all about the specific food items that are known 'brain foods'. Foods that are generally described as 'brain foods' are essential for everyone but especially the elderly to stay healthy and to try to keep memory and cognition as fully functioning and as sharp as they can be, for as long as they can be. Diseases which affect memory and brain function are more common with age so it's very important to opt for more 'brain foods' for not only yourself but your elderly relatives too.
Avocado
I'm a millennial so naturally I love avocado but I know that it isn't for everyone; however it is a very nutritious fruit filled with heart-healthy fats, potassium (they contain more potassium than bananas) and fibre. Studies have also shown that regular consumption of avocados can lower cholesterol levels and another study has demonstrated that using avocados or avocado oil can help the absorption of antioxidants. Avocados won't really be suitable for all ages, they are a bit of an acquired taste but I love them and I think that they can be used in so many ways so that all ages can enjoy them such as an avocado cake mousse, guacamole dip or on toast.
Pumpkin Seeds, Sage & Nuts
Sage, a delicious herb when fried to be crispy, has been known for a while to help with memory and concentration as well as depression and Alzheimer's disease. Along with sage, pumpkin seeds are an easy addition to your diet in the form of snack bars, granola, salad toppers or on their own as a snack. Pumpkin seeds contain so many nutrients including magnesium and zinc which are known to improve sleep quality (sleep is essential for the brain health). Lastly, there are so many nuts and seeds that are packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein, all of which are needed for a healthy diet. Although as with everything on this list, you'll only experience any benefits with regular consumption over time and if you have any concerns or questions then you should definitely consult your GP.
Wholegrains
As we all know, specific vitamins have specific benefits and the varieties of vitamin B are know to help with brain health. Numerous foods are high in vitamin B such as beans, lentils, dark leafy vegetables and wholegrains such as brown rice and barley. More research is needed in terms of the effects of all B vitamins but so far they are shown to help increase stress tolerance, improve memory and may even help with diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia, the former is something that affects so many elderly individuals and it's a disease that has affected a couple of elderly people who are close to me. Alzheimer's disease is incredibly devastating, it's awful to see and if there's anything that can help or even prevent it then it's worth a try - including something as easy to change as your diet.
Blueberries & Blackcurrants
The recommended minimum daily number of fruits and vegetables you should eat is five so we all know that they're full of essential goodies. All fruit options are great healthy choices to make but blueberries in particular are thought to help combat cellular ageing by reducing inflammation. Fruits high in vitamin C are ideal options as brain food as research suggests that individuals who are deficient in vitamin C could be at risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. Fruit is such an easy, no fuss addition to any diet as a healthy snack or breakfast option for all ages.
Broccoli
Lastly for this list is my favourite veggie, broccoli! I love broccoli as it's so easy to add into any meal, from soup, salads, pasta dishes, on it's own with a dip, to bulk out a wrap or in a stir-fry. As well as being a very versatile ingredient, broccoli contains glucosinolates that slow the breakdown a specific neurotransmitter which is needed to keep the central nervous system working properly - low levels of the neurotransmitter have been related to Alzheimer's disease. When my grandad visits our house for various occasions such as Christmas and birthdays, I alway cook for both of us and I tend to make more traditional meals such as shepards pie but I always add in extra nutritious ingredients such as spinach, lentils and broccoli as I know that my grandad wouldn't add in those healthy extras. Also I always make more than I would typically so he has healthy meals for the rest of the week.
I have to add a little note here that I'm not a doctor or nutritionist although I've taken information from reputable studies and sites (during my time at university, I loved searching for peer reviewed studies and research...). Also while certain vitamins are great for specific conditions or issues, I think it's best have try and consume your daily amount of all of them as they seem to work best together, for example, some vitamins help the absorption of others.
Do you eat any of these foods often? Would you suggest any of these 'brain foods' to your elderly relatives?
Last month I received one of the best blogger parcels I've ever received, not only because it contained the largest number of items I've received at once but also because it contained lots of food and useful household items! If you follow me on instagram (@ofbeautyand) then you'll have seen the ginormous unboxing on my stories last month - I always show everything I'm lucky enough to be sent on my Instagram stories so make sure you're following!
*Product Of The Year Goody Bag (worth over £235)
If you're in the UK then you'll have seen the 'product of the year' advertisements and their famous logo on various products from snacks, pet products, drinks, cooking ingredients and beauty products. The 2019 products of the year were announced in an awards ceremony last month and in today's post I'm going to let you know some of my favourites.
How are the products chosen? Firstly, companies can enter their products to be considered then a panel of judges including industry experts, bloggers and journalists try the products before they are shortlisted and the public can vote in the largest consumer product survey so you know that they're going to be worth the money.
Food and Drink
The food and drink items seem to be the largest category, followed by the household items and beauty and pet related products. I'm surprised by the wide and inclusive range of products within the food category as it ranges from cupcakes, cereal, snacks, wine and cordial to yoghurt, tea, flavoured water, ice cream, coffee and many more.
From the huge selection of food items there are a few that instantly caught my eye with the first being Halo Top Ice Cream which I've tried previously as they have a variety of vegan options. The Salted Caramel flavour from Halo Top is utterly delicious and I cannot recommend it enough! I'm so glad that there's a large amount of vegetarian and a couple of vegan items in the winners list this year.
Another item I've already tried from the winners list is the Skyr Fruit and Oats Yoghurt which I loved (sadly as I'm now vegan, it's something I'll have to skip on). I also cannot recommend the Robinsons Fruit Creations cordial, Malteaster Buttons, Volvic Watermelon and Dolmio Veggie Goodness sauce packet enough.
While I'm very grateful for any items I've lucky enough to be sent from PRs (I'm always surprised that such amazing worldwide companies want to work with little old me!) but I did receive a fair amount within this package that I couldn't possibly keep all for myself. For the Cadbury Heroes Cupcakes which looked incredible, I shared them with the children in my mum's class at the primary school I used to go to and they all loved them!
The drinks included within the package included Bulmers Original Cider, Blossom Hill Pale Rose, Volvic Watermelon Water (limited edition), Frijj UHT Milkshake, Tropicana Essential, Robinsons Fruit Creations and the Fuze Iced Tea. I don't really drink very often but the Blossom Hill Pale Rose is delicious and something I think many will like.
However, my favourites from the range have to be the Volvic Watermelon and the Fuze Iced Tea in the Peach Hibiscus flavour, both of which I'd definitely buy in the future. Overall, there were so many fantastic food and drink items within the goody bag, especially the Halo Top Ice Cream which is one of the best vegan ice cream options I've tried - my personal favourite flavour is the salted caramel option but I do really want to try the peanut butter flavour.
Household Items
The next category are all of the household, cleaning and home fragrance items within the winners list and goody bag. For the cleaning products the list includes: Mr Muscle Platinum Kitchen Cleaner, Comfort Perfume Deluxe, Persil Capsules and the Regina Blitz Paper Towel, all of which I've been using for weeks and I can definitely see why they're all on the list of winners for 2019.
However, my favourite household item has to be the Ambi-Pur 3Volution Plugins which I have in the Cotton Fresh Scent. It's been a staple in our living room for weeks and it's so much more effective and convenient compared to room sprays! The plugin diffuser contains three scents which change as it's switched on so you experience a different scent over time which is a great idea and all of the scents are so fresh and spring-like.
Beauty
Last but not least (although there are pet products and a vape e-pen in the goody bag) is the beauty section. Let's start with the Oral B 3D White Toothpaste in the 'whitening sensitive' and 'enamel care' options. I've been using the 'whitening sensitive' toothpaste and I love it, especially as I do have quite sensitive teeth and most toothpaste options tend to feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Another beauty item that's been a favourite of mine for weeks is the Barefoot Overnight Foot Treatment as well as the Always Platinum Pads (the only pads I buy are from Always as they're so reliable) and the Palmolive Shower Gel. There's one product that I found to be a little unusual and that's the Mancave Micellar Water which seems quite out of place compared to the other products.
Lastly there are a few items with children and babies including the Extra Care Baby Wipes, Kids Multivitamins, Cow and Gate Follow On Milk and the Colgate Magik, the latter is a manual toothbrush with a stand so that it can be used with their app which tracks, in real time, the position of the toothbrush when it's used to track the brushing technique. I think that's an amazing idea and something I would have loved growing up so I'm going to pass it onto my friends son who I think will like it too!
Overall, I'm so grateful to be very kindly gifted a goody bag of all the winning products, most of which I loved and have been using for weeks now. Today's post was a run down of all my favourite items from the winners list but you can check out the full list on the Product Of The Year website.
Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the award and winners list?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
