A Taste of Gracewell - Special Smoothie Recipe

At Gracewell Care Homes, residents are offered a great range of nutritious, delicious food tailored to their dietary needs. The care home has released their own 2016 Favourite Recipes booklet and I received one to take a look at. Among the recipes is the Gracewell Special Smoothie, which provides a great start to mornings or provides an excellent pick me up for any time of day.  The nutrient dense smoothie is easy to drink, tasty and full of goodness. I have had a go at making it myself using their recipe.

Gracewell Special Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 4

230ml almond milk

170g fresh pineapple

130ml cranberry juice

115g blueberries

2 1/2 tsp pumpkin seeds

Cucumber slices (to taste)

Method

Peel and chop pineapple and cucumber.

Blend everything together for 2 minutes in a blender until smooth (I used my Nutribullet).

Serve immediately - with a fruit garnish.

Each glass of the colourful smoothie is 304 calories and is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It tastes fresh, fruity and creamy. The seeds add a superfood punch to the smoothie - as an alternative you could add cashews, chia seeds or baobab.  The recipe is quick to prepare, easy to eat and the recipe can be adapted to include other favourite fruits, berries or juice.

Fruit and Nut Breakfast Bar Recipe with Lyle's Golden Syrup

Lyle's have challenged me to make one of their breakfast recipes created by Jo Pratt using Lyle's easy to squeeze Breakfast Bottle Golden Syrup. Jo's recipes are great for winter mornings when you need something hearty to give you the energy you need to get through the day.

The recipe I chose to make was Lyle's Golden Syrup Fruit and Nut Breakfast Bars. This recipe is particularly appealing because I have lots of left over dried fruit and nuts from Christmas, making this a great way to use them up. With a few tweaks of the recipe (such as using vegan margarine instead of butter) I was able to create a vegan version of the bars, packed with oats, cranberries, dates, almonds, Brazil nuts, linseed, pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds.

The Fruit and Nut Breakfast Bars are compact, nutrient dense and energy giving. They are great for when on the go and can be enjoyed with a glass of juice or milk or a pot of yogurt. They would also be perfect for lunchboxes. (Click on the image below to open it to full size for recipe.)

The recipe is pretty easy to make and can be adapted to suit what you have in the cupboard. It is a lovely way to use up nuts and seeds and dried fruits, and if stored in an airtight container will last up to 2 weeks.

The bars are colourful with a lovely, flapjacky texture and a sweet, fruity, nutty and rich flavour. Although not low in calories, they are nutrient dense and rich in fibre.

Up & Go - a new concept in breakfasting on the go

Mornings can be such a rush that sometimes my breakfast is forgotten in a melee of misplaced reading folders, lost shoes and general pre-school run chaos. I'm not alone in this; 60% of Brits admit to skipping breakfast at least once a week. My teenage daughter definitely ends up too rushed for breakfast some mornings. Not great when she has a whole morning of lessons to sit through before the chance of eating something wholesome.

When you find yourself in one of these chaotic morning rushes, Up & Go may be just the answer. It's Australia's no.1 breakfast, that is now available in the UK. It provides a nutritious breakfast drink in a single serving carton (complete with straw) that can be enjoyed on the go. Each carton is made with wholegrain oats and contains as much fibre, protein and calcium as your average bowl of cereal and milk. It's a proper nutritious breakfast - only much more portable!  

I received some to try, in each of the three latest flavours. Banana & Honey combines ripe banana with a hint of sweetness. Iced Coffee is the perfect option if you can't start the day without a coffee fix, made with an essence of Arabica and Robusta roasted beans. Mixed Berries offers a refreshing blueberry, raspberry and strawberry hit in a smooth fruity blend. They are also available in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavours. 

They are great to grab and go on those mornings when you don't manage to have a 'real breakfast', and can be enjoyed on the school run, in the bus or at the office, providing a wholesome breakfast on even the busiest of mornings. I feel much happier knowing I can pop one in my daughter's schoolbag, knowing she can have something nutritious to start the day if necessary. Up & Go is a convenient, fun and time saving way to have a good breakfast on those days when time slips away.

Up & Go is available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda or Ocado at £1.39 for a 250ml carton.

Nutribix - a new cereal to revolutionise breakfast

Nutribix is the latest cereal to hit the breakfast aisle in major supermarkets, offering something fresh and new to health conscious consumers and people who want a gluten free cereal for breakfast. Containing the ancient grain and newly hailed superfood Sorghum, Nutribix is naturally high in fibre, protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. We were sent some to try out.

Available in two variants, the Gluten Free Nutribix is suitable for those with Coeliac Disease or those on gluten free diets. It is made in a 100% gluten free factory so there is no compromise on safety. It is 96% wholegrain Sorghum, low in sugar and fortified with nutrients. The Gluten Free Nutribix are rectangular breakfast biscuits with a light texture, which can be served with milk and fruit. Alternatively they can be blended into a breakfast smoothie for a wholesome and filling start to the day. It is great to see such a tasty breakfast cereal available that is naturally gluten free, bringing more choice to the market.

The Gold and Grains Nutribix is a delicious combination of Sorghum, Oats, Wheat and Rye wholegrains with added rice, a touch of coconut and honey. They have a chunky, crunchy texture full of delicious grains and are fortified with vitamins and iron. I have been eating my way through the box of Gold and Grain Nutribix, served with almond milk and I can honestly say they are fantastic. They are so filling and it feels like they are doing you good. The biscuits look very rustic and natural, they aren't too sweet and are very flavoursome. Serving with colourful fruits and your choice of milk, they make a great breakfast, kick starting the day with wholegrain goodness and nutrients. Nutribix has definitely brought something new and different to the breakfast table.

Each box contains 24 of the Nutribix cereal biscuits, with two being the recommended portion size. You can find them in Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado. Look out for the colourful boxes - I love the branding, which makes Nutribix stand out from the other cereals.

Find out more at nutribix.co.uk or follow Nutribix on Twitter @Nutribix, on Instagram @Nutribix or on the Nutribix Facebook page.

What About Breakfast at Greggs?

According to a recent survey, The 2015 Greggs Breakfast Report, the perfect breakfast is a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee at 7.40am. However, not everybody follows such a morning routine and breakfast is rapidly becoming one of the most versatile and adaptable of meals.

Only half of the 5000 Brits surveyed admitted to eating breakfast at home in the morning with 39% saying they just didn't have time for it. When it comes to professionals, 15% say they eat breakfast at their desk, with a third of them using the time to multitask and check their emails. 1 in 7 people simply have a cup of coffee in the morning and two thirds admit they couldn't function without their caffeine fix. 22% buy a cup of takeaway coffee on the go each day with young professionals consuming an average of 130 shop bought cups of takeaway coffee a year.

The way that we are enjoying breakfast is definitely changing. We are finding new ways to fit our morning meal in around our busy lives, making the time we have work for us in the most efficient way.

Greggs have a breakfast range available for people who eat on the go, which includes omelette baguettes and rolls, porridge, pain au chocolat, muffins and fruit and oatie cookies. They also have fresh coffee and bottled fairtrade orange juice.  I was sent a voucher to try out breakfast Greggs style.

The new Fruit and Oatie Cookie is a delicious oat biscuit with sultanas and raisins with a gently spiced flavour. With a soft, crumbly texture, it goes perfectly with a coffee for a quick breakfast on the go.

The creamy pots of porridge come in original, golden syrup and new red berry flavours. You just need to add water to make a pot of hot porridge. It is a good option for anyone grabbing something to eat at their desk at work, looking for something hot and satisfying.

The pastries at Greggs are perfect to pick up for an indulgent grab and go morning treat. The pain au chocolat are soft, light and buttery for an indulgent breakfast.

The omelette breakfast roll and baguette are made using Good Egg Awarded Free Range and Cage Free eggs served in a crusty baguette or a soft roll with a choice of sauces. It is nice to see vegetarian options on the menu at Greggs (we don't all crave bacon butties you know!!)

My mornings always start with a coffee. Greggs sell their own coffee blend of slow roasted mild Arabica and rich Robusta beans, which is 100% fairtrade. So however you have it, from black to latte, you can get your morning cuppa to start your day.

Not only is Greggs range very impressive, it is also really reasonable ...much cheaper than the big name high street coffee shops. If you are someone who buys a coffee and a breakfast snack on the way to work or after the school run you could save £££'s over the course of the week!

Breakfast is served until 11am Monday to Sunday, so you can even enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast. See the whole range online at www.greggs.co.uk/menu/breakfast-range or pop into your local Greggs.

Banana and Chia Seed Porridge Recipe

Starting the day with a healthy breakfast really can really make a difference to you energy levels and vitality during the day. I have been experimenting with creating some plant based, vegan friendly dishes, that will harness all the goodness of nutrient dense ingredients, but still taste delicious. This is my breakfast dish that I think ticks the boxes.

Banana and Chia Seed Porridge

Ingredients

1 cup of coconut or almond milk

1/2 cup of porridge oats

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 banana - sliced

Method

Put milk and oats into a small saucepan and bring to boil.

Add chia seeds and sliced banana to pan.

Simmer for 3-4 minutes until cooked through.

This porridge is rich, creamy and naturally sweet. The slow release energy from the oats keeps you energised and satisfied, while the superfood chia seeds add quality nutrients to the dish. It's quick and easy and really is a great start to the day.

NEW Low Sugar Oat Cheerios

NEW Low Sugar Oat Cheerios, have just 1.4g of sugar per serving, are rich in fibre and are made with 98% wholegrain. They give families the opportunity to maintain the balance between a great tasting breakfast and a healthier way to start the day.

Freddy is a big fan of Cheerios so he was our first test subject.  I didn't tell him they were new, and just gave him a bowlful in his favourite bowl just like I always do.  Immediately he looked suspicious and asked why were they all white!  Then he tried a few spoonfuls and said that they weren't quite as tasty as his usual three colour Cheerios, but they were OK.  We compromised by adding a handful of regular Cheerios to the bowl, and he yummied them all up.

For me, this is a success story.  Freddy is the boy who hates change and likes exactly what he likes. I happily adopt compromises that will mean he is still getting all the taste and crunch, but with less sugar in half of what he consumed. I will never make mealtimes a battlefield, and when a happy compromise can be reached, I think it moves things forward for the better with everyone still smiling. The wholegrain goodness and lower sugar recipe provides a good start to the day for my little boy.

Ian, on the other hand, always complains about the sweetness of cereals, so the Low Sugar Oat Cheerios were perfect for him.  As oats are such a superfood, packed with slow release energy, these cereals make a great start to the day.  They are quick and convenient and they retain the element of fun with their tasty 'O' format.

It is good that Nestle are responding to the new guidelines on sugar, allowing us all to continue enjoying our favourite cereals in a healthier way.

Find Nestle cereals in the cereal aisle of supermarkets.

Breakfast in Bed for Mum this Mother's Day

If you are planning on treating your mum to a well deserved breakfast in bed this Mother's Day, then Roberts Bakery has some advice on making the perfect boiled egg, served with soft and fluffy toasted soldiers. A soft boiled egg with a dippy yolk and perfectly cut toasted soldiers with butter is such a classic breakfast choice.  

Roberts Bakery sent us a loaf of their Soft and Fluffy white bread along with some breakfast goodies so we could have a trial run for making our own breakfast in bed.  Freshly made toast in a rack, a deliciously soft boiled free range egg and a cup of tea (black no sugar for me!) would make a great start to the day.  It definitely makes a change to my usual breakfast choice, which is a green kale and spinach smoothie!

You can make a breakfast tray more inviting by popping on a vase containing a single bloom and don't forget to bring mum her Mother's Day cards and gifts so she can open them in bed.  Sunday promises to bring a relaxing lie-in for many lucky mums this weekend - I just hope I'm going to be one of them!

What better way of showing your mum how much you care this Sunday!

Shake Up your Wake Up with Nestle Cereals #BreakfastWeek

Nestle are celebrating #BreakfastWeek by inviting us all to shake up our wake up and make breakfast times more fun.  They want us to get creative with the kids and mix and match our cereals to make a yummy concoction to start the day.  Not only will this encourage kids to get involved with preparing their breakfast, it will ensure they enjoy a nutritious start to their morning.

Funnily enough, breakfast cereal concoctions have been a 'thing' here Inside the Wendy House for as long as I can remember.  Why have one type of cereal when you can have two or even three?  There is so much choice and with every green bannered box of Nestle breakfast cereals, you know you are getting wholegrain goodness and at least five vitamins and minerals.  You really can't go wrong.

Freddy's favourite, which he has every morning is a Cheerio and Shreddies combo with cold, almond milk.

So, here I give to you Freddy's Nestle Cheerio and Shreddies combo:

Freddio's Shreddio's!

Kezia went for a mix of Curiously Cinnamon and Cookie Crisp, served with a splash of cold almond milk (or eaten dry from a bowl as a tasty brekkie on her way to school along with a drinkable yogurt for a hearty breakfast on the go!)

Kezia called her combo:  Sugar and Spice.

What does your toast say about you?

Duerr's Marmalade and Roberts Bakery have teamed up to evaluate how a person's morning toast preferences reflect their personality. They have come up with a fun quiz so you can discover what your toast says about you!

From the thickness of the bread to your opinion on double dipping the knife between the butter and the jam jar, your thoughts unlock your breakfast personality and check your compatibility with whoever you share your breakfast with in the morning.

With my love of lightly done, thick sliced, 50/50 bread toasted and topped with a medium spreading of no-bits jam and butter (no double dipping allowed!) and with a penchant for leaving my crusts,  I have been identified as a Peacekeeper, which is a surprisingly accurate reflection of my personality!

If you want to have a go simply visit marmaladeandtoast.co.uk and take part in this fun, and in my case, surprisingly accurate personality test!

Love your tummy with All-Bran #realmumsallbran

Life can be hectic, fast paced and chaotic. As a parent, time is valuable and sometimes in the melee we don't take as good care of ourselves as we should.  Little things like enjoying a healthy breakfast can be forgotten in the hectic morning rush.  Getting enough fibre in your diet or eating your five a day can be overlooked in favour of rushed ready meals or late night take aways. Consequently, our health and our digestive wellbeing can suffer. We can feel gassy or bloated.  In fact 52% of 1000 women surveyed confessed to experiencing digestive complaints at least once a week. Not a recipe for feeling good.

As serotonin is mostly made in the gut, we are restricting the production of our happy hormone when we don't look after our tummies. No wonder so many of us feel below par so often. It's no surprise that we sometimes have unhappy tums.

A sad tummy :(

Kellogg's All-Bran and Britmums have challenged me to try the #RealMumsAllBran 5 day challenge in an effort to get a good feeling in my tummy.  The challenge also encourages us to love our tummies, flaws and all, and embrace the way we look.

Once upon a time I had a tummy that looked like this.

Nowadays it looks a lot less like this and more like a big blob of over-handled dough.  It's no longer taut or tanned as it was in my teens.  It's pale and pasty...it's not seen the sun for years!  My days of bikini clad sunbathing on the beach have been replaced with the wearing of sensible one piece cossies and sitting in the shade. The me that was, is no more. Lots has changed over the years

My tummy and I have a longstanding love-hate relationship.  On one hand I have nothing but admiration for my tummy.  It has housed my five growing babies - my first pregnancy was in 1988, my last in 2009.  Forty five months of my life have been dedicated to producing my offspring.  That's almost four years where my tummy has been stretched to capacity, kicked, jabbed and prodded from within.  It's bound to take its toll.

My last pregnancy 'blew' my stomach muscles, which have failed to close up properly. Consequently, even if I'm a little overweight, my stomach just bulges out. It's not a good look, and can evoke questions pertaining to when I'm due.  Mortifying and no good for my confidence.

But it happened because I carried my 9lb 10oz baby to term.  It's a war wound from my last ever pregnancy. A reminder of what it was like to carry my last born son.  So how can I view it negatively?
I just have to suck in my core and keep the pounds off.  I can do that! It was definitely worth it because I have an adorable little boy because of it.

A little Kizzy with my 6 month baby belly!

Every stretch mark, every scar, every mole and every ounce of flesh that overhangs the waistband of my skinny jeans tells a story.  It's the story of motherhood...and I wouldn't have things any other way.  Carrying, birthing and raising my five beautiful children is the greatest and most rewarding achievement of my 45 years!

If ever my vanity threatens to confuse my mindset into dreaming about tummy tucks or liposuction in an attempt to recapture the taut tummy of my teens, I just have to think about my family and smile.
Maybe I'll never be a middle aged super model...but I'm a mum...a real mum...and that's good enough for me.

As for the health of my insides, I have taken the 5 day challenge, enjoying a bowl of new All-Bran every morning for my breakfast.  As a vegetarian, fibre features quite regularly in my diet from pulses, fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and nuts....but I am notorious for failing to eat a good breakfast. This challenge promised to put me on the road to good eating habits.

I remember back in the day when the only type of All-Bran available was the brown sticky kind! Now we get a choice including indulgent Golden Crunch, Red Berry Crunch and Chocolate Wheats. All-Bran is definitely a product that has come a long, long way over the years, appealing to a wider audience with more demanding and varied tastes, but still gives consumers a high fibre cereal to improve their digestive wellbeing.

The Red Berry Crunch is my favourite of the three varieties.  I enjoy it best, sprinkled over a bowl of soya yogurt or with almond milk.  The clusters are quite big, indulgent and very filling, whilst the dried strawberries add a fruity twist to the cereal.  As the cereals are fortified, I know I am getting Iron and other essential nutrients in addition to the fibre.

After five days, I definitely feel more energised in the morning and am not hungry until mid afternoon.  My body has definitely enjoyed being well fed, and taking five minutes at the start of the day for a yummy breakfast has been quite an uplifting experience.  A bit of me-time, no matter how minor is always therapeutic!

The cereals are sweetened, so depending on your personal taste, you may find that you prefer the traditional 'stick' All-Bran or the flakes.  But having the whole range to pick from gives you choice and variety.  So, whatever type of cereals you enjoy, there is no excuse for not loving your tummy with All-Bran!


                       


You can follow other real mums' stories by looking for the hashtag #RealMumsAllBran on Twitter.

This post is an entry for the Real Mums of All-Bran Linky Challenge, sponsored by Kelloggs.

Five Ways to Achieve a Happier You

They say that: "happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life".  But to achieve this state of happiness may well require a little effort by way of setting the tone for each day ahead with a good dose of positivity.  Starting the day well and making small changes to our outlook on life can make a big difference to our overall happiness.

Count Your Blessings

It's so easy to take things for granted, but when you stop and think about the good things in your life, you feel truly blessed.  For me, I have a family who are everything to me.  I have a husband who I am still totally in love with, even after two decades together!  My children are my world.  Motherhood defines me and my children's love validates me.  Being surrounded by the love and laughter of my family is a wonderful place to be.  

Be Mindful

 If you are constantly complaining about the weather, your lack of money or the fact that you're a few pounds overweight, then you are wasting precious time, giving yourself over to pessimism and missing out on the everyday wonders that surround us.  Being mindful of the positive things that are present in the here and now, however small they may seem, helps combat stress and anxiety, opening us up to a happier more content outlook. Just taking a moment to be still and to reflect on these things can be life changing.

Silver Linings

Making a conscious effort to find silver linings in anything that may initially be thought of as a negative is a great way of finding the good in situations.  We can't change the world, but we can change the way we perceive it and respond to it. There are lessons to be learned if we open ourselves up to them.  As Doctor Seuss so beautifully said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Stop and Smell the Coffee

Thinking of the things that make us happy is an antidote to the stresses and strains of modern living.  But this doesn't mean we should be focusing purely on the big and possibly unachievable things.  Yes. we'd all love to win the lottery or land our dream job, but these things don't happen very often to ordinary folk. Instead, we should take the time to recognise the little sources of happiness that happen around us everyday and appreciate them when they arise.  For me, it's the smell of coffee, the feel of sunshine on my skin, seeing a rainbow, hearing my kids laughter, eating the perfect strawberry, baking a cake, a lunchtime phone call with my husband or reading a good book.  Recognising these little things that make us happy and bring us pleasure, is a great start to achieving a greater happiness.

Spread a Little Happiness

A shared smile with a stranger.  The warm feeling of knowing you have helped someone in need.  Feeling a part of a greater joy. Making others happy can amplify your own feelings of happiness.  It's often the little things like making small talk to the old lady in the supermarket or buying lunch for an old friend that makes us feel good about ourselves and the role we are playing in the lives of others. Random acts of kindness are seldom forgotten, and knowing that we have made someone's day a little brighter is an empowering thought.

How do you go about achieving happiness in your life??

I was challenged by Dorset Cereal to write this post about what makes me happy and how I try to inject happiness into my life .  They sent me some cereals so I could enjoy a good breakfast while reflecting upon the good things that surround me. Even the packaging of the cereals put me in a happy mood, giving me a cheery disposition in the morning. After all, as Dorset Cereals say life begins at breakfast!

Review Round Up - Breakfast Boots and the e-cloth Wand

Toast Soldiers

If you are looking to add some extra fun to breakfast, then how about serving up your toast soldiers in breakfast boots!  These limited edition boots are from the Federation of Bakers who are encouraging using bread as part of a wholesome, fibre-packed breakfast. Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for the chance to get your hands on a set of boots, when they offer samples again.

Freddy had his morning toast and Marmite in the boots and he said "It is the best thing I have ever eated! And the tastiest too!"  Amazing what a pair of little soldier boots can make to a round of toast!

e-cloth Cleaning & Dusting Wand

I am a fan of e-cloth, the household cloths that clean using the power of water.  This is a quick, easy, safe, allergy friendly, environmentally friendly and cheap way to clean your home.

We received a cleaning and dusting wand to try out, which can be used wet or dry, to clean awkward areas and narrow spaces such as behind radiators, between audio-visual equipment and underneath appliances.

The washable sleeve is removable and attaches to the bendable wand using velcro.  It is guaranteed for 300 washes, which means it will last for ages.  It is perfect for all those tricky, hard to reach areas and is good for removing cobwebs from the ceiling too.

It costs £9.99 and is another great product in the e-cloth range.  Find out more at www.e-cloth.com.

Nutritious Breakfast Advice from Nestle

We recently took part in a campaign with Nestle, keeping a breakfast diary then discussing the findings with a nutritionist.

When it comes to breakfast, I usually sit down after the school run to eat a bowl of porridge or have a bowl of cereals both made using almond milk. The nutritionist said that porridge was a good source of slow release energy and is a great breakfast as long as it isn't served with too many sweet toppings.  She recommended topping with fresh fruit to get one of my five a day, although I usually have it plain.  Cereals should preferably be wholegrain and fortified with vitamins and minerals to maximize their health benefits.

I prefer using vegan milks rather than dairy, whereas the nutritionist was very much a pro-dairy advocate. Plant based milks tend to be fortified with calcium and vitamins and the one I use Alpro Almond Original is low in fat and just 48 calories per 100ml.  So I have no qualms about using non-dairy alternatives, which I personally think are a better source of nutrition and a healthier alternative.  Plus I really like it!

Ian likes toast for breakfast and as we tend to buy 50/50 wholegrain bread, which the kids prefer, so he's getting his fibre and also getting the fortification that goes into it.  He will also sometimes have cereals served with unsweetened soya milk, another good source of fibre and as the cereals and milk are both fortified, he is getting vitamins and minerals too.  He usually eats fruit on his commute into work, adding to his 5 a day tally.

The nutritionist reminded me of the importance of getting calcium in our diet.  By our late teens most of our future bone strength is pre-determined so it is vital to ensure our children get their RDA.  The kids do still eat some dairy products: cheese, yogurt and milk, plus they have have fortified non-dairy milks too.  Leafy green vegetables and pulses are great sources of calcium (as vegetarians we get plenty of both). So hopefully they will have plenty of calcium in reserve for when they get older and age causes them to lose bone strength. They don't need a high dairy diet to do this.

Milk and wholegrain fortified cereals make up the breakfasts of both Freddy and Kizzy. They tend to choose Cheerios or Shreddies, both fortified and not too high on the added sugars.  Wholegrain cereals are really important to our diets and the Nestle cereals are an easy way of getting one of our daily portions of wholegrains.

When it comes to 17 year old Ella, it's usually a case of breakfast on the bus on her way to college.  A cereal bar and a bottle of water usually does the job, giving her the hydration and the energy she needs.  Not the most nutritious start to the day, but she has a good healthy lunch and access to healthy food at college so I don't worry too much.  Anything is better than nothing when it comes to getting something to eat on a rushed morning.

We could improve our mornings by adding fruit such as bananas, grapes or berries with breakfast.  Fruit juices are also good but only in moderation.  Using our juicer to make juices that contain not only regular fruits but which also contain foods such as spinach, kale, fresh ginger and wheatgrass will provide a healthy plant-based boost to our breakfast.  But as vegetarians we generally always get our five a day anyway, and so any extra will be an added bonus.

Nestle kindly sent us a box of their cereals that will keep us in healthy wholegrain breakfasts for a good few weeks!  The kids absolutely love a bowl of dry Curiously Cinnamon cereals as an alternative to eating biscuits.  It's a healthier wholegrain snack for them to enjoy after school.

Brighten up Breakfast with Lyle's Golden Syrup

Lyle's have a new, easy to use, mess free Breakfast Bottle to add to their range of Golden Syrup products. The handy sized bottle has a flip top lid and non-drip valve making it easy to squeeze some delicious Golden Syrup over your pancakes or porridge in the morning.  It will bring a smile to breakfast time, especially welcome at the moment with this awful weather we are having!

Freddy loves to start the day with a bowl of porridge topped with a golden syrup smile.  The girls love it on American pancakes.  The new Lyle's Golden Syrup Breakfast Bottle is much easier to use than spooning from a sticky jar or tin and makes a minimal mess, even in the kids' hands.

Lyles have come up with some great recipe ideas to liven up your morning porridge.  How about serving with juicy blueberries, hazelnuts and a squirt of golden syrup?  Or how about pomegranate and berries or even a sticky toffee apple topping?  You can find details of these and other Golden syrup recipes on their website at www.lylesgoldensyrup.com.

The new Lyle’s Golden Syrup Breakfast Bottle is available now in Tesco, Asda and Ocado stores nationwide with an RRP of 1.75 (340g).  I received a bottle for the purpose of this review.

Honey Monster's New Choco WOWs, Honey WOWs and Stix Cereal Bars.

The Honey Monster has launched new Choco WOWs and Honey WOWs cereal and Stix cereal bars in two exciting flavours full of kid appeal: Marshmallow and Vanilla Yoghurt or Honeycomb and Milk Chocolate.

Breakfast is so important to children. But if you have a fussy eater, getting a good breakfast into your little one can be difficult.  This is when offering kid friendly cereals can be a great help. They may be sweet treats but a morning bowl of WOWs is also packed with vitamins, iron and fibre and contains no artificial ingredients. The milk chocolate or honey coated multigrain hoops with oats and crisped rice will give your youngsters the energy they need to see them through the day ahead. It's nice to see that even though the cereals contain sugar and chocolate, they are also packed with good stuff.  In an ideal world, kids would eat a sugar free organic breakfast in the morning, but in the real world kids often don't work this way! As a parent I'd prefer my kids to eat something in the morning, even if that means compromising to satisfy a sweet-tooth.  The child will be happy and the parent can rest easy knowing that their little one has had a daily dose of vitamins, iron and fibre in the process.

The WOWs are very tasty and Freddy enjoyed eating them with milk as an after school snack.  He enjoys cereal in the afternoon, re-energising him after school.

Stix cereal bars are made from crisp rice and Sugar Puffs and are an ideal, energy-boosting snack which can be enjoyed at home or on the go.  Freddy has one as his Friday snack at school, when kids are allowed something other than fruit at breaktime.  He really likes the Marshmallow and Vanilla flavour Stix bar.  They are a good size for little people.

Kids will love Honey Monster’s new fun range and mums know that their little monsters will happily eat the cereals or the bars and will be getting the goodness they need.

The Honey Monster is also on tour and is visiting Tesco Extras up and down the country - sadly not at any near me though! Find out more info here: www.honeymonster.co.uk

We received some WOWs and Stix to try from the Honey Monster!

Fuelling Big School Days with Weetabix

The kids are going back to school and they will need a good breakfast to fill their bellies and keep them going until lunchtime.  With Freddy starting full time school on September 4th, I want to be sure he has a good start to the day to prepare him for everything new and exciting that comes his way.  So for Freddy, a bowl of Weetabix with milk is on the menu.

Weetabix is made with 100% wholegrain, is high in fibre and low in fat and sugar making it a great source of slow release energy to fuel my little lad until lunchtime.  It has four added vitamins and iron to aid his physical development and has no added nasties. It is ready to eat in moments with its easy to serve portions, making it perfect for busy mornings. What's more, Freddy loves it!

Having a healthy diet is essential for little ones, especially when they start school, which will see them expending loads of energy as they are stretched both mentally and physically. Weetabix's consultant dietician has some top tips to help make sure your child is happy and healthy at mealtimes.

• A variety of foods at regular meal times is key to a healthy diet
• Involve children in food and meal preparation
• Offer child-size portions, allowing for seconds if wanted, rather than serving one large portion
• Be a positive role model for your child when it comes to eating
• Eat together as a family
• Keep sweet treats as an occasional end of meal treat
• Top up between meals with a healthy snack such as vegetable/fruit sticks with yoghurt dip or breakfast cereal with milk
• Make sure your child is not too tired to eat
• If you have any worries talk to your doctor, health visitor or school nurse

Belvita for Busy Mornings

The last week of the summer holidays is here. Every minute of everyday is made up of precious moments, before my little Freddy starts school, and I do not want to miss out on them.  This time is so special to me. On September 4th my baby boy begins his school career and my life will no longer revolve around being a stay at home mum to my pre-schooler.  It's a time for big changes, both exciting and scary in equal measure.

We've had a really busy and enjoyable summer holiday so far, doing lots of fun stuff which has involved some early starts. When the routine goes out of the window, getting the kids up in the morning isn't always easy.  We simply don't get the luxury of a leisurely breakfast when pushed for time and skipping breakfast is never a good idea.  It's during days like this when I swear by breakfast on the go in the car.  It saves time and avoids the stress of rushing around or running late.  With my grown-up girls as well as Freddy to get ready, mornings can be pretty hectic!

I received a fantastic Summer Holidays On The Go Kit from Belvita to help me cope with the remaining days of the holidays, so not a moment is wasted on those early morning starts.  With a diary to keep me organised, a book of ideas for days out, a picnic rug and a cute Cath Kidston bag to carry everything I need, days out will be much easier to contend with.

My On The Go Kit also included some new Belvita Breakfast Duo Crunch with Apricot and Live Yogurt.  The tasty wholemeal biscuit sandwiches are generously filled with a creamy yogurt and fruity jam filling.  They contain added vitamins and minerals and are a source of slow release carbohydrates, releasing energy continuously over 4 hours.

Grabbing the individual foil portion packs of Belvita biscuits and throwing them into my bag  provides a good start to the mornings along with a piece of fruit and a drink, and can easily be enjoyed on the go. With grown-up kids, this is an ideal solution to the rush of mornings.

The biscuits are tasty and the moist filling makes them really palatable and easy to eat.  My girls happily munched on them and I was happy to know they were getting nutrients and energy for the whole morning. This keeps them going until lunchtime so we can enjoy thrilling days out together, and get out of the house quickly and effortlessly.  Our latest day out to the Chill Factore in Manchester was fuelled by a Belvita breakfast!

The Belvita Breakfast Apricot and Live Yogurt Duo Crunch Biscuits are available in major supermarkets with an RRP of £2.79 for a 5 portion pack.  

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Weetabix on the Go

Did you know that 8 million Brits skip breakfast everyday!  Many people grab a snack to eat on the go, but the choices for a healthy and substantial morning meal have not always been that great.

Weetabix have come to the rescue, applying their breakfast expertise to their newly launched Weetabix On The Go - the perfect portable solution for busy mornings.  The delicious baked biscuits come in individual four pack servings and provide all the fibre, minerals and vitamins of two regular Weetabix.  They mean you can grab them and go, knowing that you haven't compromised on a good start to the day.

We were sent the Apple with a Hint of Cinnamon and the Fruit and Fibre  varieties to try out.

The biscuits themselves are Weetabix shaped and bear the distinctive Weetabix logo.  The four packs come in their own plastic packet keeping the contents safe and protected when on the go.  You can pop one straight into your bag.  The multipack boxes contain five of these 50g servings.

The biscuits themselves are lower in fat, sugar and salt than the average breakfast biscuit.  They are rich in wholegrains, high in fibre and contain Calcium,vitamins and Iron.  They have a very pleasant taste and are surprisingly filling.  So filling in fact, that two would be plenty.  I'd save the other two for a snack later in the day!

The pieces of apple or fruit in the biscuits give a lovely flavour and add some texture.  They make a nice alternative to the Milk and Cereal flavour.  I am a bit of a purist and prefer the subtle vanilla flavour of the original ones. But Ian likes the dried fruity pieces and loves the new additions to the range.

The Weetabix On The Go are so convenient for those days when you just don't have time to eat a proper breakfast or if you want to eat later on.  They are great for my daughter who is at college and has to catch the 7.30am bus.  She can grab a pack of Weetabix On The Go and a carton of juice to enjoy on the bus.  I know she is getting something nutritious that will fill her up and help fuel her day!

RRP: £2.19 for a multi-pack/ 55p for an individual pack of 4 biscuits

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

Despite the fact that most people know how important breakfast is, research shows that as many as one in three people regularly skip breakfast . But with Belvita Breakfast – which come in individually wrapped servings – you can enjoy breakfast your way, whether at home, on the go, or at work, so there’s no excuse not to have a balanced breakfast!

Belvita sent me a lovely treat for Mother's Day to ensure that I get a good breakfast even on those days when I am really rushed.  The lovely travel mug means I can grab a hot latte, a packet of Belvita and a banana on the go however busy I am.  It's a simple way to start the day with a wholesome, quick breakfast.  Eating them with a portion of dairy and a piece of fruit provides a balanced meal for busy mums.

·         Belvita Breakfast biscuits are scientifically proven to slowly release carbohydrates over four hours  – giving you energy for the whole morning and keeping you going until lunch.

·         The new Belvita Breakfast Cranberry biscuits are a tasty combination of wholegrain cereals and cranberry pieces. Each serving of Belvita Breakfast Cranberry biscuits provides a source of vitamins E, B1 B3, Iron and Magnesium.  The Belvita biscuits are filling and taste good.  I love the addition of cranberries, it works really well giving a slightly chewy texture and a nice fruity flavour.

·         Belvita Breakfast are the only breakfast biscuits available in 10 flavours so everyone will be able to find a favourite. Belvita Breakfast Cranberry biscuits will join the full Belvita Breakfast range, which includes Milk & Cereals, Fruit & Fibre, Honey & Nuts, Crunchy Oats, Forest Fruits, Muesli, Yogurt Crunch, Honey & Live Yogurt Crunch and Strawberry & Live Yogurt Duo Crunch.

 Belvita Breakfast Cranberry Biscuits are available in all major supermarkets nationwide (RRP £2.45).

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