food

Smoothie Bowls: What are those Instagram Phenomenons?

September 18, 2017

Smoothie bowls. What the heck are those you may be wondering? Smoothie bowls are essentially a smoothie topped with fruit, nuts and anything else nutritious you can find! They are more satisfying than a regular smoothie as you can't just down it and you can really appreciate the taste and variety of texture. The best thing about a smoothie bowl is how creative you can be! The more diverse the colours, textures and types of food the better! I am pretty new in the smoothie bowl hype but my favourite recipes I have created so far are below!
Smoothie Bowl

adult

What I Miss About Being a Student

November 24, 2016

After graduating in July, I officially am no longer a student. And haven't been for the past 4 months. It sucks. I miss the learning, the writing and of course the partying; I even miss the stress not to mention the array of student discounts you can get and getting away with the excuse of being lazy because you are a student. 


I have been in education since I began nursery which was a lifetime ago. I didn't take any gap years or breaks throughout my education and since 2010 when I first started my GCSEs, I have been an extremely academic girl always putting my work before anything. All my hard work and sacrifice for my GCSEs and A Levels paid off and I made it onto the course and the University that I really wanted to attend.

University life was amazing. Endless partying, meeting new people and learning new things; it was a real learning curve and helped to bring out a new confidence within myself which I lacked throughout school. Although there was a number of tired and endless nights and the fact that I probably cried myself a mini river throughout my time at University, I wouldn't change it for the world. Except for Harvard referencing. I despised that.             

After graduating and entering the big scary adult world that we live in, you begin to realise how much you took student life for granted. Having to get up to go to work instead of learning about a passion of yours is quite tiring which is why I am currently looking to further my academic career as I am currently applying for Masters courses. I have basically learnt that since graduation, a profession in my degree area is much easier to get with a Masters. Also since graduating, I feel like my intelligence is slowly but surely depleting. I hope I'm not the only one who feels like this! I am used to being force fed tonnes of information everyday but now the only information I get is from the news. I think I need to get back to reading books and articles on my subject area again. 


I can't wait to finish my Masters application, hopefully be accepted and start learning again! A year out of studying is too long for me and I can't wait to call myself a student once again. If you're currently a student, make the most of it!

Are you a graduate who misses being a student? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes. 

breakfast

Porridge and Why You Should Eat It Daily

November 14, 2016

Happy Monday morning! It's the start of a new week and there's not a better way to start the week than with a healthy breakfast. And a coffee of course. Porridge. The first thing I used to think when I saw or heard the word 'porridge' was a bland, cement-like and just very boring food. But porridge isn't boring and is the perfect breakfast or snack for these cold winter months.


 Porridge on it's own is I openly admit very boring and is more like a chore to eat rather than an enjoyment. Food is there to enjoy and porridge can be yummy believe it or not!
An excellent quality about porridge is that it compliments a variety of foods ranging from fruit to nuts, seeds to nut butters, sauces to syrups and even chocolate!

My favourite toppings include:
 - Peanut butter
 - Chia seeds
 - Goji berries
 - Cacao powder
 - Golden syrup
 - Linseed
 - Nicecream
 - Frozen mixed berries
 - Sunflower seeds
 - Pumpkin seeds
 - Banana
 - Chocolate
 - Jam
 - Desiccated coconut

I love a different combination of these toppings so my breakfast always tastes different but my key ingredient is cacao powder. It makes eating porridge so much more easier and it tastes amazing along with any of the other toppings listed above.

Porridge

 So why is porridge so good you may ask? The fact that you can make porridge in just two minutes in a microwave means there is no excuse for not having the time to make it. And the health benefits of porridge make it one of the top food staples to eat.

Oats are the predominant ingredient in porridge and have many health benefits. Oats are packed full of minerals, vitamins and fibre along with evidence of lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure. They also release energy slowly giving you the feeling of being fuller for longer. Oats contain vitamin A which reduce the risk of chronic disease as free-radicals are destroyed by this vitamin. Iron is also found in porridge which helps transport oxygen to red blood cells around the body. Making porridge with milk, which is what I prefer to water, also means calcium will be found in this breakfast which is involved in hormone secretion, muscle function as well as the strengthening of bones.

So involve porridge in your daily diet as either your breakfast or for a snack and reap the benefits! Experiment with toppings until you find your perfect combination and enjoy!

What are your favourite toppings? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.