breakfast – The Bunfight

Breakfast, Food, Food and Drink, Health and fitness, Healthy Eating, Midweek meals, Uncategorized

This is a cereal drama

September 26, 2016September 25, 2016by charfergLeave a Comment

I wish I could apologise for my dreadful pun, but I can’t. I love a good pun especially in the context of breakfast food. I have mentioned in previous posts trying to have healthy breakfast foods, but struggling to stay full until lunch. Which I must admit I have managed since changing what I ate in the morning and I must admit that adding muesli and porridge back into my repertoire there has been no exception. The added bonus of having a sweet breakfast is that once I get round to lunchtime I don’t seem to crave really sweet food quite so much.

I got sent some muesli by Stoats along with a range of their porridge which I loved and got me back onto cereal in a big way. Its just so easy! While I love smoothies and things on toast this actually means there is less washing up overall. (Also as mentioned previously I’m a big fan of Scottish food and produce as its part of my heritage and what I grew up eating).

I have found however, that it perks me up so much to have fruit first thing and I think my skin has certainly improved since adding more fruit into my diet.

Plus, I think cereal looks so beautiful when you’re hungry.

I was provided with samples of Stoats porridge but you can order online and find stockists here.

Breakfast, Easy Recipes, Food, Health and fitness, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Lighter cooking, Midweek meals, Recipe, Uncategorized, Vegan

Quick chia pudding

January 19, 2016January 17, 2016by charfergLeave a Comment

I do apologise, this is going to be another one of my wonderfully vague recipes. Although I would not call this a particularly quick recipe (who can argue something is quick when you soak it all night?); it will make your morning routine more simple. Not having to think beyond “should I grate in that apple or throw in a handful of sultanas” is sometimes the most complex thing I can determine when I get up for work.

Anyway chia pudding is convenient, really healthy and can really easily be adapted into a vegan recipe or made with things you really like.

To make chia pudding for 1 you will need:

Chia seeds

Milk of your choice (mine is coconut milk)

Yogurt (I used Alpro strawberry and rhubarb yogurt)

The topping of your choice (sliced banana, grated apple, etc etc)

Pour a small quantity of chia seeds into a cereal bowl so a thin layer covers the bottom. Cover this with about 2cm milk. Add 1 large spoonful of yogurt. Stir this so that all the seeds are as evenly dispersed as you can manage. Cover this and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning stir again. Add your toppings and serve. Enjoy your beautifully simple and delicious breakfast.

Food, Health and fitness, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle

Healthy breakfast ideas part 2

May 17, 2015May 17, 2015by charfergLeave a Comment

So my quest for healthier things for breakfast has been one of the most fun and delicious food challenges yet. I am finding myself naturally opting for some sort of fruit or vegetable when I start the day. The other thing is that I tend to force myself out of bed earlier to make breakfast and D has even jumped on the bandwagon on days where I prepare things in advance.

You’ll notice that currently there has been nothing with eggs for one reason only – in the mornings when I make my breakfast I am usually trying to do lots of things at once. So breakfast is thrown together (and photographed) while I make my lunch, feed the rabbits and try to put a load of washing in or do some other household chore. I feel I will fail miserably at egg cooking while doing all of the above. Anyway, here are some of the lovely things I have been eating for my breakfast lately.

1. Overnight oats (or is this Bircher? I’m new to this)

Overnight oats have become a favourite in our house. They’re really good value for money to make, they’re filling, they taste beautiful and they travel well. To make 2 portions take a mug full of oats, top with fruit juice to 1cm above the oats (I’ve used apple juice and mango juice so far), cover this and leave overnight. The next morning add a couple of tablespoons of yogurt (I used Alpro Soya yogurt with coconut in mine and low fat lemon on D’s). Then top with whatever fruit, nuts or seeds you fancy. I put D’s in his soup mug and he eats them on the bus – just make sure your container is sealed tightly.

2. Ham and tomato on toast

Obviously this one is pretty self explanatory but its also a good idea for days when you wake up late.

3. Porridge with fruit

I am a recent porridge convert but usually I stick to Oatso simple (which I still love), but trading in ready make combinations for proper fruit keeps your metabolism ticking over for far longer. So here are 2 of my favourite porridges. Banana and raspberry porridge and apple, sultana and cinnamon porridge (grate in your apple, add 1/2 tsp cinnamon and a handful of sultanas).

4. Toast with cashew butter and salami

So I saw a similar thing to this on buzzfeed about healthy breakfasts. Words cannot describe quite how delicious this is. Think heavenly savoury food loving angels singing to your mouth while you bite into warm salami goodness. Bliss.

5. Smoothies!

According to social media, smoothies are insanely popular at the moment. Hardly a day goes by when somebody isn’t adding a picture of a NutriBullet filled with glorious fruit to my instagram feed. You know what though? They do have a point. Smoothies are such an easy way to get more fruit (and vegetables) into your diet and they are so quick to make. I usually have mine going for a couple of minutes while I make a salad to take to work and they come out with a really creamy texture. Pictured combinations are blueberry, cashew butter, coconut milk and banana; raspberry, almond butter, banana and coconut milk; and blackberry (bramble), yogurt, banana and coconut milk. These feel so decadent and filling and the nuts add good fats your body needs to give you beautiful skin, shiny hair and they keep you fuller longer.

It’s funny how I’ve found a little time in the morning has made such a difference to my eating habits. I find I get less bloated and my moods have improved a lot. Plus I get fewer spots which is always a winner!

Breakfast, Food, Health and fitness, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Midweek meals

Healthy breakfast ideas when you’re pushed for time

April 26, 2015April 26, 2015by charferg2 Comments

For the past year and a half or so; instead of being on a specific diet I have just been trying to make healthier food choices. Things like trying to eat well in general rather than trying to cut out a specific food. Lately I have been trying to mix things up at breakfast by trying different things to help me cut craving for sweet things in general and to stop me wanting to snack all the time at work – being on my feet all the time at work makes me think I need to eat more than I possibly do if I have had the wrong breakfast. All of these breakfasts take less than 5 minutes to prepare; something that is important for most of us on a day when we’re rushing out to work. But the result has been pretty wonderful. Something in the combination of more complex carbs, or healthier fats has put me in a happier mood in the morning, my craving for sweet things has dropped a ridiculous amount and my jeans fit better.

1. Toast with almond butter topped with sliced banana

2. Muesli with grated apple and coconut milk

2. Avocado on toast (an instagram favourite)

3. Muesli with coconut yogurt, frozen raspberries and passionfruit (and a splash of coconut milk)

5. Smoked salmon and cucumber on toast

In case you were wondering I switch between soya and linseed, buckwheat and poppyseed and sunflower and chia seed breads and I the muesli is one with a higher nut and lower fruit content (I think it’s the Dorset cereals one). When it comes to eating healthily I feel like its important to start your day well and to try to have a balance to keep your metabolism ticking over a bit.