Taste testing Walkers Hoops and Crosses (sponsored review)

6 May, 2013 By 1 Comment

hoops-and-crosses

Are there any more? – JD, 5

This week, we were sent a pack of Roast Beef Hoops and Crosses – the new type of crisp from Walkers.

So what makes them different? Well they’re baked, which the makers say means they contain 30% less fat than standard crisps and according to the packaging, “Walkers baked Hoops and Crosses are a tasty new way to boost kids’ wholegrain”.

Here’s the nutritional information:

Walkers Roast Beef Hoops and Crosses
 Per 18g Pack Per 100g
Energy 358kg / 85kcal 1987kg / 474kcal
Fat 3.8g (0.3g saturates) 20.9g (1.9g saturates)
Carbohydrate 11.0g (1.0g sugar) 61.3g (5.8g sugar)
Fibre 1.1g 5.9g
Protein 1.3g 7.4g
Salt 0.27g 1.49g

And here’s the nutritional information for a typical pack of crisps:

Walkers Smokey Bacon Crisps
 Per 25g Pack Per 100g
Energy 542kg / 130kcal 2168kg / 520kcal
Fat 7.6g (0.6g saturates) 30.5g (2.5g saturates)
Carbohydrate 13.4g (1.1g sugar) 53.4g (4.4g sugar)
Fibre 1.0g 4.1g
Protein 1.5g 5.9g
Salt 0.32g 1.30g

Clearly Hoops and Crosses compare favourably pack for pack, but it’s worth noting that gram for gram, Hoops and Crosses are saltier and more sugary than a standard packet of crisps.

Turning then to the wholegrain claim, it seems that the crisps are made from every part of the grain kernel (the outer fibre-rich bran, the inner micronutrient-rich germ and the starchy main ‘body’ of the kernel), which is thought to be good for protecting against diabetes and heart conditions, among other things.

It’s unclear how much wholegrain a pack provides, but assuming it contributes to the majority of the carbohydrate content, let’s say 10g. I struggled to find data on recommended wholegrain intake in the same way you would expect for standard nutrition like fat and salt, but it does appear that over 8g is considered a good source, so the claim on the pack seems valid.

As the packet doesn’t say they’re suitable for vegetarians (update: they are suitable for vegetarians!), I passed the taste testing job to JD. He didn’t seem to notice the fun shapes, but was quite impressed with the taste:

They are delicious. They taste like they’re made by crisp specialists. They’re meaty, crunchy and no ‘bits’.

And husband Mark’s verdict?

Really tasty. Perfect for eating with a sandwich. They don’t taste wholegrain at all.

Overall, Hoops and Crosses seem like a slightly healthier option than standard crisps, without any compromise on taste. We’d recommend them – in moderation, of course.

Disclosure: we were sent a pack of Hoops and Crosses free of charge for review. A payment was also received for this post. All posts are 100% honest.

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A vegan chilli recipe and #recipeofweek (13-19 April)

14 April, 2013 By 20 Comments

chilli non carne recipe

I just don’t feel right – me

It’s been quiet on here for the last week or so. The truth is I haven’t been well for some time. As many of you know, I have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but recently I’ve suffered from myriad symptoms that I thought I’d long since left behind. Extreme pain and chronic exhaustion being the worst of them. I haven’t felt like doing much at all for the last six weeks but I ploughed on, and then this last week it finally got on top of me. I need to make a change before it impacts on my life, work and family.

So what am I going to do about it? I’m going back to being vegan. Bear with me, there’s method in my madness…

I’m vegetarian, as you all probably know, but my family are not. For two years earlier in my twenties I was vegan because hospital stays and laboriously completed food charts showed me that eggs and milk were my main triggers (along with white flour to a lesser degree). As a vegetarian, veganism seemed a small step to take. It was tough to adjust but the impact on my health was immediate. I got stronger, healthier, happier. Over the years, I’ve tentatively reintroduced dairy, eggs and white flour into to my life – I’m a foodie, it’s hard not to, but somewhere on the way things have gone wrong,  it’s time to take a step back to what I know is right for my body. So here goes. I’m vegan. That’s that.

Now, please don’t all run away at once. I know this is a foodie blog and refined flours and sugars, butter, cream, cheese and eggs feature in most of my recipes. To an extent, that will have to change. You will see more brown rice, dairy alternatives, egg replacement etc, but you don’t have to use those – where not so obvious, I’ll try to highlight how you can switch the recipe to non-vegan if you want to.

I will not evangelise about the politics of veganism – I’m not here to tell you what’s right or wrong. My family will continue to eat dairy, eggs, meat and fish, so you won’t see me on my high horse. I’ll still feature dairy products, creamy cakes and even meat recipes from time to time, as I always have, because this blog is about my whole family and our experiences, not just mine. All that I’d ask is that while you’re here – be you impartial observer, staunch vegan, avid meat-eater or somewhere in between – you’re respectful of everyone’s views, challenges and lifestyle choices.

Ok that’s enough of that. Now, here’s what we had for dinner tonight…

Chilli non carne with long grain brown rice

A simple meal, nothing technically impressive, but a nutritious, high protein, dairy-free, egg-free and meat-free meal – and that’s what I need right now.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 pack meat-free mince (any version that contains no eggs or dairy)
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1 tsp hot chilli powder (plus some extra to finish)
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 3 tins of chopped tomatoes
  • 8 blocks of frozen spinach
  • Half a handful of basil
  • Seasoning to taste
  • Enough long grain brown rice for four people

Instructions

  1. Warm the oil in a large pan
  2. Fry the mince with the until completely defrosted
  3. Add the tomatoes, nutmeg, chilli and oregano and simmer for 10 minutes
  4. Add the spinach and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the spinach is fully cooked through
  5. Meanwhile, cook the rice
  6. Just before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste
  7. Dish up the rice, top with the chilli, then for the grown ups, sprinkle with a little more chilli powder(or lots if you like it hot)

If you like, you could add a drained can of kidney beans and maybe some butter beans, carrot slices or sweetcorn when you put in tomatoes. It would work with anything you like really!

Add your #recipeoftheweek

Do you have a recipe to share? Here’s the place you can do it! Pick one from the past week, or any time at all. Meaty, vegan, fatty, low-calorie – all recipes are welcome, just as long as you haven’t linked them up to #recipeoftheweek before.

You share the goods, then I generally go round reading, commenting, Stumbling, Pinning and drooling over everyone’s entries. It’s that simple. So just link up below and let’s share the love.

  1. Link up your post using the Linky tool below
  2. Add the “Recipe of the Week” badge to your post so that readers can find other great recipes.
  3. Take a little time to read and comment on each other’s recipes.
  4. Come back next Saturday and we’ll do it all over again.

Enjoy!

Link up your recipe of the week
<div align="center"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/2013/04/vegan-chilli-recipe-and-recipeofweek-13-19-april" target="_blank"><img alt="Link up your recipe of the week" src="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/recipe-of-the-week.png" /></a></div>



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Free printable meal planner with shopping list (ambassador post)

6 March, 2013 By 2 Comments

free-printable-meal-planner-header

As many of you know, I’ve been working with Actimel on the Family Wellbeing Index, a site designed to help you improve the way your family eat, learn, play and connect and more.

Today, I thought I’d share with you this meal planning sheet, which helps you plan your main meals for the week ahead so that you can think more intelligently about what you eat, build in a better nutritional balance and save money by only buying what you’ll need.

I’ve been meal planning for a few weeks now and have found it to be a bit of a revelation. It’s hard work to begin with, but having a sheet to work from keeps things simple, and the cash savings and health benefits soon make it feel worthwhile.

Good for your family, your health and your wallet

Just click the image below to download the meal planner and please let me know if you try it!

free-printable-meal-planner

Learn more about family wellbeing

As the Family Wellbeing Index EAT Ambassador, I’ve been working to create more tips just like these, which are now available online for you to look through. Do please check out the Family Wellbeing Index websitefree printable meal planner for lots more tips from me and my fellow ambassadors.

Disclosure: I am a sponsored ambassador for the Actimel Family Wellbeing Index.

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Lanolips Rose Balm Intense Hand Cream & Radiance Phyto-Active 85% Organic Body Butter review

20 February, 2013 By 2 Comments

Lanolips Rose Balm Intense Hand Cream & Radiance Phyto-Active 85% Organic Body Butter

Oooh, mummy, your eczema looks sore! – JD, 5

The cold hates my skin and my skin hates the cold. Really HATES it. I definitely need to drink more water, but really, my eczema gets a sniff of sub-zero temperatures and it’s off wreaking havoc, cracking my knuckles and leaving my skin red and raw.

The latest product to cross my desk promising to protect my skin is the Rose Balm Intense for Very Dry Hands & Nails from Lanolips. The theory is that you apply this lanolin rich hand cream before putting on your gloves and stepping out into the cold, and it will keep hands soft and nourished.

So what are my thoughts? Well, it’s not a miracle cure, but I do like it. You need very little to get a decent covering, so the price (£5.99 for 25ml) is very reasonable. It smells nice, although it inevitably has those lanolin greasey notes, and it goes on smoothly and then sinks in within a few minutes.

If your hands are already chapped, it won’t instantly make them baby soft, but in my experience that’s a good thing. Moisturisers that soften weakened skin often just water-log it, meaning that once that moisture wears off, you’re in a worse situation that you were before. This balm is all about protecting your hands and helping them heal.

I have to confess I am terrible at keeping my gloves on but the cream is definitely helping keep the eczema at bay so I’d recommend giving it a go if you’re not allergic to lanolin or any of the other ingredients. It’s available at Boots nationwide and selected Waitrose.

Also in my package from Lanolips was the Radiance Phyto-Active 85% Organic Body Butter, which, in my highly scientific opinion, is totally lush. It smells lovely (mainly of rose) and is light and soothing. I applied it to one arm and not the other right after a shower and the difference could be seen and felt all day – it truly refreshed and brightened my skin.

Apparently, these positive effects are all down to the extract of Tonka beans, a known optical brightener, Argan oil, which ‘leaves the skin smooth, toned and glowing’, Shea Butter and Kaolin, which provide a range of natural minerals and vitamins to repair and protect the skin whilst reducing collagen loss and increasing the production of fibroblasts, Aloe Vera, which is a soothing anti-inflammatory, and Rose Absolute oil, which aids in the repair of damaged capillaries and help to keep skin more moisturised.

Again, the body butter is reasonably priced at £15.95 for a 150ml glass jar, available at www.nourishskinrange.com, Planet Organic, Being Content and at www.Feelunique.com, www.activebeauty, naturisimo.com and Misebeauty.com in the ROI.

Disclosure: I was sent the items described above for the purposes of this review. No payment was received. All posts are 100% honest.

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Parent Bloggers can now apply to the Actimel Family Wellbeing Fund (sponsored post)

12 February, 2013 By 1 Comment

Peaceful countryside versus the city

Can we have a vegetable patch? – JD, 5

Hello! A quick post to tell you about a new opportunity for parent bloggers who would like help to finance an idea to improve their family’s health and wellbeing.

Actimel recently launch the Family Wellbeing Index. This is the thinking behind it:

We believe every family has the right to happiness, health and togetherness. That’s why we’ve created a way to help boost your family’s wellbeing with smart little tips and small steps that can make a big difference.

I’m going to be conributing content to a special area of the site soon, but for now, it’s time to get your thinking caps on and dream up an idea that could make a little change for the better to your family life.

There are six categories: EAT, PLAY, CONNECT, MOVE, LEARN & GIVE. The EAT fund has just closed, but funding for the other categories will be released throughout the year. You don’t have to write a blog post to enter, simply write up an idea that you feel passionate about and that will benefit the whole family, then send Actimel an email with your written submission.

Make the idea clear and descriptive and no more then 200 words. A panel from Actimel will then judge each submission based on relevance to the category and how much it benefits the whole family’s wellbeing. Successful candidates will be asked to document their activity through blog posts and social media.

More about the categories

EAT – This is all about the food you eat and how you eat it. Consuming the right foods at the right time with the right people is the recipe for success in this category.
Example submission – Funding towards creating a vegetable patch in the garden with the family.
Funding – 01.01.13 – Closed Feb 11th

PLAY – A family that plays together, stays together. From board games to museum trips and everything in between. Fun, stimulating activities are the name of the game here.
Example submission – Funding towards a family trip to a museum over the holidays.
Funding Opens March 1st – Closes March 29th

CONNECT – Chat, debate, discuss, laugh and cry – it’s all healthy. It doesn’t matter what’s said, the valuable thing is that something is said.
Example submission – Funding towards basic French lessons so the family can speak to friends or family in Paris over the phone.
Funding Opens May 1st – Closes May 24th

MOVE – A good family dynamic comes from being a dynamic family. Doing active things together is great for bonding, improving both physical and emotional health. If you’re on the move as a family, then you’re probably heading in the right direction.
Example submission – Funding for entry to a family 10km run.
Funding Opens July 1st – Closes July 26th

LEARN – This is all about growing together. Setting new challenges and developing new skills. Finding fun ways to tackle homework, taking swimming lessons, cookery courses or learning a new instrument together all ensure your family stays in tune.
Example submission – Funding towards cookery classes for the family.
Funding Opens September 2nd – Closes September 27th

GIVE – The most simple really – it’s all about being nice to your family and others. By adopting a generosity of spirit with people you will inadvertently become a happier person and make those around you happier too. One good deed leads to another.
Example submission – Funding towards hiring a mini bus to take the local scout group to their 5-a-side tournament.
Funding Opens November 4th – Closes 29th November

Good luck! Visit http://www.familywellbeingindex.co.uk/fund for full details and terms of entry.

Disclosure: I am a sponsored ambassador for the Actimel Family Wellbeing Index.

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Helping You Find Healthy – my experience with BUPA (sponsored post)

7 February, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I’m finishing my chicken for protein, mummy – JD, 5

Years ago, I used to go to the gym every other day. I swam, I cycled, I weight trained – I was fit! Then child number one came along, then child number two, and now, while my diet is still good, I know I’m not as active as I should be, and certainly not as active as I’d like to be.

This week, I’ve been taking a look round a new website from Bupa - it’s all about the importance of looking after yourself, and the apps on the site are designed to help you ‘find healthy’.

Finding health with Bupa

There are loads of apps to choose from on the site, from tools to help you plan a running schedule, to healthy weight calculators, to cancer assessments and tips on improving sleep.

Just click on the app that appeals to you and you’ll be whizzed through to a simple assessment process, consisting of a questionnaire, report and personalised recommendations.

Other buttons take you through to comprehensive knowledge base, telling you everything you need to know about that area of your health.

Trying it out for myself

Looking through the choice of Bupa apps, it’s clear that the site has been designed to be really comprehensive.

It’s not always easy to face questions about your health head on, but I do want to be around for my family for a long time, so I signed up (a straightforward, single form process) and tried out the Bowel Cancer Assessment.

There were fewer than 10 questions, all multiple choice and straightforward to answer. At the end, I was given a result which expressed my risk of bowel cancer as a percentage, split into ‘Risk you cannot change’ and ‘Risk due to lifestyle’. I could then use a drop down to see how that risk would change throughout my life and finally, there were a set of recommendations as to what I could do to reduce my risk.

Luckily, as a non-smoker with a good diet, it turns out that I’m very low risk, with the results stating, ‘You have no known lifestyle habits that increase your risk of colorectal cancer’. That’s a relief, but it’s also helped boost my motivation to continue to eat healthily and ensure my children continue to do so too – the importance to our health is right there in black and white.

I’m now working my way through the other tools – it’s scary, but if there are things I could do to improve my family’s health further, I’m incredibly keen to do so.

If you want to try the new Bupa site for yourself, visit the Bupa ‘find healthy’ website.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Words and thoughts are my own.

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How healthy are you? Join the Twitter chat (sponsored post)

9 January, 2013 By Leave a Comment

fruit

I’m eating all my chicken for protein – JD, 5

How healthy do you feel? Do you ever feel like your mental and physical health could do with a boost?

Health information website, Patient.co.uk has partnered with roadtohealth to launch a new online tool that asks a series of questions and then gives you a personalised, clinically-aligned programme of advice designed to improve anyone’s mental and physical health in just 12 weeks.

The questionnaire is really simple to complete – it takes about 10 minutes – and at the end you get a Q Score of 1-100 which rates you on your personal health. This Q Score is in line precisely with UK clinical references and guidelines and gives you an idea of your general health. You can then drill down to see which lifestyle factors you could improve and how.

The tool is completely free and you can use it today at http://myhealth.patient.co.uk/

How did I do?

My own Patient Q score is 74, which is well within the Healthy range, but it was pretty clear when I clicked through to the graph that my ‘risk’ factors are relatively high levels of stress (pretty inherent in a busy career), an occasional weakness for sugary, fatty treats (although my diet is otherwise pretty good), and I definitely need to get more exercise (don’t we all?).

What I like about the tool is that it doesn’t just give you an overview of your health, it tells you what you can do to improve it, so I’ve set myself some goals and signed up for the 12 week programmes recommended. The tool will also email me a quarterly update on my Patient Q Score progress with tips to improve.

I think it’ll be a good process for the whole family to go through – it’s certainly given me a lot to think about.

Got some health goals of your own?

If you’d like to share your ideas, suggestions and questions for a healthy 2013, there’s a Twitter party on Thursday 10 January at 2pm with well-respected GP Dr Sarah Jarvis and patient.co.uk.

Just follow the #MyHealth hashtag, join in the conversation and you could even be in with a chance of winning one of five £25 Sainsbury’s vouchers. There are more details of the Twitter party  here: http://www.tots100.co.uk/2013/01/08/join-us-on-thursday-to-share-your-health-tips/

See you there?

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as part of a Tots100 project

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Does your family diet contain enough fibre?

24 November, 2012 By 7 Comments

I eat very, very healthily, don’t I? – JD, 5

Having suffered from a digestive disorder in my teens and early twenties, I’m very conscious of the importance of a balanced, fibre-rich diet but a new study from Warburton’s suggests that despite 78% of Britons believing they eat healthily, 70% of men and 80% of women aren’t getting enough fibre.

Rather amusingly, the study of 2,021 UK adults reveals that 2 million adults think you can get fibre from chocolate and beer – nice try, eh? – but more worryingly, the research shows that many adults trying to lose weight cut out core sources of fibre like bread, potatoes and rice, meaning their intake is well below the recommended daily allowance on the Government’s ‘EatWell plate’.

Analysing my own family’s fibre intake

All these stats got me wondering just how good my own family’s diet really is, so I agreed to keep a three-day food diary for JD and I, who would then be analysed by nutritionist Fiona Hunter.

Our food record incuded cereals at breakfast, snacks of carrot and houmous, the odd sneaky bit of cake and nice nutritious evening meals like veggie bolognese with wholemeal pasta, and a recent favourite of mine, honey roast figs.

Here’s Fiona’s verdict:

Emily – Your average intake of fibre over the 3 days you kept the diary is 26g which is slightly more than the recommended amount which is 24g, but that’s certainly not necessarily a bad thing. You diet provides a good balance of soluble fibre from foods like beansm fruit, vegetables and sweetcorn and insoluble fibre wholegrain and cereals. The only think I can say is well done and keep doing what you’re doing.

JD – JD’s diet also provides a good amount of fibre. The Guidelines Daily Amount (GDA) for a child aged between 5-10 years old is 15g/day and JD’s diet certainly provides enough to meet this target.

Hurrah!

Dr Hilary’s top tips

If you’re concerned about the amount of fibre in your diet, Dr Hilary Jones offers the following tips:

  • Increase you fibre slowly – Your body needs to adjust to a change in fibre intake. Add no more than 5g per day until you reach your GDA of 24g for an adult
  • Drink more water - When you increase the amount of fibre in your diet, it’s important to increase the amount of water you drink too
  • Eat the whole fruit & vegetable – The skin of fruit & veg contains fibre, so try to eat it (e.g. jacket potato skins) and aim to eat whole fruits rather than juices or smoothies
  • Aim for three portions of fibre a day – It’s important to spread fibre intake throughout the day, so aim to reach your GDA over three meals
  • Kids should eat fibre too – The GDA for Children is less than adults. Kids aged 5-10 should consume about 15g per day. Fibre should be introduced to under 5s gradually, through fresh fruit, veg & whole grains

High fibre snacks

It’s pretty easy to get fibre into your diet. Here are some ideas:

  • Banana on toast – two slices of wholemeal bread topped with a chopped banana and a drizzle of honey will account for around 15% of your GDA of fibre
  • Chicken and cucumber sandwich – two slices of wholemeal bread, filled with sliced chicken, light mayonanaise, parika and cucumber could account for 22% of your GDA of fibre
  • Spicy bean burgers – spicy bean burgers, filled with mixed beans and coated in breadcrumbs, could account for 16% of your GDA of fibre

Do have any more tips or suggestions? I’d love to hear them.

Disclosure: we were sent a dietary analysis, bread and other food supplies to help with preparing this article. No payment was received. All posts are 100% honest.

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Do your kids brush or fake it? (sponsored post)

28 September, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’ve done my teeth and I’m ready for my story! – JD, 4

I’ve spoken before about how JD was keen to establish his independence from an early age. He’s always been keen to take on new challenges and rarely needs to be told to wash his hands or brush his teeth – he knows the routine, and I know I’m lucky!

Letting brushing slip

Apparently, children often avoid brushing, even going so far as to ‘fake it’ by running the tap, wetting the brush, but never actually putting bristle to tooth!

I can see why. Since JD started school, he’s really tired when he gets in, keen to eat his tea, watch Tree Fu Tom and chill out. By the time we send him up to get his PJs on, his eyelids are drooping and he barely makes it through his bedtime story, so he’s not as enthusiastic as he once was to keep things like his hygeine routine on track.

Does it matter?

It seems it really does. According to an Aquafresh survey of mums of children aged 2-12, more than one million under-fives in the UK have at least two fillings. That’s a bit scary – I didn’t even know fillings were possible in milk teeth!

What can you do to help?

Aquafresh have produced this short video with tips on helping make brush time more enjoyable for children.

And if you need convincing…

Here are some more survey stats to put brushing in perspective:

  • 17% of mums say their child has at least 3 fillings
  • 13% of mums have children who have at least one filling by the time they start school (aged 3)
  • 24% of mums say their children only brush their teeth once a day and 2% say they don’t brush at all
  • 47% of kids under 12 have been told they have dental decay
  • 53% of mothers say getting their kids to brush their teeth is stressful

For more information, or to sign up to The Club for fun tips on how to get kids brushing or for a free sample of Aquafresh Fresh & Minty, you might like to visit http://www.aquafreshclub.co.uk

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post, with stats and video from Aquafresh, but the words and thoughts are my own.

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