The Perfect Breakfast - Feat. Clonakilty*

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and one of my favourites. I am never 100% sure on what to have, but I like to start the day with a decent sized breakfast. I was recently contacted and introduced to a brand called Clonakilty who specialise in Ireland's favourite black pudding.

Clonakilty are traditionally known for their black pudding however have recently launched their new Ispini sausages in the UK, perfect for breakfast, dinners and in the warmer months, BBQs. Made using 100% Irish pork, I imagined these would have the same flavours that you get from the butchers and I couldn’t wait to try them.

I rustled up an Irish feast with some of the products I was kindly sent including Irish eggs and bread. I couldn’t miss the chance to have some potatoes on my plate too!

The Clonakilty black pudding is made using a recipe that originated in the town of Clonakilty in the 1880’s. The popularity of the black pudding has spread around the world. With such a great reputation, I couldn’t wait to try the sausages. The brand also have white pudding in their collection of fine foods.

The sausages can be grilled or fried in a shallow pan, I find it easier to fry them as I can constantly move them around. They browned off really well and served with the rest of the breakfast they were an absolute treat. Having never heard about this brand before, I am definitely converted.

What are your breakfast essentials?

*I received these items free of charge. I was not asked to write a review as such, but I genuinely enjoyed the product and wanted to share them. Please see my disclaimer for more information

Nutribuddy Breakfast 14 Day Trial Results*

A couple of weeks ago you may have seen my Nutribuddy Breakfast First Impressions post when I was a few days into my 14 day trial of this product.

Just to recap, a 14 day supply costs £14.99 and comes in a glass clip top jar however you can save £1.99 by getting a refill pack. I also received a shaker which you have the option of adding to your order for just £7.99.

The breakfast mix is made with only organic and genuinely healthy ingredients meaning it is free from pesticides and artificial fertilisers. It’s great that this is chemical free. It is also sweetened by the natural sweetener stevia as opposed to Aspartame which many people choose to avoid. I think this product is great and appeals to many for the following further reasons.

• It’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
• It’s gluten free.
• It’s soy free.
• It’s sugar free.
• Contains only 121 calories per serving.
• High in fibre.
• Contains no allergens.

It’s such a versatile product. I really noticed how this kept me fuller for longer compared to my usual breakfast and I felt like it gave me an energy boost throughout the morning. After the 14 day trial, I lost 5lbs. I also maintained a healthy diet throughout the rest of the day and I did also exercise which may have helped with this. The shakes really did kick-start my day, especially before taking part in Parkrun and I even smashed a new PB on week 2.

If you want to know more or purchase your own two week trial, head over to Nutribuddy.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Nutribuddy Breakfast First Impressions*

Since January has begun I have been trying to get healthier and make sure all of my meals are planned. I have been having a good variety of foods for my evening meal and changing my lunches up every week too however the one thing that has stayed the same was my breakfast. I was craving something new, something different and then Nutribuddy reached out to me with a product that could not only help with my weight loss but also ‘shake up’ my breakfast routine.

I received this product called ‘Nutribuddy Breakfast’ which in simple terms is a blend of ground oats, seeds and coconut. It’s quick and convenient, I literally need to add milk and shake and it’s done! It comes in 3 flavours, Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla and Naked (unflavoured/unsweetened). I chose the Chocolate Brownie flavour and received a 14 day supply so thought I would give it a go. A 14 day supply costs £14.99 and comes in a glass clip top jar however you can save £1.99 by getting a refill pack. I also received a shaker which you have the option of adding to your order for just £7.99. It’s really handy to have in my opinion.

I have only tried this for a few days now. In the mornings, I took 3 scoops of the product and put it into the shaker. I then added around 300ml of milk and its just a case of shaking until smooth. You can also use almond milk, soya or even coconut. The more you shaker, the smoother the drink becomes. You can also add fruit and pop in a blender if you prefer, or if you have a bit more time you can add to a bowl with fruit, nuts and seeds.  I may try different versions throughout this trial period to see how I get on.

Stay tuned for a full update in a few weeks when I have finished the jar if you’d like to see my results.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Overnight Oats Recipe With Alpro Go On Plain*

I've been having overnight oats every week for the past year or so now, and I am always asked for the recipe. They are super easy to make and a great grab-and-go breakfast if you prepare these the night before. These are so versatile. You can change up the fruit, add some flavouring to the yoghurt, add nuts, seeds, chia seeds or even chocolate. The possibilities are endless. Make it your own! 

I recently received some Alpro Go On Plain and thought this would be a great addition to my daily overnight oats. The Go On Plain is the new plant based alternative to strained yoghurt. It has a smooth texture and a mild taste so is perfect for both sweet and savoury recipes. I have used it in my oats for a sweet breakfast but it can also be used to create dips or stirred into curries to give them a creamy texture. The product is very versatile and I will be using it in my cooking as an alternative to fatty dairy products. It also has the added benefit of being gluten free.

To make my overnight oats, I use the following:

40g Plain Dry Porridge Oats

½ a Tub of Alpro Go On Plain

Any Fruit you like – Raspberries and Blueberries for me!

I use a jar to put these in so I can grab it in the morning, take it to work and eat it right away but you can use a bowl or a lunchbox as well, whatever is convenient.

I started off by layering the Alpro Go On Plain with the oats then the fruit. Keep doing this until you have ran out of ingredients. I try and make sure the oats are fully covered so that they can soak up the yoghurt overnight. Sometimes I add a dash of milk to make sure the oats are all covered, I think the Alpro Oat Original would be the perfect addition!

When I have reached the top, I seal the lid and refrigerate overnight. You can literally put anything in these oats and they will taste great. I have tried them with chocolate chips, banana, peanut butter or pineapple.  The combinations are endless. Let me know if you have tried overnight oats, and what your favourite combination of flavours is!

The Alpro Go On Plain gave the overnight oats a really creamy texture the next day and tasted absolutely gorgeous in the morning! Will you be trying out the Alpro Go On Plain?

*I received some items free of charge in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

National Breakfast Week - Coast to Coast Norwich*

I love breakfast, it is the most important meal of the day and I always make sure I get a nutritious filling breakfast in the morning every day. This week from 25th January is National Breakfast Week and I was very kindly invited to have a delicious brunch at Coast to Coast in Norwich with my boyfriend James. Coast to Coast is an American restaurant that serves breakfast until midday so you don’t have to get up really early to indulge. The breakfast menu is vast and plentiful ranging from a healthier option of eggs on toast to a full English or even sweet and savoury pancakes and waffles. I couldn’t wait to see what they had to offer.

We arrived at 10:30 and were promptly seated by a polite and friendly member of staff. We were each given a menu and left to decide what we wanted. There was so much choice on the menu. The waitress came back and took our drink orders. I ordered breakfast tea which came out in teapot with enough for 2 cups of tea. If you order a hot drink with breakfast then you get unlimited refills which is great. James ordered an orange juice which came in a tall glass with ice.

For breakfast I ordered the Eggs Benedict for £6.95. This consisted of two poached eggs, honey roast ham served on sourdough toast topped with hollandaise sauce. The bread was perfectly toasted with just the right amount of crunch without it being overdone and was served in lovely thick wedges. The eggs were cooked to perfection, the yolk was the perfect consistency. I had absolutely no complaints and breakfast was served promptly after our drinks arrived.

James ordered the Coast to Coast Breakfast for £7.45. His plate was topped with Cumberland sausages, streaky bacon, fried eggs, breakfast potatoes, tomato, corn fritter and baked beans. The beans came in a separate ramekin which I thought was good as some people can be fussy if their beans are touching other foods! Neither of us had ever heard of corn fritters before and James doesn’t like sweetcorn so I wasn’t sure how he would get on with it but he really liked it. I tried a little bit and thought it was lovely although I am not 100% sure what it is made of. He enjoyed his meal and said it was served hot and everything was balanced well on the plate.

We both left feeling nice and full and couldn’t have asked for a better service. I would love to go back and sample one of the sweeter menu options – the banana and salted caramel pancakes sound amazing! Thank you Coast to Coast for providing us with a lovely breakfast in aid of National Breakfast Week!

What will you be having for breakfast this week? To find your nearest Coast to Coast, head on over to their website.

*We received free breakfast in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.