Health Lab Plant-Based Beauty & Wellness Balls Review*

Summer is on its way and it won’t be long now until we have a new arrival in the house when our baby decides to make an appearance. I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I want to get out of the house more and make the most of the days when the summer is here, but it can be hard to muster up the energy for such activities! And I have no idea how I will feel with a newborn thrown into the mix.

I was recently sent some Health Lab Plant-Based Protein Balls which I thought would be perfect for me. As well as offering a much needed energy boost, these balls are also made to promote happy skin and positive gut health made from the finest plant based ingredients across the globe.

Some of the flavours include chocolate, salted caramel, peanut butter and berry. The protein, probiotics, and hemp balls are all vegan friendly and the entire range is also gluten free. There really is something for everyone. The 8 flavours and their unique health benefits include:

Thrive: Choc Brownie Protein Balls
Game Changer: Salted Caramel Protein Balls
Power: Peanut Butter Choc Hemp Energy Balls
Pick-me-up: Espresso Hemp Energy Balls
Happy Skin: Choc Sea Salt Collagen Balls
Skin Hero: Choc Cherry Collagen Balls
Gutsy: Mixed Berry Gut Health Balls
Glow: Choc Matcha Gut Health Balls

I have found that the balls have been great to take the edge off my hunger or between meals, during pregnancy I often need a bit of a boost and want to choose a healthy snack and these energy balls have been the perfect addition to my diet. I think they would also be great if you were breast-feeding and needed a healthy way to get in those extra calories. These would also be ideal for people with busy lifestyles or as a pre/post gym snack.

I have tried many varieties of ‘energy ball’ and these have to be the nicest ones I have had, often the flavours can be bland and boring but these felt like a real treat and kept me away from eating an alternative unhealthy sugary snack.

Available now in Wholefoods and in Waitrose and Holland and Barrett, RRP from £2 for a 40g ball.

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

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.

Pulsin Snack Bar Brownies Review*

I’m always looking for new and healthy snacks so when I heard about Pulsin snack bars, I knew I needed to try them. Pulsin make natural protein bars, protein powders and healthy treats. I was lucky enough to receive a range of Pulsin raw choc brownies.

Firstly I noticed the packaging, I thought it was bright and eye catching. As part of its 10th anniversary, Pulsin re-branded all of its snack bars, brownies and protein bars and I think they did a great job. They use minimal packaging and their business is powered with 100% renewable energy! I received a few different flavours to try. One thing I can say is that they all tasted really good. Although you can tell they’re healthier than having a regular brownie you do still get the full flavours. These are packed with raw cacao and really satisfied my cravings for a chocolate fix without indulging in a ton of calories.

Pulsin products are 100% natural, gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. They are low in sugar and contain no artificial colours, additives or GM ingredients. There is also a range of vegan, dairy-free, organic, soya free and paleo products so there really is something for everyone and they’re good for all of the family. The products aim to give you a sustained energy release, strengthen your immune system and make you feel fuller for longer.

I would have to say my favourite bar was the Peanut Choc Chip Raw Brownie. This had a nutty taste with a hint of chocolate but it wasn’t too bitter. It was so flavoursome, I actually ate mine in place of having a high calorie dessert and I didn’t feel deprived in the slightest. It was nice snacking knowing I was eating a blend of magnesium, fibre, vitamins and minerals. You can buy a case of 9 for £13.59.

View the whole range at Pulsin. What do you think of these?

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

Ethical Superstore Energy Bar Review*

I love trying different protein and energy bars so when I was offered the chance to try some bars from Ethical Superstore I couldn’t wait to see what they were like and if they matched up to my usual brands.

I was lucky enough to receive a box of Planet Organic Cacao Brazil Nut Energise Bars which are 30g each. A pack of four will cost you £3.96 which I think is a pretty good price for these, I often see protein bars for more than £2 a pop. You can reduce the cost by buying in bulk, a case of 20 will cost you just £18.81. The bars are wheat and gluten free, vegan and organic. These handy sized bars are packed full of protein, fibre and vitamin E and are packed with dates, cashew butter, almonds, hemp protein, brazil nuts, cacao powder and vanilla. They remind me of nak’d bars but hold a nice rich flavour to them. The best part about reviewing a product is getting to taste test it and these bars did not disappoint, they’re ideal for a post or pre gym workout and small enough to pop in your pocket.

If you’d like to buy some of these bars for yourself, head over to Ethical Superstore.

*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.

Discover Arbonne Event

I recently attended an event in Norwich where I was able to discover a new brand I had never heard of before called Arbonne which sells a variety of health and beauty products. 

When I arrived I was greeted by Sarah and Kate who had set the event up. There was a table full of goodies and I couldn’t wait to try everything. Sarah and Kate were both lovely and very knowledgeable about the brand and ready to answer any questions we had. They made me feel very welcome and I love how the room was set out.

 

 We learned a bit about Arbonne. They have over 500 products in total ranging from skincare to nutrition, make-up to baby products. All of the products are vegan, gluten free and kosher. Kim was impressed as she is gluten intolerant so it was good to know she could use all of these products without getting a reaction.

We got to try out a lot of the products. It was a bit like a Body Shop Party where items were passed around and talked about whilst we tried them out. One of my favourite items was the primer. I always got told to put primer in the crease between your thumb and forefinger and if you can notice a difference in the wrinkles then you know the primer is going to be good. This one smoothed out all of the fine lines and left my skin feeling so smooth. 

We also tried out some of the foundations. The liquid foundation has an SPF of 15, is matte and has a buildable coverage. There was also a mineral powder which I would be intrigued to try. The setting powder was weightless and stops any oily shine. Initially I thought this had a bit too much shimmer in it but once it was on the skin it blended out like a dream. I loved the bronzer too. There is only one shade but this can be blended out or layered up to suit all skin tones. The bronzer contains lavender extracts to hydrate the skin, chamomile to smooth and liquorice to moisturise. I also adored the Arbonne brush set which was so nice to use. I would love to be fully made over in Arbonne products to see how they fair to my current ones.

I was very kindly given some products to take away and try. These were labelled depending on your skin type. I was given FC5 for my dry skin. In the pack there was a cleanser, day cream, night cream and eye cream. I have been using these for just over a week now and I love that they feel lightweight on my skin and have really improved the texture. I no longer have dry patches on my skin when putting my makeup on. I also received an ultra hydrating hand cream which is exactly as it says on the tube. I love it. I am actually going to save this for when the weather starts getting colder and my hands are dryer.  

I met four lovely bloggers whilst I was there, I also attended the event with my best blogger friend Kim. I have posted all of their links below so please check them out if you are looking for some lovely new bloggers to follow.

Kim – Romanovs Views 

Shelley – The Shelley Diaries 

Laura – Laura Loves 

Anna - Farewell May 

Claire – My Scribble Spot 

Have you ever heard of Arbonne? Is this something you would like to try out. If you’re from Norwich, follow Kate on twitter for news of future events.

The Gluten Free Cafe - Norwich

A couple of weeks ago me and Kim from Romanovs Views met up for lunch. As Kim is a coeliac (read more about this here) she suggested we meet up at the new Gluten Free Cafe that has recently opened on Timberhill in Norwich.

(Photo taken by Kim - Romanovs Views)

The Gluten Free Cafe is run by Louisa Kiddell and Tony Garrick, who used to run The Gluten Free Shop at Hellesdon Barns. Downstairs is a small cafe area and upstairs you have a shop. The cafe only opened a few weeks ago and was quite busy when we went inside.

The menu is displayed on the back wall and there is plenty to choose from. You can have soup, filled rolls or even quiche. Everything is gluten free and there are also plenty of vegan options too. There is also plenty of delicious looking cakes if you fancy something sweet afterwards. After we had queued at the counter and paid for our items we sat at our table. Our food was brought over to us shortly afterwards. The staff were friendly and attentive. Kim wanted a different spoon for her soup and they happily swapped it over for her.

 I opted for a ham salad roll which came with some vegetable crisps. The roll was filled to the brim and very tasty and cost just £4. You can see how colourful and vibrant the salad was that came with it. Kim went for leek and potato soup which was also £4 and served with a gluten free roll and dairy free butter. I also had a green tea which cost £2 and came in a little teapot which was nice.

After our food we had a look around the shop. There wasn't LOADS in there as they are fairly new but there were plenty of gluten free and vegan treats and they will be expanding the range once they are up and running. They have moved from their hellesdon barns location recently and will have lots in store to choose from! I enjoyed my food and the atmosphere of The Gluten Free Cafe. I think once they have been open a bit longer and running a bit smoother then this will be a really nice place to come for lunch and no doubt me and Kim will be returning!

The Perfect Autumn Soup...

I recently entered a competition as part of the Holland and Barrett Good Life Insiders group that I am involved with. We had to guess some co-ordinates for a fun Halloween trick or treat prize. I am so pleased that I guessed correctly and won some great things.

Among the items I was sent, I received this jar of Biona Organic Spiced Pumpkin Soup which costs £2.69 in store, and some Freed Gluten Free Crispbread with Cheddar and Pumpkin Seed which is only £2.89 for 160g.
 

With it being near Halloween when I received these, I couldn’t wait to get in the spooky spirit and try these delicious treats out! The jar of soup was easily enough servings for 2, so I poured half of it into a microwave proof bowl and heated through. The jar didn't actually have any instructions on how to cook this, but it turned out just fine. Although this soup is supposed to be spicy, it wasn't overpowering and had just the right amount of kick to it. It was really flavoursome and when I took my second batch to work I was complimented on how nice it smelled.

The crispbread went perfectly with the soup, and was a great treat and made a change from having bread on the side. The cheddar wasn't overpowering, and the pumpkin seeds made a nice difference and gave the crispbread an added crunch.

I am interested to see if there are other flavours in the soup and the crispbread range, as these go perfectly together! Have you tried these?

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry - Healthy Recipe

I recently fancied making a curry and as I follow the Slimming World plan, I prefer to make my food from scratch so I know exactly what goes into it. I sort of made this up as I went along but it was absolutely delicious, and very budget friendly. This recipe made enough for 2 so I ate one portion and put the other in the fridge for lunch the next day.

Ingredients

1 can of chopped tomatoes

1 can of chickpeas

1 red onion

2 Spring onions

1 Sweet Potato

1 tsp chilli powder

1tsp ginger

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 garlic clove

frylight

Firstly, I fried off the cumin seeds in frylight for a couple of minutes until they were lightly toasted.

  I then sprayed a bit more frylight into the pan and added my red onion and my spring onions which I chopped into small pieces. I fried these off until they started to go soft.

I then added my chilli powder, garlic and ginger. You can of course alter these quantities depending on how spicy you like it. I like mine quite mild with a bit of zing and these amounts were just right.

After a couple of minutes I added the drained chickpeas, chopped tomatoes and chopped sweet potato. I mixed this together to combine the flavours and then topped the pan off with water to cover the potato.

I let this simmer for about 25 minutes, in the meantime I cooked some rice to go with it.

Once the sauce had thickened, and the potato was soft I served the curry up with rice. It was absolutely delicious.