A couple of days ago I received this box of Fruity Date Porridge from Rude Health to sample and review.
Love the style of the packaging! I thought this would make a great pre workout breakfast so I made up a bowl with half a cup of the porridge mix and 1 cup of oat milk.
The texture was lovely and creamy – much nicer than the usual standard scottish porridge oats I use. I topped it with some strawberries, blackberries and a couple of tablespoons of full fat greek yoghurt.
I was really impressed with the taste of the porridge, the addition of the dried fruit is lovely and adds some sweet chewiness. I’ll be eating my way through this box and then doing a full review. I have also been given some boxes to GIVEAWAY to some lucky blog readers – so watch this space!
Before I went to the gym this morning I thought that I would try my new Yerba Mate tea that I ordered from Tea pigs last week. I was quite apprehensive to try this as apparently you will either love or hate its smokey flavour which some compare to tobacco! Here’s some information on Yerba Mate tea and its benefits:
‘Yerba Mate (pronounced yerba mah-tey) is native to South America, where it is drunk as a natural stimulant to increase focus and alertness while helping with detoxing and weight loss.’
When I took my first sip I thought it was ok, but by the end of the mug I had really enjoyed it! I did feel quite alert afterwards but I can’t really say if that was all due to the tea.
I headed to the gym, and as my muscles in my right leg are still pretty tight I decided to give the HIITs a miss and just do some constant rate cardio instead. I did 1hr15 on the cross trainer, step machine and bike followed by 2 sets of abs exercises including full sit ups, bicycle crunches, side reaches, plank etc.
When I came home I decided to get experimental and try out my new Matcha Green Tea powder which I’d also ordered from Tea pigs last week. As a huge lover of green tea, its flavour and nutritional benefits I have been dying to try this. Its not cheap, and you only get a tiny box but its very potent stuff, each serving is only 1/4 teaspoon.
Here’s some information on Matcha Green Tea and its nutritional benefits:
Matcha is 100% top quality organic ground green tea leaves
- 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice
- 90 times the beta carotene of spinach
- vitamins A, B and C
Drinking matcha can:
Boost metabolism between 30-40%
Raise energy
Elevate mood
Lower cholesterol
Be anti-ageing
Help prevent heart disease
The powder can be mixed with a small amount of water, milk or juice as a ‘matcha shot’ or can be added to smoothies and even in baking and cooking. I decided to try it out in a protein smoothie:
Vanilla Matcha Protein Smoothie (makes 1 serving)
- 1 serving of matcha green tea powder
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (I used vanilla whey)
- Milk – I used oat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of Xanthan gum (to add thickness)
- 3 ice cubes.
Add all ingredients to a blender, wizz then serve.
This was so good! It was also the first time I’ve used xanthan gum powder and it is amazing stuff. This turned out so thick and creamy and so satisfying. I think I’m going to really enjoy using the matcha powder. A little later I also had half a cantaloupe melon.
We were invited to my parents for a barbeque this afternoon. I was very happy as I haven’t been to a single barbeque this summer! We were luckily as the weather was good. We were also joined by my sister, my brother in law and little nephew.
My naughty little hunger monster was out in full force, I was pretty hungry as it was late afternoon before we got to eat. I started with a plate of salad, some roast vegetable couscous and a small beef burger (which my Mam had made with lean minced beef) topped with some ketchup and fried onions.
I then had more salad and couscous, a chicken breast and red pepper skewer and a little caramelised hummus…
…then another plate with more salad, another chicken and pepper skewer, a little coleslaw and more hummus.
I had a difficult decision to make, as there was some gorgeous looking chocolate mousse cake and some fruit salad left that I really fancied. I made the decision to indulge in a very large slice of the chocolate mousse cake and a couple of bowls of the fruit salad, but on the condition that I wouldn’t eat anything else for the rest of the day.
The chocolate mousse cake was so worth it! I did feel like a bit of a glutton after all that food, but when I look back at the pics (a great benefit of food blogging) I realised that most of my plates were full of veggies, salad and lean chicken. In any case, the rest of the evening I’ll be sticking to green and herbal teas.
While the Tea pigs products I’ve talked about today were all purchased myself, I was also sent some samples a little while ago to review and include in a GIVEAWAY. As I have been sent quite a few goodies recently I’m thinking of having one large GIVEAWAY with a couple of runner up prizes. This will be up and running before the end of September so please keep visiting the blog to make sure you don’t miss out!
I can’t believe we are only a day away from September. We had to turn our central heating on today as this morning it was a bit chilly. Now that I’ve satisfied my barbeque craving I’m more than happy to welcome the autumn with open arms.
I am off to brew up a big pot of lemon and ginger tea to drink while I sort out my autumn / winter handbag! I have so much junk in my current handbag and purse its going to take me ages to clean out. Do you use the same bag everyday or do you change it up? I have to carry a large bag for work but then I prefer to use a smaller bag at the weekend. I’ll post some pics of my bag and its contents in tomorrows post as I always find the little things that people carry round with them everyday so interesting.
If you’ve been off for the bank holiday in the UK hope you’ve had a great one, if you’ve been working hope you’ve had a good day too!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so excited for your giveaway haha, I never really bother to enter them but this one, hell yea I am so there I love rude health and teapigs!
I have been reading your blog now for a couple of months and it has become part of my daily ritual! Your comments are always so honest! It’s great to read about someone who like many of us tries to eat and live healthy whilst on a budget!! Keep up the good work!!!
oooh giveaway, exciting!
I think I might treat myself to some of the Matcha tea one day, those health stats are swaying me!
Matcha tea? I’ve never heard of it but I noticed that you wrote it lower cholesterol and I’m looking for all help I can get. I should try to find it in Finland too.
I wish I had filled my plate mainly with salad and veg today! I’m so full!
I am also in shock that we are so close to September. Where on earth has the year gone?!
I’m glad you got yourself to a bbq this summer x
exciting Rude Health giveaway hun. your teapigs buys look great!
i take the same hand bag to work everyday its a mega black leather number from Next, twas extremely expensive and i bought it specially for work 3 years ago, its still as good as the day i bought it, it needs a dam good clean out just now!
I change my handbag every week or so, I love my bags. Some people love shoes- I love bags!
I was wondering what was making your oatmeal creamier than normal scotish oats, can I ask what brand you use? I looked up the ingredients of Rude Health and there is oatmeal as well as jumbo oats. Do you think that means ground oatmeal? I’m really curious! SOunds good whatever it is as I like my oatmeal to be creamy!
A giveaway how excitng! You sure know how to keep your lovely loyal readers sweet, eh Laura:)
No, seriously one of the reasons why you’re blog is so popular is your enthusiasm for the finer things in life(it’s infectious:0) and your healthy appetite!
It’s a joy visiting your blog!
I tend to be frugal with teabags and use them twice. Whoops! just realise you meant handbags(love bags and hoping to secure one soon:)
That Rude Health package does sounds good(Dates and oats makes one happy bunny:), lucky you!
Are you an anthropologist by any a chance, Laura?!!!
That tea looks so cute! Is it shallow that the packaging is totally winning me over?
Your little matcha tin is so cute!
I’m looking forward to that giveaway! And that chocolate mousse cake looks totally worth it! Yum :-)
Sarah – glad you’ll be entering the giveaway! They’ll be more goodies as well as the rude health and tea pigs x
Anonymous – thanks for your lovely comment! Hope you continue to enjoy the blog xxx
Becky – Its not cheap, but I have to say I think it may be worth it! That matcha vanilla shake I made was lovely – and so full of goodness!
Anne – yes, definitely see if you can get it in Finland. Its full of antioxidants as well so is just generally great for your all round health
Hotchoc – tell me about it, I don’t know where this year has disapeared to, its gone so fast!
Neen – your bag must be super good quality to last so long – I hate cleaning out my bags, the lining always goes on them!
Jo – I think I’m and equal bag and show person! I think it is the oatmeal that makes it creamy, it still has texture but then its creamy too (a bit like semolina?) yum yum!
Cosmic – thanks for your sweet comments! I don’t use my tea bags twice – I just use a really big mug!
Leashieloo – I’m a total sucker for nice packing too! Its all part of the experience of the product just as much as taste I’d say!
Laura – glad your looking forward to the giveaway! Yes, that mousse cake was totally worth it!