 BOXD shakes are ideal for increasing your protein intake and, for those in a hurry, a healthy on-the-go, tasty meal. Good so far? Read on..... BOXD shakes comes in two flavours, Madagascan Vanilla and Double Chocolate Brownie. They're vegan, free from GMOs and don't contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. There is one serving in each sachet and all you have to do is add water and drink. How simple is that? Protein in BOXD shakes comes from peas and white hemp. Some protein shakes offer a single source of protein, usually hemp, soy, rice or pea, but BOXD go one better to offer a blend of different plant proteins. That way you benefit from different amino acids. The shakes also contain 16 vitamins and minerals essential to women's health and energy and are ideal for vegans who can find it difficult to get enough protein in their diet. BOXD is a first class way to support a healthy, active lifestyle  How to make BOXD shakes Add 200 to 400 ml water depending on how thick you want your drink to be and mix it in a blender. BOXD shakes mix easily, so you won't get any yukky lumpy bits. I really like the fact that BOXD’s website reinforces the message that health is not about a specific body shape or certain size . The company promotes body positivity, so extra kudos to them. Protecting the environment is important. BOXD protein powder comes in paper sachets inside a cardboard box. Everything is recyclable or biodegradable. My verdict? I REALLY like BOXD Vegan Protein Shakes. They're tasty, convenient, eco-conscious and healthy. What's not to like?  Head to BOXD website where you can buy the plant-based protein shakes. In the vegan line of protein powders, you can choose either the double chocolate brownie flavour, Madagascan vanilla flavour or throw caution to the winds and order a combination of the two. www.boxdhealth.co Disclaimer: The lovely people at BOXD sent me sachets for review purposes. My opinions are my own. images (c) BOXD and Gilly Pickup Thank you BOXD for sending me this product to test.
images (c) myself and BOXD
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Performance Meals worked with personal trainer, nutritionist and owner of Peak Health, Paul Crouch, to dispel a few classic myths around health, fitness and nutrition.... read on for more ....
One: “The best time to work out is first thing in the morning, there is no point at any other time of day!” True or false? False. Paul says: “There is no right time to work out, as long as you’re consistent and regular, so fit in gym or home workout sessions at a time that works best for you.” Two: “Working out on an empty stomach helps you lose weight.” True or false? This one isn’t quite as simple. Paul explains: “Sometimes it is best to eat beforehand to maximise your workout. However, methods such as intermittent fasting mean that the body can adapt to burning fat as fuel.” Eating protein before a workout can help prevent muscle damage whilst promoting recovery. Anyone looking to try intermittent fasting is advised to seek guidance from a professional. Three: “You can target fat burn to a specific part of your body.” True or false? “Often referred to as ‘spot reducing’, this myth is false,” Paul confirms. When exercising, stored fats that the body may use for energy can come from anywhere in the body, rather than the specific area you’re working. Four: “Eating late in the evening makes it harder to lose weight.” True or false? “This depends on what you eat,” says Paul. “If your meal is more protein bias, this will not store as fat and will benefit recovery.” Five: “You need a low carb diet to lose weight.” True or false? False. Paul says: “Whilst simple carbs such white pasta and white bread often have added sugars, complex carbohydrates like potatoes and whole grains contain fibre and other nutrients that don’t cause the same spikes and dips. It is complex carbohydrates that should be eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet.” Six: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” True or false? False. Paul confirms: “All meals are important, and timing is dependent on your goal. Intermitting fasting, for example, means that breakfast is skipped but results are still achieved.” Seven: “You can build muscle and lose fat at the same time.” True or false? Paul says: “Building muscle can increase metabolism which will help burn fat, however that’s a process which takes time to develop. You do not simply build muscle and burn fat!” Eight: “Keto is the best diet for fat loss.” True or false False. Paul confirms: “Following a controlled eating protocol and regular exercise are the most effective weight loss tool.” Nine: “If you’re not sore after a workout, you’re not trying hard enough.” Reality False! “Not feeling sore doesn’t mean you haven’t had a good workout. Feeling sore is a sign that you need a recovery day before your next session and ignoring these signs can lead to being over trained.”  Lizi’s granola is a fab option for breakfast. I love granola and when I eat breakfast - which isn't every day - naughty, I know! - that's what I opt for. However, up until last week I hadn't sampled Lizi's granola. I have tried most of the other granolas on the supermarket shelves; of course, some are better than others. I discard those which have lots of teeny tiny bits almost like hard granules of dust lounging around in the packet. Some just don't have any flavour. Some are too sweet. Others are hard - yes, I know granola is supposed to be crunchily hard - but, there's crunchy and there's tooth shatteringly crunchy. When I was asked if I would like a packet of Lizi's high protein granola to try out and review here, I said, yes please! I'll give it a go. So, here's my take on Lizi's Granola. Tasty. Good texture. It doesn't turn soggy as soon as I add my soya milk. Not too sweet. What surprised me, I suppose, was that I didn't feel peckish within an hour or two of eating it. This slow-release of energy is due to the low GL (glycaemic load) per serving, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. So, to the nitty gritty. This granola delivers more than 27% of your daily protein needs per serving. Oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut and chopped nuts up your fibre intake and of course as you all know, that contributes to our general health, mental wellbeing and helps maintain a healthy digestive system. Apple juice adds just the right amount natural sweetness so you have a super, tasty breakfast that is really good for you.  The low sugar mix - under 4% - is ideal for those who dislike sweet breakfast cereals. I've been eating this fabby granola with the addition of chopped apple or a satsuma or two, sometimes with fresh raspberries (Scottish, of course!) or a dollop of Greek style plain yogurt. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians. RRP £3. 70 for 350g. Lizi’s is available in lots of supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Ocado. from many independent health stores and of course, from Lizi's online shop at lizis.co.uk Why not try a packet or two? You'll like it, I promise! This product was sent to me free of charge by Lizi’s to be reviewed. Disclaimer : this review is my honest opinion of the product.  Fonseca Port, Douro Valley, Portugal Bin 27 shares the heritage, style, depth and character of the great Fonseca Vintage Ports. Fonseca Bin 27 was launched in Britain 40 years ago and continues to be blended from selected reserve Ports chosen for their smooth, round, full bodied palate and fine, intense fruit character. Some of these wines are drawn from Fonseca’s own estates while others are produced from grapes supplied by independent farmers with which the company maintains a close relationship. Wines are matured in large seasoned oak vats to give them smoothness and complexity while retaining their intense fruit character. Blended for consistency of character and quintessentially Fonseca in style, Bin 27 is bottled when ready to drink. Cheers! images Douro (c) Gilly Pickup
  Bin 27 makes an excellent end to a meal with chocolate brownies or rich dark chocolate truffles. Like all youthful red Ports, Bin 27 is also an excellent match for soft ripe cheeses and berry fruit dishes. Fonseca Bin 27 RSP: £13.50 Stockists: Majestic, Wine Rack, Getir, Virgin Wines Fonseca shipped its first vintage Port to London in 1840 and by the mid-19th century had become among Engand's most sought after. Releases of 1851 and 1868 vintages built the House’s renown as a master of vintage Port. Fonseca’s three Quintas, or vineyard sites, are at the heart of the House’s idiosyncratic style of Port, allowing the production of distinctive wines, whilst also being a leader in organic and sustainable viticulture in the Douro Valley.
Quinta do Panascal was one of the first properties to have organically certified vineyards as early as 1992, whilst Quinta de Santo António is a prize-winning model of sustainable viticulture. In 2002, Fonseca were first to produce a fully organic Port, Terra Prima, produced from a specific vineyard plot managed by head winemaker David Guimaraens. For more information on these and many other wines, visit https://www.mentzendorff.co.uk Established in 1792, Bodegas Hidalgo is one of the oldest Sherry producers in the world. It is quite rightly regarded as the definitive Manzanilla house, using only grapes from their own vineyards.
images Douro Valley (c) Gilly Pickup  Made in the coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Manzanilla is a light, delicate, dry sherry which makes a fabulous aperitif. It can also be matched to almost any dish and is ideal to accompany tapas, mild cheeses and nuts. I love it with fish and chips! It isn't expensive either. And the name? The picture on the label shows a ‘gitana' or gypsy woman who, so the story goes, worked in a bar. Her looks captivated Eduardo Hidalgo, an ancestor of the present owner. Now to the Tasting Notes: Very dry, refreshing, with apple, straw and nutty flavours. Light herbal notes underscored by a salty tang from the sea breeeze. Subtle, balanced. In fact, the perfect introduction to sherry. The Manzanillas, premium and aged Sherries produced by the Bodega, are seen as benchmarks of quality worldwide. Using the best Palomino Fino grapes grown in bright albariza soils, gradual biological ageing via the solera process produces the saline, fresh Manzanillas of Sanlucar.  Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla
RSP: £11.19 (75cl), £8.00 (50cl) Stockists : Waitrose (75cl) Sainsburys, Majestic & Tesco (50cl)  The clean waters around Wick in Scotland's far north provide perfect conditions for nutrient-dense seaweed to thrive. Seaweed is a source of prebiotic fibre, protein, magnesium, antioxidants and iodine, an often forgotten mineral which is essential for both minds and bodies. A superfood, in fact. Makes sense then to turn the local seaweed into delicious snacks and food. Win win situation - good for you and good for the planet. SHORE is the Scottish seaweed company who produce delicious snacks and food. They kindly sent me samples of their Seaweed Chips in Lightly Salted, Asian Peking and Sweet Sriracha flavours as well as a jar of Black Kale and Seaweed Pesto. Besides the taste, I love the fact that they are healthy - it's all down to that that seaweed again, packed with more minerals than almost any vegetable on earth, as well as macro and micro nutrients, antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals - all of which mean your diet is boosted whenever you eat it. SHORE tell me that because the abundant complex carbs in seaweed are slow to digest, you feel full for longer and of course, that helps cut your calorie intake. All natural flavourings complement a umami seaweed base, making these seaweed crisps deliciously crunchy and exceptionally more-ish.  SHORE's dedicated harvesteers live in some of Scotland's most remote communities. They are out in all weathers hand harvesting the best seaweed the shores have to offer.
You can buy the goodies at various outlets listed here shoreseaweed.com/where-to-buy/ |
