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This is the perfect snack for a warm day!
It’s so easy – too easy to be called a ‘recipe’! All you need are some nice grapes – green or red – your choice.
Pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours (I just throw them in wherever I have space but obvs you could put them inside a Tupperware or plastic bag if you prefer).
Then enjoy!
Brilliant to quench thirst, and help with sugar cravings – low cal, healthy, tasty! And so easy!
🙂
Xx
Feeling down, need ice cream… 🍦
It’s normal to feel emotional from time to time and many of us eat our way through it when it happens. At the moment chances are you may be feeling anything from stress, feeling low, bored, fed up, to anxious and worried etc or it may just be yet another ‘lockdown movie night’. So you may feel the need to work your way through an entire tub of ice cream – it’s natural, it’s human and it’s also damn tasty!
So how about making a simple swap? Rather than working your way through 1,300 calories of Ben and Jerry’s (or other standard ice cream equivalent) , you could instead have 620 calories of Ben and Jerry’s… just their lighter version! (or one of the any other equivalent low cal ice creams – I’m also an Oppo and Halo top fan).
But isn’t low calorie stuff loaded with sugar? No – it’s not actually, it’s lower sugar and fat than the ‘real stuff’ and it tastes amazing! 🍦
It’s ok to want to treat yourself when you’re feeling rubbish (or anytime
I’m fact!) and we don’t need to deny ourselves nice tasting stuff just because we’re watching our calories – try making some swaps instead. Check out the wide range of lower calorie options available now.
So you really can have your cake (*ice cream) and eat it! 🤗
This is one of my favourite desserts (or even a mid afternoon snack!). It’s like having a huge chocolate mousse! It’s creamy and sweet, and perfect for combatting sugar cravings – especially after dinner. Its really filling too (as the Greek yoghurt is high in protein) which means you’re less likely to go on to graze on more snacks afterwards. It’s also really quick and easy to prepare.
You can make whatever flavour you like – I’ve done a chocolate one and a white chocolate and raspberry one, but the world is your oyster! If you use cocoa powder you will find it needs sweetening – so for that i use either a low calorie jam (my favourite is the skinny food co Jam – only 7 cals for a tbsp and they also do flavour syrups too I’d that’s your thing – check them out here : The skinny food co) or you can use some honey etc or some stewed fruit.
You can also customise toppings – sometimes I have it without, or I use a few chocolate chips (I happened to have white cooking chocolate chips in the cupboard so used those), or a little sprinkle of cereal (Rice Krispies, cocoa pops etc work well).
Calories vary depending a little on what flavour, fruit and toppings you use but you’re looking at roughly 160 – 250 cals.
Chocolate bowl
You will need:
125g 0 percent Greek Yoghurt – I prefer ‘Total’
1 serving of hot chocolate powder (options works well) OR 1 large tbsp cocoa powder (adjust cocoa powder for taste – I also like to add a little cocoa powder as well as the hot choc for added calorie free richness)
A handful of mixed berries (around 120g) – I like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries
A few chocolate chips (or choice of topping)
Sweetener if required
Place the hot choc powder or cocoa powder in a bowl.
Add the Greek yoghurt
Using a spoon just mix the cocoa powder/hot choc into the Greek yoghurt (it may look like it’s going to be too dry but keep going). ‘Whip’ it up by mixing well so it’s nice and creamy and the powder is fully incorporated. Taste a little and if needed you can add something to sweeten it (honey, maple syrup, zero calorie syrup, low cal jam etc).
Add the berries.
Sprinkle over your topping of choice and enjoy! 🙂
White chocolate and raspberry
You will need:
125g 0 percent Greek Yoghurt – I prefer ‘Total’
1 serving of white hot chocolate powder (options works well)
A handful of mixed berries (around 120g) – I like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries
1 tbsp low calorie jam (I use skinny food co raspberry jam : The skinny food co
A few white chocolate chips
Place the hot choc powder or cocoa powder in a bowl.
Add the Greek yoghurt.
Using a spoon just mix the hot choc into the Greek yoghurt (it may look like it’s going to be too dry but keep going). ‘Whip’ it up by mixing well so it’s nice and creamy and the powder is fully incorporated.
Add the jam and swirl it through the yoghurt.
Add the fruit and sprinkle the white choc chips over the top.
Enjoy!
🙂 xx
This is an easy meal for a mid week dinner on a great day. I like to cook up a batch of this so it gives a few meals. You can obviously use any sausages you like, but using veggie sausages really reduces the calories without sacrificing the taste. I usually use quorn sausages but this time I used Cauldron’s lincolnshire sausages and they are delish! If you want to save time use a bag of frozen grilled veg, or use any veg you have in the fridge! Also it’s worth noting that Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies so if you’re vegetarian then double check – Biona and other companies make one without the use of animal products and it’s widely available.
This serves 6 at about 220 cals per portion.
You will need:
6 vegetarian sausages
800 g passata or chopped tomatoes
Approx 500g mixed vegetables (either a pack or 1 onion, 2 sticks celery, 1 pepper, 1 courgette, 1 small aubergine etc – you don’t need to be exact)
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/4 tsp chilli powder (adjust for taste)
1 tsp mixed herbs
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 vegetable stock cube
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1/2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp marmite (optional)
1/2 tsp of sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
If using fresh veg then prepare it and chop it up. Heat a little oil in a pan, add onions first and allow to soften. Chop the sausages in to slices and add to the pan and allow to brown (NB I like my sausages a bit browner so I often brown them in a separate pan and add them later – but either way works fine). Then add the pepper, courgette and aubergine or whatever veg you like (if using a pack then just throw it all in at once once the sausages have browned).
Cook for a couple of mins until the veg start to soften and then add the passata. Stir well and bring to a slow simmer. Add the stock cube, all the spices, balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and stir well. Add the sugar (this brings out a richer tomato flavour). (If you browned the sausages separately then add them now).
Bring to a simmer and allow to cook through for about 10-15 mins.
Serve with green veg and grains, with a jacket potato or just on its own!
enjoy 🙂
Xx
This is something I used to make many years ago with ‘real’ chicken and bacon. You can obviously use the real deal if you want, but even if you’re not veggie it’s worth considering the vegetarian alternatives as they do save a lot of calories without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.
This works well with either freshly cooked or leftover rice. The lemon gives it a real freshness which is great for a warm spring/summer dinner or lunch.
It serves 4 and is approx 320 cals a portion.
You will need:
200g rice of your choice (uncooked weight)
300g Chicken alternative (I used Quorn chicken pieces)
120g Bacon alternative (I used Quorn)
1 onion, diced
A couple handfuls of frozen peas
Juice and zest of one large lemon (plus extra wedges for serving)
1/2 tsp oregano (or mixed herbs if not)
Black Pepper to taste
Start by getting the rice going – cook as usual (add to boiling water and boil until as soft as you like it). Drain and put to one side.
Use a little 1 cal oil spray in a hot pan and add the diced onion and sauté until brown.
Add the veggie chicken pieces and allow to brown.
Chop the veggie bacon into small pieces and add to the pan, allowing that to brown too.
Then add the peas – you can use as many as you like!
Cook through for a couple of minutes and then add the cooked rice and stir well.
Then add the oregano/ herbs, black pepper and lemon zest and mix.
Finally pour the lemon juice over and stir in well. Then serve, with a wedge of lemon.
Enjoy! 🙂
Xx
Every Step Fitness 