Mindful Bites - Nut Butter

Who doesn’t love a good snack? Yup and it’s generally naughty little things like crisps that are our bad habit at The Amazing Blog We have been looking to substitute this potato addiction with ‘good snacks’, which is where Mindful Bites comes in. Founded in 2014 by Stephanie Peritore, Mindful Bites aims to change the way people snack, not on empty calories but on protein rich butters ‘one bite at a time’ they want to promote intentional eating.  We are finding that Mindful Bites' Nut Butters are the perfect vegan and gluten-free solution to our snack cravings.

Mindful Bites is built on the company’s four pillars of mindful eating (Intention, Attention, Gratitude, and Pleasure) and these pillars are reflected in the Nut Butter. The thick and creamy texture of the product slowly releases delicious flavours, which allow you to savour what you're eating. The carefully selected ingredients, including a blend of superfoods and high-quality nuts, also have you actively thinking about what you put into your body. However, it's not just the tasty and nutritious flavours that have us drawn to the Nut Butter; it is the way it makes us feel after eating it. The plant-based protein, made with no added sugar or sweeteners and palm oil, is a game changer for reinvigorating yourself during a mid-afternoon slump. Spread sparingly on some oatcakes  (in our case) it is filling and delicious and has made our cravings disappear resulting in a better, more energetic mood here in the office.

We had the chance to try all four of their  Nut Butter flavours (Hazelnut & Berries, Brazil Nuts & Cacao Nibs, Almond & Maca, Cashew Nuts & Baobab). Our personal favourite was Hazelnut & Berries. It has a rich taste of hazelnut, not dissimilar to Nutella, but with a yummy hint of a berry flavour which stays gently with you. However, if you want a more intense chocolate flavour, we suggest trying Brazil Nuts & Cacao Nibs. While nut butter is traditionally eaten on toast or straight from the jar with a spoon (not so good for an office share!) Mindful Bites suggests adding it to a smoothie, porridge, or yogurt for a protein boost.

You can purchase a single jar (185g) of their Nut Butters here for £6.99 or a box of all four for £25 here.

Pulsin's Bēond Bars

At The Amazing Blog we can't get enough of  The Olympics - Team GB is doing fantastically well and we couldn't be happier! So with only five more days of the Olympics left, and surrounded by this inspiring and sporty atmosphere, we've given up drinking Coke and eating biscuits (which I can assure you wasn't easy) . In our mission to be healthier we found a rather tasty snack - enter Pulsin's Bēond Bars. Made from 100% raw ingredients and packed with goodness, these Bēond Bars certainly merited  their recent award as the Best New Organic Food Product  at Natural and Organic Products Show. They are vegan and vegetarian, gluten-free and contain no added sugar - a definite healthy snack suitable for everyone. The Bēond Bars come in two delicious flavours: the Bēond Raw Choc that contains single estate raw chocolate from Peru, dates, almonds and raisins; and the Bēond Açai Berry with almonds, dates, açai berry and raspberry. The texture of the bars is very soft and slightly chewy so they can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

Moreover, Bēond Bars are made using renewable wind energy from Ecotricity and 1% of all sales go to the Bee Guardian Foundation - where they help to protect bee diversity. The three founders of Bēond believe that healthy populations and traditional farming methods are essential to a balanced ecosystem - reason why they support the Bee Guardian Foundation. So if you're fed up with your regular snacks and you're willing to change your eating habits, Pulsin's Bēond Bars may be the answer for you - and at the same time, you'll be supporting renewable energies.You can purchase Bēond Bars at Wholefoods Markets stores, Planet Organic stores, Revital Stores, Nutri Centre stores and a growing amount of independent shops. They are also available online at Pulsin'. The RRP in stores is £1.39 per bar - we think this is good value considering all the deliciousness they offer.

Nim's Fruit Crisps

In the office at The Amazing Blog we nearly always stroll into our fav local cafe Lots Larder  at lunchtimes - they do really yummy healthy homemade food which we all adore. But the same thing always catches my eye – crisps. I have to confess to being a bit of a salt and vinegar crisp fiend. I'm always trying to find healthy alternative but without success. Imagine how happy I was to discover Nim’s Fruit Crisps ...  These clever people launched at a recent natural food and beauty show - where it was five people deep - all struggling to sample these unique fruit crisps.

Nim’s Fruit Crisps are a delicious and healthy snack. It is a new and innovative way to enjoy one of your five daily recommended servings of fruit.  They are made 100 percent from natural fruit. The fruit is thinly sliced and then air dried. The process in which this is done maintains the fruit’s colour, nutritional content, and enhances the flavour. They come in a variety of flavours: apple & strawberry, apple & kiwi, pineapple & mango, pear &kiwi, and orange & melon. None of these flavours have more than 76 calories which proves how healthy they are for you. Nim’s Fruit Snacks are a perfect snack for people of all ages. Whether you want a snack at work or school, or a quick little bite to eat before the gym, these crisps are ideal. So like me,  forget about your favourite salt and vinegar crisps and pick up Nim’s Fruit Crisps instead! Although they are more expensive than your average packet of crisps we think that at £1.29 a packet for something that is just as filling but with the benefits of up to 41mg of Vit C, 9.5g of protein, and 0.15g of fat -  it's a no-brainer. Tempted? They are available in all Planet Organic stores as well as on their website, nimsfruitcrisps.com

COYO Yoghurt

Ever since arriving in London from the United States, I have found myself experimenting with different foods. Certain foods and brands that are popular here, I had never previously heard of back home. Yoghurt was one of the foods that I noticed differed between the two countries. Over the past few years, yoghurt had become a staple of my diet and I often enjoyed it with my cereal or oatmeal in the morning. I sometimes even used it as a dip for my fruits and vegetables. I've missed some of the brands of yoghurts I've grown accustomed to at home… but that was until my colleagues here at The Amazing Blog introduced me to COYO Coconut Milk Yoghurt. As soon as I tried COYO Coconut Milk Yoghurt, I was immediately hooked! My sudden love for this new type of yoghurt only increased as I learned about its health benefits. Not only is COYO sugar free, but also dairy free, soya free, gluten and lactose free. It is the first of its kind and you will definitely not be able to find anything like it! However, these benefits of the yoghurt detract absolutely nothing from its taste. It contains a refreshing coconut flavor that is creamy and very light. As soon as I finished it, I found myself yearning for more. The immense amount of flavor made me feel as if I were treating myself to a dessert rather than a healthy yoghurt. This yoghurt can be used the exact same way as normal yoghurt and is available in a few flavours: natural, mixed berry, and pineapple. The universal love of this product is evident by the fact that it was entered for the Free From Food Awards in 2012.

Similarly to myself, COYO is a recent introduction to the UK. It originated in Australia, but nutritionist Bethany Eaton has brought it to the UK and I could not be happier than my time here has coincided with the arrival of this delicious yoghurt. I will be sure to stop into Planet Organic or a John Lewis Food Hall to stock up on as much COYO Coconut Milk Yoghurt as I can before I head back to the United States. I am jealous of all you Londoners who not only have this yoghurt readily available to you but will be around for the launch of the COYO Ice Cream this summer!

Hydrate naturally!

My new favourite drink of choice is Vita Coco. Made from 100% natural coconut water which is taken from young, green, healthy coconuts, this refreshing and tropical tasting drink takes me back to the beaches of Thailand where I would sip on this delicious water straight from the young coconuts daily. Although I’m not known for being particularly sporty I’m told that coconut water is the ultimate post-workout drink as it is extremely hydrating and contains 15 times the electrolytes found in sports drinks (this also makes it ideal for hangovers!) It is also fat free and cholesterol free with no added sugar making it much healthier than normal energy drinks. Pure coconut water also has numerous other health benefits including keeping the body cool,  boosting circulation, easing stomach pains, balancing your body's pH level, detoxifying the body and boosting the immune system as well as promoting weight loss.

I love the original version but for those people that need something a bit sweeter, Vita Coco also comes in several flavoured varieties such as peach and mango and acai and pomegranate which are all made using natural fruit purees to flavour them.

Vita Coco is available from Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods and Planet Organic.