The Great British Porridge Company

We all have the same problem, we’re running late, the meeting is in half an hour, and there is absolutely no time for breakfast. Tut tut, naughty us, the start to our day at The Amazing Blog should be fuelled with nutritious food to give us the energy to kick start our day. However, we are not alone, a recent survey revealed that a great deal of the British population decide to skip breakfast, as they regard it as time-consuming and unnecessary. This can now all change…with the rise of 100% instant, and naturally sweet porridge, made by The Great British Porridge Company.

Full of delicious ingredients like fruits, nuts and seeds, a bowl will provide you with all the energy you need. Packed with the best of British, and containing completely natural, gluten free and wholegrain oats, the porridge is free from added sugars, high in fibre and contains 10+% protein. If that isn't enough, then these porridges are also vegan. The brand says goodbye to boring breakfasts, and welcomes a new era, with the addition of protein and fibres, all of which are dairy free (just add hot water). And there you have it - porridge in just 60 seconds!

The Great British Porridge Company offer three different flavours, each in a 385g pack. The Goji Berry and Pumpkin Seed porridge is made from gluten free wholegrain oats, dates, coconut milk, pumpkin seeds, goji berries and chia seeds; and tastes delicious with a sprinkling of extra goji berries (and pumpkin seeds for a bit of crunch). For the banana lovers amongst us, the Blueberry and Banana porridge proved to be a winner. It contains the same base ingredients as above, but with the additional zing of blueberry and banana. This was a popular choice in the office, and made a delicious overnight oats base for those of us who like to spend a little less time making breakfast in the morning. Finally, and the firm favourite in the office, the Strawberry and Peanut Butter porridge is a scrumptious way to add a bit of sweetness to a cold morning. Simply top with fresh strawberries - or frozen if you’re feeling exotic - and enjoy a filling and wholesome breakfast.

The 100% naturally sourced ingredients, including the wonderfully delicious oats, make up these tasty bowls of porridge, all of which are handmade in small batches in Sussex. They are available online, on their website for either £4.99 a pack or as part of a monthly subscription. Yummy!

Absolute Collagen - Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement For Men

Superfoods and supplements have become more and more popular over the past years and we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new and beneficial supplements to include in our diet. There is still a big trend for ingestible beauty supplements (which means beauty products you swallow rather than apply to your skin) particularly those that are collagen or hyaluronic acid based. We were very interested to hear that the award-winning British brand Absolute Collagen had launched the first-ever men’s ingestible beauty supplement, their Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement. We applaud this brand for recognising the need for specific male skincare supplements.

The Protein Rich Marine Collagen has numerous benefits. Fish collagen has superior bioavailability, which means it’s quickly absorbed into the body when digested. Once in the bloodstream, it starts working its magic. The Absolute Collagen supplement encourages the fibroblasts responsible for collagen reproduction to kick-start and therefore helps to fight signs of ageing.

One sachet of 10ml makes a daily dose of the marine collagen. The Supplement is as ‘absolute’ as possible, containing vitamin C for absorption and lemon and sucralose for taste. You can take the marine collagen direct from the sachet or mix it with hot and cold drinks or even add it to yoghurt – the possibilities are endless. We only had a two week supply, and I would like to add that probably I need a lot longer time than just a few weeks, to see significant results. However, I have to say that my joints felt more fluid and my fine lines did start to look slightly more plumped-out. The supplement does actually boast that the skin will look smoother, plumper and more hydrated, so perhaps this is just the start. They also state that the collagen benefits nails, joints, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons as well. I'm very tempted to keep going and order more! You too can order a 14-day supply of the Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement for Men here for £29.99.

Quest Protein - Cookies & Cream

What happens when you are supposed to be on a diet but you suddenly get a sweet tooth? Well, here at The Amazing Blog , we were desperate to find a solution, and we finally did. When we received samples of the Quest Protein Cookies & Cream bars,  they really did the trick!

The real cookie crumbles and delicious cream immediately satisfied our cravings. These delicious protein bars have 21 grams of protein (a mix of Whey Protein Isolate and Milk Protein Isolate), tons of fibre in the form of  Almonds, Cocoa Butter and plant extracts, and also no added sugar, using only Sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener. What better way to “cheat clean?” as Quest Protein would say. In addition to the company’s fueling growth from the invention of their protein bars, they focus on quality and nutritional efficacy. Because of this, Quest Nutrition has earned the recommendation of trainers, nutritionists and other health professionals that are on their own “quest” to turn the tide against obesity and all of its associated ailments - a fight that Quest Nutrition is proud to be involved in. Their customers range from everyday active, health-conscious consumers to top fitness competitors, bodybuilders, yoga enthusiasts, low carb dieters, and professional athletes.

Get your Quest Nutrition Cookies & Cream bar from their UK distributor here  for only £2.79, or a box of 12 bars here for £24.99.

Dr. Zak’s – High Protein Pasta

We here at The Amazing Blog  strive to eat healthy foods but as you know that is easier said than done. We find that sometimes we have to cut out a few of our favourite pasta dishes just to stay on track, but we may have found a healthier alternative thanks to Dr. Zak's and their High Protein Pasta.  Dr. Zak’s and his team have crafted products that are low-carb and high in protein without having to sacrifice flavour!

Given that Dr. Zaks himself is a doctor and body building champion and his partner Denise Chester specialises in nutrition, it is no surprise that these products  are high in nutritional value to support the athlete in you or simply a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Zak pasta has 50g of protein in every 100g serving with 50% fewer carbohydrates than other pastas. The products offered contain Pea Protein Isolate – a vegetable protein source – so the pasta is vegetarian friendly! Pea Protein Isolate is absorbed by the digestive system slower than other protein sources, which helps keep you fuller longer - this kept me from all the unnecessary snacking that tends to happen throughout the day.  It also delivers all eight essential amino acids to your body. All of Dr. Zak’s products are 100% non-genetically modified with no artificial colours, preservations or additives.

I used Dr. Zak’s pasta for dinner with green beans, tuna, pesto and pine nuts to create Amazing PR's easy and delicious (if I say so myself)  pasta that I just had to share. Preparation is simple, if I made it so can you!  The pasta was very light so I did not feel over-stuffed after eating dinner but I did feel full for the rest of the night. To get cooking, find your Dr. Zak’s High Protein Pasta online here or in-store for only £4.99

Tuna Pesto Pasta Recipe:

• Bring a pan of water to boil and add the pasta
• Simmer for 8-10 minutes, drain and set aside
• Add olive oil to pan and sautee pesto with tuna, green beans and pine nuts
• Mix in pasta and add peper to taste
• Enjoy!

Go Green!

So it’s another grey Monday in January and having spent much of yesterday in bed suffering after a very heavy night out, I’m still in recovery mode. Like most days, I have an afternoon lull around 4 o’clock where I crave sugar, caffeine, and anything else that will get me through the next two hours until home time. And while it’s tempting to reach for a hot cup of sweet tea and a chocolate biscuit, the sugar high is soon followed by a surging low.

When we’re feeling tired or in need of an energy boost, what our body is in need of is a whole load of nutrients – and pronto! And while it isn’t always easy to fit the recommended five-a-day into our daily diets, taking a natural supplement can do our bodies the world of good.

Thankfully, I recently came across Nature Complete’s Chlorella & Spirulina 2-in-1 which is a fab way of upping your energy levels. Chlorella (a green-celled alga) and Spirulina (a blue-green alga) contain a wide range of nutrients including Magnesium – which is needed by the body to turn food into energy -  Iron and Protein, both of which are needed to produce energy. The Organic food supplement also contains Chlorophyll, a substance thought to flush out fatigue-causing toxins from the body. The supplement is so nutrient dense that just 1g contains a similar amount of vitamins and minerals as 1000g of most fruit and vegetables.

Added to fruit juice or a healthy smoothie, Nature Complete’s Organic supplement may not be as sweet as a stack of Custard Creams – but it’s infinitely better for you. Go green this year with Nature Complete.