Healthy Breakfast with Hi-Pro Peanut Butter

Porridge has always been my favorite Breakfast and I eat it most days (even in the summer). I was asked by the people behind the brand Hi-Pro if I would be interested in giving my diet a blast of protein with New Hi-Pro peanut butter.  I've never taken to eating peanut butter before but as I had seen recently quite a few people are including it as part of a healthy diet I decided to give it ago. So far I've only been having it mixed in with my Breakfast each day as I know nuts are only healthy in moderation. I've noticed that on their website Hi-Pro have a good range of recipes to try out using their peanut butter and I'm thinking of giving the no bake peanut butter cookies a try. 

Hi-Pro contains  33% protein per serving (25% more than most peanut butters), Their tasty range of crunchy and smooth peanut butters has been specifically created for those who train or have a keen interest in health. I've only tried the smooth one so far and really like it. 

Unlike other brands,they don’t use soy or whey to increase the protein level. All the protein is sourced from peanuts, which means you’re only putting pure forms of essential nutrition in your body and it doesn’t affect the flavour of the product. Notably, the peanut butter is vegetarian and vegan friendly and has no added salt.

Do you eat peanut butter as part of a healthy diet? If so I'd love to know some of the recipes you like to use. 

Essentials Mummies Need To Get Through The Day

There’s no two ways about it, being a mum is hard work. Especially when it’s to a baby or toddler, lack of sleep on top of everything else doesn’t make getting from day to day any easier. Don’t get me wrong, being a mum is the best thing that you could ever do, but, and it’s a big but, it’s seriously hard work.

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The good news is that while being a mummy can be stressful at times, there are ways that you can make life easier for yourself. I’m talking little things that you can do to make getting through the day that little bit easier. So here’s my list of all the essentials that us mums need to make life that little bit less stressful.

Breakfast and a cup of coffee

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Being a mum requires a lot of energy, so it’s crucial that you always have breakfast and a cup of coffee to start the day. I know when you’ve got to keep both eyes on your little one, making breakfast and coffee can be tricky. However, skipping your morning energy boost is a big no-no.

Prepare your breakfast the night before and then all you’ve got to do is concentrate on eating it. Overnight oats are healthy, filling and packed full of energy, so are ideal for us mums. All you need to do is mix some oats, yogurt, chopped fruit, seeds and nuts into a container and place it in the fridge. Then, come morning, you’ll have a delicious breakfast to enjoy. Or, if all else fails, a banana makes a fantastic breakfast. Just make sure that you eat something, even if it’s just a piece of fruit or a cereal bar.

As for your morning coffee, why not treat yourself to a state of the art coffee machine? Or for a more affordable option, what about a coffee dripper, like the Hario v60? This works a bit like a cafetiere, brewing the coffee freshly for you. All you need to do is add the coffee and some boiling water, wait a few minutes, and you’ll have lovely fresh coffee to enjoy. (While your coffee’s brewing you could be dressing your little one.)

Healthy snacks for your little one

Kids get grumpy when they’re hungry, so it’s important always to keep their tummies well stocked up. While this is easy at home, when we’re out and about, often chocolate and sweets seem to be the only option. Instead of giving yourself a hyper child - every mum’s worst nightmare, pack snacks and drinks before leaving the house.

Chunks of apple, carrot and cucumber batons, and sliced grapes all make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids. Dried fruit is also ideal, as are mini bags of vegetable crisps and organic baby crisps. Pineapple sticks and mango chunks also make great snacks. There are plenty of healthy foods that make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids, you just need to find the ones that work for you.

Wet wipes and hand sanitizer

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Kids get messy; it’s a fact of life. If you want to keep yourself and your little ones looking half presentable, carrying wet wipes and hand sanitizer is a must. Sticky hands, spilt yogurt, questionable substance on your child’s hands, all you need is a wet wipe. Oh, and maybe some hand sanitizer too.

A tablet  

You know those moments where you just need a couple of minutes to yourself? Well, that’s what tablets are for - why else would they make special tablet covers for kids? Every mummy needs a tablet packed full of children’s games (educational, of course), movies and TV shows. You probably don’t want your little ones sat glued to a tablet 24/7 but a few minutes a day won’t hurt. Plus, it’ll give you a few much-needed minutes of relaxation time.

There you have it, the essentials that us mums need to make it through the day. Have I missed anything - what are your mummy survival items?

*Guestpost

Ways to celebrate your Anniversary

On February 4th 2014 me and Stuart will have been married for two wonderful years. 

We married in a local church and then had a reception at a hall not too far away. 

We had a 4 o clock wedding, with approx 50 friends and family members and 

then a lovely meal and then the snow decided to come making

people leave before the evening had really begun. 

Still we had a wonderful day as it was about us making our vows and

spending the rest of our life together. 

I have decided to compile a list of ideas for celebrating your anniversary 

whether you have been together 1 year or for 50 years. 

1. Write an anniversary letter 

this year I am going to give my hubby a personal letter 

2. Bake an anniversary cake together

I love this idea we can have this as dessert instead of having one when we have a meal out

3. Have a meal out at your favourite restaurant and dress up 

of course the frugal bit of this would be that you order a starter and a main

or just a main to save you £'s and still have a good time. 

4. Have a 2 meals for £x meal deal thing

We will most likely do this for valentines this year however it's a fab

idea if you want to save more £'s instead of going out. 

Most supermarkets do these deals in the past we have got them 

from Tesco, Morrison, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose.

5. Do joint gifts

This year for cotton we are doing a joint gift which after

our anniversary I'll show you.

6. Enjoy a lovely breakfast together 

Make something that you don't normally have that often 

such as scrambled eggs and salmon or pancakes. 

7. Go out for coffee and cake

If your a fan of Costa or Starbucks why not enjoy a mid morning or afternoon

coffee and cake. 

8. Go for an evening walk and watch the sunset

I love the idea of going to a lake we have in our area for a walk and seeing the sun setting.

9. Recreate your first date

10. Play your first dance song

11. Go through your wedding album together

12. Have an annual wedding anniversary photo of you both 

13. If you can afford to go away for the week/weekend or evening just for the night

14. Go and see a show at the theatre 

I hope you like my ideas if you can think of anymore I would love to know :)

Breakfast Ideas for Christmas morning

When it comes to Christmas I am usually really bad

and skip breakfast and end up eating a box of Chocolates mid morning.

Then of course you eat your Christmas dinner which then

leads on to pudding, more chocolates and a buffet in the evening

followed again by more chocolates. 

This year I am being more careful with my eating habits, after loosing

so much weight this year I have decided that I don't want 

to damage my loss. 

One of the main things I will be doing is making sure I eat a yummy and filling breakfast 

so that I don't end up going for the chocolate box mid morning. 

Breakfast Ideas: 

- Porridge topped with seasonal fruit

- Toast with a festive jam or marmalade

- scrambled eggs 

On the Christmas day this year I am planning to look 

at different scrambled egg recipes and I am liking the 

look of the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. 

The great thing is that the recipes are so easy to 

follow and take 10 minutes or under to cook and prepare. 

Eggs are a great breakfast as they are full of vitamins and minerals and

a high source of protein and fill you up for longer. 

Here is the recipe for the Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon: 

Serves 4

Ingredients: 

100g/4oz fine oatmeal

2.5ml/ 1/2tsp salt

pinch of bicarbonate of soda

15ml/1tbsp vegetable oil

15g/ 1/2 oz butter

8 large British Lion eggs

30ml/2tbsp milk

100g/4oz Scottish smoked salmon

chives to decorate

Method: 

-Preheat the oven to 160C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Place the oatmeal, salt and soda in a large bowl. 

-Stir in the oil and 30ml/2tbsp hot water and mix to a firm dough.

- Roll out on a lightly floured surface and use a 7.5cm/3 in cutter to press out 8 rounds, re-rolling as necessary.

- Bake for 8-10 mins or until golden and crisp.

-To scramble the eggs: melt the butter in a non-stick pan over a low heat.

- Beat the eggs with the milk and salt and pepper to taste.

- Pour the eggs into the pan and cook over a gentle heat for 2-3 mins, stirring until the eggs are scrambled.

-Place two warm oatcakes on each plate, spoon over scrambled egg and serve with slices of smoked salmon. 

- Decorate with chives if liked.

What will you be having for breakfast Christmas morning?