My friend the feeder

She's at it again. Arrive to Birmingham late Friday and the Doritos and Minstrels are in heart-shaped ceramic bowls in the warm and cosy living room. Thank goodness for the salad on the train up!

Saturday morning is of course bacon sandwiches. But being a year older we're onto the lean kind, no fat in sight and no frying of any kind. 

"That, my friend, is growth." 

Said, watching Friends. With friends. 

A love/hate thing - PART II

Among the throngs of emails about artwork projects, deadlines & queries that I was tackling this morning was an article that appealed to my recent new healthy outlook (said whilst still digesting the last of the pizza dough): 'The 13 worse foods you can eat'. On the momentum of last night's guild-ridden post, I have started today with MyFitnessPal app raring to go with a 1,200 calorie allowance and a 2 litre bottle of water with my name on it. Plan remains to hit the double billed exercise classes tonight.
 
But check out these 13 foodie demons. I am, admittedly, guilty of so many but the fab comments by the nutritionists helps explain their worries and makes me want to clear out my fridge and cancel my JustEat account!
 

1. Jelly Sweets - Luckily not my favourite sweet thing though I shall have to warn Mother Hen. Think the all to similar 'Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans' from Harry Potter put me off.
2. Orange Juice - Horrified! I love stuff but guess it makes sense. I remember when my parents went through a fad of "healthy homemade fruit smoothies" but ended up putting weight onbecause of the high sugar levels.
3. Diet Soda - More or less kicked this habit. Goodbye my old friend Diet Coke and 'DC work breaks'. Made the devilish mistake though of a dalliance with full fat Doctor Pepper. The worst has happened now I need to say goodbye to this too.
4. Chinese Takeaway - Uh oh. Don't read Part I.
5. Margarine - Butter always seems such a treat but now the "healthy alternative" is just as bad! Though cutting out bread will help curb this, just need to lay off the crackers which I smear in the stuff. Ruining my fun.
6. Ketchup - Being with a no condiments freak of a boyfriend, he will be oh-too-happy to read this. However, the health kick deprives me of chips, burgers and hotdogs and what else would ketchup go so well with?
7. Donar Kebab - Can proudly say I've never bought one of these, not even in my darkest uni days. However, doesn't mean I didn't pinch a bit from those that did. Luckily, a thing of the past and not ranking on the cravings list.
8. White Bread - The best thing since sliced.. oh wait. It's simply the best. See Part I. Devastated to see it go.
9. Flavoured Yoghurts - I really wanted to ask if this included Activia's 95 calorie Strawberry yoghurt with REAL fruit pieces? If so, I'm devo'd. Even with Bifidus Actiregularis? A clearly made-up probiotic but still...
10. Confectionary Chocolate - Dark chocolate just does not float my boat. Must try harder.
11. Microwave Popcorn - Assuming this is the Butterkist Salted Butter they are talking about? *Daydreams back to childhood memories of Mother running for the lid as corns exploded and then eating slightly burnt popcorn from bowl with a pool of sugar at the bottom. Lick and dip proved effective tactic*
12. Ready Meals - Luckily a habit I gave up post-uni. The one ready meal was lasagne and I finally did the grown up thing of making it from scratch. Yes white sauce'n'all. Twit twoo.
13. Low-fat Mayonnaise. Always went for the full fat stuff myself although definitely in camp Salad Cream really.

 
 
Check out the 'proper' article here on glamour: http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/features/health-fitness/2014/13-worst-foods-you-can-eat?utm_medium=email&utm_source=editorial-cni_subs_glam_daily_celebrity&utm_campaign=248693268&utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Celebrity%20Features%2018%2F9%2F14#!image-number=1

A love/hate thing - PART I

Letting yourself off the hook to indulge in the love of food is a wonderful thing when your conscience is looking away. However, when it stirs after a week off it can be a nasty wake-up call...

As the prodigal 'they' say, everything in moderation and that means treats here and there. When I booked a week holiday in Italy - the home of pasta, pizza, bread & olive oil or, put simply, Carb Heaven -  I gave myself permission as I handed over my credit card that this week would be pure indulgence. In timely pre-holiday fashion, I was crash-coursing Body Pump sessions at my gym and eating more lettuce than a family of rabbits to aid the bikini body (a pretty much lost cause of 2014 I have to admit, blaming the 'love' in love handles). But boy, did I make up for it over the past 7 days.

Carbonara, Ravioli, Mozzarella, Margarita, Gelato, Prosecco, Apperitivo... you name it, I've eaten it. Not to mention the prequel to every great Italian dish being fresh white bread and extra virgin olive oil! More than once I struggled to clean off my plate having filled up too much (Paul Hollywood would have been proud) but every cover charge was worth it.

So now I've returned with an 18kg suitcase and goodness knows how many extra kgs around my waist. In typical British binge style, my diet starts tomorrow (always future tense and typically a Monday, it would be unthinkable of a Sunday). So Day of Rest it is, I've made the most of being off the hook from my PT boyfriend. I shall have to remember this day when I am back to spinach and mixed grains:

Breakfast: Plum Cafe's greatest sausage sandwich, with ketchup (obviously) and white bread (a new habit to break, damn)
Lunch: A few mouthfuls of a Tuna Melt. Never had one and curiosity got the better of me. Tried to balance it out with a Elderflower & Green Tea cold drink. Was horrible. Wouldn't recommend it.
Dinner: A Chinese take-out. Sweet & Sour Chicken, Egg Fried Rice, Prawn Crackers and a mouthful of a duck spring roll.

Now the above, particularly the dinner, brings to me to my love/hate reference. I loved the idea of all the above, it excited me, I felt treated, naughty and indulged. But now? I'm in a food coma where I feel nothing but disgust, sickness and expanding rolls of fat. Not a far image from Violet Beauregard from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. So here's a list of the things I love but really should hate...

1. Takeaways (Indian Curries, Chinese, Wasabi, Wagamamas = all bad)
2. Fast-food (don't get me started on McDonalds & Burger King, I was doing so well for the first 6 months of this year and they poof, I'd had 3 in 2 weeks!)
3. Doctor Pepper (the marzipan flavoured pop drink is my arch nemesis, I defeated my coca-cola addiction only to be opposed by you, you bloating very sweet tasting fizzing delight. I can tell you what the worse that can happen is...lbs of weight hanging over my jeans, that's what!)
4. Bread - sandwich, toast, baguette, ciabatta, roll.
5. Emotional eating. The source of many poor decisions when under stress. Somehow my desk seems more appealing when surrounded by chocolate buttons. Complete delusion, especially when have to work late and end up skipping the gym.

And here's things I hate but really need to start loving if I have any hope of getting back into half my wardrobe...

1. Exercise and by this I mean getting sweaty. Such a faff. 
2. Eating fruit & nuts. Healthy snacking. No chocolate, crisps.
3. Water. Actually I do already love this but must refrain from fizzy drink craving at all times.
4. Not putting condiments on everything. *Warning to Heinz* Goodbye Salad Cream, Tomato Ketchup, butter, salad dressing. Hello, bland.

 Wish me luck.

Friends & Food

For a group of young twenty-something girls, there are three main pleasures in a girly get-together; gossip, giggles and grub. Having promised myself a calorie-free weekend (mistake this not to mean a low-calorie intake, but just a guilt-free, turn your head the other way kind of an attitude to over indulging) whilst visiting a friend in Birmingham, I made the most of it from the off.  I won't even divulge the train journey snacking escapades but it started like this...

I can always blame alcohol for bad food judgements. I feel bad thinking back to it now so let's just skip to late Friday evening...

This was a very good friend indeed I was visiting, one who knew to stock up on Doritos & dip (main course) and Minstrels & wine (dessert) - a diet that got me through my dissertation - for my arrival.

The next morning, I awoke to the stomach rumbling wafts of bacon flowing up the stairs. And just like they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I'd like to throw out the notion that a good breakfast is much the test of a good friendship. Check out what an amazing friend I have (never guess she's a feeder would you?) 

Within five hours of digesting this, I was 30 miles better travelled, the car was one friend heavier and we had left the suburbs for the midlands countryside. Settled in front of a beautiful open fire, us four girls got to the gossip and giggles...

...and without much of an appetite, my inner Burger Babe could not resist the Angus steak burger on the menu. 

YUM-MY!

At this point I'll breeze over the takeaway I had that night and just skip to the satisfied nights sleep I had that night (praying not for a heart attack!)

So on reflection I feel kinda gross but every mouthful was well and truly enjoyed! I'm now writing this Monday night and glad that I haven't had dinner tonight (but that's a whole other post in itself!)

My New Love

Fuelled by a cross-Channel trip to bonne Paris, my pride and joy these days is a beautifully stocked and displayed cheese board. At a recent dinner party, in which I was delegated responsibility for dessert and wine, I made a somewhat controversial decision to substitute sugar for dairy. That's your prerogative right? My course, my choice! 

My beautiful creation below was an absolute hit. Thanks to an amazing newspaper offer for Waitrose, it's wasn't too dear either. With the decoration of red and green grapes and a side dish of olives and sundrieds tomatoes plus featuring my new favourite, blue cheese, I realised this offering was a defining moment. Gone are the days of Babybell and Boursin - I'm now a hardcore cheese lover. The smellier the better! (Unless it's the Brie that's been in your fridge for a few months)...

Hammersmith Chocolate Delights

When I finally managed to break away from my default mode of Cafe Plum on a Sunday morning, I discovered a little gem nearer Hammersmith Grove. Situated between a florist and an independent cafe is a very cute creperie. All white wash decor, the air was filled with sugar-coated top notes!

This absolutely treat is one their classic waffle dishes (recommend one between two on next visit as this was so rich!) 

...but they also have a wide variety of savory and sweet pancakes!

Best thing about this place? No calories on the menu. See you next Sunday...

Mexico: How NOT to make fruit healthy

Do not as the Mexicans do...

After catching sight of myself in a bikini, the all-inclusive buffet lost its lustre after eating my money's worth for 10 days in a row. Not only did this force me to attend my first ever Spin Class (I survived!), I started making informed decisions about dessert. No longer ice-cream, pancakes, cakes etc were acceptable. In the Tepanyaki Japanese restaurant, I opted for the "healthy" option, Fruit Salad. However, do as the Mexicans do, and caramelise it in sugar and serve with a Tequila shot and you've got yourself a dessert!! Destined to be fat after this fortnight in paradise!