Food, Nutrition, Healthy Eating Macclesfield Performance Food, Nutrition, Healthy Eating Macclesfield Performance

Nutrition | Flour Free Blueberry Muffins

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FLOUR FREE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

Are you on the look out for a light breakfast or snack option?  Perhaps one that helps you enjoy the sweet tastes of fruits and offers the sensory stimulation of a delicious Blueberry Muffin but with less of the sugar, fat and flour?

Well, you might just like our next recipe! 

At MP we are always on the look out for healthier alternatives.  Food ideas that can help curb those cravings and make living a healthier lifestyle a more realistically maintainable option.  It is not for everyone,  some people find that “treat” looking alternatives make no difference when it comes to enjoying something sweet.  They feel cake is cake and chocolate is chocolate and that is that!

For others,  they get a huge sense of satisfaction knowing that they opted for something that they consider less tempting and a little more balanced or goal oriented.

Either approach is fine,  enjoying the odd treat is a good thing,  after all,  life is too short.  You just need to make sure that those treats don’t become the thing that shortens your life!
It is the planning of that treat in to you diet so that it doesn’t become to detrimental to your goals that is key when aiming for success.  If you struggle with this,  then you might find using “healthier alternatives” works well for you.

 INGREDIENTS

2 Large Eggs

2 Medium Sized Ripe Bananas

1 Tbs Coconut Oil – Runny

2/3 Cup Ground Almonds

2 Tbs Coconut Flour  (We got ours from the Real Food Store)

1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract / Caramel Flavouring / Almond Extract  (You Choose)

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees

 STEP ONE

In a large bowl or food processor mash up the Bananas.  Add the eggs,  coconut oil and flavouring.

STEP TWO

In separate bowl, mix the Ground almonds,  coconut flour & baking powder.

Then slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.

 

STEP THREE

Gently fold in the blueberries to ensure they are well distributed through the doughy mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a muffin cover tray with parchment paper cups or muffin cases and pop them in the oven for  20-25 minutes. Keep and eye on them to make sure they cook but don’t burn.

We chose parchment paper over muffin cases to minimise the mixture sticking as it cooked.
To create the same look cut two 4 cm x 10cm strips of paper per muffin and criss-cross them in to the tray before scooping in the mixture. They look great don’t they!

 

Our mixture made 8 delicious muffins!

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Nutrition, Food Macclesfield Performance Nutrition, Food Macclesfield Performance

Nutrition | Beetroot Brownies

There are lots of alternative recipes out there for those seeking a different take on their sweet treats and favourite snacks.

Beetroot Brownies

BEETROOT BROWNIES

There are lots of alternative recipes out there for those seeking a different take on their sweet treats and favourite snacks.  We like to explore a variety of different recipes and then blend together the best bits in the hope to come out with something a little bit special.

So firstly, lets not pretend… there is no denying that those expecting a Millies Cookie or a Krispy Krem donut tasting snack might be a little disappointed.  If you take away all the additives, refined sugar and colourings what you find is a slightly less sweet taste.

The thing is,  we have all become so accustomed to far more sugar than is needed in our food and because of that,  the alternatives can take a little getting used to.  That being said,  give it time,  reduce the amount of sugar you have as often as possible and your taste will soon change to a less sweet liking.

One of the recipes we tried recently were beetroot brownies.  Theses are gluten free and have an subtle earthy taste that you will recognise as beetroot but at the same time the raw cacao and prunes really give them that sweet touch – making them a pretty nice healthier alternative with a great texture and they look beautiful. 

 Give them a try and let us know how you got on.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Cooked Beetoots (Peeled & Chopped)

  • 4 Eggs

  • 100g Ground Almonds

  • Half Cup Soft Prunes

  • 30g Raw Cacao

  • 2 Tsp Vanilla Essesnce

  • 1 & Half Scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Power

  • Handfull Chopped Walnuts

  • Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees

STEP ONE

Blend all of the ingredients (excluding the walnuts) together in a food processor until the mixture is smooth.

STEP TWO

Fold the walnuts into the mixture.

STEP THREE

Pour the mixture evenly into a brownie tin lined with parchment paper, make sure it is even and smooth at roughly 1cm thick.  Place in the oven and bake for 15 -18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean if you prick the mix.

STEP FOUR

Remove from oven, allow to cool and cut into even squares and serve.


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