It all started with a simple couch to 5km programme two years ago and really I have not looked back. I ran my first 10km run last year and plan to run it again this year but to get my time under 1 hour. I am also rather addicted to obstacle course running completing two Spartan Sprints in 2015- there will certainly be a few more this year! I am also a member of Orange Theory and love their training; addictive, seriously hard work but super fun! I walk away from each class feeling amazing.

Now if you’re a gym or fitness class goer there is no escaping the clatter of the protein shake bottles. I was curious?  Was I doing something wrong by not chugging back some extra protein after my work out? I did lots of research on the subject and personally I feel that if I can meet my protein needs with whole foods then that is the route I take but if I am in a rush (most of the time), having a protein solution on hand is great. I love it for breakfast on days when I know I will be on my feet all day with little time to grab any food.

I am currently using VEGA: protein & greens. I love that it has greens in it as well, two servings in fact! So for each drink you get 20g protein and 2 servings of greens. Add to that it tastes great too. I have tried some where the vanilla flavour tastes really artificial and the drink ends up being overly sweet and overbearing.

So for me, a protein drink is the perfect solution for busy days, hard work outs and crazy mornings! I don’t see it as a replacement for food but there are times when it’s healthy and convenient to have a backup plan and Vega is my choice.

BREAKFAST BOOST

WHAT YOU NEED
1 scoop of VEGA Protein & Greens
1 frozen banana
1 cup almond or cashew milk

WHAT YOU DO
Blend everything till smooth and add a little extra liquid if you like it runnier. I like it to be the consistency of a good thick milkshake.

ABOUT VEGA: PROTEIN & GREENS

Full Details

• PROTEIN

  20g
 

• GREENS

  2 SERVINGS
 

• ONLY

  110 CALORIES
 
• NO SUGARADDEd

Plant-based Protein
Vega Protein & Greens gives your on-the-go snack or breakfast a boost with 20 grams of plant-based protein. Made from real whole food ingredients, SaviSeed (sacha inchi), hemp, pea and sprouted whole grain brown rice protein deliver all essential amino acids you need.

Glorious Greens
Each scoop of Vega Protein & Greens has the equivalent of two servings of greens from kale, spinach, broccoli, and alfalfa. Vega Protein & Greens is so healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make that fitting the goodness of greens into your on-the-go life will feel—and taste!—like a piece of cake.

Papaya Extract
Enzymes produced by your body help to break down all the food you eat—protein, fat, AND carbs. These powerful enzymes can use a helping hand every now and again, which is why eating foods rich in natural digestive enzymes can help your body support healthy digestion. Papaya is a source of papain—a natural digestive enzyme.

I was sent some Vega: Protein & Greens to try but I was not paid to say nice things. 

Photographs, opinions and terrible spelling is my own.  

Who doesn't have time to cook?  It's such an important part of my everyday life I find it really hard to believe that anyone would not find the time to cook.  It's my passion, my hobby and my pleasure to feed myself and my family.  

I think part of the problem stems from the fact the children are no longer taught to cook in schools and we have somehow lost that transferal of skills from our family peers.  If you don't know how to cook food, then perhaps from the outside it looks time consuming and confusing. I get it.  

To eat is to live, to cook is to enjoy!  

I will start this post by saying I am not trying to push religion here, just good food, I promise.  Hot cross buns appear in supermarkets in the UK long before and after Easter has passed and I guess that many people don't even know the religious significance of these heavenly scented baked breads.  In our house we do not make these out of religious belief, but simply because it's not Easter without them and they are finger sticky delicious.  

For the dough cross & glaze

• 1tbsp milk
• 1tbsp plain flour
• 1tbsp water
• golden syrup

WHAT YOU DO

1. Place the dried fruit and mixed peel in a bowl and pour over the Brandy.  Heat in the microwave for 1 minute on high.  Stir the fruit and place a bowl over the bowl and allow to cool.  

1. Place the flour and butter in a large mixing bowl. Rub butter into flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the yeast, then add all the remaining ingredients except the milk.
2. Pour the milk into a jug and add 125ml boiling water. Test the temperature of the milk and water mixture — it should be no more than hand hot. 
3. Place everything into the bowl of your mixer (or knead by hand on a floured surface) and using the dough hook, mix until a floured finger pressed into the dough springs back.  Usually its about 6 minutes with a mixer and about 10 minutes by hand. 
4.  Shape the dough into a circle and place on an oiled baking sheet.  Cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place, for about 1-1½ hours until it doubles in size and feels very light and airy.
5. Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 390 F. When ready to bake, brush the top of the risen dough with the milk. 
6. To make the cross pattern, mix the flour and water to make a soft but pipeable paste. Pour the mixture into a disposable piping bag, snip the end and pipe a cross over the dough- you can go traditional single cross or go a bit free range, like I did!
7. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Turn loaf over and tap its base — if it sounds hollow it is cooked. 
8. Splodge a generous dollop of golden syrup on the top and use a brush to glaze the top of the loaf.  It's not a hot cross bun unless your fingers get sticky when you eat it!
9. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Best eaten on the day it is made. Flipping delicious toasted the day after and smeared with a generous coating of butter.