UK Food Haul + Why I Eat Clean

Hey guys! I hope you're keeping warm in this freeeeeezing weather if you're in the UK!

I just filmed a video thats uploading to YouTube as I type but I felt as if I need to explain some things about it!

In the video I talk a lot about how some foods are, how I say, "bulked out with rubbish". What I mean by that, with reference to the video is how some foods are flavoured unnaturally or are made to be 'healthy' by adding chemicals such as Maltodextrin to it. Tone It Up have said soooo many times to stay away from processed foods so I'm just reinforcing that!

I have come across Maltodextrin a lot recently so in the video I kind of got a little bit heated about how brands such as Special K use it. 

Let me start off by saying that Maltodextrin is not the world's worst filler. It is made from rice, corn or potato starch and looks like a white powder. It is used because it is fairly inexpensive and is also lower in calories so sugar which is why it can be found in so many "healthy products".

So if you're going for a low-cal diet then Maltodextrin may be for you! What I was trying to get across in the video is that, personally, I don't want to eat something that I'm not sure what it's there for, that I can't really pronounce, that I don't know where it's come from, and that's not natural. I don't think 
I even worded that very well there. But if something is processed with chemicals etc then I don't want to eat it! I would much rather have normal pure sugar or raw stevia (without Maltodextrin like the Supermarket's use to bulk out their own brand stevia!) than something that's been chemically enhanced or produced. It just seems logical to me! I love my body and I want to fuel it naturally rather than fuel it with chemicals! 

If I told you that Maltodextrin has it's own chemical symbol (think back to your High School Chemistry days!) that is ridiculously long (seriously - just google it!) would you still want to eat it?


Anyway - watch the video and see what you think. I just know that if you're on an 'eat-clean' diet then you should steer away from the processed stuff!

Love always,
Georgie xx

Bar Haul!

I know...I have a problem. If you saw my latest Whole Foods Haul video (here) then you'll know I get very excited when I see Bars and usually end up buying ridiculous amounts of them. If you're on the Tone It Up Diet Plan, you know how useful bars are for post-workout fuel or for a Meal 2 or 4 option.

Today was no exception - I bought 5 bars in 3 minutes
I had just left the gym and needed something to tide me over until lunch so I went in to the Student Union store at my University in search of something healthy for my Meal 2. 

I was actually really impressed by the variety of healthy options this tiny little store on campus had. Yes it was more expensive than going to a supermarket but still - I was happy; there was a whole unit for health food eating (I know that's not a real term but whatever haha). If you're in the UK, like me, then you'll know it's really difficult (bordering impossible) to get hold of Larabars, Clif Bars, Luna bars etc here. These two brands, I think, are a really good alternative.

I'm such a dork haha

I picked up five bars (3 from one brand, 2 from another) and I am super pleased with my purchases!

From one brand (that I had heard of) called Trek, I bought two bars. One Mixed Berry Wholefood Energy Bar and one Cocoa Brownie Wholefood Energy Bar. Both count towards 1 of your 5-a-day, they are wheat and dairy free and are suitable for Vegans. They are also made with all natural ingredients, so you'll be able to pronounce everything on the wrapper! They are also made in the UK which I like because it makes them cheaper than Clif bars etc which are imported and because it's gret to support UK businesses. The berry bar has 203cals, 11g protein and 5g of fibre and the brownie bar has 223 cals, 12g protein and 5g of fibre.

They also taste great and they're really filling so I tend to eat half of one and save the rest for later =P

I have seen Trek bars in Boots - so I know you can buy them there but you can also get them in places like Holland and Barrett, Tescos, Waitrose, Asda etc - a whole list of stockists can be found here

You can also bulk-buy on their website with free delivery - this again will work out cheaper :)

The next bars I found, I was actually really interested by because I hadn't even heard of the brand before and I consider myself to be pretty up on my UK Wholefoods! They're called O Bars and they were 89p per bar - which is relatively cheap considering the shop I was in.

I picked up three flavours; an Apple and Cranberry Oat Bar (which I ate straight away haha), a Pomegranate and Raspberry Oat Bar and a Vanilla and Blueberry Oat Bar.

My first impression of the Apple and Cranberry bar was that it was really sweet - it doesn't have any aded sugar; only what has come from the fruit but it might just be my taste buds! They are all made with 60% fruit so I have no doubt that this contributes!

All of the bars are Dairy and Wheat free and are suitable for vegetarians, they ranged from 180 - 184 calories per bar, 3.3 to 3.4g of  protein and they all had 2.1g of fibre. 

I have never seen them in stores before today and I did have a job to find a website, but I eventually did.

You can buy them in wholesale here and if I see them in any more stores I shall let you know!

Do you love bars as much as me?

Love and Hugs,

Georgie xx